My dear people! May Allah have mercy on you! You should know that I have been taught by Allah, the Almighty, Himself, and He has facilitated for me the understanding of the deepest subtleties of things. He has saved me from tribulations and difficulties. He has protected me, loved me, and raised me from the lowly station of my self to His Grand House. I journeyed through the wilderness and crossed the oceans until I finally reached the True Qiblah and was honoured to circumnavigate His Chosen House. It was then that, out of His benevolence, my Lord granted me a new perception and an awareness of subtle truths. My Lord became my intimate Friend and Companion. I have entrusted Him with every particle of my being, have acquired from Him the knowledge of all subtleties and mysteries, and have applied His teachings to all my thoughts and beliefs. I have focussed my attention upon the conflicts that exist between people and between sects. In every case, I have searched for the root cause, leaving no stone unturned in my study and investigation until I uncovered the truth. I know that if people err in their judgement and fall into sin, it is only because their negligence has caused them to gravitate to one side and to unwittingly give one aspect of the matter undue importance while belittling its opposite. The human self is so fashioned that when a person is attracted to something, he becomes oblivious to everything that is opposed to it. He then does not even heed the advice of well-meaning people and instead starts to oppose them and regards them as his enemy. A veil begins to envelop his heart, such that he becomes averse to attending their gatherings or even listening to their discourses. These maladies have multiple causes and means and methods. Some of the primary causes include hardness of the heart, indulgence in sin, lack of concern for the Hereafter, and keeping company with those who are stubborn, deceitful and liars. Furthermore, if people remain rooted in ignorance, their faults gradually become habitual and their selfish desires become their ultimate goal. We seek refuge in Allah lest our faults become habits and lest we be among those who are bound to perish.
At times, these habits become even more entrenched when one engages in debates. Egotistical debates are like deadly poison for those who seek truth and guidance. Those who indulge in needless debate and argumentation rarely escape these traps. Their corrupted habits and misguided ways often lie undetected and hidden from even their own sight. The sinner remains unaware of these weaknesses and considers himself to be right and fair-minded. He then becomes quarrelsome and hostile, falling under the illusion that his fanciful notions and ill-formed opinions are irrefutable truths, and rejoicing in this delusion. All this is due to the lack of contemplation and insight, the absence of true knowledge, an indulgence in falsehood, a complete relapse into following one’s basest desires, depriving the soul of its proper nourishment, an inclination towards the world, and the blind pursuit of this transient realm.
These are the causes that have segregated people and divided them into many sects. Many have chosen ruin and have completely rejected the truth and, like the transgressors, sent curses upon the truthful. They attack their benefactors like traitor rogues and look at the truthful ones with derision and anger. They consider themselves scholars and literary men, strutting about arrogantly, while they are certainly not among the knowledgeable. There are some among them whom God has blessed with insight and with the bounty of truth and wisdom. Allah has opened their eyes and removed their doubts in such a way that they see the facts with clarity and perception. However, there is another group that has transgressed at every step. They did not differentiate between the existent and the non-existent and were not sagacious. They held on to preconceived notions and walked the path of transgression, carrying the mantle of sin. They were, indeed, mischief-makers. When they were unable to fight and could no longer defend themselves, they immediately resorted to insulting and vilifying and fabricating lies. Whenever I speak to them kindly, they respond with cruelty and aggression. They would have indeed killed me if my Lord—who is my Protector and my Helper—had not safeguarded me.
Thus, when they deviated from the right course, Allah allowed them to deviate even further. He let them grow in transgression and left them to wander in pitch darkness. I have come by the command and permission of Allah, the Noble and Merciful, to remove delusions and to heal the sick, but they reacted with fury, borne out of their ignorance, and persisted in abusing me with mockery and derision. They began issuing fatwas of heresy and labelled me a liar. They attacked me with all manner of false allegations and stung me with their serpent-like tongues and trod on me as they would tread on pebbles. I continued to admonish them but they would not listen. I beckoned them but they did not take heed. Whenever they tried to confront me, they took to their heels. Whenever they made an error, they insisted upon it and did not fear God. They openly committed acts of treachery, neither abandoning them nor making any excuses for them, so much so, that the truth disappeared, faith was forgotten, the sun of divine knowledge set, and the treasures of religion were left undiscovered. The time for natural disasters arrived and overwhelmed the land, the edifice of religion was left deserted, and people lost their peace and faith, which bolted like a frightened horse.
