Esra NEWS Agency: the martyrdom of Ali bin Abi Talib (peace be upon him) is upon us and we are going through some of the statements of Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli regarding the greatness of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him);

Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, "For those who consider themselves to be "Shia" of Imam Ali (P.B.U.H), gaining knowledge about the character of the infallible Imam (P.B.U.H) is a duty and they should not be negligent in doing it. Any kind of Negligence and carelessness in this matter leads to losses of the grace of knowing and awareness about someone that even strangers were surprised at his high status and bowed down.

 Isn't it that "Shia" means devotee and follower? And is it other than this that the obedience and following of Hazrat Mouli Al-Mowahadin (P.B.U.H) depends on the knowledge about his personality and until this knowledge and insight is not obtained, "following" will not be objectively realized? Therefore, knowing the characteristics of the Commander of the Faithful (P.B.U.H) is essential and vital for every claimant of following that divine leader.

Indeed, how can one be carless about taking sips from the boundless ocean of such a character who is a combination of opposite traits and characteristics, and at the same time, speak his name and call himself his lover? To carry out the duty of knowing Imam, the most solid and strategic way is to listen to the teachings and guidelines that this great leader made about himself. although we believe that what Hazrat Ali (P.B.U.H) said about himself is very small portion of his greatness.

It is obvious that, in explaining the words of that infallible Imam, the scholars and Islamic thinkers who have learned lessons and wisdom in the school of Imam Ali (P.B.U.H) for many years, have a deep and comprehensive perspective. the contemporary jurist and thinker Ayatollah Javadi Amoli especially skilled in this field and gives us insight and knowledge in this matter.

Knowing the high position of Hazrat Ali (P.B.U.H) and teaching others about it is not possible except for the infallible imams. Therefore, it is the best to know that Imam by relying on some of his own words, which show his peerless wisdom.

1. In sermon 192 of Nahj al-Balagha, when he describes the emergence of Islam and praises the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H), he says:

The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) raised me in his home at the very beginning of my life, and every day a chapter of science and ethics opens for me and calls me to follow it, "یرفع لی فی کل یوم من اخلاقه علما و یامرنی بالاقتداء به". And every year when he went to Mount Hara and worshiped Allah there, I saw him and no one saw him except me, "و لقد کان یجاور فی کل سنه بحراء ‌فاراه و لایراه غیری"

In the house where Islam had appeared, there was no one except the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and Khadijah (P.B.U.H) and I was the third person among them. I saw the light of revelation and the message and smelled the breeze of prophecy "ولم یجمع بیت واحد یومئذ فی الاسلام غیر رسول الله (ص) و خدیجه و انا ثالثهما. اری نور الوحی و الرساله و اشم ریح النبوه".

That divine breath that smells the unseen breeze, which existed in the Prophets (pbut), was also present in Ali (P.B.U.H). When Yusuf's brothers left Egypt and brought his shirt with them, Hazrat Yaqub (P.B.U.H) said decisively and emphatically at a far distance: "I smell the breeze and smell of Yusuf, "انی لاجد ریح یوسف لولا ان تفندون" (1)

A nose that smells of the unseen is not a physical or material nose, just as prophethood is not of this nature and physical realm. Only with the sense of smell of unseen one can recognize the smell of prophethood, which is a matter of unseen realm.

Ali (P.B.U.H) also says: When the revelation came to the Prophet, I heard the moaning of Satan. I said to the Prophet (P.B.U.H): What is this moaning and screaming? He answered: It is frustration of Satan for he realized that he will no longer be worshipped, because where Towhid , prophethood and Risalah rule, Satan will not be worshiped there. "ولقد سمعت رنه الشیطان حین نزل الوحی علیه (ص) فقلت: یا رسول‌الله ما هذه الرنه؟ فقال: هذا الشیطان قد ایس من عبادته". Then he said: O Ali! whatever I see, you also see and whatever I hear, you also hear, except that you are not a prophet, but you are my minister and you are solidly rooted on good انک تسمع ما اسمع و تری ما اری الا انک لست بنبی و لکنک لوزیر و انک علی خیر" (2)

2. Hazrat Ali (P.B.U.H) said in the third sermon, which is known as the "Shiqshaqiyyah" sermon: "ینحدر عنی السیل ولایرقی الی الطیر", I am that high mountain from which the flood of knowledge flows on my footheels! Because every mountain is not prone to floods, and floods only rise from high and high mountains, and no flying bird can reach my lofty position.

The thought of an ordinary thinker does not reach the high position of Ali bin Abi Talib, and ordinary people are not capable of digesting and learning the flood-like knowledge of this divine wiseman, because one cannot stand against the flood, but one must benefit from its sides as much as possible.

