Amroha - Land of Mangoes and Carps

  Significance of Imam Ali's (a) Understanding of a Ruler's Responsibilities The sources present a compelling portrait of Imam Ali's (a) profound understanding of a ruler's responsibilities , emphasizing that leadership in Islam is not about power or privilege but about service, justice, and accountability to both Allah and the people . His vision of leadership stands in stark contrast to the tyranny and self-serving rule that often characterized the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties, offering a powerful model for Islamic governance. Key Principles of Just Leadership: Serving the People: Imam Ali (a) believed that a ruler's primary duty is to serve the people, not to rule over them . This is evident in numerous anecdotes where he personally attends to the needs of his citizens , whether it's helping a widow with her chores or ensuring that a blind man receives social security. He saw himself as a servant of the people, not their master , and his actions reflect thi

The sources offer insights into Imam Ali's (a) understanding of true strength. He believed that true strength lies not in physical prowess but in spiritual fortitude, moral integrity, and unwavering commitment to justice and truth. This understanding is revealed through his actions, teachings, and the numerous anecdotes recounted in the sources. Inner Strength over Physical Might Controlling One's Passions: In one anecdote, the Prophet Muhammad (s) defines true strength as the ability to control one's desires and anger . Imam Ali (a), in his own life, exemplified this principle. For instance, when his army captured the water supply of Muawiya's troops, he refused to retaliate in kind when his companions sought permission to cut off the enemy's access to water. He chose instead to uphold a higher moral standard, demonstrating that true strength lies in resisting the temptation to stoop to the level of one's opponents. Resisting Worldly Temptations: Imam Ali (a

  The Unschooled Prophet (sw) An Analysis of "The Unschooled Prophet" by Murtadha Mutahhari This paper examines the question of whether the Prophet Muhammad was literate . It is an important question because, as the author points out, Muhammad's illiteracy would be evidence of the divine origin of the Quran. If Muhammad could not read or write, then he could not have authored the Quran himself, nor could he have plagiarized it from existing sources. The Prophet's Illiteracy in the Pre-Prophetic Period The author first establishes that the Prophet was illiterate before his prophetic mission , citing both Muslim and non-Muslim historians. For example, he quotes Gustav LeBon, who states in his book The Civilization of Islam and the Arabs that "It is well-known that the Prophet was unschooled." The paper also explains that only a small number of people in the Hijaz region of Arabia were literate at the time of Islam's advent. If the Prophet had been litera