Nineteenth Ramadan Lecture Presented by Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Badruddin Al-Houthi, 1444 A.H.

Imam Ali
the hero of Islam and the embodiment of perfect faith

I seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, the outcast.

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Praise is to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. I believe that there is no god but Allah, the Sovereign and the Manifest Truth, and that Muhammad, our master, is His servant, Messenger, and Last Prophet.

O Allah, confer Your salat and blessings upon Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad as You conferred Your salat and blessings upon Ibrahim and the Family of Ibrahim. You are Owner of Praise, Owner of Glory! And be pleased with Muhammad's good companions and all Your righteous servants and mujahidin.

O Allah, guide us and grant us acceptance, for You are All-Hearing, All-Knowing; accept our repentance, for You are the Relenting and the Merciful.

Brothers and sisters, peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

May Allah increase our reward and yours on the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Commander of the Believers, the Master of the Guardians, and the Imam of the Mutaqin, Ali ibn Abi Talib (PBUH). He was martyred on the twenty-first night of the blessed month of Ramadan, in the year forty after the Prophet's migration, in the Mosque of Kufa while he was going out to perform the dawn prayer in the courtyard of the mosque.

The Commander of the Believers, Ali (PBUH), in what he represents to the Ummah as a guide for the Ummah after its Prophet (PBUH&F) and the link that connects the Ummah to the Prophet and the message and to the genuine extension of Islam in its purity and correct path—His martyrdom and targeting represents a great loss for the Ummah and evidence of a terrible deviation in its reality. It also represents a very dangerous targeting of the Ummah itself.

 

When the Commander of the Believers (PBUH) was martyred at the hands of that person whom the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F) referred to as the most wretched among the Ummah and the last generations and with a sword belonging to this Ummah, this indicates an extremely serious deviation in the reality of the Ummah, in its understanding of Islam, its affiliation to Islam, and its connection to Islam in its pure form. This signifies an extremely serious deviation that occurred, and its consequences and effects led to the targeting of the most pious, the most righteous, the best man among the Ummah, and the guide of the Ummah after its Prophet (PBUH&F).

Furthermore, targeting him with all the greatness of his perfect faith, his position in Islam, and his magnificent status indicates a very extreme audacity that can only arise from a reality of very bad and serious deviation.

The targeting directed against him was not just an assassination of a leader or a person in charge at the top of the Islamic state, and a leader of the Islamic Ummah.

  • It targeted him in what he represents to the Ummah, in his central and important role in guiding the Ummah, in raising the Ummah on Islam, in preserving it, and in preserving the march of Islam within it to remain in the correct direction. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F) described him as the one who would fight for the interpretation of the Quran, just as the Prophet fought for its revelation.
  • It was also the kind of targeting directed against him and the Ummah to enable the tyrants to impose their control and allow tyranny to seize the Ummah. And this was exactly what happened after the martyrdom of the Commander of the Believers (PBUH), as the criminal tyrants succeeded in reaching the top of leadership and gaining complete control over the Ummah. It was a terrible loss, and its effects and consequences extended to every generation of the Ummah, generation after generation.

When we speak about the Commander of the Believers (PBUH), we speak about a comprehensive school. Speaking about him is speaking about Islam, its values, principles, and ethics, and the Holy Quran and its great guidance. He embodied Islam, and he was the speaking Quran. Speaking about him in terms of his great faith perfection, the qualities, values, innate, humane, and Islamic morals he attained, the tremendous perfection he reached in that regard, and what the Messenger (PBUH&F) said about him—this enlightens us and reveals his significance to us as an Islamic ummah. That is because when we speak about him, we do not only speak about a person who only achieved the pinnacle of faith and became a model of faith perfection and religious values. Rather, it is about the crucial role he played within the Ummah, as revealed by the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F) in his significant teachings known to the entire Ummah.

The outstanding virtues and qualities of Imam Ali (PBUH)

The outstanding virtues and qualities of Imam Ali (PBUH) are numerous. Foremost among them is that he was born in the Kaaba and was the martyr of the mihrab . Between his birth and martyrdom, he led a pure life, free from any impurities of polytheism, disbelief, immorality, and the evils of the Age of Ignorance. His life was distinguished by faith, devotion, good deeds, and noble and great values.