3. In sermon 189, he said in his scientific position,

"ایهاالناس! سلونی قبل ان تفقدونی فلانا بطرف السماء اعلم منی بطرق الارض".

In these words, his holiness talks about himself mention two realms, just as the world also- has two realms, the realm of physic and the world of truth, the world of the unseen and the world of facts. He says: my position in the realm of unseen is much greater than what you see! My knowledge of heavenly sciences is greater than my knowledge of earthly sciences! Because the unseen is greater than what we can see, and those with knowledge of the unseen are greater than those related to the visible world.

4. In cermony 175, he says: والله لو شئت ان اخبر کل رجل منکم بمخرجه و مولجه و جمیع شانه لفعلت!‌ و لکن اخاف ان تکفروا فی برسول الله (ص) الا و انی مفضیه الی الخاصه ممن یومن ذلک منه.

By God, if I want to describe the story of your life, from its beginning to the end, and how you start and finish works, I can, because I am aware of your past and future - by Allah's permission - but I am afraid that you will not endure and Say: How come the Messenger of Allah did not say that and Ali (P.B.U.H) says, then you think Ali (P.B.U.H) is higher than the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) and this issue make the basis for your intellectual deviation. Be aware that I share some of the secrets of the world with trusted followers. This is an example of Ali's (P.B.U.H) scientific dominance over the unseen world, and the unseen world dominated the visible world.

5. In sermon 158, he introduces himself as the speaker of the revelation and says,

 " ذلک القرآن فاستنطقوه و لن ینطق و لکن اخبرکم عنه الا ان فیه علم ما یاتی و الحدیث عن الماضی و دواء دائکم و نظم ما بینکم."

The Qur'an speaks, you ask the Qur'an, but it never talks, but I am the spokesman of the Qur'an and I inform you of its content. Be aware that the knowledge of the future, the talk of the past, the medicine for pains and the order of your life affairs are in the Qur'an.

6. In sermon 109, he says: We are the tree of prophethood, the tree of prophethood is rooted in our family, and the grace of the prophethood descends on this family. The angels of the Almighty Allah visit our family, and we are the base for the knowledge, and we are the fountain of wisdom.

نحن شجره النبوه و محط الرساله و مختلف الملائکه و معادن العلم و ینابیع الحکم".

The center of knowledge and wisdom are Ali and his descendants, and just as the Holy Quran is clear and expressive in explaining wisdom, Amir Mominan (P.B.U.H), who is a prominent student of this book and the speaking Quran, will be the best exponent of wisdom.

The description that Allah gave for the Qur'an, Ali (P.B.U.H) describes the example of that attribute for himself. Allah says about the greatness of the Qur'an: "لو انزلنا هذا القران علی جبل لرایته خاشعا متصدعا من خشیة الله", this Quran is so heavy that if we send it down on the mountain, the mountain will crumble.

In the same way that digesting heavy knowledge is not possible for everyone and it probably gives some people dizziness and a headache, the high teachings of Qur'an explode the mountain and divide it to pieces, and this is a parable that clarifies the matter: "و تلک الامثال نضربها للناس" (3)

After the death of Sahl bin Hanif Ansari, who was one of the long-time companions and students of the Mouli al-Muwahaddin school, Amir Al-Mominan (P.B.U.H) said: "If a mountain tries to digest my love, it will disintegrate." "لو احبنی جبل لتهافت" (4) And the knowledge of Ali (P.B.U.H) is not in possible for a mountain, just as it is not capable of digesting the high meanings of the Qur'an.

7. In 184^th saying of Nahj Al-Balagheh, he says, "ما شککت فی الحق مذ اریته", from that moment when the truth was shown to me and the truth became evident to me, I did not doubt it.

Yes! Ali (P.B.U.H) who was born on the nature of monotheism, "فانی ولدت علی الفطره", did not doubt it from the moment the truth was shown to him and he remained firm on it until the end.

8.In one of the letters he wrote to Muawiyah, Imam Ali (P.B.U.H) described some of the virtues of Ahl al-Bayt and said: If God had not forbidden self-praise and counting our virtues in the Qur'an, (فلا تزکوا انفسکم) (6) I would count some of my family virtues"و لولا مانهی الله عنه من تزکیة المرء نفسه، لذکر ذاکر فضائل جمه". What I do know is counting Allah's blessings in complete humbleness and servitude. Then he says"فانا صنائع ربنا ولناس بعد صنائع لنا" (7) We are made and nurtured by the hand of our Allah. We are the creation of our lord and others are nurtured by our hands. We learned the divine sciences from "Allah" and others learned from us. We are sitting at the table of revelation and others are at the table of our guidance. We don't need anyone other than Allah to learn science and knowledge, but others need us; we are the channels of Allah's grace.

