Bettermuslim.com

I have been thinking for a while about how much I really know about the gift the Ahlebayt, that our Holy Prophet (SAW) left for us together with the Holy Book, the Quran.

What I concluded was that I dont really know anything about that besides what I have heard in:

1. Majlises during Muharram
2. Majlises duing Shahadat and Khushali
3. The other lectures/khutba’s during which they are mentioned as part of another topic that is in Discussion.

As for (1) above, the focus tends to be in our Third Imam Hussein (AS). So I know a fair bit about what type of person he was, the characters he possessed and most of all the sacrifice he gave.

As for (2) above, we have dedicated majlises (depending on the lecturer) that talk about the specific Imam on the day when we commemorate their Shahadat, or celebrate their birthdays. But I could not help but ask myself, do we simply attend these majlises because we should?, or because we truly consider and understand that these inidividuals were actual Gems left for us to follow?

As for (3) above, you hear about the other Imam’s in terms of Hadiths, or Imam so and so said…. but nothing in depth.

Really, what im getting at, is that I have decided that I dont want to remain knowing only the chain of Imams and the order in which they became, but I want to learn the following:

1. Who were they?
2. What role did they play in Islam and in spreading the message of Allah (SWT)?
3. What were their characters like?
4. How did they live their life?
5. How did they behave when faced with difficult situations?
6. How can I learn from them and apply their way of life such that it gets embedded within my own.

So I have decided that I will dedicate 1month for each of the Imam in order from 1 to 12….and in that I will obtain answers for the above. I know dedicating 1 month per Imam is not enough, but I figure its a start. By answering the above questions:

1. I want to be inspired by them
2. I want build a strong relationship with them
3. I want to build a strong attachment and feeling of profound love for them
4. Finally, I want to be able to act the way they did and use them as role models - to the extent when I am faced with any situation, I would ask myself, What would my Imam do?

The following sources of information will aid me in achieving my goal:

1. Firstly, ill use the Internet - it is the fastest and easiest source to read up on the Imams
2. Then, I will look around for books, dedicated for each Imam….
3. I will look for audio/video lectures recited by Aalims on their great figures
4. Finally, I will arrange as part of the Youth committee member Aalims that can come and speak about any chosen Imam inorder that my entire community can benefit from them. I have always wondered why we give so much attention to Imam Hussein (AS) and neglect others? Were they not prominent figures from which we can all draw lessons from? I think we can…therefore, perhaps if possible, arrange a 12 weekends within the year where we dedicate each weekend to each Imam.

So Inshallah, having made this niyyah, I pray to my Allah (SWT) that he grants me blessings in time, inorder that I may be able to achieve my goal.