A Battle Always has Two Sides

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Habib ‘Ali Zayn al-‘Abidin ibn ‘Abd ar-Rahman al-Jifri, said, a battle always has two sides: a side that thinks they have a right to might, a right to exert power; and a side that sees that their right is truth itself.  Those from the first side see that as long as power is in their hands they possess all the rights, while the other side sees that their strength and their power lies in their standing with the truth.  The world which we occupy is a stage for this battle, and it is the Custom of God that those who side with the truth and see their right as truth itself, it is them upon whom God will Confer custodianship of this Earth.  If a Muslim thinks like the one who has aggressed upon him, what is then the difference between them?  How can he await Success from God?  God’s Success is Bestowed upon those who side with the truth, uphold it and remain steadfast with it.  His Way is not given success through violating His law.  Remaining in adherence to these principles in our day and age is a jihad. 

Once the companion, Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abu Thalib (k.w.), was fighting against someone who transgressed against him.  At the moment when he overcame his opponent and was about to strike him, the man spat in his face.  Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) paused momentarily and then walked away from the situation; he did not do anything to his opponent.  When he was asked why, he said, “Up until the point he spat in my face I was fighting him for the sake of God.  When he spat, I feared that I would kill him out of anger and selfishness for what he had done to me.”  Every action that is performed to help the oppressed and rectify injustice should proceed from this principle: walk on the part of truth by the truth itself.  We should observe ourselves with deep insight and check ourselves and see if we are doing this for the sake of making the truth a victor or whether we are doing this for the fervour of jahiliyyah, ignorance.