This high sentence is also mentioned in one of the sayings of Hazrat Baqiyya Allah (ارواحنا فداه) "نحن صنائع ربنا و الناس بعد صنائعنا". (8)

A direct student of the beloved wise Allah is also a wise. The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) who learned the Holy Qur'an from the Wise God is wise, and Ali Ibn Abi Talib (P.B.U.H) is also considered as the soul of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) as it mentioned in Ayeh Mobahila (AleImran 61) and he is like his pure soul, He has learned from the same school and the same knowledge, and the fountains of wisdom flow from his soul.

If someone lives for 40 days purly for Allah and his whole plan for 40 days is for the pleasure of Allah. The theme of (قل ان صلاتی و نسکی و محیای و مماتی لله رب العالمین") (9) will be manifested in his soul, and the springs of wisdom will flow from his soul and tongue. The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) said, "من اخلص لله اربعین یوما فجر ‌الله ینابیع الحکمه من قلبه علی لسانه"  (10)

Ali (P.B.U.H) who has lived his whole life "purely for the sake of Allah", reached a point in his theoretical wisdom where he said: If you ask me what will happen from now until the Day of Judgment, I inform you, "لتسألوننی عن شیء فیما بینکم و بین الساعه... الا انباتکم". (11)

This challenge is different from the sentence that he said: "ایها الناس سلونی قبل ان تفقدونی فلانا بطرق السماء اعلم منی بطرق الارض" (12). Before you do not find me among you, ask what you want ask; As I know more about the path of heaven than the ways of the earth.

 Such a person who stands on the top of the nature and has entered a world that dominates nature, will be a perfect divine mentor for the theoretical and practical wisdom.

9. In sermon 192 of Nahj al-Balaghah, he says: I am part of the group who do not retrieve because people scold them. Their appearance is the same as "Sediqan" (truthful). This means they are believing, acting and behaving truthfully.  In these three realms, truthfulness is a nature for them and established in their life, "و انی لمن قوم لا تأخذهم فی الله لومه لائم سیما هم سیما الصدیقین", and their speech is the speech of righteous people, "و کلامهم کلام الابرار". They keep the night alive and prosperous, "عمار اللیل". Their night is prosperous, not barren and ruined. They do not spend the night sleeping, so it is abandoned and ruined, the one who is asleep through all night does not have a lively and prosperous night.

The aliveness of the night and making it prosperous will make the day bright and prosperous, "و منار النهار".

The light of the day is due to enlightened people. The nature is illuminated by the sun, but the human society is illuminated by the divine people. they give light to the day and make the night prosperous and alive, and they brighten the time and bless the earth.

They hold on to the string of the Qur'an, "متمسکون بحبل القرآن"، They revive the traditions of Allah and his Messenger and keep the divine regulations alive "یحیون سنن الله و سنن رسوله"، They are not arrogance, they do not seek supremacy, do not wand aggression nor corruption"لا یستکبرون و لا یعلون و لا یفسدون".

Then at the end of the sermon he says: Their hearts are in heaven and their effort and bodies are in work "قلوبهم فی الجنان و اجساد هم فی العمل" (13) Their souls are in that world and their bodies are in this world. As their body is busy, at the same time, their soul is enjoying in heaven.

0. In sermon 197, he says he was a true follower of revelation and did not deviate from the path of revelation even just for a moment, "انی لم ارد علی الله ولا علی رسوله ساعه قط", I did not stand up to Allah's command and the leadership of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) even for a second, and did not reject it, but I was fully compliant.

At the end of this sermon, he says, "فوالذی لا اله الا هو انی لعلی جاده الحق و انهم لعلی مزله الباطل". He sewer to Allah that he is on the path of truth and on the road of truth, and those who disagree with him live that path and are on the verge of falsehood.

These are short examples of the introduction of Hazrat Ali bin Abi Talib (P.B.U.H) from his own words. A character like him should be introduced by the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) or himself. As the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said to the Commander of the Faithful (P.B.U.H): Except for Allah and me, no one has recognized you as you deserve, "ما عرفک حق معرفتک غیر‌ الله و غیری" (14).

Source: Hikmat Alavi, by Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, p. 17

Footnote:

[1] Sureh Yusof 94

[2]Nahj Al-Balagheh cermon 192

[3] Sureh Al-Hashr 11

[4] ]Nahj Al-Balagheh wisdom 111

[5] ]Nahj Al-Balagheh cermon 57

[6] Surah Al-Najm

[7]] Nahj Al-Balagheh letters 28

[8] Bihar Al-Anwar 53\178

[9] Surah Al-Anaam 162

[10] Bihar Al-Anwar 67\249

[11] ]Nahj Al-Balagheh Cermons 93

[12] ]Nahj Al-Balagheh Cermons 189

[13] ]Nahj Al-Balagheh Cermons 192

[14] Bihar Al-Anwar 39\84

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