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“Sharh Khasais-e-Ali”—9th Century Commentory on Spiritual Virtues of Hazrat Ali unveiled at India Islamic Cultural Centre

Detailed reportage on the launching ceremony of the historic book “Sharh Khasais-e-Ali” at India Islamic Cultural Center organized by All India Ulema and Mashaikh Board and Jama'at-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat Karnataka

Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi, Word For Peace
November 17 (New Delhi)
Man Kuntu Maula Fa-Hadha Ali-u Maulahu….(Whoever I’m master to, Venerable Ali is his master too) is the famous Prophetic adage that we often hear in Mehfil e Sema through a Sufi Qawwali. This was also the main theme of the beautiful book release of “Sharh Kasias-e-Ali” (Commentry on the characteristics of Imam Ali A.S.) organised by the All India Ulama & Mashaikh Board (Delhi) and Juma’at e Ahl e Sunnat, Karnataka. “Sharah Khasais Ali” (Commentory on the Spiritual Virtues of his Excellence Hazrat Ali A.S) written by Ahmad Ibn Shoaeib Nisai, more popularly known as Imam Nasai (RA) and published by Hashmi Trust, Bijapur is the 9th Century book concerned with the place of Imam Ali and his special relationship with the Prophet (pbuh).
Born (215 AH) in Nisa in Turkmenistan, Imam Nasai is one of the compilers of the six most authentic collections of hadith narrations in Sunni Islam. The reason why he authored this book on Imam Ali is explained by his travel to Damascus during the last years of his life. He found that Imam Ali A.S. was being abused over there. Thus, in order to remind the people of Damascus (Syria), he collected the key virtues and moral characters of Imam Ali and compiled his book in Arabic under the title, “Khasa’is Ali” (the virtues of Maula Ali).

The book has earlier been translated into Persian as “Haqaaiq Ladunni” i.e. Imam Ali’s Spiritual Characters by Najjar Zadegan. Muhammad Kazim Mahmoudi has added more Sunni references to improve the authenticity of the book. The Urdu translation of the book has been rendered by Qari Zahoor Ahmed Faizi which has been used in this commentory.

Launching ceremony of the historic book “Sharh Khasais-e-Ali” at India Islamic Cultural Center organized by All India Ulema and Mashaikh Board and Jama’at-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat Karnataka. Hon’ble Envoys of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, along with prominent Sufi Scholars and Academics of India attended the Book release followed by a Mehfil-e-Sima (Sufi music).
All India Ulema and Mashaikh Board (AIUMB) and Jama’at-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat Karnataka organized, for the first time in India, the unveiling of the famous book “Khasas-e-Ali” written by Imam Nasai at India Islamic Cultural Center (published by Dr. Syed Afzal Pirzada Research Center)
 
 A symposium was organized in which a large number of delegates, professors, researchers, intellectuals and journalists from various Islamic countries (Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Indonesia) participated and expressed their views.
In his presidential address, Syed Muhammad Ashraf Miyan, founder and president of the AIUMB, said that despite having the largest collection of Islamic literature in Persian after Arabic, no stable mechanism has yet been developed to use Persian sources.  
Imam Ali’s relationship with the holy Prophet (PBUH) is the point of unity for the Muslim Ummah: Syed Muhammad Ashraf , founder & president of AIUMB
 
He further said that the literary work done by the team and board members of Syed Tanveer Hashmi is commendable. “This blessed act is in fact the Sunnah of the Prophet’s Companions, because this is how they distinguished between believers and hypocrites. They used to check who participated in the remembrance of Hazrat Ali” and who eschewed it. “Mentioning Ali frequently is in fact the prophetic tradition (Sunnah) and that of the Companions. Thus, the relationship of Ali with the holy Prophet (PBUH) is the point of unity for the Muslim Ummah”, he said.
 
The Ambassador of Turkey, on this occasion, said: “I congratulate Hazrat Syed Mohammad Ashraf and Hazrat Syed Tanveer Hashmi for the momentous work they are doing. “Our presence in this historical moment in itself is a great blessing for us”, he said. Mr. Ghazi Al-Tawfi, National General of the Republic of Iraq, said that Hazrat Ali is the main door to knowledge. The Ambassador of the Republic of Iran, Mr. HE, Dr. Ali Cheghni said that the number of people who love Hazrat Ali and the books written on him are the highest in India. In this beautiful country, even non-Muslims love Hazrat Ali. Mr. Mahesh Sahariya (Consul General of Indonesia) said that reading this book will help us to recognize the truth and falsehood so that we can establish justice in our countries.
 
Hazrat Syed Tanveer Hashmi said that in every age, the groups of Kharijites and the Nasibis have not only desecrated the holiness of the Ahlul Bayt (Prophet’s household) and the Prophetic tradition but also caused Islam and Muslims severe hardships, and even today they are causing humiliation and harm to us.  Therefore, there was a need for some effective measures to be taken as a remedy. For this, the All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board and the Jamaat-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat Karnataka decided to publish “Khasais-e-Ali” as the antidote to this poison. It is necessary to carry forward the knowledge of Ali along with the Prophetic traditions. Maulana Hashmi further said that Maulana Qari Zahoor Ahmad Faizi is a great researcher and historian who has rendered a great service through his Commentary on the Khasais-e-Ali.
 
