Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Imam Ali and the Astrologer
Quoted from one email with no clear author. However, the main source is clear, which is Nahjul Balaghah (The Peak of Eloquence).
There are some who are heedless with respect to reflection, reasoning
and Tawakkul (Absolute Trust), and instead, turn to soothsayers and
astrologers, who have cleverly started their business in order to
swindle the people of their money.
Of course, the issue of Aulia Allah (Friends of Allah) and those, who
have strived towards spiritual purification, differ vastly from the
others, for their words are light (nur) and if, at times, they were to
say something to someone, it would surely occur and hence such
personalities should not be compared to the others.
As an example, we shall present an incident that transpired during the
time of Maula Ali Alaihis Salaam, Ameer al-Momineen, Imam Ali ibn Abu
Talib Alaihis Salaam and his army had started out for the battle of
Nahrawan against the Kharjites (Kharjite means one who rebels against
religion), and having reached the city of Madain, they pitched their
tents. The next morning, as they were about to commence their journey,
an astrologer approached them and said: "My astrological calculations
reveal that it is not in your interest to advance in this hour.
Commence your journey after three hours and you shall be victorious."
Hearing this, Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib
Alaihis Salaam said: "Whoever upholds your words has rejected the
Noble Qur'an of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala."
Surely Allah is He with Whom is the knowledge of the hour, and He
sends down the rain and He knows what is in the wombs; and no one
knows what he shall earn on the morrow; and no one knows in what land
he shall die; surely Allah is Knowing, Aware. Noble Qur'an (31:34)
Moula Ali Alaihis Salaam then asked: "Do you possess knowledge as to
which family has taken over the reins of leadership in China?"
The astrologer replied: "I have no knowledge."
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib Alaihis Salaam questioned: "What is that star,
which when rises, stirs up lust within the camels?"
The astrologer confessed: "I have no idea."
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib Alaihis Salaam asked: "The rise of which star
stirs up passion within the cats?"
The astrologer said: "I do not know!"
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib Alaihis Salaam asked: "Inform me of the thing
that is concealed beneath the hoofs of my horse."
When the astrologer had once again pleaded ignorance, Imam Ali ibn Abu
Talib Alaihis Salaam said to him: "Within the earth, below the feet of
my horse, lies a jar filled with gold coins and beneath which a
serpent lies asleep."
When the place was dug up, the people witnessed that the scenario was
exactly as it had been described by Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib Alaihis
Salaam.
Observing this, the astrologer was totally bewildered; Imam Ali ibn
Abu Talib Alaihis Salaam took possession of his books, ordered them
to be destroyed and then said to him: "The next time you try to
attract the people towards yourself by means of astrology; I shall put
you behind bars."
There are some who are heedless with respect to reflection, reasoning
and Tawakkul (Absolute Trust), and instead, turn to soothsayers and
astrologers, who have cleverly started their business in order to
swindle the people of their money.
Of course, the issue of Aulia Allah (Friends of Allah) and those, who
have strived towards spiritual purification, differ vastly from the
others, for their words are light (nur) and if, at times, they were to
say something to someone, it would surely occur and hence such
personalities should not be compared to the others.
As an example, we shall present an incident that transpired during the
time of Maula Ali Alaihis Salaam, Ameer al-Momineen, Imam Ali ibn Abu
Talib Alaihis Salaam and his army had started out for the battle of
Nahrawan against the Kharjites (Kharjite means one who rebels against
religion), and having reached the city of Madain, they pitched their
tents. The next morning, as they were about to commence their journey,
an astrologer approached them and said: "My astrological calculations
reveal that it is not in your interest to advance in this hour.
Commence your journey after three hours and you shall be victorious."
Hearing this, Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib
Alaihis Salaam said: "Whoever upholds your words has rejected the
Noble Qur'an of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala."
Surely Allah is He with Whom is the knowledge of the hour, and He
sends down the rain and He knows what is in the wombs; and no one
knows what he shall earn on the morrow; and no one knows in what land
he shall die; surely Allah is Knowing, Aware. Noble Qur'an (31:34)
Moula Ali Alaihis Salaam then asked: "Do you possess knowledge as to
which family has taken over the reins of leadership in China?"
The astrologer replied: "I have no knowledge."
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib Alaihis Salaam questioned: "What is that star,
which when rises, stirs up lust within the camels?"
The astrologer confessed: "I have no idea."
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib Alaihis Salaam asked: "The rise of which star
stirs up passion within the cats?"
The astrologer said: "I do not know!"
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib Alaihis Salaam asked: "Inform me of the thing
that is concealed beneath the hoofs of my horse."
When the astrologer had once again pleaded ignorance, Imam Ali ibn Abu
Talib Alaihis Salaam said to him: "Within the earth, below the feet of
my horse, lies a jar filled with gold coins and beneath which a
serpent lies asleep."
When the place was dug up, the people witnessed that the scenario was
exactly as it had been described by Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib Alaihis
Salaam.
Observing this, the astrologer was totally bewildered; Imam Ali ibn
Abu Talib Alaihis Salaam took possession of his books, ordered them
to be destroyed and then said to him: "The next time you try to
attract the people towards yourself by means of astrology; I shall put
you behind bars."
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