Shabbir’s Blog

Updated editorial and image on Islamic Digest and Karbala.com for the martyrdom of Imam Ali(A), starting with the injuring of Imam Ali(A) by Ibn Muljim al-Muradi(L) - the Khawareji Assassin, to Imam Ali(A)’s martyrdom on account of the strike (on the 19th of Ramadhan)by the poisoned sword on the 21st of Ramadhan.

As before, until we’ve got the content for karbala.com sorted out, we’re using the Islamic Digest editorial image (slightly customized) as the front page for karbala.com; have a look see:

I know that for the editorial for the Sacred Defense Week, I didn’t get around to doing a write up, there simply wasn’t the time, with activities at the Masjed (I don’t like using the word “mosque” - I’ll explain one at some stage in another entry, but for now - Masjed == Mosque), and fasting, and other personal and work related issues, didn’t get around to writing an editorial for that event.

Sadly, we also missed the birth anniversary of Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba(A) on the 15th of Ramadhan (missed in terms of Editorial and Editorial Artwork, not in terms of the actual event!!).

Nevertheless, I shall be doing my utmost to have a proper write-up on the occasion of the Martyrdom of Imam Ali(A).  Insha Allah.

Once again, let us know your thoughts on the artwork, I’m trying to get a strong yet subtle message through the artwork, explaining much about the personality/event that the editorial artwork is for, and personally, I really like this one for Imam Ali(A)’s Martyrdom.  If you look deeply and carefully at it, you can see things that are subtle, and they do give a meaning and understanding even of who Imam Ali(A) was, and what an amazing personality he was.

For those of you who are interested, here is a link to a book called Nahj ul-Balagha (the Peak of Eloquence) (another link can be found here) this is a book with many of the sayings, sermons and letters of Imam Ali(A), and indeed it contains many pearls of wisdom and insight, that only a true lover of God, could provide.

The clarity and depth of insight that Imam Ali(A) gave, the level of understanding he had of God, Creation, Science, Sociology, Politics, Elegance, Ethics, etc, etc is breathtaking, and it is important, for both Muslims and non-Muslims to learn from him.

Suffice it to say that the UN Charter on Human Rights, which was written around fifty (50) or so years ago, was written almost identically by Imam Ali(A) some 1400 years ago!!

There is an excellent book by the Lebanese Christian, George Jordac, on Imam Ali(A), titled “The Voice of Human Justice” (Click the name to go to the book and have a read).  Well worth reading, if for no other reason than to get an idea of who Ali(A), the Brother of the Prophet Muhammad(S) was.

Yet another book on Imam Ali(A), is by the respected Alem (Islamic Cleric), who was based out of Detroit, Michigan, USA, named; Imam Muhammad Jawad Chirri(RA).  The book is titled “The Brother of the Prophet Muhammad(S), the Imam Ali(A)” - you can read that, simply by click it’s name, and following that link.

A very detailed account of Imam Ali(A)’s life can be found in the book “Sirat Ameer al-Mu’mineen by Mufti Ja’far Husayn”, which has been translated and is available online entitled: “The Biography of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib(A)“.

Finally, a personal favourite.  The Martyred Scholar (murdered by the terrorist MKO Organisation in the early days of the Islamic Revolution in Iran), Ayatullah Shaheed Shaykh Murtadha Mutahhari(A), wrote an excellent piece titled: “A Polarisation Around the Personality of Imam Ali(A)” - which has been translated into English (from it’s native Farsi (Persian), under the title of “The Attraction and Repulsion of Ali(A)“.

This book discusses the personality of Imam Ali(A), from a philosophical and mystical perspective, examining the qualities that Imam Ali(A), that either endeared him to a person, or repulsed that person from him - which in reality - on in-depth examination, wasn’t on account Imam Ali(A) himself, but on account of the mentality and spiritual level of the person making the observation.  It is quite difficult to explain this in a few lines on a blog entry, so my sincere advise, if you only read two of the books I’ve outlined here, read “The Brother of the Prophet Muhammad(S), the Imam Ali(A)“, by Imam Muhammad Jawad Chirri, and read “The Attraction and Repulsion of Ali(A)“, by Ayatullah Murtadha Mutahhari.

Right then, that’s all for now folks,

Warm Regards,

Shabbir