Haji Syed Salman Chishti said that this achievement of Dr. Syed Afzal Pirzada Research Center is a great gift for the global Muslims which has to be maintained and acted upon. Syed Aal e Mustafa alias Ali Pasha Qadri said that Hazrat Imam Nisai and his place in the science of Hadith is very high. And he was also a great lover of the Prophet, he gave his life for the protection of the honorable Ahl-e-Bayt.  “This book was never digested by the Umayyads, and when the author Imam Nisa’i recited this book to them, they not only disliked him but rather Imam Nisai was severely beaten and martyred”, he concluded.
 
Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Prof. Emeritus in Islamic Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia said that it was not easy for Hazrat Imam Nisa’i to write “Khasas-e-Ali”, and that the compilation of this Commentary was long overdue. “It should have happened long ago, but now it is our responsibility to introduce this book in the curriculum of Madrasas and Universities so that the students can understand the life and teachings of Hazrat Ali”, Prof. Wasey said.
 
Prof. Khawaja Ikramuddin (JNU) said that translations and commentaries not only play a vital role in nurturing knowledge and art but also have a great role to play in communication and transmission as well as in the call for faith (Dawat) and preaching. Had it not been for remarkable commentaries, we would not have been able to understand Islam so easily. He concluded that it is highly important that such research work and commentaries continue to be published.
 
Maulana Maqbool Ahmad Salik Misbahi, AIUMB spokesperson said that whenever the honor and dignity of Ahl-e-Bait was attacked, Allah Almighty raised up one or the other sincere lover who fought against the enemies of Ahl-e-Bait. Dr. Wahid Nazeer of Jamia Millia Islamia said that the background story of Khasais-e-Ali and its compilation and composition is very painful. Just as Imam Hussain A.S was martyred and killed in the battlefield of Karbala, his lovers, in every age, have been attacked and injured through bad mouths and insults. He paid tribute to Imam Ali through his Urdu poetry.
Syed Farid Ahmad Nizami explained why poeple generally overlooked the martyrdom of Imam Hasan (the elder grandson of the holy Prophet pbuh). He reminded the auidence of the real criterion to distinguish between the truth and falsehood, and thus clarified the meaning of the famous Prophetic saying “The Truth is with Ali and Ali is with the Truth”.
The program was started by Qari Samiullah Qadri with recitation of a few Qur’anic verses.  Hafiz Syed Mohammad Areez Hashmi recited beautiful couplets of Naat-e-Rasool. On this occasion, All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board, along with Jamaat-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat Karnataka hosted a reception for all the ambassadors, delegates, Ulema and Mashaikhs and professors of universities, journalists and intellectuals who attended the conference.
Hazrat Syed Mohammad Ashraf Kachuchhovi called on all the distinguished delegates present in the auditorium such as, His Excellency Mr. Firat Sunel Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in India, His Excellency Ghazi Al-Tawfi (Consul General of the Republic of Iraq), His Excellency Mahesh Sahariya (Consul General of Indonesia), His Excellency HE  Dr. Ali Chighni, (Ambassador, Republic of Iran), Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Prof. Khawaja Mohammad Ikramuddin, Prof. Ghulam Yahya Anjum, Prof. Wahid Nazir, Prof. Aleem Ashraf, Prof. Alvi, Hafiz Mohammad Ali Qadri, Mufti Mohammad Ali Qazi Misbahi.  At this enthusiastic reception, a Momento, and a beautiful bouquet of flowers and handkerchiefs were presented.
 
The moderator of the program, Hazrat Maulana Dr Muhammad Ali Qazi, General Secretary of Jamaat-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat Karnataka, and Maulana Azeem Ashraf of the Ulama and Mashaikh Board Office in Delhi, presented a copy of the book Sharh-e-Khasais-e-Ali to all the guests. In addition to the above mentioned dignitaries, other guests in the program included Hazrat Maulana Ishtiaq Ahmad Barkati, Maulana Muhammad Yaqub Ali Khan Qadri, Syed Shadab Hussain Rizvi Ashrafi, Ghulam Rasool Dehlavi, Qazi Noman Ahmad, Maulana Muhammad Zafaruddin Barkati, Maulana Abdul Karim, Maulana Saddam Hussain, Maulana Shah Jahan  Ashrafi, Maulana Mubashir Ashrafi, Maulana Waseem Ahmad Ashrafi, Qari Ansar Ahmad Barkati, Mr. Ijaz ul Haq Barakati, Mr. Rafiuddin, Mr. Wakil Ahmad Ashrafi, Salempur, Maulana Musharraf Hussain Ashrafi, Maulana Ibn Ali Ashrafi and dozens of scholars and shaykhs of Delhi and NCR. The participation of a few women in this conference also made the program a great success with their participation. At the end, prayers were offered for peace and prosperity in the country.
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