0 00:00:01,15 --> 00:00:03,18 The Stature of the Scholar of the Family of Mohammad(pbuh), Imam Ali ibn-e-Moosa Ar-Reza(a.s) 1 00:00:05,02 --> 00:00:06,16 Speech of Grand Ayatullah Waheed Khurasani 2 00:00:07,18 --> 00:00:10,12 Wenesday, 9/11/1430 Hijra = 6/8/1388 ( Iranian Calendar) 3 00:00:11,07 --> 00:00:16,19 In the name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful 4 00:00:17,14 --> 00:00:55,13 All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. And His blessings be on our leader Prophet Mohammad( pbuh) and his Pure Progeny (a.s) particularly on His Hujjat(a.s) on the lands. And may His curse be on all their enemies till the Day of Judgement. 5 00:00:56,08 --> 00:01:03,12 Our discussion was regarding the alphabets of the Quran. 6 00:01:04,03 --> 00:01:10,12 And the discussion regarding "alif" had not ended. 7 00:01:10,20 --> 00:01:21,11 However, today since a group wanted that 8 00:01:22,05 --> 00:01:39,00 we should discuss regarding Imam Ali ibne Moosa Ar-Reza(a.s) 9 00:01:39,14 --> 00:01:52,00 though this discussion is very difficult, however, to the best of our abilities 10 00:01:52,05 --> 00:02:00,09 discussion about him is discussion about the reality of the Quran. 11 00:02:00,15 --> 00:02:06,23 The assembly also is the Assembly of the Quran 12 00:02:07,04 --> 00:02:21,13 However, understanding his personality is beyond our reach 13 00:02:24,19 --> 00:02:31,17 Imam (a.s) is to be identified and understood when 14 00:02:32,15 --> 00:02:44,17 humanity and its perfection is realized 15 00:02:50,01 --> 00:02:58,14 That is when we shall know as to who he is that 16 00:02:58,21 --> 00:03:10,24 he is able to deliver creation to their aim of creation. 17 00:03:11,05 --> 00:03:24,13 All this creation and all the universe is the starting point for the (understanding of) man 18 00:03:24,20 --> 00:03:35,16 Understanding the Quran is very difficult 19 00:03:35,23 --> 00:03:48,21 " We shall soon show them our signs in the heavens and in their beings." 20 00:03:49,01 --> 00:03:58,15 Man is on one side of the balance 21 00:03:58,19 --> 00:04:04,13 and all the universe on the other 22 00:04:08,20 --> 00:04:18,00 That is why from the greatness of the prologue 23 00:04:18,04 --> 00:04:23,12 one may understand the greatness of what has to come afterwards 24 00:04:23,17 --> 00:04:34,01 And the greatness of the final aim of mankind 25 00:04:39,05 --> 00:04:58,12 In the Quran the word "tabarak" has come nine times. 26 00:04:58,16 --> 00:05:07,20 However, each one of these has so much depth that 27 00:05:08,00 --> 00:05:18,02 entering this discussion is quite difficult 28 00:05:18,23 --> 00:05:24,24 An example of this is as follows: 29 00:05:25,04 --> 00:05:35,08 There are two surahs in the Holy Quran. Which two surahs? 30 00:05:36,06 --> 00:05:42,00 This in itself entails a long discussion 31 00:05:42,03 --> 00:05:54,14 One is Surah Furqan, one is Surah Mulk. 32 00:05:54,16 --> 00:06:08,18 Men of thinking need to ponder this 33 00:06:08,21 --> 00:06:20,11 see as to how amazing every verse of Surah e Mulk is 34 00:06:23,15 --> 00:06:29,08 What does Surah Furqan talk about! 35 00:06:29,12 --> 00:06:39,04 Each one of these two surahs is preceded by a verse 36 00:06:39,08 --> 00:06:47,23 Each of these two verses is preceded by "tabarak" 37 00:06:48,02 --> 00:06:56,16 Where did God use "tabarak"? 38 00:06:59,20 --> 00:07:11,15 "Blessed is He Who hath revealed unto his slave the Criterion( of right and wrong), 39 00:07:11,19 --> 00:07:18,02 "that he may be a warner to the peoples. 