�Dear Gilberto I am writing this from my hospital address and have no access except to my Holy Qur'an, the Holy Bible, and some essential Bahai Revelation. In other words I am very limited in time and more importantly in resources and maybe I should correspond with you privately lest others feel this area is too specialized...
I am most struck by your tone, your moderation, and your general fairness in your reply below. May the Omniscient reward you for being so nice in these last letter [s]. The only thing I would add at this juncture with all my limitations and humble apologies is the answer lies in a thorough study of the Sermon of 'Ali called **Shiqshqiyyah** which is universally available in Egypt Syria Lebanon Pakistan Iran and is sold in all big "Sunni" bookshops as well as "Shi'ih" bookshops...My copies I bought in Egypt but it is available on the Net....i am only offering it to you with affection and respect for your vast vast reading and care in looking into things... http://www.geocities.com/ahlulbayt14/shaq-a.html http://www.holynajaf.net/eng/html/nahjulbalaga/003.htm http://www.al-islam.org/nahj/default.asp?url=3.htm This sermon is known as the sermon of ash-Shiqshiqiyyah, and is counted among the most famous sermons of Amir al-mu'minin. It was delivered at ar-Rahbah. Although some people have denied it to be Amir al-mu'minin's utterance and by attributing it to as-Sayyid ar-Radi (or ash-Sharif ar-Radi) have laid blame on his acknowledged integrity, yet truth-loving scholars have denied its veracity. Nor can there be any ground for this denial because `Ali's (p.b.u.h.) difference of view in the matter of Caliphate is not a secret matter, so that such hints should be regarded as something alien. And the events which have been alluded to in this sermon are preserved in the annals of history which testifies them word by word and sentence by sentence. If the same events which are related by history are recounted by Amir al-mu'minin then what is the ground for denying them? If the memory of discouraging circumstances faced by him soon after the death of the Prophet appeared unpalatable to him it should not be surprising. No doubt this sermon hits at the prestige of certain personalities and gives a set back to the faith and belief in them but this cannot be sustained by denying the sermon to be Amir al-mu'minin's utterance, unless the true events are analysed and truth unveiled; otherwise just denying it to be Amir al-mu'minin's utterance because it contains disparagement of certain individuals carries no weight, when similar criticism has been related by other historians as well. Khazeh Fananapazir <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > My dear well remembered much appreciated Gilberto Simpson > > Truly sorry as I have to spend two nights watching the patients in the > hospital and cannot answer you but if you wish you could read this: > *** the following question arises. Given the fact that the Prophet, > peace and blessings be upon him and his family, proclaimed 'Ali to be > his legatee > (wasiyy) and successor (khalifah), emphatically designation him as the > leader of the Muslims both at Ghadir Khumm and on other appropriate > occasions, how did it happen that after the death of the Most Noble > Messenger his Companions (sahabah) ignored God's command and abandoned > 'Ali, that noble and precious personage, decided not to obey him, > chose someone else to be leader in his place, and entrusted the reins of rule to him? Yes. But I would ask the question differently. Given that the chosen companions of the prophet didn't insist that Ali (ra) be the khalifah. And given that Ali himself didn't fight for the right of rulership. And even refused leadership when it was offered to him. Maybe it would be incorrect to think that Ali was chosen in the way that some Muslims believe. And perhaps there are other concepts of leadership which even sunnis can believe that Ali fulfilled even though he wasn't the khalifah. Peace Gilberto __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[email protected] To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[email protected] Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
