A udhubillah rajeem O Allah, send blessings on Mohammad and his Ahlul Bayt O Allah, become, now and always, the Guardian, Shield, and Leader; Helper, Guide, and Protector; of Your wali (representative), Al Hujjat ibn Al Hasan (Your blessings be on him and his forefathers) so that he may become firmly established on Your earth, and govern for a long time. Salawaat! Our Holy Prophet (SAW) said: He who dies without recognizing the Imam of his age is like the one who had died during the times of jahiliyyah (before the advent of Islam) ; in other words, he dies as a Kaafir. The goal of this year s series of speeches by the students of ALI School is Mehdi Shanaasi, that is to understand and recognize Our Imam (AF) under the guidance of this Hadees of Rasool Allah (SAW). These speeches are available on the ALI School website. Muharram 2009 www.alischool.org Page 1 of 6
Praying For Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) Supplication (dua) is a subject that holds a very significant place in Islam. A lot of emphasis has been placed on embracing it. In light of traditions, we find that supplication is referred to as a 'weapon' by which man can repel calamities and difficulties and can combat all kinds of problems and tribulations. This 'weapon' provides him with tremendous strength and power and with its help a believer can pierce through all the curtains in front of him and scale such a lofty status that he becomes the cause of happiness and satisfaction of the Prophets (a.s) and Imams (a.s). Traditions of Imams (a.s) highlight numerous benefits that one obtains by supplicating. I am going to mention a few of them in my Today s Speech. Bonding / Relation: Whenever man is surrounded by difficulties, he generally finds himself alone to deal with them. At such a time, he needs his Creator the most. So it is necessary that his relation with his Creator is exact and enduring and which manifests his humility and modesty before his Lord. Purpose of Worship: In times of tribulations, worries, homelessness and such other difficulties, man complains only to his Creator. But it is a human shortcoming that man, in his haste, forgets what Allah desires of him. Allah has very clearly conveyed to his Prophet (s.a.w.a) that 'I have not created men and jinn except that they should worship Me' (Surah Zaariyaat (51): Verse 56) Similarly, Ameerul Momineen (a.s) says, : 'Supplication is the essence of worship'. But man has become so immersed and polluted in this material world that he has forgotten the sayings of the infallible Imams (a.s). He will have to face the consequences of his deeds in this world as well in the hereafter. As Ameerul Momineen (a.s) asserts, Today is the day of action and not of accounting while tomorrow is the day of accounting and not of action'. (Nahjul Balagha; Sermon no 24) Therefore, it is imperative that we ponder over our actions and take account of ourselves before death overcomes us. The Almighty Allah, in His infinite Grace, has shown His weak and frail servant the method of asking from Him so that he is guided to the right path. He says in the Holy Quran 'Call out to me and I shall answer you' (Surah Momin (40): Verse 60) Muharram 2009 www.alischool.org Page 2 of 6
So, it is necessary for man to know the manner of supplicating before he actually invokes. When man is aware of the right way to beseech Allah, he will most surely succeed in reaching his aim. Guidance towards the Right Path: It is essential to utilize the channel of divine representatives so that our prayers are accepted promptly. These divine representatives are the guides to the correct path. They are also referred to as 'Door of Allah' (Baab Allah) since Allah is reached (only) through them. Allah mentions about this in the Holy Quran 'And seek a medium to (reach) Him' (Surae Maidah (5): Verse 53) Prayers are accepted by sending benedictions and blessings upon these venerated personalities, as it is solely due to them that calamities and difficulties are dispelled from the universe. Who are these chaste personalities? They are the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) and his progeny about whom he (s.a.w.a) had willed 'Surely I am leaving among you two weighty things the Book of Allah and my Ahle Bait (a.s.). If you fasten unto both of them, you will never go astray...'(hadith e Thaqalayn) The Ahle Bait (a.s.) are those respected personalities who are bestowed with the choicest of divine blessings. In today's era, it is Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s) who is the link between the Creator and the creatures and is the access to divine pleasure. These chosen individuals are the ones who have taught mankind the method of worship and prayer. Their speech and assertions rank only below the Words of Allah and are far superior to the words of other creatures. Subjects in Supplications: It is clearly explained in all Islamic teachings that merely asking from Allah is not sufficient. Rather, the prayers should be accompanied by actions, efforts and steadfastness. So, the one who is desirous of sustenance, should actually strive for sustenance, along with his supplications. Same is the case with the one who wants to acquire knowledge and repel ignorance. We find in our supplications various topics connected with ethics and divine laws. For instance, supplications like Jawshan e Kabir, Makaaremul Akhlaq are brimming with moral teachings. It is necessary for a true believer that he should adorn himself with the characteristics mentioned in these supplications. Invocations like Abu Hamzah Sumaali highlight the fact that Allah's Mercy and Grace are dominant over His Anger and Displeasure. Dua e Nudbah on the other hand exemplifies how divine proofs arrived successively for man's guidance. The supplication makes a mention of the chain of guidance right from the first divine representative Hazrat Adam (a.s) till the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) and then continues till his last successor Imam Mahdi It Muharram 2009 www.alischool.org Page 3 of 6