40 00:07:22,05 --> 00:07:32,09 This insufficient time and understanding Imam Reza (a.s)! 41 00:07:32,13 --> 00:07:43,22 How is it possible to reach even a vague cognizance of his. 42 00:07:45,13 --> 00:07:57,18 In Surah e Mulk, "In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficient, the Most Merciful, 43 00:07:58,04 --> 00:08:05,10 "Blessed is he in Whose hand is the Sovereignty 44 00:08:05,15 --> 00:08:11,19 "and He is Able to do all things. 45 00:08:12,15 --> 00:08:18,05 "Who hath created life and death." 46 00:08:18,16 --> 00:08:23,17 and afterwards is a pandemonium 47 00:08:26,23 --> 00:08:32,09 when it reaches the creation of man 48 00:08:32,23 --> 00:08:39,13 it tells about the seven stages of creation 49 00:08:39,17 --> 00:08:52,19 If man is not understood Imam Reza shall not be understood 50 00:09:00,00 --> 00:09:06,03 Man has seven stages, 51 00:09:10,08 --> 00:09:17,15 The first stage begins from: 52 00:09:17,19 --> 00:09:28,06 " Verily, we created man from a product of wet earth." 53 00:09:28,14 --> 00:09:39,08 the seventh stage: "Then We brought about another creation in him( We gave him the Spirit)." 54 00:09:39,13 --> 00:09:51,14 And after this seventh stage: "So blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators." 55 00:09:51,22 --> 00:10:04,04 This is the way " tabarak" has been used 56 00:10:04,09 --> 00:10:10,18 That (Tabarak) in Surah Mulk, and 57 00:10:10,22 --> 00:10:16,08 that (Tabarak) in Surah Furqan, and 58 00:10:16,12 --> 00:10:28,05 that (Tabarak) in Surah Mominoon, all these need to be brought together 59 00:10:32,08 --> 00:10:36,23 Here Allah says: 60 00:10:37,03 --> 00:10:42,08 "So blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators." 61 00:10:42,12 --> 00:10:45,23 This is man! 62 00:10:46,02 --> 00:10:55,16 So what is the perfection of man? 63 00:10:55,19 --> 00:11:03,05 Perfection of man is summed up in two words: 64 00:11:03,09 --> 00:11:15,14 These two words are: one is 'Aql' (wisdom and intellect) and the other is 'Eeman' (faith) 65 00:11:15,18 --> 00:11:25,04 This is the crux of all revealed and human knowledge. 66 00:11:25,09 --> 00:11:31,19 The perfection of creation: man 67 00:11:32,16 --> 00:11:36,18 the perfection of man: 'aql'(wisdom) and 'eeman'(faith) 68 00:11:36,23 --> 00:11:42,15 The Eighth Imam(a.s) has two ahadith 69 00:11:42,17 --> 00:11:48,17 One about wisdom, one about faith 70 00:11:48,21 --> 00:11:58,12 In each of these traditions, in every sentence he has been amazing 71 00:11:58,18 --> 00:12:04,16 This is when the Eighth Imam(a.s) is identified 72 00:12:04,20 --> 00:12:21,07 Ibn e Sikkit is someone that Ibn Khalkan writes about his book: 73 00:12:21,10 --> 00:12:34,00 "This is a book that has no parallel and is a reference for all." 74 00:12:37,03 --> 00:12:47,24 Such a person came and near the Imam(a.s) knelt on the floor and said: 75 00:12:48,03 --> 00:12:54,19 " O Son of the Prophet (pbuh) of God! What is the Hujjah (proof), today? 76 00:12:54,24 --> 00:12:59,24 The Imam said: "Wisdom" 77 00:13:00,02 --> 00:13:05,17 This is understood by those who 78 00:13:05,21 --> 00:13:15,15 have studied all the rational, theoretical and practical sciences 79 00:13:15,18 --> 00:13:23,06 from the beginning till the end 80 00:13:23,10 --> 00:13:30,22 then would they understand what the Imam(a.s) told Ibn e Sikkit. 