The Nahjul Balagha is considered sacred by the Shia, which they consider the most reliable source for the words, sermons, and letters of Ali (رضّى الله عنه). Let us examine one of these sermons in particular, which is available on the popular Shia website, Al-Islam.org:
Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 126
Ali says:
“With regard to me, two categories of people will be ruined, namely he who loves me too much and the love takes him away from rightfulness, and he who hates me too much and the hatred takes him away from rightfulness. The best man with regard to me is he who is on the middle course. So be with him and be with the great majority of Muslims because Allah’s hand of protection is on keeping unity. You should beware of division because the one isolated from the group is a prey to Satan just as the one isolated from the flock of sheep is a prey to the wolf. Beware! Whoever calls to this course [of sectarianism], kill him, even though he may be under this headband of mine.”
(Source: Al-Islam.org, http://www.al-islam.org/nahjul/126.htm)
Let us now reflect on the words of Ali (رضّى الله عنه), line by line.
“With regard to me, two categories of people will be ruined, namely he who loves me too much and the love takes him away from rightfulness…”
We could not possibly find a better description for the Shia than this. The Shia love Ali (رضّى الله عنه) so much that they exaggerate and exalt his status to a level of Shirk, thereby going away from rightfulness. The Shia give the names of Allah to Ali (رضّى الله عنه), calling him the Living “Ism-i Azam” of Allah, or the Living Supreme Name of Allah. They call Ali (رضّى الله عنه) the Mazhar Al Aja-ib (The Executor of Wonders) and Mushkil Kusha (the Remover of Hardships) . They exaggerate so much that they call Ali (رضّى الله عنه) to be the Yadullah (hand of Allah). They call him Asdadullah (unconquerable and ever-overpowering strength of Allah). They say Ali (رضّى الله عنه) was too powerful for even the angels to stop him, that all the atoms in the world submit to Ali (رضّى الله عنه), that Ali (رضّى الله عنه) is the speaking Quran, and is the Mirror of Allah.
Look how loving Ali (رضّى الله عنه) too much has caused them to exaggerate his status like the Christians did with Jesus (عليه السلام), and look how this leads to Shirk. It also leads to going away from rightfulness, such as how the Shia hate the wives and companions of the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم). Ali (رضّى الله عنه) warned the Shia on this matter. And the source is the Shia’s very own Nahjul Balagha.
“…and he who hates me too much and the hatred takes him away from rightfulness. The best man with regard to me is he who is on the middle course. So be with him and be with the great majority of Muslims because Allah’s hand of protection is on keeping unity.”
Ali (رضّى الله عنه) says not to hate him like the Nasibis (haters of Ahlel Bayt). He then says that the best of people are the ones who are on the middle course. Who else is that other than the mainstream Muslims (i.e. the Ahlus Sunnah)? The Ahlus Sunnah loves Ali (رضّى الله عنه) deeply, and considers him one of the greatest Sahabah. On the other hand, the Ahlus Sunnah does not exaggerate by giving him characteristics of Allah, nor do they hate the wives or friends of the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم).
Ali (رضّى الله عنه) says be with the majority of Muslims because Allah’s hand of protection is on keeping unity. Can the Shia really get a clearer command than this? Who is the majority of the Muslims other than the orthodox Ahlus Sunnah? Ali (رضّى الله عنه) says be with the great majority of Muslims, not split up into these tiny Shia sects.
“You should beware of division because the one isolated from the group is a prey to Satan just as the one isolated from the flock of sheep is a prey to the wolf.”
So why is it then that the Shia have schismed from the Ummah? Are they not a prey of Shaitan’s now? And so it is that Shaitan has infiltrated the ranks of the Shia, leading so many millions of Shia astray. Why do the Shia not follow Ali (رضّى الله عنه) when he says to be with the great majority of Muslims?
“Whoever calls to this course [of sectarianism], kill him, even though he may be under this headband of mine.”
Even if someone claims to be a Shia’t Ali (i.e. under the headband of Ali), he really is an enemy of Ali (رضّى الله عنه) if he calls for sectarianism and the creation of a religious sect. This is Ali’s condemnation of all Shia sects that have split away from the mainstream Muslims. Ali (رضّى الله عنه) even commanded these heretics to be killed, so it can be seen that he has no compassion for any of these deviants even if they claim to love him.
Article Written By: Ibn al-Hashimi, www.ahlelbayt.com