He was the first to embrace Islam since its first day, leading the way from the very beginning without any hesitation, without any association with polytheism or contamination with the impurities from the Age of Ignorance. His early embrace of Islam was distinguished by his profound, conscious, and sincere faith, by his transcendence in faith perfection, and by his unwavering uprightness throughout his life. That is why Allah (Glory be to Him) says about the virtue of taking the lead and being of the pioneers, {'And the pioneers, the pioneers: Those are the ones brought near '}.

He was the one who, upon entering Islam, fully comprehended Islam in its principles and values, embodying them distinctively throughout his life's journey in every aspect. In his commitment to Jihad, he was also the first one to sell himself to Allah and the first one to voluntarily put his life in danger for the sake of Allah. He was the champion of Islam, the great mujahid, and the man of challenging missions and unforgettable deeds.

He was the first to embody Allah's saying, {'And of mankind is he who sells himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is Ever Gracious to servants'}, as well as His saying, {'Do you consider providing the pilgrims with water and maintaining the Sacred Mosque as equal to believing in Allah and the Last Day and struggling in the cause of Allah? They are not equal in Allah's sight. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people'}.

He was the hero of critical moments:

  • In the Battle of Badr, the Day of Criterion , he played the most distinguished role in killing the polytheists, their heroes, and their leaders and in demonstrating devotion and bravery in that significant battle.
  • On the Day of Uhud, he played the most distinguished role due to his devotion, steadfastness, and bravery. Even Gabriel said about him, 'This is the solidarity.' And even people heard the voice of the caller, shouting, 'There is no sword but Dhul-Fiqar, and no youth but Ali.'
  • On the Day of the Trench, when he stood out to fight Amr ibn Abd Wudd Al-Amiri and killed him, the Prophet Muhammad described him by saying, 'The entirety of faith stood out in the face of the entirety of disbelief.'
  • In other significant moments, he was remembered for his devotion, steadfastness, and bravery. He was the conqueror of Khaybar. On that day, the Prophet Muhammad said, 'I am going to give the flag tomorrow to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger and is loved by Allah and His Messenger. He bravely attacks and never runs away; Allah will bring victory under his leadership.'

 Thus, in the rest of the critical moments of Islam, he was a man of prominent and distinguished contribution, great effort, immense devotion, and clear and remarkable impact.

Imam Ali is the role model of the perfection of faith and the embodiment of values, not only at the level of Jihad in the cause of Allah but also at all levels, even though Jihad in the cause of Allah is of the most important things that prove the credibility of religious affiliation and the perfection of faith.

At the level of worshiping, he was that worshiper who was obedient and submissive to Allah, and he was the one the Quran witnessed to his proper establishment of Salat. The Quan and history also confirmed his submission and devotion to Allah (the Almighty).

In the position of giving, spending, and mercy towards the weak and the needy, he was the one who donated his ring while bowing down in worship. Despite being in an extraordinary state of devotion to Allah (the Almighty), he was attentive to the poor person's need and hastened to give in charity for him. Though fasting and hungry, he was also the one who prioritized feeding others with the only food he had: {'And they give food—despite their desire for it—to the poor, the orphan, and the captive'}.

When it comes to knowledge, awareness, and insight, he was the conscious ear and the gate of the city of knowledge about which the Messenger said, 'I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate.'

Similarly in all domains of faith, he was the foremost and the perfect believer. And he was the one in whom all values and principles of Islam were perfectly realized and exemplified at the highest level. He was the one who demonstrated the perfect form of faith, Islamic values, and the essence of Islam, and he was the one who bore witness to the great educational impact of Islam on man and its influence in the reality of life.

Among the most important Prophetic narrations that are well known among the entire Ummah

He was mentioned in many Prophetic narrations (which are well-known among the Ummah with its various groups, sects, and denominations), and this clarifies what the Commander of the Believers (PBUH) means to us.

One of the most well-known and authentic narrations from the Prophet (PBUH&F) is his saying, 'You are to me in the position that Harun was to Musa, except that there is no prophet after me.' This is a very important statement, which we must comprehend and understand, for it clarifies to us what Ali means to us. The Messenger specified Imam Ali's position to him to be 'in the position that Harun was to Musa' with one exception: being a prophet—'except that there is no prophet after me.' He , in his status, in his great position of faith, and in his role in the Ummah, is in the position Harun was to Musa. in the ummah of Musa, we can imagine no one who is more important than Harun, not in his faith perfection, his virtue, his role, or his mission, nor in what he meant to the ummah of Musa. Indeed, we cannot imagine anyone of an equal or more important position to Musa than Harun. This is exactly the position of the Commander of the Believers in this Ummah, which believes that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F) is a guide, a prophet, a teacher, a leader, and a role model. So the Commander of the Believers (PBUH) has the same position of Harun, except that he is not a prophet.

