A Fair Judgment One of the famous Shi’a poets, Abol-Hassan Al-Refa1 said to “Ibn Ramin”2 the Shafe’i Faghih one day: O Ibn Ramin, did the prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) when he exited Medina for the battle of Tabook assign anyone to rule on his behalf? 3 Ibn Ramin: Yes. He assigned Ali Bin Abi-Talib (PBUH) for this task. Rafa: So why didn’t he tell the people of Medina to choose whoever you prefer, for that you will never go wrong (and I don’t need to choose a leader)? Ibn Ramin: The Prophet of Allah was worried that the people might get divided. Rafa: What was wrong if a division broke out, he was could easily repair the divide after he returned from the battle. Ibn Ramin; However, the act of the Prophet of Allah to choose a successor in his absence was more prudent and conceived. Rafa: Then for sure he must have chosen someone as his successor after his demise? Ibn Ramin: No. That is not so. Rafa: Was not the demise of the Prophet (PBUH&HP) more important than his journey? The worldly journey is short but the journey of death is long and eternal; So how come he did not choose a successor after his death not being worried about the division of his Ummah while he was he was thoughtful for his few day journey not choosing anyone deciding to resolve an eminent division after his return? Ibn ramin was silenced against the logic in Rafa’s words.4 The Prophet of Allah (PBUH&HP) used many occasions and methods to introduce his successor from the start of his invitation until his demise, and he depicted the standards of leadership and by showing the suitability of the Amir al-Moumenin (PBUH) for this important matter, he guaranteed the growth and permanence of his religion. The pages of history clearly reflect this truth, and valid historical sources are proof to this fact.5 The problem of the succession of the Amir al-Moumenin had a clear answer that was explained and self-evident. When the Prophet of Allah (PBUH&HP) informed the Muslims of his last days of life, they asked everything about their duties toward him after his death, except the succession for it was indefinitely obvious to them; they asked about how to perform ablution and the ceremonies, who should perform the Salat for the dead, where should they bury him, and other questions6. But no one asked that who is the leader of this Ummah after you? Had it any other reason than the fact that he had frequently made it obvious for the people? The truth is that they did not ask such question because they knew that in the Ghadir event, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) had made it clear with signs and had supervised the people paying allegiance to Ali Bin Abi-Talib (PBUH) 7. The various sources and valuable books such as the Al-Qadir have proven for many times that the Prophet of Allah (PBUH&HP) had not fallen short of fulfilling his duty in this regard, and he did all he can in order to ensure the Imamate of Amir al-Moumenin (PBUH); so that in Lady Fatima’s (PBUH) words, no room for any excuse be left8, and the people be able to find way by turning to the right Imam seeking the path of truth. Therefore one cannot deny the Prophet in this respect. Therefore, for sure, it was the mistake of the Ummah that were deceived by the Satan leaving the Household of the Prophet, similar to the tribe of Moses (PBUH) that in spite of all the warnings were deceived by the Samery. Yes, from that day, the dust of trouble and misery has been thrown to face of the Ummah due to their neglect and forgetfulness of the message of the Prophet (PBUH&HP); maybe they come to their senses and return to the correct path. Selection from: “Imam, the lonely one in era” by Dr. Murtaza Taheri (with minor changes) Roshd Website offers condolences to all Muslims, especially your dear friend, upon 28th of Safar, the anniversary of the demise of the last Prophet and the mercy upon the creation, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP), and the martyrdom of his grandson, Imam Hassan Mujtaba (PBUH). Roshd Islamic Shia Website Footnotes: 1. Abol-Hassan Al-Refa, (died at 360 AH in Baghdad) was a well-known Shiite poet. He has an anthology for his poems. He was a tailor and he had a shop in Mosul; thus he was known as Al-Refa meaning tailor. 2. Abdula Wahab Ibn Muhammad Ibn Umar Ibn Muhammad alBaghdadi known as Ibn-Ramin was the scholar Shafe’ee school of thought and he died at 430 AH. 3. This issue points out to the battle of Tabuk with Romans in the year 9 AH. The Prophet (PBUH&HP) left Imam Ali (PBUH) as his successor in Medina (before departure for the battle) to control the sensitivities in the country (Sirah Ibn Hisham, vol. 2, pg. 519; Irshad, vol. 1, pg. 156). 4. Managhib Aal AbiTalib, vol. 1, pg. 258 5. Examples are Yum al-Enzar (Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 2, pg. 320), Ghadir Incident (alGhadir, vol. 1, pg. 14 to 72), Manzelat incident (Sahih Muslem, vol. 15, pg. 174), Rayat (flag) incident (Tarikh Yaqubi, vol. 2, pg. 56) and many more incidents narrated other essential narration books such as Masnad Ahmad, Mustadrak alHakim and more Shiite & Sunni references. 6. Tarikh Tabari, vol. 1, pg. 1804 to 1806; al-Manaqib, pg. 545. 7. For more information please look up the Ghadir and its importance article in this link. 8. Lady Fatimah (PBUH): “… my father during the day of ghadir khum left no excuse for anyone [in term pledging with Ali as the successor of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP)] (Khisal, vol. 1, pg. 173)”
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 11:40:25 +0000