notifications_active Weekly Meshkat-e Noor Session: Thursdays at 20:30 at Haj Reza Mosque
Dear teacher, in Saying 111 of the Nahj al-Balagha, after returning from the Battle of Siffin, Imam Ali’s beloved companion passed away. The Imam said of him, “If a mountain loved me, it would crumble.”
Why should someone who loves the Imam crumble?
What does this collapse mean?
The image of a mountain collapsing in the words of Imam Ali (AS) suggests that the majesty of his love and affection—or the awe of God that stands in its place—exceeds what even a mountain can bear. Just as a mountain would crumble from fear of God if the Quran or the divine trust were placed upon it.
لو أحبنی جبل لتهافت = If a mountain were to love me, it would crumble into fragments.
The greatness of love for our master, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, is beyond the endurance of mountains. There is a special affinity between lover and beloved. When they stand on equal footing, love can be borne and returned with ease. But when there is no parity between them in rank, the bond of love takes a different form.
The ocean of love for our master, the Commander of the Faithful, would shatter a mountain that sought to contain it in the vessel of its being.
Every creature in this world receives the gift of love for our master according to its own nature and capacity. If that love were to grow too great, its being would be torn apart.
The words of our master reveal the mountain’s awareness of his station of divine authority. And the “love” spoken of by the Commander of the Faithful points to the reality of love for our master and its true nature.
Likewise, if the Qur’an were sent down upon a mountain, it would be shattered by awe of God.
And when the divine trust was offered to the heavens, the earth and the mountains, they were afraid and refused to accept it.
The descent of a stone out of awe of God makes the mountain’s place in understanding and knowing the station of divine authority all the more striking.
الأحزاب : 72 إنا عرضنا الأمانه على السماوات و الأرض و الجبال فأبین أن یحملنها و أشفقن منها و حملها الإنسان إنه کان ظلوما جهولا
We offered the Trust (the covenant, the duty and divine authority) to the heavens, the earth and the mountains, but they shrank from bearing it and were afraid of it. Yet the human being bore it. Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant—he failed to recognise the greatness of this station and wronged himself!
الحشر : 21 لو أنزلنا هذا القرآن على جبل لرأیته خاشعا متصدعا من خشیه الله و تلک الأمثال نضربها للناس لعلهم یتفکرون
Had We sent this Qur’an down upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and split apart in awe of God. We set forth such examples for people, so that they may reflect.
البقره : 74 ثم قست قلوبکم من بعد ذلک فهی کالحجاره أو أشد قسوه و إن من الحجاره لما یتفجر منه الأنهار و إن منها لما یشقق فیخرج منه الماء و إن منها لما یهبط من خشیه الله و ما الله بغافل عما تعملون
Then, after all this, your hearts hardened and became like stone—or even harder. For among stones are some from which rivers gush forth; some split open and water flows from them; and some tumble down in awe of God. Yet your hearts neither tremble in awe of God nor become a source of knowledge, understanding and human compassion. God is not unaware of what you do.
A subtle beauty in the wording
و إن منها یعنی من الحجاره لما یهبط من خشیه الله
إذا أقسم علیها باسم الله و بأسماء أولیائه محمد و علی و فاطمه و الحسن و الحسین و الطیبین من آلهم صلى الله علیهم
بحار الأنوار (ط - بیروت)، ج67، ص: 163
و إن منها لما یهبط من خشیه الله
Some of these stones descend out of awe of God when adjured by God’s name and by the names of His friends: Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husayn, and the pure ones among their family—may God’s blessings be upon them.