81 00:13:31,02 --> 00:13:37,05 Said: Hujjah is Wisdom 82 00:13:37,08 --> 00:13:46,01 Later in another tradition he explained the perfection of 'aql'(wisdom) that 83 00:13:46,13 --> 00:13:52,00 what is the perfection of wisdom 84 00:13:52,06 --> 00:14:00,15 These should be understood, that is when it will be understood that 85 00:14:00,18 --> 00:14:06,15 what sort of knowledge and wisdom the world has been deprived of 86 00:14:06,19 --> 00:14:16,14 Said: "The wisdom of one is not perfected without these things:" 87 00:14:16,18 --> 00:14:24,03 We shall tell a small part of it summarily 88 00:14:24,06 --> 00:14:29,23 "First, goodness is expected from him. 89 00:14:30,01 --> 00:14:37,24 What a word he has started with 90 00:14:39,11 --> 00:14:44,20 the first sentence starts with "khair"(goodness) 91 00:14:44,24 --> 00:14:57,23 This is why the understanding and perception of these ahadith is very difficult 92 00:14:58,04 --> 00:15:08,20 " Goodness is expected from him and evil is not foreseen from him." 93 00:15:13,24 --> 00:15:18,01 He(a.s) has taken two words: "Khair"(goodness) and "sharr"(evil) 94 00:15:18,03 --> 00:15:26,22 alif' and 'laam' has preceded both these words. 'Alif' and 'Laam' denoting the inclusion of 'all good' and 'all evil'. 95 00:15:27,00 --> 00:15:36,16 All good is expected from him; 96 00:15:36,18 --> 00:15:40,21 No evil is foreseen from him. 97 00:15:45,22 --> 00:15:52,13 We have said that every sentence entails a long discussion 98 00:15:52,16 --> 00:15:59,19 The eighth Imam(a.s) is identified and perceived in these sentences 99 00:15:59,22 --> 00:16:07,12 "Second, once he has passed this station, 100 00:16:11,15 --> 00:16:23,06 "He reckons abundance of good from himself insufficient 101 00:16:23,10 --> 00:16:29,12 "and reckons the meager good from the other abundant 102 00:16:31,16 --> 00:16:40,11 this is how wisdom is perfected 103 00:16:46,17 --> 00:16:56,17 he is not frustrated if invoked to help people 104 00:17:00,22 --> 00:17:18,17 "When people invoke him for help frustration does not overcome him. 105 00:17:18,21 --> 00:17:24,15 This is regarding creation 106 00:17:24,18 --> 00:17:28,18 However, regarding himself: 107 00:17:28,21 --> 00:17:53,01 "He does not get satisfied from seeking knowledge throughout his life." 108 00:17:53,06 --> 00:18:00,23 What has he done in every sentence 109 00:18:01,05 --> 00:18:16,01 after that he says: "Poverty for Allah is dearer to him than wealth." 110 00:18:16,05 --> 00:18:26,15 " Humiliation for Allah is dearer to him than respect and honour." 111 00:18:30,21 --> 00:18:41,15 This is how he nurtures that quintessence of humanity. 112 00:18:41,19 --> 00:18:46,03 " The foundation of man is 'Aql'(wisdom)" 113 00:18:46,07 --> 00:18:54,11 This seed should reach fruition under the guidance of this gardener. 114 00:18:54,15 --> 00:19:02,18 The tradition is detailed. I shall tell its last part. 115 00:19:02,23 --> 00:19:11,03 Since himself focused on the last sentence 116 00:19:11,06 --> 00:19:16,10 Said: " The tenth and what is the tenth thing?" 117 00:19:16,15 --> 00:19:20,08 That last is this: 118 00:19:20,13 --> 00:19:24,04 "He does not see anyone 119 00:19:24,08 --> 00:19:29,12 this word "no one" is so inclusive 120 00:19:29,17 --> 00:19:38,04 " He does not see anyone but says he is better than me. 121 00:19:38,08 --> 00:19:44,24 "If he reaches here wisdom is perfected." 122 00:19:45,02 --> 00:19:51,01 Why? He analyzed this afterwards. 123 00:19:51,02 --> 00:19:58,18 " Because everyone you see is not without these two states. 124 00:19:58,22 --> 00:20:03,15 " Either he is better than you or worse. 