Ain Al-Hayat, The Essence of Life.pdf - Higher Intellect | Content ...

THE PRAYER OF THE CHIEF OF IMAMS HAZRAT ALI
Ibne Babawiyah has quoted from Urwa bin Zubair that one day they were
assembled in the Prophet (a.s.)’s Mosque. The topic of discussion was the
prayers of the people of Badr and Baiath e Ridhwan. Abu Darda said,”
Gentlemen! I am telling about an august personality who had less worldly wealth
than other Companions of the Prophet (a.s.) but was the most superior in piety
and prayer.. The gathering wondered who could this personage be? Abu Darda
then said, “ It was Ali ibne Abi Talib (a.s.)!” Hearing this they turned away their
faces! From the group of Ansar a person said, “ Why did you broach a discussion
that no one here likes?”Abu Darda said, “ I have said what I had seen! One night
I went to the oasis of Bani Najjar. There I heard that behind the trees someone
was saying prayer in a tone full of pathos,’ O Allah! You are so Merciful that
despite seeing the innumerable sins of your creatures You have bestowed on
them uncountable Blessings! We humans commit such unpardonable misdeeds
but You don’t shame us! O Allah! The entire life was spent in difficulties. Our
List of Deeds
( Nama e Aamaal) is predominantly filled with mention of the sins committed!
Now we seek Deliverance from You! We don’t seek anything other than Your
Pleasure!’ Hearing this I moved closer. I noticed that it was Ali Ibne abi Talib
(a.s.). I kept watching his supplication. After the supplication he offered several
genuflections( Rakaat ) of prayer. He then continued his beseeching to Allah,
‘ When I look at Your Great Deliverance, the sins of humans appear trivial to
me! When I look at Your Stringent Retribution I feel that the men have
committed gravest of sins! Oh! We humans have forgotten lot of sins committed
by us. But You have the exact account of everyone’s deeds! With Your Orders
the angels would review them! What will be the position of men who will not
have the assistance of their next of kin, they will not be able to hear the
pleadings of these men! What severe fire will be there that it would burn the very
entrails of the persons! In the Hell it would be like a river of fire!’ Saying this
Hazrat Ali (a.s.) cried with intensity and then his voice choked. I thought that it
was late night and he might have fallen asleep. When it was almost time for the
Fajr prayer I went near him to wake him up for the prayer. I called him several
times but didn’t get any reply. I touched him and found his body as motionless as
the dry timber. Reciting Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajeoon I rushed to Hazrat Ali
(a.s.)’s house. I told Hazrat Fatima (a.s.) about her husband’s condition. She said,
‘ O Abu Darda! Don’t be astonished! Abul Hassan (a.s.) will be in such a state
many a time when he supplicates to Allah!’ I took some water to where Hazrat
Ali (a.s.) was lying and revived him with a few splashes of the water. He said, ‘
O Abu Darda! Why are you worried and crying?’ I said,’ I worried seeing your
condition!’ He said,’ What will be your condition if you see the angels take you