QUESTION: Why was Imam ‘Ali, despite his extraordinary abilities, wonderful intelligence, and great merits, less successful in state administration than his predecessors? ANSWER: That blessed man was destined for a more important task. Had he been successful in politics, he could not have become the “prince of saints.” He secured for himself a spiritual kingdom higher in rank than the greatest worldly position, one that will survive until the Day of Judgment. The war between ‘Ali and Mu‘awiya at Siffin (657) was one between caliphate and sultanate. Imam ‘Ali defended some religious commandments and Islamic truths against some principles of sultanate and political expedience, preferring the world to come over the present life. Mu‘awiya based his case on a dispensation from strict adherence to certain religious commandments so that he could reinforce Islamic social life through sultanate. Trying to pursue certain political policies even at the price of some religious principles, Mu‘awiya’s group fell into error. The struggle of Hasan and Husayn against the Umayyads was one of religion against nationalism. The Umayyads based the Muslim state on nationalism and thus preferred the bonds of kinship over those of Islam. This harmed the Muslim community in two ways: It annoyed and frightened the non-Arabs, and prevented serious thought about what was right and just. Racist rulers cannot practice justice, since they give priority to fellow nationals over co-religionists when dispensing rights and justice. Islam forbids this, as stated in a Tradition: “Islam forbids the racism of the Age of Ignorance and commands that there be no disparity between an (Abyssinian) black slave and a Qurayshi lord, provided both are Muslims.” Thus, Husayn rightly fought the Umayyads to re-establish the religious bond, and consequently attained the rank of martyrdom. QUESTION: If he was on the right side, why did he fail? Why did Divine Destiny and Compassion allow him to be subjected to such a tragic end? ANSWER: Some of his non-Arab supporters wanted to avenge their wounded national pride. This vindictiveness muddied the pure mission and sacred cause of Husayn and his close friends. The result was defeat. Divine Destiny allowed them to suffer such a painful end because Hasan, Husayn, and their descendants were destined for a spiritual kingdom. As it is usually hard to combine a spiritual and a worldly kingdom, they were made to stand aloof from worldly concerns and empty their hearts of worldly ambition. As a result, they were rewarded with a permanent spiritual kingdom and were chosen to lead the way followed by the greatest saints. YOUR THIRD QUESTION: Why were they treated so harshly? ANSWER: Three of the Umayyads’ principles of government caused some degree of wrong: People can be sacrificed to ensure the government’s security (a principle of ruthless politics); administration should be based on racial or national preference (ideological racism sacrifices anything for the good of the race or nation); and the traditional Umayyad– Hashimite rivalry, which continued under Mu‘awiya’s son Yazid and his like. There is also another factor. Some of Husayn’s non-Arab supporters hoped to avenge their wounded national pride and unjust treatment as virtual slaves under the Umayyads. Such people provoked the Umayyads’ racial feelings. From the viewpoint of Divine Destiny, however, Husayn and his relatives were rewarded with a spiritual kingdom so valuable and a spiritual rank so elevated that the suffering they endured at Karbala pales in comparison and would seem to them easy enough to bear. Consider the rank that privates may attain through martyrdom after an hour’s torture, which others obtain only after a decade of effort. If these martyred privates were asked how God treated them, they would answer that they had earned too much in return for too little a cost. -- From The Fifteenth Letter, Ustadh Said Nursi.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 21:36:28 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015