Sunday, December 29, 2024

Kitab Al-Kafi

 H 11, Ch. 1, h 11 A number of our people has narrated Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from certain persons of his people in a marfu‘ manner from the Holy Prophet (s.a) who has said the following. "Allah has not distributed anything among people more excellent than intelligence. The sleeping of a person of intelligence is better than the worshipping of an ignorant person for the whole night. Staying of a person of intelligence at home is better than the journeying of an ignorant person in search for success and good deeds. Allah did not sent any prophet or messenger before the completion of his intelligence and to let it become better than the intelligence of all of his followers. Whatever a prophet preserves in his soul is better than the achievement of all the striving people for virtue and good deeds. People would not fulfil their obligations to Allah without having an understanding about Him. All the worshippers will not be able to achieve with the virtue of their worships what a person of intelligence achieves. It is the people of intelligence who are considered as people of proper understanding in chapter 2:269 of the holy Quran, "Only People of understanding realizes this."

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

A New Modern Hero

 In a quiet mountain village in modern-day Dagestan, where the air carries the whispers of ancient legends and the rivers flow with the strength of forgotten warriors, a young man named Aslan emerged from the shadow of his ancestors. Aslan, the great-great-great-great-grandson of Hadji Murat, bore an uncanny resemblance to his famed forebear—the piercing hazel eyes, the aquiline nose, and a presence that commanded attention before he even spoke. But it wasn’t just his appearance that drew comparisons; Aslan shared his ancestor’s courage, integrity, and a relentless drive to challenge authority when injustice reigned.

From a young age, Aslan had heard the stories. His grandmother would sit by the fire and speak of Hadji Murat’s legendary stand against both the Russian Empire and the tribal rivalries of his homeland. “He was a man of principle, Aslan,” she would say, her voice filled with both pride and sorrow. “A lion among wolves, torn between duty to his people and loyalty to his own heart.”

Unlike his ancestor, however, Aslan’s battleground was not war but the corruption and oppression that had seeped into his village. The local government, entangled in a web of bribes and deceit, siphoned funds meant for schools and hospitals. The villagers lived in quiet despair, their spirits broken by decades of neglect. Aslan, however, could not abide it.

One day, he stood in the village square, a lone figure against the backdrop of crumbling buildings and weary faces. “My people,” he called out, his voice steady and strong, “we are the descendants of those who stood tall against empires. Are we to bow now before petty men who steal from us? Let us remember who we are.”

The villagers, inspired by his words, began to rally. Aslan, much like Hadji Murat, walked a fine line. He petitioned the government, exposing their corruption with irrefutable evidence, but he also knew when to use the strength of his people to demand justice. Peaceful protests, letters to international human rights organizations, and a growing network of allies soon made Aslan a figure to be reckoned with.

Yet, as with his ancestor, Aslan’s fight came at a cost. The corrupt officials sought to silence him, and one dark night, a group of masked men ambushed him on the mountain trail. But Aslan was prepared. Drawing upon the stories of Hadji Murat, who had once escaped betrayal with cunning and bravery, he used the terrain to his advantage, evading his attackers and leading them into a trap set by his supporters.

The story of Aslan’s escape spread quickly, and the government, fearing further unrest, finally conceded. Funds were restored to the village, new schools and clinics were built, and Aslan became a symbol of hope and resilience not just in his village, but across the region.

Years later, as Aslan stood at the grave of Hadji Murat, he felt the weight of history upon him. “I am your blood, but I am also your legacy,” he whispered. “The fight continues, but so does the hope.”

Aslan’s story, like that of his ancestor, became legend—a tale of one man’s courage against the tides of oppression, proving that the spirit of Hadji Murat still lived on in the mountains of Dagestan.