ভূমিকা

The Religion for Allah is only Islam. (3:19) It is described as Nature too. فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا. Turn your face from everything else and turn towards ‘Din’. This is the ‘Nature’ of Allah on which men are created. (30:30) The Prophet of Islam (a.s) says: Every child is born on ‘Nature.’[1] Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq (a.s) was asked, “What is ‘Nature’?

He replied, “It is only Islam!” When Islam is Nature and Nature is Islam, then being born on ‘nature’ will mean that every child, whether he is born to Muslim parents or not, is a Muslim at birth. When he comes under the influence of the non-Muslim parents, and their society, he picks up thoughts and ways of that environment. He moves away from the way of ‘Nature’ and adopts the way of his ‘parents’ and starts practicing their faith.

If a child gets the right environment after birth, he will then, having taken birth on ‘Nature’ will be attached to Islam internally and externally. `Ali (a.s) was born on the Din al-Fitrah and received his upbringing in such a congenial environment that in accordance wit his own words: [1] Al-Wāfī “I was born on the Din al-Fitrah and therefore I had precedence In Faith and Hegira.”[1] From his early days `Ali (a.s) was with the Prophet (a.s).

He received his upbringing under the watchful eyes of the Prophet (a.s) and followed his thoughts and beliefs. He never had anything to do with infidelity and idolatery. Therefore, Ahmad ibn Zainy Dahlan writes: “`Ali was never under the influence of polytheism because he was under the care and supervision of the Prophet (a.s) like his own son. He emulated him in all matters.”[2] Once Sa`id ibn Musayyab asked Imam Zayn al-`Abidin (a.s) at what age `Ali (a.s) embraced Islam?