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F) said, 'Ali is with the Quran, and the Quran is with Ali.' This statement emphasizes how he aligned himself with the Quran as a source of guidance in his positions throughout his life's journey. Hence, he is in the position of a role model and a guide who completely aligned himself with the Holy Quran throughout his life in his actions, in his role, and in his commitment.

More than that, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F) revealed that Imam Ali (PBUH) would fight for the interpretation of the Quran. This served as evidence that he would preserve the path of Islam according to the correct understanding of the Quran in matters of religion and the journey of the Ummah based on its faith and belonging. When deviations occur within the Ummah, when incorrect misconceptions that are inconsistent with the true essence of Islam arise and affect many individuals within the Ummah, this crucial role remains for Imam Ali (PBUH) in preserving and fighting for the interpretation of the Quran, aiming to ensure that the journey of this Ummah remains based on its Quran, in its correct understanding and true concepts.

'Ali is with the truth, and the truth is with Ali.' This statement indicates that he sticks to the truth in his positions and throughout his life's journey. He leads the Ummah based on the truth, and he never deviates or sways away from the truth, even when falsehood attempts to infiltrate the Muslim Ummah, misleading some of its members under the guise of truth.

One of the most important narrations that are well known and mass transmitted among the Muslim Ummah is the saying of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&F) during the event of Ghadir Khumm: 'Surely, Allah is my mawla , and I am the mawla of the believers. I have more authority over them than they have over themselves. So, whoever I am his mawla, then Ali is his mawla. O Allah, be the ally of those who follow him and the enemy of those who take him as an enemy, stand with whoever stands with him, and abandon whoever abandons him.' This saying highlights the authority of the Commander of the Believers that he is the mawla of every believer after Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&F), connecting him to the guidance and teachings of the Prophet.

The Messenger (PBUH&F) said about him, 'Only a believer loves you, and only a munafiq hates you.' He (PBUH) is what distinguishes between true believers and munafiqin. The deviations that have affected the Muslim Ummah are a result of the efforts of munafiqin. The movement of nifaq carried out its activities based on enmity, hatred, and opposition towards Ali due to what he, the Commander of the Believers, represents as the authentic, untainted, and accurate embodiment of Islam and the Holy Quran in its accurate concepts and interpretation. The munafiqin saw in Imam Ali (PBUH) what stood in their way, and they considered him a problem for them in what he represented to the Ummah, in his role in the Ummah, in what he offered to the Ummah, and in his movement with the Ummah. This is the problem of nifaq and munafiqin with the Commander of the Believers (PBUH).

Imam Ali as the school of awareness, insight, and steadfastness!

Indeed, the Commander of the Believers is a comprehensive school, and the discussion about him is very broad: his religious and faith-based legacy, the example of his life's journey, what the Messenger (PBUH&F) stated about him, and his important, useful words of wisdom, letters, and teachings.

We can turn to one of the important and prominent aspects in his journey, his words, and his positions—that is his awareness, insight, and steadfastness in the face of burdens, challenges, difficulties, and dangers and how the Commander of the Believers (PBUH) exhibited an extraordinary example, starting with the major incident of martyrdom in Allah's cause.

 

It is well known that on the nineteenth night of Ramadan, when Ibn Muljam (May Allah curse him) struck him on his head with a sword, the Commander of the Believers said, 'By the lord of the Kaaba, I have succeeded!' This is what he said, 'By the lord of the Kaaba, I have succeeded!' He did not lament or express regret or loss, but declared his success, swearing, 'By the lord of the Kaaba, I have succeeded!' He had no doubt about the path, nor did he lack insight: He was sure that he was walking in the path that leads to success. He knew that the outcome of that would be Jannah, the satisfaction of Allah, and the great triumph that Allah has promised. That is why he welcomed martyrdom with an open heart, declaring his success and experiencing deep happiness.

