PROVING SAINTHOOD OF IMAM ALI
BY THE SPEECHES OF IMAM BAGHER (p.b.u.h.)
The First Period is before
his imamate which lapsed for 35 years when his father Imam Sajjad (p.b.u.h.) was
Imam of the Muslims.
The Second Period which
took 20 last years of Imam's life when he was Imam of Muslims is a period when
he paved the way for propagation of Islamic culture and decrees. Within this
period, Imam (p.b.u.h.) created a great alteration in the minds and beliefs of
the people and established a vast scientific movement, so that by revealing the
different sciences, he altered all the scientific fields.
In fact, Imam Mohammad
Bagher (p.b.u.h.) took action for instruction of different sciences and
techniques and religious decrees and issues. He paid attention to all the
sciences through the gap of religion and the origin of creation and this way he
expanded the spirits of Monotheism, Prophecy, Imamate among the people,
specially the literati. This way, upon efforts made by Imam (p.b.u.h.), more
than 100,000 narrations –each being a definite proof and an alive pattern for
salvation of man- were instructed.
It has been narrated:
Abdollah Ibn Nafe had
become an enemy of Amiralmomenin Ali (p.b.u.h.) for murder of Nahravan Rebels.
He said: "If there is one man on the earth who is able to convince me Ali was
right, I will follow him, even if he is in the east or the west side of the
world." Abdollah was told: "Do you think that there is no one of the sons of Ali
(p.b.u.h.) who can prove the case to you?" He answered: "Is there any
knowledgeable man among his sons?" they said: "Yes, this is itself the evidence
of your ignorance! Is it possible that there is no knowledgeable man in Ali's
family?" He asked: "Who is the knowledgeable one among his family now? " they
introduced to him Imam Mohammad Bagher (p.b.u.h.). He traveled to Medina
accompanied by his friends and requested to meet Imam. When they were gathered,
Imam praised God and prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) and stated:
"Oh! thou group of sons of the immigrants and friends of prophet, just tell us
each piety you remember of Ali Ibn Abitaleb (p.b.u.h.)" each of the persons
present in the gathering said some thing about his piety till narration of
Khaibar was told. They mentioned that prophet had prescribed in the fight with
the Jews of Khaibar: "I will give the flag tomorrow to a man who loves God and
loves the prophet and God and prophet love him. He is a fighter who will never
escape and will never leave the battle until God conquers by his hands the fence
of the Jews." The other day, holy prophet gave to Ali (p.b.u.h.) the flag and he
conquered the Jews robustly and opened the castle of Khaibar. Imam Bagher
(p.b.u.h.) told to Abdollah Ibn Nafe: "What is your opinion about this
narration?" He answered: "It is right, but Ali became a blasphemous later and
killed wrongly the rebels." Imam (p.b.u.h.) stated: "May your mother be
mournful for you. Did God know when he was loving Ali that Ali would kill the
rebels or not? If you would say God did not know that, you will be blasphemous."
He said: "Yes, he knew." Imam (p.b.u.h.) said: "God loved him because he was
obedient not because he was not obedient and was a sinner." He said: "God loved
him because he was obedient to God." Imam (p.b.u.h.) stated: "So stand up
because you have nothing to say." Abdollah stood up and read this verse
indicating that the truth emerged like the morning aurora". Then he said "God
knows better with which family trusts his prophecy".
Source: Practical
Conduct of Prophet's Family (p.b.u.h.) by Seyed Kazem Arfa