The Petal of a Flower can Cut a Diamond
There is a big leafy tree in front of the house. Its’ branches are full of green leafy twines and twigs. The branches sway majestically in sporadic gusts of wind. It was the month of May. The sun was at its peak, showering rays of heat at noon, inflicting its fury everywhere. Animals and humans took refuge under the trees’ shades. There were many such trees lining the street corner. This particular tree had red and white flowers lining its girth in profusion making it beautiful to behold. When the human intellect and thought comes in contact with Divine creation, it starts drowning in surprise and amazement. On one hand, the season of summer, fire raining down from noon to night. While, on the other end are flowers, which bear such delicate petals, embracing these fiery rays with a smile. The animals and humans keep searching for shade to get away from the sweltering sun drenched in sweat, while the flowers sing their silent tunes in joy and praise their Creator. It is true that a gathering of opposites is not possible for humans. But not for the Omnipotent Allah Who is capable of all things.
From Ibrahim (a.s.) to Haroon Makki, none knows the number of incidents that have occurred in this transient world either lost in the pages of history or swept away in the silent yet swift flow of time wherein the soft delicate petals have vanquished the raging fire of enmity and hatred decimating them completely. Let us bring the evident realities to light.
It is the saying of Ali (a.s.) that when you turn the pages of history, be aware that you are traversing with the people in that same environment, the same era and the same places. From the incidents of Karbala, which gave life to the writing of history itself let us witness an incident closely at its source. A gentle smile which emerged on the lips of the 6 month old Ali defeated so many heartless humans penning the details of a history where countless divine secrets, which were hitherto hidden, were revealed.
Allah the Almighty has said “And We desired to bestow a favor upon those who were deemed weak in the land, and to make them the Imams, and to make them the heirs.”
(Surah Qasas (28): Verse 5)
At another place, the definition of inheritance is also mentioned saying that “Surely the land is Allah’s; He causes such of His servants to inherit it as He pleases.”
(Surah Anbiyaa (21): Verse 105)
The Holy Quran frequently announces that Allah is Merciful, Forgiving and Independent; loves his Creation, grants man great honour and raises him to higher stages of nobility if man stays aloof from pride and vanity which are causes of injustice and oppression towards weaker servants. Man has certainly been made free and has been given choices. But those options have also been limited by laws. The Almighty Allah has also sent his special servants, concealing their creations of Light in coverings of earth, for the propagation of these laws. This chain was started from the beginning of this world until future had been molded into the shape of the present. Today, the Guardian and the Caliph of Allah on the earth, in the settlements, upon his creation, upon his servants shines forth from his place of occultation to perform his duties of caliphate and guardianship. His indications of directives towards Quranic injunctions and commands give an invitation of reflection to the intellectuals and the virtuous – “Look! For you, the unity of opposites is not possible. But for the Creator of the Universe, nothing is impossible.” It is a point of consideration that the Almighty announces in the Noble Quran
“Blessed is He in Whose hand is the kingdom, and He has power over all things. Who created death and life that He may try you, which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Mighty, the Forgiving.”
(Surah Mulk (67): Verses 1 & 2)
This noble verse makes a mention of the Power, Kingship and Dominion of Allah along with trials for the servants. It is the requirement of knowledge and wisdom that we understand His Power, Kingship and Dominion and be prepared for trials. So, how do we witness the manifestation of these divine attributes? If they are His manifestations, then man should be attentive towards His splendors.
The people who drive their thoughts towards exploration of truth find the noble Quran lighting the way. It shakes you out of your reverie through this verse, surprises you, then lights up your path
“….Certainly We sent Our messengers with clear signs, and sent down with them the Book and the balance.”
(Surah Hadeed (57): Verse 25)
Clear Signs
After the chain of Messengers and Prophets (a.s.), was the life of the seal of Prophets (s.a.w.a.) followed by the term of the Father of Imams (a.s.) till the last of the Imams (a.t.f.s.). If we keep every aspect of their holy lives in perspective, we find that whereas the strong and unjust rulers and detestable politicians have given clarion calls of oppression, injustice and deception, we should also pay attention to the guidance of the guides to the truth, their lifestyles, their reformation of society, and their measures and communications thereof. We discover that all the methods of the unjust became useless in front of the voice of the victims.
It is true, a divine miracle. “The petal of a flower can cut a diamond”.
The Book
The Book meaning the Quran has indicated in several ways to recognize the Power of God.
Toil towards the recognition of the Almighty. Work your way towards a virtuous life through the words of the Divine Book. For the love of the Divine, His power and His noble verses will take you beyond the pinnacle of your existence.