In the era of the Prophet, when the Prophet (PBUH&F) told him that he would be killed by a man who belonged to this Ummah and who was described by the Prophet as the most wretched of the Ummah (because he led to its misery) and the most wretched of the last generations as he brought forth misery to them all, just as that man who had killed the camel of Thamud was called the most wretched of the former generations—when the Prophet told him that his holy beard would be dyed with the blood of his head, what was his response? What was his reaction? How did he express it? He asked, 'While faithful to my religion, O Messenger of Allah?' He replied, 'Yes'. So he said, 'Then, it is not a big matter.'

This manifests to us the spirit of the Commander of the Believers (PBUH) and his great awareness, as all what he was concerned about was faithfulness to his religion, which was the important matter for him—faithfulness to his religion. It also expresses the depth of his awareness and his faith as well as his great insight. He was aware that the most important thing for a person is faithfulness to his religion and that the greatest loss of a person is when he loses his religion. If one loses his religion, it means he loses his worldly life, his future in the Hereafter, his dignity, and everything. He was also aware of the reality the Ummah would experience and what would happen in that reality—turmoil, deviation, and extremely serious issues—in which one should feel worried about his religion and his faithfulness to his religion. The Prophet said to Imam Ali, 'Yes', and Imam Ali replied, 'Then, it is not a big matter.' For him, there was no problem in being a martyr or in what would happen to him.

In another instance, a person asked Imam Ali (PBUH) about fitnah , and he replied:

When Allah (the Almighty) sent down the verse, {'Do people think once they say, "We believe," that they will be left without being tested with fitnah '}, I came to know that fitnah would not befall us as long as the Prophet (PBUH&F) is among us. So I said, 'O Prophet of Allah, what is this fitnah of which Allah (the Almighty) has informed you?' He replied, 'O `Ali, my people will fall into fitnah after me.' I said, 'O Prophet of Allah, on the day of Uhud, when people had fallen martyrs and I was not among them, and that was distressing for me, did you not say to me, "Cheer up, as martyrdom is for you hereafter?" The Prophet replied, 'Yes it is so, but what about your enduring then?' I said, 'O Prophet of Allah, this is not an occasion for endurance, but rather an occasion for cheering up and gratefulness.'

We can see how Imam Ali (PBUH) viewed martyrdom in the path of Allah. He considered it a great triumph. He believed that martyrdom was not a situation requiring patience but rather a situation for glad tidings and gratitude.

Imam Ali (PBUH) had that insightful view and that great spirit of faith and Jihad. This reflects a high level of insight, deep awareness, great faith, immense devotion, a longing for meeting Allah (Glory be to Him), and a great concern for the matters of the Hereafter.

The methodology of Imam Ali in confronting the enemies of Allah

In his words and messages, he focused on the matter of insight and awareness. He expressed his insight, awareness, and insight-driven steadfastness, as he said after his enemies moved to wage war against him:

Beware! Shaytan has collected his group and assembled his horse-men and foot-soldiers. Surely, with me is my insight. I have neither deceived myself nor ever been deceived. By Allah, I shall fill to the brim for them a cistern from which I alone would draw water. They can neither turn away from it nor return to it.

This is how he moved in the face of enemies and their pursuit of turmoil, their misguidance, their falsehood, and their endeavour to deviate the Ummah under the flag of Shaytan. They moved under the flag of Shaytan, but he stood up to them with his insight, saying, 'I have my insight.' He moved forward with awareness, certainty, proper understanding, and a correct perspective, saying: 'I have neither deceived myself nor ever been deceived.'

In response to a message from his brother, Aqeel ibn Abi Talib, Imam Ali (PBUH) said, 'As for your enquiry about my opinion on fighting, I am in favour of fighting those who regard fighting as lawful until I die. The abundance of men around me does not increase me in might nor does their dispersal from me cause any loneliness.' Pay attention to the significance of this statement! That is because his movement was based on principles, certainty, awareness, and insight and driven by faith and a sense of faith responsibility. That's why he says, 'The abundance of men around me does not increase me in might nor does their dispersal from me cause any loneliness.' He remains steadfast in all circumstances and situations. 'Surely, do not consider the son of your father as being weak or afraid, even though all people have forsaken him, or bowing down submissively before injustice.' He embodies the dignity of faith, the pride of faith, and the steadfastness of faith regardless of the circumstances, regardless of any wavering from people's side.

He (PBUH) also says:

By Allah, if I had encountered them alone and they had been so numerous as to fill the earth to the brim, I would not have worried or become perplexed. I lack no insight within myself or conviction from Allah about their misguidance and my guidance. And I am hopeful and expectant that I will meet Allah and get His good reward.