Seeing that darkness had spread and the face of the right path had become concealed, I started writing books in support of Islam, providing sublime proofs and arguments for its truth. Alas, they profited not from any of my sermons, believing them to be platitudes, and they did not desist. Whenever a debate neared its end and the opponents saw that the burning flames of passion had cooled and that the strength of my arguments had extinguished all doubt, they would hurl all manner of insults towards me. They declared that one of the signs of the Promised Reformer who would call people to Islam was that he would be from among the eminent scholars and noblemen of the age. While referring to me, they alleged that I knew not a word of Arabic, nor was I a literary or knowledgeable person. There was truth in what they said, therefore, I supplicated to my Lord to teach me, if He so pleased. He answered my prayer and, by His grace, I became eloquent and fluent in Arabic. Then, under Divine directive, I wrote two books in Arabic and challenged my opponents: If indeed you are scholars and literary men, produce the like thereof! O you who hurl allegations and spread falsehood! Produce something similar if you are indeed truthful. However, they ran away, hiding like a spendthrift who borrows money and only realises the consequences after he has squandered everything. His debt hangs over him like a noose that cannot be loosened. The lender chases after him claiming his dues but the borrower has nothing to give except false promises. It is thus that Allah humiliates the arrogant.
Yet, what is so strange is that, despite enduring shame and humiliation and their weaknesses being exposed, they never once turned to repentance and humility, nor did they seek the path of righteousness and virtue or try to reform themselves, nor did they seek the truth with a penitent heart. They turned away from me in anger and fury and hastened towards evil. I saw that they were like prisoners bound by the chains of their own malice. Whenever I tried to counsel them, I returned without success, and it reminded me of the story of the apes and swine. When I saw sighted people behaving like the blind, tears welled up in my eyes, but even then I did not despair. It has been destined that their failings should be exposed and their wickedness punished, for they were antagonistic towards the truthful and cursed the virtuous. They considered sincerity to be of little worth and took the true to be false; thus they became of those who turned away from the truth. For years, I have seen them embroiled in enmity and dispute, and I have not observed any trace of penitence in them. I, therefore, decided to move away from them and avoided all dialogue. I wished to bring all arguments to a close like the scribe who rolls up his scrolls, and instead to focus on teaching the righteous. If I had the power to guide them to the truth, I would have done so, but I held no sway in this matter. Whenever I called them, they stumbled backwards, and whenever I addressed them, they turned away mockingly.
However, during these days I have seen that some esteemed scholars have turned to me. The knots of their animosity have become unravelled, the clouds of darkness have partially dissipated, and they have denounced the statements of my opponents. They were frightened by their journey through a pitch dark night and came to me eagerly, and I congratulated them for having found true guidance. Their Lord guided them away from the glitter of the mirage towards the fountain of truth. They came to me sincerely, having drunk from the cup of certainty, and were offered the clear flowing water of Truth. I am hopeful that Allah will perfect their guidance and count them among those who recognise Him.
Similarly, I pray that Allah may grant the readers of this book the capacity to choose the right path. I pray that whoever among them has attained a high station in their spiritual journey should, through Divine grace, accept my message. I have perfected my words so that anyone who is willing to listen can benefit from my exhortations. Allah knows the purpose of these words and is well acquainted with those who seek them. Indeed, no soul escapes the confines of its nature, nor does any natural disposition deviate from its mould, nor can any man tread the right path unless he is guided.
