WILAYAH NEWS VOICE OF THE GLOBAL AWAKENING
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On the Path of Al-Hussain (peace be upon him) – Dr. Ahmed Rasem Al-Nafis
“Until the false ones among you begin to doubt, saying: ‘If they were not on the truth, they would not have confronted us; by God, they are not of the truth even to the slightest degree. Even if they strike us with their swords until they reach the date palms of Hijr, we will know that we are on the truth and they are in falsehood.’” (1)
And Ammar, in taking this stance, is truly listening to the voice of God calling him: “And fight them until there is no more fitnah and [all] religion is for Allah…” (Al-Baqarah / 193)
3 – The Concept of Fitnah (Trial/Temptation) and the Inability to Stand for the Truth
God Almighty said: “And among them are those who say, ‘Permit me [to leave] and do not test me.’ Unquestionably, in the trial, they have fallen.” (At-Tawbah / 49)
Some scholars, both classical and modern, have claimed that these events were a fitnah in which a person could not distinguish right from wrong, or truth from falsehood. The word “fitnah” here implies the absence of the ability to discern. This state—lack of discernment—may arise from the individual’s own capacity, conscience, or knowledge, or from the confusing circumstances of events, such as battles in which the true identity of the heroes is unknown, their personal or collective history is unclear, and the sequence of events leading to the moment cannot be traced. I believe that such an explanation does not apply to this tragic disaster, nor to the series of calamities that befell…
(1) Explanation of Nahj al-Balagha by Ibn Abi al-Hadid, edited by Muhammad Abu al-Fadl Ibrahim, Vol. 5, pp. 256–258, 1st edition, Dar Al-Jeel – Beirut, 1987.)
Among the nation of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), we can only say that the inability to see clearly stems from the personal psychological state of certain individuals whose souls and determination failed to follow the steadfast current of truth led by Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (peace be upon him). They chose a stance whose slogan was “Do not test me”, the reality of which, as God says, is: “Unquestionably, in the trial, they have fallen.”
The tragic disaster that befell the Islamic nation during this early period of its history was neither simple nor easy. It began as the disaster of division, then became the disaster of misguidance and leading others astray, perpetrated by the leaders of sedition and misguidance among the Umayyads. Furthermore, the incident of division did not occur in a vacuum; it tore through the body of the young Muslim nation, which had not yet reached maturity. Nor did it happen quietly; it was accompanied by noise and commotion that confused even the most loyal followers of Ali (peace be upon him), leading to widespread doubt. No clearer example exists than the lost man who saw both groups praying and reciting the same Quran, causing him severe shock. He went to the Imam (peace be upon him), who guided him like a knowledgeable and wise master who does not deceive.
But where could the nation find people like Ammar, Malik al-Ashtar, or Abu Al-Haythami to guide the lost? These were the devoted companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) who fulfilled their covenant with God and followed His eternal guidance: “Whoever I am his master, Ali is his master. O Allah, befriend those who befriend him and oppose those who oppose him.”
