The Mahdi Times August 2011 | Page 12

Continued... So now the real question for many is... once Ramadan is over, will the Ansar of Imam Ahmad al-Hasan (AS) face the the same imprisonment that they faced last year? The Egyptian Revolution was successful in the fall of Hosni Mubarak, but were the Egyptian people successful in demanding their rights and demanding their freedom? Is Egypt really democratic? And can freedom and "democracy" even co-exist? Democracy imposed by force is not freedom, nor will it guarantee peace. Unmatched Wisdom From the Mouth of Ameer al Momineen  by: Laila Ali  When we read the beautiful words of Ali a.s, we find that even his advice and recommendations are like a balm that heals everything. And so the Great Egyptian Democracy and Freedom Experiment has been launched by our brother Ansaris of Egypt. Indeed, freedom is for all. Egypt cannot possibly claim to stand for democracy and freedom, unless they stand for democracy and freedom for all people, of all religions. As we approach the end of this Holy month, we ask you to please take part in this experiment. www.campaign.hashemstudios.com " Anyone who loves us Ahlul Bayt must be ready to face a life of austerity." "Daughters are advantages and sons are graces. You will be rewarded for the advantages and asked about the graces." "If problems are added to each other, they will give birth of relief." His words echo the deep wisdom only Ameer ul Momineen can posess and an insight only the Wali of Allah could have. "The Imam(A.S.) was asked about the evidence on the existence of the One Allah. He answered: "The evidence is the need of the creatures to Him." When somebody asked Imam Ali (as) to how he was getting on, he replied: “What do you want to know about a person whose life is leading him towards ultimate death, whose health is the first stage towards illness, and whom society has forced out of his retreat”. Sohayl bin Hunayf Ansari was a favourite companion of Imam Ali. At the time of Imam Ali’s return from Siffin, he died at Kufa of the wounds sustained in the battle. His death left Imam Ali very sad and he said: “Even if a mountain loves me it will be crushed into bits”. (it means people are tested with my love, and to prove it they have to pass through loss and calamities). The world is like a serpent, so soft to touch, but so full of lethal poison. Unwise people are allured by it and drawn towards it, and wise men avoid it and keep away from its poisonous effects. There are many persons whom constant grants of His Bounties turn them wicked and fit for His punishment and there are many more who have become vain and self- deceptive because the Merciful Allah has not exposed their weaknesses and vices to the world and the people 12 speak highly about them. All this is an opportunity. No trial of the Lord is more severe than the time He allows (in which either you may repent or get deeper into vices). Imam Ali was following a funeral and as it was passing along a road, somebody laughed loudly ( a sign of discourtesy and lack of manner ). Hearing this laugh, Imam Ali remarked, "Some of us feel that death is meant for everybody except themselves or it is destined to others and not to themselves or those whom we see dying around us are only travelers going on a journey and will come back to us. It is a sad sight to see that in one moment we commit them to earth and in the next we take hold of the things left by them as if we are going to remain permanently in this world after them. The fact is that we forget sensible advice given to us and become victim of every calamity." Blessings are for the man who humbles himself before Allah, whose sources of income are honest, whose intentions are always honorable, whose character is noble, whose habits are sober, who gives away in the cause and in the Name of Allah, the wealth which is lying surplus with him, who controls his tongue from vicious and useless talk, who abstains from oppression, who faithfully follows the traditions of the Holy Prophet and who keeps himself away from innovation in religion. Jealousy in woman is unpardonable, but in man it is a sign of his faith in religion (because Islam has permitted polygamy and prohibited polyandry).