125 00:20:03,17 --> 00:20:14,19 " That someone who is worse, once you reach him 126 00:20:18,22 --> 00:20:32,21 " his evil is evident but maybe there is good that is hidden from the eyes of the people. 127 00:20:33,02 --> 00:20:39,11 "however, your good is evident for yourself 128 00:20:39,16 --> 00:20:48,06 "Maybe that hidden good from him is acceptable in front of God 129 00:20:48,10 --> 00:20:58,21 " And that hidden evil of yours might cause you to be ostracised 130 00:20:59,18 --> 00:21:04,17 "and that apparent good from you as well is not acceptable. 131 00:21:04,22 --> 00:21:14,17 "When it is so that evil person is better than me. 132 00:21:14,23 --> 00:21:19,18 The gist of the matter is this: 133 00:21:19,22 --> 00:21:24,00 Those who know 134 00:21:24,03 --> 00:21:29,11 regarding themselves have 'knowledge of naught' 135 00:21:29,15 --> 00:21:33,03 regarding others have 'no knowledge' 136 00:21:33,08 --> 00:21:41,13 No knowledge' with 'knowledge of naught' do not conflict with each other 137 00:21:41,17 --> 00:21:46,09 This is when wisdom is perfected 138 00:21:46,14 --> 00:21:51,01 However, if you see he is better 139 00:21:51,05 --> 00:21:59,01 you should follow him in such a way that you reach every good 140 00:21:59,05 --> 00:22:03,19 If it is like this, wisdom is perfected 141 00:22:03,23 --> 00:22:08,11 This is his word regarding the perfection of wisdom. 142 00:22:08,15 --> 00:22:13,20 When he reaches faith(eeman)….. 143 00:22:13,24 --> 00:22:20,05 Who it is who is sleeping in Toos? Who is it! 144 00:22:20,08 --> 00:22:30,12 When he reaches faith, he said: 145 00:22:33,01 --> 00:22:41,23 " A believer's faith is not perfected unless he has three practices 146 00:22:42,09 --> 00:22:55,03 One from God; second from the Prophet( pbuh) of God; third from the Immaculate Imams(a.s) 147 00:22:55,08 --> 00:23:00,18 However, the one from God: " Hiding secrets" 148 00:23:00,24 --> 00:23:08,22 A believers faith is completed once he 149 00:23:09,00 --> 00:23:15,00 learns from God hiding defects 150 00:23:20,03 --> 00:23:24,21 he should safeguard secrets 151 00:23:25,00 --> 00:23:30,11 again in this word there is a pandemonium! 152 00:23:31,02 --> 00:23:37,01 What does it mean to take " hiding secrets" from God?! 153 00:23:37,24 --> 00:23:44,01 However, from the Prophet(pbuh) of God he should take "affability of manners". 154 00:23:45,01 --> 00:23:48,03 What did he do? 155 00:23:50,06 --> 00:23:56,20 See that his teeth were broken and 156 00:23:57,07 --> 00:24:01,18 cinder was thrown on his head and 157 00:24:02,01 --> 00:24:06,14 he was the best of creations 158 00:24:06,17 --> 00:24:16,00 they treated him like this, afterwards he said: 159 00:24:16,09 --> 00:24:21,22 " O Allah! Guide my people for they do not know." 160 00:24:22,05 --> 00:24:31,05 In return for all the pain he endured from those people he prayed for them. 161 00:24:31,12 --> 00:24:34,23 That too what did he ask from God? 162 00:24:35,03 --> 00:24:40,00 " O God! Guide my people….." 163 00:24:40,21 --> 00:24:44,09 Then it is extraordinary here 164 00:24:44,14 --> 00:24:53,19 After the word " O God! Guide" we have " my people" 165 00:24:53,23 --> 00:25:05,10 He related those people of the Arabian peninsula to himself so as to safeguard them from the tribulation of God. 166 00:25:05,14 --> 00:25:14,14 Afterwards, that which amazes the intellect is 167 00:25:14,19 --> 00:25:22,23 lastly he excused for them himself 168 00:25:24,01 --> 00:25:31,18 gave a reason, said: "…..since they do not know" 169 00:25:32,09 --> 00:25:40,22 forgive these for they do not know. Accept their excuse 170 00:25:41,05 --> 00:25:49,10 Take affability of manners from here. Then you should be a believer. 