This was the kind of spirit the Commander of the Believers (PBUH) had. It is a significant school for us,

to move with insight and awareness, in a time where misguidance is spreading and possesses means of deception unlike any previous time. We live in a time where misguidance has reached its peak. We need awareness and insight; we need to move from an unwavering and firm position of faith. We should move with certainty and insight from our Lord, without being swayed or affected by the wavering of people, the magnitude of difficulties, or the dangers in confronting the enemies.

Imam Ali (PBUH) says, 'I have never doubted the truth since I recognized it.' He is the one who never had any doubts about the truth; he never wavered, just as Allah says, {'Only those are believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and have never since doubted'}. We truly need to be like this in our awareness of the truth, our faith in the truth, our conviction of the truth, and our insight about the truth so that we never doubt and no one can shake our beliefs at any stage or influence our convictions regarding the truth in any circumstance, neither through skepticism, nor through the pressure of events, nor through the difficulty of reality, nor through the magnitude of challenges.

He (PBUH) is the one who said, 'Do not make your knowledge ignorance and your certainty doubt. If you know, act, and if you are certain, advance.' Hence, we do benefit greatly from the Commander of the Believers as he is a comprehensive school through which we learn about Islam, truth, and the right concepts of the Quran. He acts as a pure and reliable link that connects us to the Prophet, a link that we trust and never doubt.

Religious education and instruction must incorporate the sayings attributed to the Commander of the Believers and known for their authenticity. We must know about his life history, life, and Jihad and realize his role in this Ummah and the nature of our faith-based relationship with him in order to join the path of the believers—'Only a believer loves you'—to have no room for nifaq , and to protect ourselves and our arena from the influence of munafiqin, whose hatred to the Commander of the Believers exposes them and manifests their reality, as an important and essential sign.

The importance of taking care of the last ten nights and seizing the great opportunity

Besides, in the last ten nights of Ramadan, it is really important for a person to devote himself to acts of worship, focus on supplication, and turn to Allah (Glory be to Him), as the Night of Qadr is expected to occur in these nights more than in other nights of Ramadan—the probability of its occurrence in these nights is great. The Night of Qadr is of great importance, as Allah said about it, {'On that night is made distinct every precise matter'}, and He also said about it, {'Indeed, We sent this down on the night of Qadr . And what will make you realize what the night of Qadr is? The night of Qadr is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is till the rising of dawn'}.

It is the night during which Allah sent down the Holy Quran, the angels descend, Allah condemns the affairs of His servants in detail regarding what He writes for or against them, reward gets multiplied in a tremendous way for the accepted good deeds, mercy is granted, and supplication is answered.

It is an incredibly important opportunity that Allah has granted us to turn to Him, to receive His mercy, to attain great reward, and to experience significant leaps in practical reality. Allah has provided you with the chance to make tremendous leaps in it, which may equal a lifetime of good deeds in terms of the immense reward and bounty one can receive.

Moreover, in the circumstances of our lives and life's journey—as we encounter various challenges, significant risks, troubles, and requirements and experience various conditions as individuals or on a broader level as a nation or ummah that encounters challenges and threats and has hopes and aspirations—we are in need of Allah, His mercy, His assistance, His support, His victory, His forgiveness, and His comprehensive care. We need to strive for our salvation through supplication and prayers and through doing good deeds that grant us salvation, triumph, and prosperity. So let's turn to Allah (the Almighty) on these nights in a serious and sincere way.

It is a great injustice, a loss, and a waste for a person to waste nights like these, disregarding their importance, the immense merit in them, and the great opportunity they hold. One should show greater devotion. It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F) used to give them special attention and show more devotion to worshiping and supplicating Allah (the Almighty) and engaging in all forms of worship and remembrance more than he did in the earlier days of Ramadan. Therefore, instead of falling into a state of sluggishness and neglect in the remaining days of Ramadan, one should strive harder, seek to do more good deeds, and be more determined to remain on the right course. One should also seek to turn to Allah (Glory be to Him) more and more.

O Allah, accept our fasting, nights of worship, and good deeds. You are All-Hearing!

O Allah (Glory be to You), have mercy on our virtuous martyrs, heal the wounded among us, set free our captives, and grant us victory, for You are All-Hearing!

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.