All humans are eager to provide their own everlasting success, and often put forth their hardest efforts to obtain it. Finding access to success however, is dependent on two firm stages. One, is to know the truth, and two, is to act in the path of truth through valid and suitable methods.
Sometimes, truth and its attributes are clear, but for various reasons, which include monetary, desire, and other reasons, the individual has transgressed from the main path, only to find himself in the company of the enemies of truth. The Holy Quran makes mention of this matter in incidents where several of the people who defied and denied the prophets reason their decision to do so, despite the clarity of truth, to be the way of their fathers, and thus furthered themselves deeper into falsehood.(1)
And when it is said to them: Follow what God has revealed. They say: Rather, we will follow what we found our fathers to follow. If the devil calls them to a fiery torment (should they still obey him?)” (Surah Luqman, verse 21)
(In Tafsir Qumi, it is mentioned in a hadith from Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) that this verse was revealed about “Nazar bin Harith”. By narrating the stories of the kings of Iran, he intended to confront the Qur’an and separate people from around the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). may Allah bless him and grant him peace).
To follow the path of certain people is only good and proper when those being followed are representing truth. If they themselves be on the wrong path, it pulls the followers towards destruction and punishment. Furthermore, the excuse of people for not following truth varies according to time and situation. Often the surrounding environments of family, friends, or society, desire, fame, wealth seeking, and others may prevent the following of truth.
The story that follows is from the life of Imam Hassan Mojtaba (PBUH), which emphasizes the earlier text. That no matter how vivid the path and virtues of the Ahlul Bayt (PBUH) were, to the extent that even the public would admit to the perfection of their path, but this knowledge would not necessarily lead them to following their path.
Raja’ ibn Rabi’eh says,
“I was with a crowd in Medina, in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HP). Abu Sa’id and Abdullah ibn Amr o As (2
2- “Abdullah ibn Amr al-Aas” is one of those who was in the army of Muawiya in the battle of Safin. This verse of the poem “Faqalwa lena ina raheem an tabayawa ***Ali, so we said, “Rather, my mercy is that you reject me.” ; They told us that our opinion is that you pledge allegiance to Ali *** but our opinion is to kill you”, from him in the books Ahl al-Sunnah, like al-Musnaf compiled by Ibn Abi Shaiba, volume 6, page 179; Al-Mustadrak Ali Al-Sahiheen, volume 3, page 527; Majma Al-Zawaed, Volume 7, Page 240; It is mentioned in Asad al-Ghaba, volume 4, page 328. His father, Amr Ouas, was one of the closest and most intelligent people in Muawiya’s system, who started the affair of arbitration and spearing Qurans to end the war.
were also present. When suddenly Hassan ibn Ali (PBUH) passed us and greeted us saying Salam. Everyone responded except Abdullah ibn Amr o As who was quiet. He quickly followed Imam Hassan (PBUH) and said, “May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon you,” and then said to us, “He is the most loved by inhabitants of the heavens. By Allah I have not spoken to him since Seffein nights.”(3)
3- In the year 37 Hijri, a battle took place between Amirul Momineen (peace be upon him) and Muawiya in a place called Safin. At the beginning of the caliphate of Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him), he removed Mu’awiyah from the Damascus office and replaced him with someone else. But Muawiya did not accept and went to war with Hazrat.
As soon as Imam’s army (peace be upon him) was about to win, with the suggestion of Amr al-Aas, Muawiya’s army speared Qurans and demanded arbitration. Seeing this scene, a group of Iraqi army left the war. Imam (peace be upon him) chose “Malik Ashtar” or “Abdullah bin Abbas” to represent and judge; But the group that left the war did not accept and chose “Abu Musi Ash’ari”. Therefore, the appointment of the caliph was entrusted to the arbitration between Amr al-Aas and Abu Musa Ash’ari, but due to the incompetence of Abu Musa and the shrewdness of Amr al-Aas, the caliphate was entrusted to Mu’awiya and Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) was removed from it.
After that, by using this story as the reason for the Nahrwan war, the Khawarij claimed that “wisdom belongs only to God.” They asked the Imam to repent by abandoning the issue of arbitration, which in their opinion led to disbelief. The Imam also cited the verse “Afwa al-Aqud” and said: “We do not violate what we have accepted. I was against this ruling from the beginning, and then, when I was forced by the people, I made a condition that if they ruled by the Book of God I will adhere to their ruling, because we have accepted the ruling of the Qur’an, not the ruling of men.” (Ansab al-Ashraf, page 349; Ershad, volume 1, page 270, Manaqib, volume 3, page 189)
I haven’t spoken to him yet!”
Abu Said said to Abdullah: “Won’t you join me and go to him to ask for his forgiveness?”
Abdullah said, “I am ready,” and with that he stood up. Abu Said entered the presence of Imam Hassan (PBUH) and asked for permission. Once given, he asked permission for Abdullah ibn Amr o As, whom the Imam also allowed.
Abu Said said to Abdullah ibn Amr o, “say what you had just told us.”
Abdullah said: “Yes, I said, he is the most loved on earth by inhabitants of the heavens.”
Imam Hassan (PBUH) replied: “If you knew I am the most loved by inhabitants of the heavens, then why did you come to rage a war on us, or why did you help increase our enemies in the battle of Seffein?”
Abdullah said: “by Allah, I did not attend the battle as a fake soldier nor as one with a sword. I only accompanied my father.”
Imam Hassan (PBUH) replied: “Did you not know that absolutely no one should be obeyed when commanding disobedience towards Allah (SWT)?” (one can only be obeyed to the extent that Allah’s commands are followed; anything beyond what Allah (SWT) has ordered us must not be obeyed regardless of who is giving order of such mischief)…
(The above is a selection taken from “Imam Mujtaba the Spirit of Mustafa’s Heart”, by Ahmad Rahmani Hamedani (with some additions))
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