3- Ali's 25 Years of Silence; Social Welfare Then and Now - Maulana Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi

Eve of 21st Ramadan 1446 AHMarch 20th 2025- Imām ‘Ali’s silence during the 25 years of the khulafā’ was intentional; he did not accept their legitimacy but refrained from armed conflict for the greater good of Islam while offering guidance in Qur’ānic and judicial matters. - He described his exclusion from the caliphate as unjust, yet he chose patience over conflict, despite feeling deep pain and witnessing the plundering of his rights. - Imām ‘Ali invested in reviving barren lands, digging wells, and planting palm trees, dedicating much of his wealth as endowments (waqf) to support his family and the needy. - His charity extended beyond land development; he also focused on the emancipation of slaves, personally freeing a thousand with earnings from his own labor. - His personal lifestyle was one of extreme simplicity, despite his wealth; he ensured that leaders lived modestly so that the poor would not feel deprived and the wealthy would remain humble. - Despite being a ruler, he sealed his simple food to prevent any addition of luxury, emphasizing that a just leader should live like the weakest member of his community. - His killer, Ibn Muljim, was described as "the most wretched of people," yet Imām ‘Ali instructed his family to treat him kindly, even sharing his own food with him. - During his final moments, the doctor confirmed that his fatal wound was beyond healing, advising only milk as sustenance, which Imām ‘Ali shared with his assassin. - His funeral was conducted in secrecy, attended only by family and loyal companions due to fears that enemies would desecrate his grave. - His daughter Zaynab witnessed not only his secret burial but also the tragedies of Karbala, where the body of Ḥusayn was left unburied in the open plains. Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)