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• 8 Jamada II 1437

The representative of the leading Marja’iyah in Europe Allamah Sayyid Murtadha Al-Kashmiri says:
• The Marja’iyah has never a single day abandoned the people. Being silent is wisdom determined by the status-quo. Time will reveal this secret.
• Mentioned parts of Imam Ali (a.s.)’s directives to Malik Al-Ashtar and others in authority – which is one of the most important political discourse for those in politics – if they can realize its significance.
• He who disrobes himself of Taqwa (wariness of Allah), will not be covered/defended by anything else.

The Allamah was delivering the Friday prayers sermon at Al-Huda Centre in south London, opening his sermon with the verse:

O children of Adam! We have indeed sent down to you clothing to cover your shame, and (clothing) for beauty and clothing that guards (against evil), that is the best. Such are among the signs of Allah that they may be mindful. (Holy Qur’an 7:26)

1- Regarding the general and the specific diversity in divine discourse: the aforementioned verse is an example of general discourse. Also as in the following verses:

O people! Be careful of (your duty to) your Lord (Holy Qur’an 4:1) O man! What has beguiled you from your Lord, the Gracious one (Holy Qur’an 82:6)
O man! Surely you must strive (to attain) to your Lord a hard striving until you meet Him (Holy Qur’an 84: 6)

The specific discourse as in the following verses:

O Messenger! Deliver what has been revealed to you from your Lord..(Holy Qur’an 5:67)
O Prophet! Urge the believers to war (Holy Qur’an 8:65)
O you who are clothed! (Holy Qur’an 74:1)
O apostles! Eat of the good things .. (Holy Qur’an 23:51)
O you who believe! Be careful (of your duty to) Allah with the care which is due to Him ..(Holy Qur’an 3:102)
The Allamah then elaborated on the aims of the diversity of divine discourse.

2-He also pointed to how the Almighty has honoured his servants by distinguishing them from His other creations – by the clothes they wear, making them good-looking in the eyes of people (as mentioned in the above verse 7:26 of the Holy Qur’an).

He also explained the meaning of ‘..we have sent down to you clothing...’ which is not like sending down as in the first verse of Surah 97. Here, it means: divine planning to meet the essential requirements of man such as cloths, food, drink, and air, plus all other essential needs – as in the following verse:

And there is not a thing but (its source) treasures (inexhaustible) are with Us, and We do not send it down but in a known measure. (Holy Qur’an 15:21).

It’s a though Allah wishes to say that He organised everything for His creation starting from man and ending with the tiniest of living organism. There is nothing in this world for which He has not made a delicate system for its existence, as in the following verses:

And We did not create the heaven and the earth and what is between them for (idle) sport. (Holy Qur’an 21:16) And We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them but for just ends. (Holy Qur’an 15:85)

This was the discourse of the outer garment.

3-As for the inner garment, as mentioned in verse 7:26 ..clothing that guards (against evil) ..meaning Imaan or piety and doing good deeds and wariness of Allah Almighty, adhering to His commands and abstaining from His prohibitions. Imam Al-Baqir (a.s.) has mentioned this by saying: “The clothing of piety is ‘chastity’ because the chaste person will not be bear even without clothes and the evildoer, even when fully clothed, will look bear; as mentioned by the Almighty ..clothing that guards (against evil)that is the best.

The most important of manifestations of piety is the Jihad (struggle), which translates into words and attitude and sacrifice, as mentioned by Imam Ali (a.s.): “Jihad is one of the doors of paradise which Allah opens for His righteous ones; it is the garment of piety, the impenetrable shield of Allah and His safe paradise.”

Allamah Kashmiri concluded his speech with a reference to the Marja’iyah’s silence on political speech these days – timing this with the situation and crises in Iraq that may, at times, require silence until things clear up and then the Marja’iyah, who adheres to the saying of Imam Ali (a.s.) who said: ‘The tongue of the believer emanates from his heart’, will have the final say. The Marja’iyah has never for a single day abandoned its people; who are always in its heart and soul, praying for them in the mornings and evenings. Time will reveal this wisdom’s secret; because by the grace of God the Marja’iyah enjoys a great deal of experience, wisdom, precision and rationality, and, as long as we believe in this principle, we realize since the start of the occupation till now, the Marja’iyah’s position has had divine support, either in its silence, withdrawal or rebuffing meetings with others or its fatwas - rather all its decisions, by the grace of God, have been full of wisdom.

He also mentioned the directives of Imam Ali (a.s.) to his appointed governor of Egypt, Malik Al-Ashtar, plus other directives to his governors in various parts of the region; which in essence and reality represent a political approach and a constitution for them and others, even a law for all the world’s rulers and its sultans - should they wish success for their rule and their citizens. Because of the significance of this directive, we’ve been informed that while Mr. Kofi Anan held the office of UN Secretary General, he drew various parts of Imam Ali’s (a.s.) directives, to Malik Al-Ashtar, in different languages in the halls of the United Nations because of their contents which would benefit those who come to meetings, that is, if they realize their meaning and significance.

May God’s peace be upon you O Amir of speech, eloquence and politics.