Bishop George Saliba elaborates on Imam Ali’s Nahj al-Balagha

Source: ABNA

Bishop of Jabal Amel, Lebanon, George Saliba, A member of Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue says that he approves proposal for discussing Imam Ali’s book ‘Nahj al-Balagha’ (Peak of Eloquence) in this center.

Bishop Saliba has more than 25 books in his career as a writer, and an article on ‘Nahj al-Balagha’ which was presented in the Fifth Baran-e Qadir International Congress in Iran.

“I respect the status of Seyyed Razi who compiled this exquisite book [‘Nahj al-Balagha’] and if it was not for his efforts, many hadiths and remarks made by Imam Ali (AS) could be lost. I read this book from childhood and have various editions of ‘Nahj al-Balagha’,” he said.

“As the name ‘Nahj al-Balagha’ suggests, this book is about the methods of eloquence and rhetoric, but more significantly it is about how to live as a human and whoever except Imam Ali could teach us how to do that,” the bishop stated.

Elsewhere in his remarks, George Saliba said: “During the Caliphate of Imam Ali the Christians and Muslims enjoyed good relations and the Christians were living in peace. The path of Imam Ali is the path of ethics, real basics of religion and magnanimity.”

"In the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue, we have not yet held a program on Nahj al-Balagha, but I will certainly propose it as a subject for discussion," he added.

Nahj al-Balagha is the most famous collection of sermons, letters, tafsirs (commentries) and hadiths attributed to Imam Ali (AS). This work includes 241 sermons, 79 letters, and 489 utterances

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Eidel Ghadeer in London + pictures

Source:AhlulBayt Islamic Mission (AIM)
The AhlulBayt Islamic Mission (AIM), Islamic Centre of England, AhlulBayt Societies, and Bani Hashim Foundation organised an Eid Al-Ghadeer celebration featuring comedy, poetry, and talks.

On Sunday 12th October 2014, a celebratory programme was organised at the Islamic Centre of England in London to mark the auspicious occasion of Eid Al-Ghadeer. The programme was attended by hundreds of guests who enjoyed the amusing comedy by Nazim Ali, who also hosted the afternoons proceedings.

The bulk of the programme featured poetry and nasheed performances from numerous talents including Ammar Al-Nashed, Sayed Ali Alhakeem, Nouri Sardar, Adil Ahmed Karim, Hassan Alibhai, Shabbir Rizvi and Ahmed Al-Zubaydi.
The Afternoon was concluded with a talk by Shaykh Shomali who touched on the importance of leadership and wilayah.
The programme also featured stalls selling baked pastries, cake, and other foods, in addition to face painting for the children.

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Let the guardianship of the Ahlul-Bayt (A) connect all Muslims - Grand Ayatollah Makarem

Source: ABNA During his advanced jurisprudence class at Qom’s Grand Mosque (Masjid al-A’dham), Grand Ayatollah Naser-Shirazi congratulated his students (and the world) on the blessed occasion of Eid al-Ghadir. During his advanced jurisprudence class at Qom’s Grand Mosque (Masjid al-A’dham), Grand Ayatollah Naser-Shirazi congratulated his students on the blessed occasion of Eid al-Ghadir. He said that it is a grand festival for Muslims, and especially for the Shi’ite sect. For this reason Eid al-Ghadir is called “the grandest festival of God.” His Eminence explained that that Muslims should give much importance to Eid al-Ghadir because this holy day has a lot of blessings, effects and excellent benefits. “The most importance one gives toward Eid al-Ghadir the more divine blessings he receives,” Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi explained. Explaining that the event of Ghadir Khumm has been narrated in both Shi’ite and Sunni sources, Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi explained that there are different interpretations of the word “mawla” among the two sects of Islam, but they both agree that the event occurred. Sunni scholars say the Arabic word “mawla” means “friend,” but Shi’ite scholars say that it means “guardian” or “master.” He explained that we need to look at the context to understand the correct meaning of this controversial word used in the Prophet Muhammad’s (S) sermon at the Pond of Khumm. He could not have been referring to Imam Ali (A) as an ordinary friend because the Prophet (S) would not have stopped more than 100,000 Muslims in the hot desert after the completion of their hajj pilgrimage just to state that Imam Ali (A) is his friend. Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi explained to his students that it is clear and without any doubt that at the Pond of Khumm, the Prophet Muhammad (S) declared Imam Ali (A) to be his divinely-appointed successor and the imam (leader) of the Muslims after his death and he definitely did not refer to Imam Ali (A) as his mere friend. “We are hopeful that the issue of the wilayah (guardianship) of Imam Ali (A) will connect all Muslims in the world and that under the shadow of this guardianship we can fight against the enemies of Islam and repel them from all Muslim countries,” His Eminence stated in conclusion.

