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THE INFALLIBLE IMAM ALI AL-NAQI (A.S.)
Imam Ali al-Naqi (a.s.) was our
10th Imam. He was
born in Madinah on 5th Rajab
in 212 A.H. and was martyred on
3rd Rajab 254 A.H.
and was buried in his home in
Samarra, Iraq.
Like his forefathers, he was
also very kind to the slaves.
One day he was going somewhere,
he saw that a man was severely
beating his slave. The Imam said
to him: “O’man, is this weak man
your creature? “Not my creature,
but my slave.” replied the man.
The Imam said: “You have not
created him, you have only
purchased him for few Dirhams
and do you have the right to
beat him so much?” The man said:
“Yes, that is why I am beating
him. He is my disobedient
slave.” The Imam said: “If
according to you, a disobedient
slave is eligible for such
punishment, for how much
punishment a disobedient
creature would be eligible? Do
you not disobey the commands of
Allah? Are you not the same
person who lied and became
drunk? If Allah punishes you for
that disobedience, what would be
your condition?”
When Muatawakkil, the Abbasside
caliph had made Imam’s life
difficult, the Imam used to go
without food but he never
complained to any one about it.
One day, he managed to get some
food after being hungry for two
mealtimes. He was about to
commence eating when a guest
arrived. He placed his food
before the guest in a cheerful
manner and did not at all let
him realize that he already
missed two meals. When the
person finished eating, he gave
the Imam some Khums money. The
Imam spent it on poor and
destitute and slept hungry.
Ziarat-e-Jamia:
One of the learned companions of
the Imam was Musa bin Abdullah
an-Naqa’i. Once he went to the
Imam and requested for a
composite Dua’a which he could
recite whenever he visits for
Ziarat of any Imams of the
Infallible Imams of Ahlul Bayt
(a.s.). The Imam (a.s.) dictated
to him a Ziarat which became
famous as “Ziarat-e-Jaamia”
Intellectual qualities:
Like other Imams of AhlulBayt
(a.s.), Imam Ali al-Naqi was
also divinely gifted. When
Mutawakkil was poisoned by his
opponents, he vowed that if he
survived he would give “a lot
of money” in charity. When
he recovered from the poison,
there was a difference of
opinion among scholars regarding
what constituted “lot of money?”
At last, the Mutawakkil invited
Imam Ali al-Naqi (a.s.) and
requested his opinion about it.
He said: “Eighty Dirhams be
given in charity” When
Mutawakkil requested for an
explanation, the Imam (a.s.)
said: “The Almighty Allah
said: “Allah certainly helped on
a lot of occasions” Since the
military expeditions of the
Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) were
eighty in number, it may be
concluded that “a lot” denotes
eighty.” The reply of the Imam
pleased Mutawakkil.
A Polytheist committed
fornication with a Muslim woman.
He was brought to Mutawakkil.
When Mutawakkil wanted to sentence
him, he became a Muslim.
Qazi Yahya said that he cannot
be sentenced then because he was
converted and all his past sins
were remitted. Someone suggested
that the opinion of the
Infallible Imam Ali al-Naqi be
sought. The Imam said: “He
should be beaten till he dies” The
court scholars refused to accept
this verdict and requested an
explanation. The Imam said:
“A clear verdict is given in Surah
al-Momin Ayah 84 “But
when they saw our punishment,
they said: We believe in Allah
alone and we deny what we used
to associate with Him.”
Piety of the Imam:
Someone lied to Mutawakkil that
Imam Ali al-Naqi was leading a
luxurious life, had collected a
lot of wealth and weapons in his
house, and was secretly raising
an army of his supporters.
Mutawakill ordered that all the
belongings of Imam’s house may
be collected. When the soldiers
entered the Imam’s house, they
found only a sack, a coarse
shirt of wool and some clay
utensils. When this was reported
to Mutawakill, he punished the
man who had given false report.
Worship of Imam Ali al-Naqi:
Mutawakkil brought the Imam from
Madinah and imprisoned him
without any reason and put a
harsh man in-charge of the
prison. But the man became a
devotee of the Imam. When
Mutawakill came to know of the
situation, he called the jailor
and inquired about the truth.
The jailor said: “O Chief!
This person seems to be higher
than angels in spiritual
accomplishments. I have never
seen him eat or drink during the
day nor sleep at night. His
favorite activity is the prayer
and remembrance of Allah. He
laments so intensely that his
beard is wet with his tears. He
recites the Glorious Qur’an in
such a melodious voice that even
if one who hears it and has a
heart of stone, it would melt
like wax.”
Affection of Imam Ali al-Naqi
In spite of leading an
impoverished life in Samarra, he
was not neglectful of the poor
creatures of Allah. He himself
visited the widows and orphans
and carried food on his back for
them while he himself remained
hungry. If an orphan came in his
presence, he would caress his
head affectionately and if he
desired something the Imam would
provide to him.
Sayings of Imam Ali al-Naqi:
Others will fear him who fears
Allah. He who obeys Allah will
be obeyed. He, who obeys Allah,
will not care for the
dissatisfaction of His
creatures. He, who enrages the
Creator, should be sure of
encountering the dissatisfaction
of the creatures.
Do not expect honesty and purity
of intentions from someone who
has suffered from your malice;
do not expect loyalty from one
to whom you have been disloyal;
do not expect goodwill from
someone whom you regard with
ill-will; his heart towards you
is the same as your heart
towards him.
There are certain places in
which Allah wants His servants
to supplicate to Him. One of
these places is the tomb of Imam
Husayn (a.s.), the King of the
Martyrs (a.s.).
No one can describe Allah with
attributes other than those
which He describes Himself. How
can any one describe Him when
senses are too short to perceive
Him, illusions are too short to
comprehend Him, ideas are too
short to mark Him, and sights
are too short to appreciate Him?
He is remote in His nearness and
near in His remoteness. He
created the “how” without being
asked “how” and founded the
“where” without being asked
“where?”
He is beyond how and where. He
is the One and the Only. Exalted
be His Majesty and Sacred being
His names.
The neglector of “Bismillah” is
the same as the neglector of
(the obligatory) prayers.
Reference:
Akhlaq-e-A’imma, Morals and
Manners of the Holy Imams by
Maulana Zafar Hasan Amrohvi
Fourteen Masoomeen by Peer
Muhammad Trust, London
Imam Reza Network
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