Know, and may Allah have mercy on you, that some people from among those who claim to be followers of the Ahlul-Bait and the Shiites have spoken ill about some of the most eminent Companions and Khulafa’ of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and about other elders of Islam. They have been most dishonest in their discourse and false in their doctrines, having accused the Companions and the Khulafa’ of blasphemy and heresy and attributing to them all manner of betrayal, cruelty, injustice, and transgression. To this day, they do not desist from uttering such vilifications. On the contrary, they consider their abuse to be lawful and permissible, deeming it the noblest of deeds. They curse profusely and think that they are performing a righteous act. To them, this is the highest kind of virtue. In fact, they think it is an act of worship and the key to gaining Allah’s pleasure and salvation. I have spent a time among them during which my Lord eased for me every trial. I could feel that they were concealing something in these matters and I was alert to all their deceitful ways. In order to foster my knowledge and insight, Divine providence caused one of their scholars to be my teacher. I remained among them day and night, debating with them again and again, so that they could not conceal their secrets from me. I found them extremely hostile to the great Companions of the Prophet and to be content with the veils of doubt and ambiguity. I learnt that they were always trying to vilify the two Sheikhs [Abu Bakr (ra) and ‘Umar (ra)], seeking to stigmatize them. Sometimes they made mention of the story of the Qirtas, and at other times they referred to the issue of al-Fadak, weaving into their narratives numerous fabrications. They were very brash in exclaiming lies, exceeding all limits. I heard them insulting the Companions of the Prophet, the Holy Quran, the people of Allah, the righteous, and Ummahat-ul-Mo’minin [the Mothers of the Believers]. When I discovered their true nature, I turned away from them and reclusion became dear to me. It weighed heavy on my heart and I supplicated before the One who bestows at the time of need that He may increase my knowledge regarding these issues. Thereupon, I was granted guidance by the Noble and Wise God, and the All-Knowing One guided me to the truth. I gained wisdom not from books or discourses but from the Lord of all Creation. Man can only achieve perfect knowledge and true belief if he receives wisdom from the Creator of the Heavens, and indeed nothing can protect him from error except the grace of Allah. No one, no matter how hard he tries, can fathom the truth of anything until Allah, the Gracious One, sends the breeze of spiritual enlightenment upon him. He is the Greatest Teacher, the All-Knowing, the Wise. He allows whomsoever He pleases to enter His Mercy and includes whomsoever He chooses among the knowledgeable.
In this manner, Allah has blessed me and bestowed upon me the epitome of knowledge. He blessed me with a light that chased away Satan like meteors. He took me out of the dark night into the clear light of a day whose brightness is not obscured by clouds. He chased away everyone who barred me from His path and, by His grace, I became among the protected. I was given an extraordinary understanding, a light that illuminated my entire being, revealing hidden mysteries that would enchant seekers of the Truth. Allah embellished my knowledge with deep insights and made it clear like pure nectar. I put every matter before my inner conscience and Allah showed me where its exposition lay in His Book. This increased my contentment and strengthened my faith. My eyes comprehended every aspect of these verses and I was given the intuition of those whom God speaks to. My Lord disclosed to me new avenues of understanding so that I could benefit those who are pure and prosperous, reform the transgressors, and guide those of fortunate nature. No one can guide except He, and He is the Most Merciful. Allah saw and found that people were neglecting the Faith and giving preference to lies and calumny. When they were entrusted with something, they would betray it; when they spoke, they would lie. Considering all this, He revealed to me great mysteries and ancient insights and made me the heir of the Prophets. Allah said to me,
إِنَّکَ مِنَ الْمَأمُوْرِیْن لِتُنْذِرَ قَوْمًا مَّا أُنْذِرَ آبَاوٴُھُمْ، وَ لَتَسْتَبِیْنَ سَبِیْلُ الْمُجْرِمِیْنَ۔
You are of the commissioned ones so that you may warn those whose forefathers were not warned and so that the way of the sinners becomes manifest.