 

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153 Verses of Qur’an Refer to Wilayat of Amir al-Mu’menin Ali (A) - Hujjat al-Islam Murteza Hamid

Source:ABNA

Lecturer of the Imam Ridha holy shrine said, “153 verses of Qur’an refer to Ghadir of Amir al-Mu’menin (A.S.), Imam Ali (A.S.)”.

On the auspicious day of Eid Ghadir Khum, the courtyards of the Razavi holy shrine were full of Iranian and non-Iranian pilgrims who had come to congratulate Eid Ghadir Khum to the presence of Imam Reza (A.S.) and to renew their covenant with their Imam.

In the special celebration of Eid Ghadir Khum that was held in the Imam Khomeini (R.A.) portico before the noon and afternoon prayers, Hujjat al-Islam Murteza Hamid noted that there have been revealed a lot of verses of the holy Qur’an concerning the Ghadir and added, “Many Muslims think that concerning the Ghadir there are only three or four verses revealed.”

“Qur’an is the best proof for the event of Ghadir and the immediate succession of Imam Ali (A.S.) after the prophet (S.A.W.)”, he remarked.

“There are 80 verses concerning prayer (Salat) and regarding issues such as Zakat, Jihad, and enjoining what is right the number of the revealed verses is even fewer”, this religious expert asserted.

Noting that 153 verses of the holy Qur’an are related to Ghadir of Imam Ali (A.S.), this seminary professor said, “49 verses are associated with the performances of the prophet (S.A.W.) on implementing and preparing for the Ghadir and 104 verses refer to actions of the enemies and the hypocrites who aimed at abolishing the Ghadir.”

“Zi al-Hajja 18 is not a sheer historical event or a story but it is associated with completion of all activities of the prophet (S.A.W.)”, he added.

“The prophet (S.A.W.) propagated the Ghadir and Imam Ali’s succession from the very beginning of propagating Islam and on Zi al-Hajjah 18 his holiness recounted and highlighted this statement for the Muslims”, he reiterated.

Noting that all the Infallible Imams (A.S.) reminded people of the event of the Ghadir, the lecturer said, “Imam Reza (A.S.) talks about the background of the Ghadir and Imam Hussein (A.S.) noted the issue of Ghadir in the course of Karbala.”

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World media on Sheikh Zakzaky's address to UN Human Rights Commission

Sunday, 21 September 2014 23:15

By Ibrahim Usman Recently, Leader of the Islamic Movement His Eminence Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky had addressed the UN Human Rights Commission via skype throught the intervention of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, over the International Quds Day killings in Zaria, Nigeria. Several world media published and posted the story.  Here are some of the published stories documented: WEEKLY TRUST Zaria killings: El-Zakzaky drags FG before UN   Leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, has reported the federal government to the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, over the killing of his members .  Thirty-five members of the group, including three of the prominent cleric’s sons, were shot dead in July by soldiers during the group’s procession in Zaria, Kaduna State, to mark the annual International Quds Day.   A statement yesterday by one of its leaders, Ibrahim Usman, said their presentation before the world body was facilitated by the fact-finding team of the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC).  The statement said the presentation to the UN commission was made through Skype because El-Zakzaky and another witness were denied visa to personally attend the special session of the UNHRC.  The three sons - Mahmud was a student of Almustapha University, Beirut; Ahmad a Chemical Engineering student of Shenyang University, China and Hamid an Aeronautical Engineering student of Xiang University, also in China. El-Zakzaky said a fourth son, Ali, was shot in the leg and is currently being treated in hospital.  The group said it was not satisfied with the way the matter was handled by the Nigerian authorities hence it decided to take it to the UNHRC. After the shooting, President Goodluck Jonathan reportedly called El- Zakzaky to express his condolences and appeal for calm, but the cleric turned down the appeal, asking for justice. follow us on facebook: click here

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