Social Life Based on Nahj al-Balagha/17

How to Make Every Day Eid

TEHRAN (IQNA) – When we manage to gain control over out Nafs (self) and our intellect, behavior, conduct and words, so that we would not harm anyone and would not have improper thoughts, that day would we our Eid.

News ID: 3485516

Date: 14 October 2023 - 15:56

Imam Ali’s (AS) principles of life were, in all aspects, based on the Quran and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). In his social life, he also acted based on the Divine orders and Nabawi Seerah, which can be considered as a perfect example for everyone to follow.

Bakhshali Ghanbari, a Nahj al-Balagha researcher, discussed “social morality based on Nahj al-Balagha” in a series of lectures. Here are excerpts from the 17th session on “self-improvement”:

In this session I will talk about self-improvement according to Nahj al-Balagha. One of the book’s very beautiful sermons is Sermon 176, reading which is necessary for every Muslim and even others. It is a very important sermon and effective in helping one’s self-improvement.

According to one of the Hadiths of Nahj al-Balagha, every day in which one does not commit a sin is [a day of] Eid. So according to Nahj al-Balagha, Eid is not just the first day of the month of Shawwal. It is not just one day.

Eid is any day in which we can take control of out Nafs and our intellect, behavior, conduct and words, so that we would not harm anyone and would not have improper thoughts.

So from the viewpoint of Imam Ali (AS), Eid is a relative concept and refers to any day in which we control our Nafs and sacrifice it before God. This sacrificing of the Nafs before God has various manifestations, one of which Imam Ali (AS) refers to in Sermon 176.

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Imam Ali (AS) says: “Beware from destroying your manners and changing them, maintaining one tongue. A man should control his tongue because the tongue is obstinate with its master. By Allah, I do not find that fear of Allah benefits a man who practises it unless he controls his tongue.”

In this sentence, Imam Ali (AS) refers both to what we do with our tongue and to what we do with other parts of our body (our manners).

We should keep our tong in order and use it only when it is necessary.

In another phrase, Imam Ali (AS) says the tongue is like a scorpion that, when unleashed, will bite others. The tongue can put families into trouble, can pit people against one another, and can burn the world. But also can soothe pains and create relations and bonds if used properly.

So Imam Ali (AS) advises us to be careful to take control of our tongue and use our other body parts properly.