On the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of the tenth infallible Imam, the tenth successor of the Prophet Muhammad (sawa), Imam Ali ibn Muhammad al-Naqi (a.s), World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League (WABIL) congratulates the Imam of our time Imam Mahdi (atfs), righteous scholars, and all believers.
 

Imam Ali Naqi (as) was born on 5 Rajab, 214 Hijrah (829 CE) in the vicinity of Madina, at a place known as Surya and was martyred on 3 Rajab  254 Hijrah (868 CE) aged 40 years. The period of his Imamate was 34 years.
 

His father was Imam Muhammad at-Taqi al-Jawad (a.s)  and his mother Samana (s.a). Imam (A.S was not more than 8 years of age when he became the divinely designated Imam on his father’s martyrdom. But age is no barrier to divinely given wisdom and knowledge. The Imam (as) guided his people throughout his tender age until adulthood.


In a recent statement on the Imam’s martyrdom, we highlighted some of his life’s struggles.  But here we would like to point out some of his legacy.  It was during the reign of Mutawakkil that our 10th Imam was brought to the presence of the Caliph from Madina to Baghdad. Yakubi writes in his history of the time that once the raiding party of soldiers found the Imam on his prayer mat and took him away to the caliph in the same state. Mutawakkil was engaged in his nightly drinking and frolics and asked the Imam to join him. Imam declined replying, “A liquor such as that was never yet combined with my flesh and blood”.

The half-drunk caliph asked the Imam to read some poetry. Imam said that he did not indulge in such habits. But when the caliph insisted, the Imam recited the following lines (Ibn Khalikan the historian narrated the story word for word).

“Protected by valiant warriors they passed the night on the summit of their mountains but these mountains did not protect them. After all their power and pomp they had to descend from their lofty fortresses to the custody of the tombs. Oh what a dreadful change their graves had hardly received them when a voice heard exclaiming, ‘Where are the thrones and the crowns and the robes of State? Where are now the faces of the delicate, which were shaded by veils and protected by curtains?’ To this the tomb replied,  ‘The worms are now revelling upon these faces. Long were these men eating and drinking, but now they are eaten by the worms in their turn.’”  Many wept listening to these words uttered by the Imam.

 
Fadhl ibn Khaqan, a secret follower of Ahlul Bayt , had risen to the post of Minister in the cabinet of Mutawakkil solely by virtue of his intellectual and administrative merits. On his recommendation, Mutawakkil ordered that the Imam’s imprisonment be changed to a house arrest.
He granted him a piece of land and allowed him to build a house and live there. But guards were directed to keep a close watch over the activities of the Imam. His house was often searched for subversive activities but nothing was ever found.


During this period too, Imam ‘Ali Naqi (as) set an admirable example of trust in God, ignoring all worldly gains. In spite of permanent residence in Samarrah, the Imam never asked for any favours. The same worshipping and ascetic life that he led during his imprisonment was passed in this state of house arrest.  He prayed during the night and fasted during the day. Although confined within the four walls of the house in Samarrah, his fame spread rapidly throughout the Provinces of Iraq. Every household in the city of Samarrah seemed to know the whereabouts of the Imam and somehow they got knowledge of Islam and of the Ahlul Bayt (as) from him.

 
WABIL offers its felicitations to you all on this joyful day and prays that we may all follow the wonderful life example of Imam Ali al-Naqi (as), an illustrious light of guidance.

Sayed Mohammad Al-Musawi
World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League (WABIL)
London, UK
 
 
 

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