also mentions the troubles inflicted upon them. Yet another supplication is Dua e Faraj, which states that Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s) is the (rightful) successor of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) and will fill this world with justice and equality like it would have been filled with oppression and tyranny before him. After his reappreance, Today is the 5th night of Moharram. Our majaalis continue. lnshallah, our eyes will shed more tears for the martyrs of Karbala. We will do more Matam e Imam Hussain. Azadaraan e Hussain (a.s.) On the day of Ashura Imam Hussain hardly has 72 men with him. They are not all grown up adults. Some of Imam Hussain's men are children. Bibi Zainab's young sons Aun and Mohammed, Tonight is the night of these two children, Aun o Mohammed. First, let us send our greetings to those mothers of Karbala who sacrificed their children for Islam. Mothers of Karbala were proud of their children. They loved their children. Of course, like any mother they had the heart of a mother. A mother loves her children the most. "Why then, did the Mothers of Karbala let their children die in Karbala?' THEY KNEW IMAM HUSSAIN WAS ON THE RIGHT PATH. THEY KNEW THEIR SACRIFICES WOULD HELP SAVE ISLAM AND US FROM THE FIRE OF HELL. Mothers of Karbala squashed their motherly love and sacrificed their children for Imam Hussain FOR ISLAM! Why shouldn't we cry and do matam for the Mothers of Karbala and their children Auno Mohammed, Qasim, Ali Akber and Ali Asghar. Majaalis e Karbala will never die. Matam e Karbala will never die. Yazids of yesterday have failed to stop it. Yazids of today will not be able to stop it. Yazids of tommorrow may try thousands of times to crush it, but Majaalis e Imam Hussain, Matam e Karbala, will not die. Allah Himself has promised to keep the name of Imam Hussain alive till the Day of Judgement. On the night of 9 th Muharram Bibi Zainab is with her two sons, Aun o Mohammed. "My sons, Aun o Mohammed, tomorrow is the day of battle. Your uncle, Imam Hussain's life will be in danger. My son, if anything happens to Uncle Imam Hussain, while you are still alive, I will be filled with Muharram 2009 www.alischool.org Page 4 of 6
shame. My Aun o Mohammed, I will not be able to face your grandmother, Bibi Fatemah, on the Day of Judgement. Please, my dearest sons, don't let me down. Be the first ones to sacrifice your lives." Ashura came. One by one, Imam Hussain's companions went to the battlefield and were killed. Since dawn, Bibi Zainab was watching the bodies being brought to the tent one by one. She called her sons, Auno Mohammed. "My sons, what are you waiting for? Why have you not been to the battlefield yet? Go and fight the enemies of Islam." "Mother, since dawn, we have been to Uncle Imam Hussain many times for permission to fight. He keeps refusing us. Mother, you help us. Ask Uncle Imam Hussain to give us permission to fight Jihad." Bibi Zainab called her brother, Imam Hussain, to her tent. "Brother Imam Hussain! a mother is begging you to let Aun o Mohammed go to the battlefield." "Zainab, my sister, Jehad is not wajib on children. How can I let my sister's sons be killed while I am still alive? No, Zainab, no!" Imam Hussain saw the disappointment on Zainab's face. Her eyes were filled with tears. Imam Hussain put his arms around Auno Mohammed and led them to their horses. He kissed them and helped them mount their horses. "Go, go and show those beastly men that you have the blood of Jaffer and Ali in your veins." Auno Mohammed looked at their mother and said: "Fl AMMANI LLAH, MOTHER! KHUDA HAFIZ, MOTHER!" "BISMILLAH, my sons." Auno Mohammed rode out on to the battlefield. They fought bravely together. They were the grandsons of Jaffer and Ali. They pushed the enemies back. Hundreds of Yazid's men were killed. Abbas and Imam Hussain watched the two brothers fight so fiercely despite being thirsty for three days. Abbas, who had trained Auno Mohammed in the art of sword fighting, was filled with pride. Muharram 2009 www.alischool.org Page 5 of 6
Umar Saad, Yazid's commander, got worried. He ordered his soldiers to separate the two brothers and then attack them from all sides. Auno Mohammed were separated. Each one was then surrounded by Yazid's soldiers. The two brothers were attacked by horsemen running from one side to another. Auno Mohammed were attacked with arrows, swords, spears and daggers from all sides. How much can two young children, thirsty and hungry for three days take? As they fell, they called out for their uncle. 'Uncle! Come quickly! Uncle, come and help us." Imam Hussain and Hazrat Abbas rushed to the battlefield. Imam e Zamana says in Ziarat e Nahiya As Salaamo A Lash Shifa iz Zaabelaate (Peace be upon the lips that were parched due to thirst) Muharram 2009 www.alischool.org Page 6 of 6