IMAM ALI (A.S): THE VOICE OF HUMAN JUSTICE

Jumuah lecture on Friday 31 August 2018 (19 Dhul Hijja 1439)

by Mowlana Syed Aftab Haider

at the Ahlul Bait (a.s) Masjid, Ottery, Cape Town

We are still in the beautiful environment of Eid Ghadier, which was on 18 Dhul Hijja. Alhamdu Lillah, we had a discussion about this in the Eid Ghadier program, for which the live video broadcast is still available for viewing on our Facebook page. We discussed the importance of this day, together with its influence and consequences, and its message for the Ummah.

GHADIER ANSWERS THE LEADERSHIP VACUUM WE HAVE TODAY

I would like to summarise by saying that the Day of Ghadier is the Day of Imamate. The essence of Ghadier is to address the issue and challenge of the leadership of the Ummah ie. who will be the successor to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) after he passes from this world.

The substance of Ghadier is to address the challenge and crisis of leadership and as a result, address the future of the Ummah, because the future of a nation depends on the leadership to a great extent. It is leadership which takes a nation to the heights of success and prosperity, peace and justice, etc. Conversely, it is leadership which can bring down a nation to its knees, if it is corrupt and incapable. This results in the collapse of that nation.

This is not a point of argument or dispute, as every rational person understands and agrees to this. Therefore, the Holy Quran addresses this issue in the same seriousness in Surah Maa’ida (chapter 5), verse 67:

“O Messenger! Deliver what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message.”

So, the entirety of the message comes under question because the future of this Ummah depends on leadership of this Ummah. The essence of the event of Ghadier is leadership (Imamate). I would like to go one step further and say that the essence of Imamate is justice!

LEADERSHIP OF IMAM ALI (A.S) IS BASED ON HIS CREDENTIALS AND NOT NEPOTISM

When our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) called people towards the leadership of Ali (a.s) on the plains of Ghadier, it was not based upon his family connection with Ali (a.s). Rasulullah (SAWA) called people towards the leadership of Ali (a.s) because of the criteria and qualifications which Ali (a.s) fulfils.

The great Sahabi (companion of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA)) by the name of Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari reported that Imam Ali (a.s) came to Rasulullah (SAWA) while he was standing next to the Kabah, and Rasulullah (SAWA) told Imam Ali (a.s) that he and his followers are the saved ones.

According to the narration from Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari, Rasulullah (SAWA) then said that Imam Ali (a.s) is the first one to have faith (Imaan) along with him, and is the most loyal to the covenant of Allah (SWT), and he is the most steadfast on the commands of Allah (SWT).

This narration concludes with Rasulullah (SAWA) saying that Imam Ali (a.s) is the most just person when it comes to the treatment of the public, and he is the most equal person to divide fairly, and he is the most special one in the eyes of Almighty Allah (SWT).

This narration emphasises the justice of Ali (a.s)! We want Wilayat and Imamate because its climax is the establishment of justice. Therefore, on this occasion of Ghadier, I would like to draw your attention towards those few years when Imam Ali (a.s) was the head of state as the Caliph.

WHAT IS BETTER – JUSTICE OR GENEROSITY?

This was his very short opportunity of circa 5 years, to show this world what Imamate and Wilayat means. The unlimited challenges, conspiracies, internal divisions and economic upheaval which Imam Ali (a.s) faces while holding the highest seat of political power are well documented. Despite all this, Imam Ali (a.s) was able to show what the essence of leadership in Islam (Imamate) is.

Imam Ali (a.s) was asked what is better – justice or generosity? Justice is where everybody is honoured their rights, and generosity is where you give and you sacrifice your rights as well.

Naturally, generosity is better than justice. In applying justice, you take what belongs to you and similarly the next person takes what belongs to him/her. In generosity, you give away what rightfully belongs to you as well ie. you sacrifice. This is great!

However, the response of Imam Ali (a.s) to this question shows who he is and what his approach is! Imam Ali (a.s) says that justice is better than generosity! How is this possible, because surely generosity has to be considered more noble than justice, due to its important element of sacrifice?

Imam Ali (a.s) explains that justice places matters in its appropriate place. Indeed, generosity is a great quality, but the reality is that it takes away matters from its own direction. Imam Ali (a.s) then explains his position with this sublime sentence, where he says:

“Justice is the foundation of a society, whereas generosity is the quality of an individual.”

You cannot run a society on generosity, but you can run a society on justice. You cannot expect people to be generous, but you can expect people to be just.

POLITICAL CLIMATE IMPACTING THE GOVERNANCE OF IMAM ALI (A.S)

The foundation and yardstick of Islamic politics is justice. Hence, justice is superior! In that window of a few years when Imam Ali (a.s) was the head of state, we see that Imam Ali (a.s) was obsessed with justice beyond compare, and was not ready to compromise on justice at all.

Imam Ali (a.s) came into power while the society was in political turmoil, with unfair distribution of wealth and certain classes in society were given privileges and huge amounts of funds at their disposal.

This was the mess which Imam Ali (a.s) inherited, and he took a firm stance by saying that he is going to confiscate this and return it to the Public Treasury (baitul maal). To emphasise his strict position on justice, Imam Ali (a.s) even went as far as to say that he will return the unjustly distributed wealth to the Public Treasury even if it was used as dowry for women!

People tried to dissuade Imam Ali (a.s) for taking such an uncompromising position on justice, by suggesting to him that he should leave the past and start afresh! Again, we get to know who Imam Ali (a.s) is when he responds to this by saying that truth never gets old! One can never forget an injustice even if it was committed in the past. It warrants that truth prevails! This is Ali (a.s)!

