Birthday of Imam Ali an-Naqi (PBUH)

Heartiest congratulations to you all on a very auspicious day. Today the 15th of Zilhijjah we are celebrating the birth anniversary of the tenth Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

We invite you to join us in an exclusive feature on the life and times of this honoured member of the Prophet’s Blessed Household, the Ahl al-Bayt, whose name was Ali and whose epithets were an-Naqi or the Pure, and al-Hadi or the Guide.

 “Peace upon you, O Ahl Bayt of the Prophet! (You are) the Seat of the (Divine) mission. (Unto you) the Angels turn, (You are) the Destination of the Divine revelation, the Originating Source of mercy, the Treasures of wisdom, the Ultimate in forbearance, the Foundation of generosity, the Leaders of (all) nations. (You) administer and distribute bounties without interruption; (you are) the Elements of virtues, the Pillars of goodness; (you) direct and guide mankind, protect and support lands wherein people live, let in and lead on to faith. The Beneficent assigned to you the responsibility of dealing with His benevolence. (You are the) Distinguished Descendants of Prophets, the Cream of the nobly- born children of Messengers, and the Pure Family of the "Best Individual" –Prophet Mohammad (SAWA); in the estimation of the Lord of the Worlds, (all of you are the) mercy and blessings of Allah.

“Peace upon the Guides who show us the Right Path, fill the darkness with light, teach and demonstrate the awareness of boundaries laid down by Allah, are (masters of) reason and intelligence, advocate and encourage forethought and deliberation, keep safe the mortals; have taken over the heritage of the Prophets, set examples of highest standard, enjoin in the good, and serve as a decisive argumentation (Hujjat) of Allah over the mankind in this world and in the Hereafter. (All of you are the) mercy and blessings of Allah.”

The passages that we recited to you are from the famous “Ziyarat Jame’-al-Kabira” which is among the dynamic legacies of the person who was born on15^th Zilhijjah, 212 AH, exactly 1225 lunar years ago in Medina. He didn’t invent or coin these phrases but was Divinely-inspired to express them as part of his efforts to bequeath to humanity the pure and pristine teachings of his Great Forbear, the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). These words of wisdom are worth contemplating upon by all those in quest of truth, for the person who expounded them was none other than the 10^th Infallible Heir of the Mercy unto the entire creation. 

Named Ali (AS), in honour of his illustrious ancestor, the Commander of the Faithful and the Leader of the Pious, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), he grew up to acquire the epithets of “an-Naqi” (the Pure) and “al-Hadi” (the Guide) in those days of the reign of terror by a string of self-styled caliphs of the usurper Abbasid regime, which used to boast over Europe and China of commanding the world’s most powerful war machines. They failed to realize that sooner or later their military might would vapourize. There are lessons to be learnt here by modern day bloated tyrants; such as the Aal-e Saudi clan which created and fund Takfiri terrorist outfits, and for the past year-and-a-half are senselessly massacring the men, women and children of Yemen.

Imam Hadi (AS) was a mere boy of 8 years when his father was martyred through poisoning by Mu’tasim the self-styled caliph, who now resolved to erase from the mind of son of his victim the heritage of the Ahl al-Bayt by appointing as tutor. This tutor, named al-Junaydi, used to be proud for being an enemy of the Prophet’s Household, just like the modern day terrorists, and the Wahhabi regime of Saudi Arabia. However, to the astonishment of the tutor, the boy was a repository of wisdom and knowledge beyond his tender years. He started to unravel to Junaydi, learning of a higher form of which the 80-year old scholar had no idea. The result was total transformation in the life of Junaydi from an enemy to a devotee of the Ahl al-Bayt.    

Volumes, not a brief radio programme is required to pen the merits of Imam Ali Naqi (AS), whose imamate or divinely-designated leadership was of 34-year duration – equal to that of his grandfather’s grandfather, Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS). His imamate could be divided into two parts - 17 years of freedom in Medina and 17 years under virtual house arrest in Samarra.

In 234 AH, when the Godless Mutawakkil assumed the caliphate on the suspicious death of his elder brother Watheq, a new reign of terror was unleashed upon the ummah. He was especially harsh towards the followers of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt, and ordered all those desirous of pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Imam Husain (AS) in Karbala would have their fingers cut off. If they visit a second time, they would have to amputate their hand, and for another visit, the feet would be amputated. If the devotee still persists to visit the blessed shrine of the Prophet’s grandson, then he should first allow a member of his family to be killed by the regime.

Imagine the impact of such cruelty on the heart of the Tenth Imam! Nonetheless, the devotees continued to visit Karbala, and the cruel Mutawakkil in 236 AH ordered the desecration of the shrine of the Chief of Martyrs, by diverting the river towards it. In this way he thought all signs of the grave of Imam Husain (AS) would be obliterated. To his utter surprise however, the waters encircled the tomb from respectable distance, without inundating it.

An exasperated Mutawakkil now forced Imam Naqi (AS) to leave Medina and come to Samarra in 237 AH, on the allegation that he was planning a revolt against the Abassids, and should be kept under close watch, although neither weapons nor wealth were found in the Imam’s House during an unannounced check.

The Imam, who was enthusiastically cheered by the people of Baghdad on his way to Samarra, turned this challenge to his God-given authority into an opportunity to show the Turks – the concubine-born Mutawakkil’s maternal relations who exercised control over all affairs – what true Islam is. The Turkish guards accompanying him were amazed at the Tenth Imam’s flawless knowledge of their language when he had never visited the lands of the Turks or come into contact with them before.

In this way, and through other dynamic means, Imam Hadi (AS), whose imamate coincided with the rule of six self-styled caliphs – Mu’tasim, Watheq, Mutawakkil, Muntasir, Musta’in, and Mu’taz – guided many to the Right Path, thus paving the road for firming of faith of the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt during the long occultation of his grandson, the Promised Mahdi (AS), who was to be born in Samarra, a year after his martyrdom in 254 AH, and will reappear in the end times to establish the global government of peace, prosperity, and justice.

AS/ME