171 00:25:49,17 --> 00:25:58,18 However from us(the Imams as): " Patience in hardship and loss." 172 00:25:58,23 --> 00:26:09,09 With these three phrases man will reach the ultimate end of creation. 173 00:26:09,15 --> 00:26:20,11 All the scholars of ethics from Aristotle till present 174 00:26:20,16 --> 00:26:37,23 That which all the men who have worked towards for the upbringing of man, has three stages 175 00:26:38,03 --> 00:26:42,15 The first stage: Takhliyye (Emptying) 176 00:26:42,19 --> 00:26:50,18 The second stage: Tajziyye (Analysis and separation) 177 00:26:50,20 --> 00:26:54,24 The third stage: Tahliyye (Ornamenting) 178 00:26:55,04 --> 00:27:04,05 He has combined all the three stages in two traditions! 179 00:27:04,09 --> 00:27:15,06 He has removed all the faults of the practical knowledge of the world with these two traditions. 180 00:27:15,12 --> 00:27:25,19 If his sayings were researched and explained 181 00:27:25,24 --> 00:27:32,13 were understood and were utilized 182 00:27:32,17 --> 00:27:38,14 two traditions of his would have changed the world 183 00:27:46,19 --> 00:27:54,12 is understanding such a person easy? 184 00:27:54,15 --> 00:28:11,11 This tradition has been narrated by Ali ibn Ibrahim from Ibrahim ibn Hashim, 185 00:28:12,09 --> 00:28:23,02 He from Ibn Abi Umair, Ibn Abi Umair from a few companions 186 00:28:23,07 --> 00:28:31,07 from Umer ibn Yazeed from Imam As-Sadiq(a.s) 187 00:28:36,11 --> 00:28:42,24 A tradition such as this! With a chain of transmitters like these! 188 00:28:43,05 --> 00:28:57,23 Imam (a.s) said: " One Hajj is equal to freeing seventy slaves." 189 00:28:58,08 --> 00:29:04,20 Then Umer ibn Yazeed…. 190 00:29:05,00 --> 00:29:10,16 Those who are students of jurisprudence should identify the narrators 191 00:29:10,21 --> 00:29:20,09 in jurisprudence it is important as to who that narrator is. 192 00:29:20,14 --> 00:29:31,14 Whether its Umer ibn Yazeed, Muawiyya ibn Ammar, Zarareh or Abu Baseer? 193 00:29:31,18 --> 00:29:38,00 he asked: Is there something like Hajj? 194 00:29:38,05 --> 00:29:46,18 Imam(a.s) said: "There is nothing like Hajj. 195 00:29:46,23 --> 00:30:09,01 One Dirham for Hajj is equal to two million dirhams spent for other than Hajj in the way of God." 196 00:30:09,08 --> 00:30:14,04 Remember this tradition well 197 00:30:14,10 --> 00:30:25,14 The three Shiekhs, that is Thiqat ul Islam Shiekh Kulaini 198 00:30:25,18 --> 00:30:31,10 Shiekh ut-Taife in Tahzeeb, 199 00:30:31,16 --> 00:30:38,12 Shiekh ul-Muhadditheen Saduq in Ayun and Amali 200 00:30:38,16 --> 00:30:48,04 The tradition that is reported by the three Shiekhs…… 201 00:30:48,11 --> 00:30:52,18 a part of it is this: 202 00:30:52,23 --> 00:31:07,01 the Seventh Imam(a.s) said: "Ziyarah of my son Ali….. 203 00:31:07,05 --> 00:31:10,17 pay special attention 204 00:31:11,14 --> 00:31:26,06 " Ziyarah of my son Ali is better than 70 accepted Hajj." 205 00:31:26,11 --> 00:31:34,03 That Hajj with that greatness! 206 00:31:34,08 --> 00:31:46,22 A Ziyarah of his is equal to, lies in the same balance as 207 00:31:47,01 --> 00:31:53,18 seventy accepted Hajj. That too not every Hajj! (In the other balance) 208 00:31:53,23 --> 00:31:57,24 This is the first sentence, 209 00:32:01,03 --> 00:32:10,21 210 00:32:10,24 --> 00:32:22,05 Then it does not stop here, the Imam(a.s) said: 211 00:32:23,02 --> 00:32:38,11 " Somebody who performs his ziyarah, stays for one night near his grave 212 00:32:38,15 --> 00:32:46,03 "… he is like one who has visited Allah in His throne." 