Reflecting Manners of the Past Nations
For awakening the minds andmaturing their acquisitions, the man-
ners of the past nations, people, history, and affairs should be con-
sidered.A groupof these nationstookthe right path that saved them
fromallofthesortsofirregularityandaberrance.Theygainedtheregal
lifeofamiability,security,andsettlement.Theothergroupwentastray.
Theyabandonedthe pathofrightandjustice;therefore,theyvanished,
andlosttheirexistence.Thiscarrieslessonsandexamplesforeverycon-
scious and free man, and saves against the elements of ruining and
elapse and clinging to the equanimity and straightness. Imam Ali (a)
says:
“Bewareoftheconsequencesofthepastnationsduetotheirilldeeds
andwrongdoing.Remembertheirworthyandvilemanners,andbeware
ofbeingtheirlikes.Ifyoulookuponthevarianceoftheirtwo–goodand
evil- manners, then you should cling to matters that dignified them,
scavenged their enemies, elongated their healthiness, submitted their
graces, and connected them to nobility. These matters represent the
avoidance of discrepancyand acceding, urging, andrecommending of
amiability.Theyshunnedeverymatterthatbreakstheirbacksandweak-
enstheirintentions,liketheheartmalice,themindmalevolence,thespir-
itual rancor, and the power frustration.
Lookupontheaffairsofthepastbelieversandstudytheirbehaviorsin
themannersoftestingandexamination.Weretheynotthemostantag-
onized, the most examined, and the most distressed? The tyrants en-
slaved,showedtheworst oftorment,andcoercedthemtoswallowthe
bitterest.Theywerekept upinthisstateofhumiliation,expiration,and
persecutionofmortification.Theycouldnotbeavailedwithaplanofre-
futationorawayofdefense.AsGodnoticedtheirserioustolerationthat
theyofferedforHisfavor,andtheirharshendurancethattheychosefor
Hisfearing,Herelievedthemafterthehardexamination.Hesubstituted
dignityforthehumiliationandsecurityforthevacillation.Theybecame
kings and rulers. God has made to them what they did not expect.”.
TheImam(a)keepsonexposingthevigorouspicturesofthepastna-
tionsthatcoincidedwiththepathsofrightandjusticeandachievedthe
mostsignificantstatesofdignity,nobility,honor,andcustody.Theholy
Quranisfilledupwiththerepetitivecallstocounttheresultsofthepi-
ousthatGodhasappointedintheearthandfortified theirreligionthat
He pleased. The Quran is also stifled with the calls to attend to the