Year Sixteen
Issue No. 929 - 11/Rabei-2/1432 AH
Corresponding to March 15, 2011 AD
Contents:
* Mihrab Platform:
The Nation's Regulation (Imam al Askari (a.s.), an Example)
Mihrab Platform
The Nation's Regulation (Imam al Askari (a.s.), an Example
The main axes of the subject:
Regulation is the law of the creation
Justice is the world’s straightness
However, which doctrine is needed?
The unity of the divine doctrines
Recommending regulation
Imam al Askari and regulating the Shia affairs
Exporting the Subject:
Commander of the faithful (a.s.) was quoted as saying: "The world is a garden
with the doctrine as its fence. The doctrine is an authority that must be
obeyed. The political obedience must be administered by the ruler. The ruler is
a shepherd that must be assisted by the army. The army is made of assistants who
are sponsored by money. Money is a living that the subjects collect…"1
Regulation is the law of the creation
Allah (the Exalted) created a law of regulation for the creation and universe in
accordance with the laws of the court and the creative systems. Like he created
a strain of each category of the creation, similarly, he created the general
life as well as the individual life in accordance with a group of doctrines and
regulations that will make the community and equally the individual feel
organized with harmony.
Apart from talking about the government – any government – and its form, nature
and quality, apart from talking about the Imam, the ruler, or the president
coupled with the nature of his behavior, morals, authorities, and role in
executing the verdicts, laws and rules; apart from all the aforementioned, we
can find that a number of the divine doctrines represent a systematic framework
that contributes to the partitioning of times, building relations, dealing with
all kinds of transactions, defining the rights and duties, dedicating a number
of values and positive traditions, and facing the personal and social disputes
that might arise in the community as a result of certain tendencies and negative
desires, which can only divert the individuals and groups from the straight
path.
Doctrine is the world’s fence
What are the doctrines, rules and laws that can help take the community and the
individual to the anticipated and possible perfection? To answer this question,
commander of the faithful (a.s.) was quoted as saying words that quench one's
satisfaction. They read: "The world is a garden with the doctrine as its fence.
The doctrine is an authority that must be obeyed. The political obedience must
be administered by the ruler. The ruler is a shepherd that must be assisted by
the army. The army is made of assistants who are sponsored by money. Money is a
living that the subjects collect..."2
Justice is the world’s straightness
Now we can see that justice is an aim without which the community and the
individual cannot reach their aims and aspirations. We learn that the doctrine
and regulations are an obligatory method that can lead everyone to justice.
We – consequently – can understand that – the true sultan – especially in our
present world – must obeyed by us and that we must follow his method, which is
the doctrine that provides the sultan with legitimacy. This means that the ruler
must perform his duty and provide the rights to the citizens, which cannot be
achieved without the citizens' commitment to obedience.
- Commander of the faithful (a.s.) was quoted as saying: "Doctrine is the
righteousness of the creation."3
However, which doctrine is needed?
Allah (the Exalted) said: "…To each of you We prescribed a law and a method…"4
This issue applies to the apostles (a.s.) as well as to the nations who do not
believe in the prophets. It also applies to the nations and communities of our
present time. Hence, we can find that each country has its own regulations,
systems and laws regarding the different aspects of life. We can also find that
most of these regulations agree to most of the basics and broad lines.
Therefore, what is the doctrine that we must follow and which makes us believe
that our community will be organized regarding most of its affairs based on the
fundamentals of that doctrine?
Allah's messenger (s.a.a.w.) was quoted as saying: "The doctrine is my
sayings; the method is my actions; the truth is my conditions; knowledge is my
capital; mind is the origin of my religion; love is my basis; desire is my boat;
conviction is my treasure; honesty is my home; certainty is my shelter; poverty
is my pride about which I will brag in front of the rest of the prophets and
messengers."5
The unity of the divine doctrines
The aforementioned does not mean that the prophet (s.a.a.w.) instructed us with
a doctrine and regulations that will supersede all the advanced messengers and
prophets. Instead, his doctrine in fact includes the basics of all of those
doctrines. Allah (the Exalted) said: "He has ordained for you of religion
what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad],
and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus –"6
- Imam al Sadiq (a.s.) was quoted as saying: "Allah (the Exalted) gave
Muhammad (s.a.a.w.) the doctrines of Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus."7
The issue that confirms that the source of all doctrines and regulations – the
principles of the doctrines – is one was the speech of Imam Zein al Abideen (a.s.)
who, when asked about all the doctrines of religion, was quoted as saying:
"Speaking the truth, ruling with justice and loyalty to the pledge."8
Commander of the faithful (a.s.) was quoted as saying: “Yes the doctrines of
the religion are one and its ways are apostolic; therefore, he who adopts them
will succeed and triumph and he who desists from them will go astray and become
sorrowful.”9
Recommending regulation
In a commandment of commander of the faithful (a.s.) to his sons Hassan and
Husayn (a.s.) at the time when he was stricken by Ibn Moljam (God’s cursed):
“I command you and all my sons and household and anyone who receives my book to
be pious and to regulate your affairs.”10
The question is: Do you think that he (a.s.) regarded the regulation of affairs
as a marginal or exceptional, important and sensitive matter that was also
commanded by his Prophet (s.a.a.w.) while he (a.s.) commanded it to his
household and anyone who receives this book and delivers it to others, and we
are one of them?
With Imam al Hassan al Askari (a.s.) as he regulated the affairs of his Shia
during most critical conditions:
Imam al Askari (a.s.) commanded Abul Hassan Ali Bin al Hussein al Qummi, known
as the first Saddouq, the father of Sheikh al Saddouq, as well as commanded the
followers (Shia) of the Imam in general, with a number of attributes and tasks
that will help regulate the affairs of the communion to the most possible ways.
Some of these recommendations are:
1- Piety, holding prayers and almsgiving tax
2- Forgiving the guilt (of those around you) as well as containing wrath
3- Family ties, consoling the brothers as well as helping with their needs in
bad and good times.
4- Patience during ignorance, learning religion, and corroborating the matters.
5- Commitment to Quran, good manners, enjoining what is right and forbidding
what is wrong.
6- Avoiding all kinds of wrongdoings
7- Praying at night
8- Patience and waiting for the dispeller.”
Therefore, act according to my commandment, and command my Shia with my
commandment in order to work accordingly.
1- Bihar al Anwar,
by scholar al Majlisi, Vol. 78, P. 83, H. 87
2- Same previous source
3- Ghorar al Hikam wa Dorar al Kalam, by al Qadi al A'midi, H. 698
4- The Holy Quran, Surat Al-Mā'idah (The Table Spread), verse 48
5- Mustadrak al Wasa'el, by narrator al Nouri, Vol. 1, P. 173, H. 12672
6- The holy Quran, Surat Ash-Shūraá (The Consultation), verse 13.
7- Al Kafi, by Muhammad Bin Yacoub al Kulaini, Vol. 2, P. 17, H. 1
8- Al Khisal, by Sheikh al Saddouq, P. 113, H. 90
9- Nahjul Balagha, sermon 120.
10- Nahjul Balagha, book 47.
11- Shu’ab al Eiman, Vol. 2, P. 43, H. 1134, in summary