213 00:32:46,08 --> 00:32:56,19 These are the words of someone whose truth is attested to by God! 214 00:32:56,24 --> 00:33:03,21 … he is like one who has visited Allah in His throne. 215 00:33:04,00 --> 00:33:11,13 In the second stage he said: 216 00:33:11,18 --> 00:33:24,13 " When the throne of Allah on the Day of Judgement is brought there are eight people 217 00:33:24,18 --> 00:33:33,14 " Four people from the foremost and four people from the final-most 218 00:33:33,18 --> 00:33:45,01 from the foremost: Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus; 219 00:33:45,04 --> 00:34:00,10 from the final-most: The Prophet(pbuh), Ameer ul Momineen, Hasan Ibn Ali, Hussain Ibn Ali 220 00:34:02,12 --> 00:34:04,16 This in itself has a secret 221 00:34:05,04 --> 00:34:08,14 After this sentence he said: 222 00:34:08,24 --> 00:34:27,03 " the pilgrims to the graves of the Imams are seated by the side of the Imams 223 00:34:27,10 --> 00:34:47,04 however, "of them the pilgrims of the highest stature and the nearest ones as a gift( from God) are the pilgrims to the grave of my son Ali." 224 00:34:47,22 --> 00:34:49,22 This is Imam Reza(a.s) 225 00:34:50,07 --> 00:35:04,19 "" the pilgrims of the highest stature" and closest of them as a gift of God are the pilgrims to the graves of Ali ibn Musa Ar-Reza!" 226 00:35:05,01 --> 00:35:12,01 To understand the Eighth Imam is beyond man 227 00:35:12,10 --> 00:35:17,14 So what are the qualities he has? 228 00:35:17,19 --> 00:35:21,04 end of the conversation 229 00:35:21,07 --> 00:35:26,15 since people must know what is going on 230 00:35:26,20 --> 00:35:40,24 It is sad that we did not understand! We did not comprehend in whose shadow this country is still going on 231 00:35:45,05 --> 00:35:50,08 you sent blessings for an age 232 00:35:50,13 --> 00:35:53,02 what did you say in those blessings 233 00:35:58,08 --> 00:36:02,14 Who are the family of Muhammad(pbuh) 234 00:36:02,21 --> 00:36:04,19 Pay special attention 235 00:36:05,00 --> 00:36:08,04 Then the hadith is this 236 00:36:08,08 --> 00:36:21,04 The Sixth Imam(a.s) who is the patron and head of religion, told his son the Seventh Imam(a.s) 237 00:36:21,09 --> 00:36:26,08 "In your loins is the scholar of the family of Muhammad(pbuh)" 238 00:36:32,17 --> 00:36:36,16 Once it is said the scholar of a people 239 00:36:36,23 --> 00:36:42,17 Once it is said the scholar of a particular group 240 00:36:42,22 --> 00:36:45,03 however the words are these 241 00:36:45,08 --> 00:36:52,15 Infact these words are surprising for the intellects 242 00:36:52,20 --> 00:37:01,00 His second sentence is more perplexing 243 00:37:01,04 --> 00:37:07,13 Somebody who has no wish but God 244 00:37:07,18 --> 00:37:14,20 Somebody who has reached a stage that 245 00:37:15,03 --> 00:37:26,11 who says, " Only ye do we worship and only ye do we ask for help," so much that hears it from God himself 246 00:37:26,15 --> 00:37:32,01 such a person told his son 247 00:37:32,07 --> 00:37:37,15 think as much as you can! 248 00:37:37,20 --> 00:37:52,20 after that said: " I wish I was alive and saw your son." 249 00:37:53,01 --> 00:38:03,17 O Allah send your blessings and peace on your Friend and Hujjah Ali ibn Musa Ar Reza(as) 250 00:38:03,22 --> 00:38:09,08 as much as your knowledge encompasses 251 00:38:09,12 --> 00:38:17,22 blessings that are continuous with the continuation of your power and territory.