And with Him are the keys of the unseen treasures none knows them but He And He knows what is in the land and the sea And there falls not a leaf but He knows it, nor a grain in the darkness of the earth, nor anything green nor dry but it is all) in a clear book.
(Surah An’am (6): Verse 59)
The Balance
When a man with intellect and understanding becomes fearful and perplexed, he searches for a balance and standard by which he can break the flux of illusions to gain certainty, complete certainty and be firm on it. So Allah the Just has set up balances for His servants. For example, deliberate on the roles of Zuhair Ibn Qain and Hurr with his anxiety. A few minutes of closeness with the oppressed Imam (a.s.) and he gained faith of an eternal life. When you rinse it and see, this does not equate upon the weighing scale. He rose from the layers of enmity to such fellowship that history will always consider his life as a milestone of guidance. How restless Hurr had grown! He saw his character falling from the standard. How he had placed his head at the feet of his master on the morning of Aashuraa!
A Recent Incident
Sheikh Hasan Shahaataa (martyred on the eve of 15th Shabaan, 1434 A.H./2013 A.D), a scholar, a researcher, a man of conscience, a seeker of truth saw that he was moving towards hell when he put his knowledge on the weighing scale. He emerged from the darkness of Egypt with the words that if Imam Husain (a.s.) has forgiven Hurr, will he not forgive my lapses? Now he met the standard and the verdict of death was for him sweeter than honey. And he was murdered. His corpse was dragged through the streets. His severed head was thrown into a furnace. What difference did it make? The Almighty Allah had already guided His servant aught him from the darkness into the light. Everyone will have the opportunity in this short lifespan to examine his character and good morals upon the scale.
These are the days of mourning. The teachings of Ahle Bait (a.s.) are imparted from the pulpits. If the enemies have forty thousand schools, then the lessons of Hussainiat, Imamat, Qiyamat, etc. are being taught from millions of pulpits in every village, every settlement and every city. Our black dress is our identity. Our mourning is the confirmation of our focus. The attention of the Imam of the Time (a.s.) on the place of mourning is our virtue and our tears in the handkerchief of Zahra (s.a.) is like our character kept on the scale. This is the character certificate of the family which can be presented to the judge on the day of reappearance and on the judgment day to be used for salvation. On that day of raining fire, the mourning of the followers of Zahra (s.a.) on her son Husain (a.s.) will be akin to the statement quoted in the beginning of this article: compare the blazing heat and the delicate petals of flowers. How they invite the eyes to look up in perplexity at the burning flames vis-à-vis the happiness and comfort of the flowers. Do not point an accusing finger at the lovers of Imam Husain (a.s.) in an objectionable derisive manner because in the unrest of the Day of Judgment, when a man drowns in his own sweat, the sun beats down, the brain boils over, literate people connected with the love Imam (a.s.) will be resting in a cool shade, quenched of thirst and praising God. The tears which have flowed down from the eyes in the worldly life will be scattered around in the form of aqueous wells and will be carriers of peace and blessings on the field of judgment. The rays of the light of love shining from the foreheads will retain the attention of the companions. If the world today takes the material ascent as its destiny and denies the Power of God, which subjugates the rejecters and the polytheists, and becomes the source of oppression and injustice, they should take heed that Allah, the Creator of the Universe, has not created this for them but for the poor and helpless who have been weakened in this world. What army did Imam Husain (a.s.) have? Imam Musa Kazim (a.s.) spent the best part of his life in prison. Imam Reza (a.s.) had to confront Haroon and Mamoon and their politics of deception and their large army. What defensive weaponry, spears, swords, soldiers and war strategy did he have against a great force? But take a look. Centuries have rolled by and the convoys have passed through in droves. On the day of Arafah, the entire earth it seemed, has gathered. The air itself carried the lilting sound of O Husain! O Husain! Towards the dome of the Sanctuary. What happened? How did it happen? Who did this? Who are these people who surge towards the resting abodes of the martyrs, who rush from the shrines of Imam Husain (a.s.) to the shrine of Abbas (a.s.) seeking permission to enter the sanctuary? This is the court of the one of noble lineage. All prayers are accepted. All requests are fulfilled. And when do the visitors have worldly desires? They come to get divine assistance to negotiate the trials of this world while carrying the fragrance of the flowers of love, walking together and reach a goodly end and that they should have the confidence of the soft flower petals which repels the burning rays of the sun. It is true, that for such confidence one requires a clear conscience, knowledge and the pursuit for recognition of Imamat. A friendly nature and not a hardened heart are required for acquiring the light. Let the peaceful heart come forward to accept good advice. Then this matter will be understood
A petal of a flower can cut a diamond
(But) a soft word has no effect on the unwise
