ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Attraction and Repulsion of Ali (a.s.) In Allah's Name ( 13 ) FOREWORD The excellent and magnanimous personality of Amir-ul-Momineen Ali (A.S) is too immense and multidimensional to be conceived in all its aspects and dimensions by a man, let his fancy fly. What, in maximum, is possible for a man is to select for his study and research one or a few specific and defined aspects of personality of Ali and feel contented with the same.

One of this illustrious personality's aspects and dimensions is the positive or negative influence which he had exerted on different classes of humanity, in other words, his active attraction and repulsion which up till now continue to exert their influence. In this book we will deal with this aspect. For producing reactions on minds and souls, human personalities are not identical.

The more pygmean personality the lesser it engages people's mind and produces still lesser excitement and anxiety in their hearts. Whoever is a greater stalwart and more forceful invokes minds more and produces greater reaction, whether the reaction is positive or negative. ( 14 ) The personalities, invoking minds and producing reactions, who are often talked about, become subjects of confrontations and controversies. They become the pride of poetry, painting and other fine arts.

They emerge as heroes of stories and legends. In case of Ali, he dominates with excellence all these media and venues of expression. In this respect too he is peerless or has few rivals. It is reported that Muhammad bin Shahr Ashob Mazindrani, who has been amongst the stalwarts of Imamite scholars, while in the seventh century, undertook writing his famous book "Manaqib", had in his library one thousand books with the name of "Manaqib" eulogising Ali.

This single instance leads us to observe that in the whole span of history, immense multitudes of minds have been engaged by the inspiring personality of our Master. The basic distinction of Ali and also of all men enlightened by the beam of Truth is that besides engaging the minds and stirring up the thoughts, they illuminate hearts and souls and bless them with faith, satisfaction and determination.

Philosophers like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Bu Ali Sina and Descartes are also heroes of conquests of thoughts and agitation of minds. Leaders of social revolutions in the last two centuries, besides this have generated prejudices in their followers' minds.