The friends and supporters of Imam Ali (a.s) could foresee trouble for his style of governance, and sincerely advised him to be diplomatic! They suggested to him sincerely that he should learn the game of politics from his enemies, otherwise he will have endless difficulty in running the state. They also suggested that the unfair distribution of wealth which existed before him should be resolved gradually with the passage of time, rather than one big bang expropriation.

Again, let us understand who Imam Ali (a.s) is by reflecting on his response to this suggestion. Imam Ali (a.s) responded by questioning his supporters if they are advising him to seek victory by injustice? He reaffirmed his steadfast commitment to justice by declaring with conviction that he will not do it for as long as the sun and stars are shining.

LEGACY OF IMAM ALI’S (A.S) GOVERNANCE IS HIS UNCOMPROMISING JUSTICE

Imam Ali (a.s) established this principle of justice so strongly. Therefore, when he wrote that ground-breaking letter to his governor in Egypt, Maliki Ashtar, he emphasised to him how his constituents should be treated. The justice of Imam Ali (a.s) is so deep-rooted, so much so that he does not believe that governance or the seat of power is a right, but rather, it is a responsibility. This is a huge difference!

He says that rights are always in relation to the rights of others. You have a right, and some others have a right in response to that right. So he says to his constituents that they have a right over him during the time that he has a right over them ie. while he is in power. He explains that the right which his constituents have over him is that he must be just towards them.

Imam Ali (a.s) then makes an evergreen statement, which continues to be relevant throughout the ages. Imam Ali (a.s) says that justice and truth is the easiest to talk about, but the most difficult to establish and practice.

Indeed, Imam Ali (a.s) lived justice! Uthman ibn Hunaif was the governor of Basra and news reaches Imam Ali (a.s) that Uthman has a dinner party at his house where the affluent people of Basra were invited. Imam Ali (a.s) writes a lengthy letter to his governor Uthman, remonstrating this deplorable practice according to the justice of Imam Ali (a.s) where only rich people are at the dining table of Uthman!

ALL JUSTICE-LOVING HUMAN BEINGS ARE INTRIGUED BY THE JUSTICE OF IMAM ALI (A.S)

Imam Ali (a.s) set new standards for justice during his 5 years in power, so much so, that even those who do not have anything in common with the ideology and theology of Imam Ali (a.s) surrender before him. Why does a Christian author and poet like George Jordac write a thick book about Imam Ali (a.s) entitled “The Voice of Human Justice”?

Why does former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan (who recently passed away), call the Arab leaders to look to Imam Ali (a.s) as the ideal example for them to establish governance based upon justice and human rights?

These 2 examples, along with many others across the ages, surrender to the justice of Imam Ali (a.s), because he cannot tolerate the slightest semblance of injustice.

Imam Ali (a.s) comes across a Jewish lady in the city of Anbar, Iraq and she complains to him that some of his soldiers passed through and robbed her by snatching her earrings. These soldiers were not from the army of Imam Ali (a.s). However, Imam Ali (a.s) responded that he would not be surprised if someone dies from shock and shame after hearing such news of a Muslim soldier robbing a helpless lady.

The justice of Imam Ali (a.s) and his sensitivity towards the rights of the people is at such an unimaginable high level. Imam Ali (a.s) does not look at the masses as subjects. People would bow upon him entering gatherings, the same that we see today when rulers enter. However, history reveals how upset Imam Ali (a.s) gets at receiving such royal treatment, commanding people to not treat him the way they treated the despotic rulers.

He emphasises to them that he is a common man like them and they have a right over him, the way that he has a right over them. This is Ali (a.s), The Voice of Human Justice!

This is where Imam Ali (a.s) shined, and continues to shine across the centuries.

I would like to repeat what I mentioned at the start, by stating that we are celebrating Ghadier, and the essence of Ghadier is leadership (Imamate and Wilayat), and the essence of Imamate is justice! This is the biggest casualty we witness every day in our world.

UNITED NATIONS REPORT ON ROHINGYA GENOCIDE EXPOSES INJUSTICE OF MYANMAR

Over the past week, we saw the report being issued by the United Nations about the injustice and oppression suffered by the Rohingya Muslims during the massacre they endured. The report also exposes details of the complicity of the leadership and army of Myanmar in orchestrating this genocide. These are the same people who received the Nobel Peace Prize previously, but committed the worst crimes against humanity in their own land!

This is the scenario in front of us, which is only one of the manifestations of injustice in front of us during our time.

Indeed, the continuation of the suffering of the people of Yemen and Palestine is there for us all to see, but we should not lose sight of the suffering inflicted upon the followers of Ahlul Bait (a.s) in Nigeria, where the court ruled years ago that the leader Shaikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and those detained with him should be freed. However, they are still unlawfully incarcerated, with many still missing at the hands of the Nigerian army.

XENOPHOBIA IS ONCE AGAIN RESUSCITATED IN OUR COUNTRY

I would also like to draw your attention to the terrible evil of xenophobia, which is once again perpetuating its ugly face in our own society. There are many issues underpinning these xenophobic attacks, especially in Gauteng.

We cannot deny or disregard the elements playing in the background, which all refers back to the root cause being the injustice in society, with the unjust division of wealth in this country causing the suffering of the people. That being said, nothing can justify the harming and killing of innocent people and looting their property.

This is not acceptable and contrary to the teachings of Islam and the spirit of justice and Africanism, because unfortunately the victims in almost all the cases are fellow Africans. We should remember that these are the same African nations who supported us during the Apartheid struggle.

Again, I am not trying to deny the injustice in society which manifests itself in different ways, but there can never be any justification for the horrifying events which have occurred recently under the banner of xenophobia in various parts of our country.

I hope and pray that may Almighty Allah (SWT) grant us the wisdom to follow these principles of the Quran and Islam, and protect us from committing any form of injustice upon others.