Mab’ath: an event that is as great as creation of man

If somebody wanted to describe the importance of this auspicious day in words, it might be impossible for him to find the right words to describe the greatness and importance of Mab’ath. This is because many words have been used in figurative senses and they do not have the capacity to describe the greatness of this event. One may say that for example, be’that of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) is an event that should be compared with the creation of man. This comparison would show how great and important be’that is. The lesson that we can learn from Mab’ath should be at the level of our understanding and our capacity to make use of it. In brief, what can be understood is that be’that of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) has specified a particular goal on the individual as well as the social level.

Goals of be’that: 1. Spiritual purification and the teaching of the Book and wisdom

 On the individual level, what is important is the need to transform human beings, which has been mentioned in certain ayahs in the Holy Quran. For example, it has been mentioned in this holy ayah from Sura Aal-e Imran: “Certainly Allah conferred a benefit upon the believers when He raised among them a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His communications and purifying them, and teaching them the Book and the wisdom.” (1) This purification and the teaching of the Book and the wisdom are the same as inner transformation of human beings. In order to fulfill the purpose of their creation, human beings should first achieve the goal behind be’that of divine prophets. That is to say, they should transform themselves on an individual level. They should improve themselves and cleanse themselves of corruption, evil, flaws and evil temptations which exist in their hearts and which drag the world into corruption. This is the individual level. This is one purpose of be’that.  

2. Completing moral virtues

Elsewhere it has been said: “I was appointed as prophet in order to complete moral virtues.” (2)Again, this refers to the same points, namely purification of man, leading human beings towards wisdom, helping people out of ignorance and bringing them into a life of wisdom and understanding. This is the individual level.

3. Social justice

On the social level, the goal that has been specified is social justice. “Certainly We sent Our messengers with clear arguments, and sent down with them the Book and the balance so that men may conduct themselves with equity.” (3) Equity is different from justice. Justice is a broad concept.

Justice is the noble and outstanding concept that exists in the individual and social life of people and in the fabric of all events that happen in the world. Justice is an accurate act of balancing. Justice is balanced and appropriate behavior: remaining moderate and avoidance of drifting towards extremes. This is the meaning of justice. But our understanding of equity is the kind of justice that is related to social relationships, namely what we refer to as “social justice”. This is different from justice in the broad sense of the word. Although divine prophets were generally moving towards the broad sense of justice, it has been mentioned that “the heavens and the earth were established with justice.” (4) The heavens and the earth have been built on moderation, justice and the act of balancing, but equity is an urgent need and human beings are thirsty for it. They cannot live with anything less than equity. Equity means breaking down justice into social justice. “So that men may conduct themselves with equity.”(5)

This is the purpose of appointing prophets Man cannot live in the shade of injustice, oppressive behavior, aggression, transgression and reliance on bullying and coercion. This is not life: it is hell. Divine prophets came to build a paradise in this world. Of course, if we look at it carefully, divine prophets’ goal on the social level is a prelude to help human beings achieve the individual goal, namely inner transformation, improvement and perfection of man.

Anything that you see in this world is in its right place if it yields the desired benefits. Human beings were not created to hurt each other. They were not created to feel envious of each other. They were not created to appropriate everything at the cost of depriving each other. They were not created to fill the world with evil. They were not created to stick to trivial matters and disregard perfection and values. Human beings were not created for these purposes. They were created to do good deeds, to be helpful, to move forward, to move towards perfection. If a person moves towards perfection, if the path he chooses proves to be beneficial for himself and for others, that person has achieved inner transformation and purification. These are the goals of be’that. 

1. Sura Aal-e Imran, Ayah 164

2. Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 68, P. 382

3. Sura al-Hadid, Ayah 25

4. Kafi, Vol. 5, P. 266

5. Sura al-Hadid, Ayah 25

Reference:Lessons from the Holy Prophet of Islam (s.w.a.) A selection of statements by Ayatollah  Sayyid Ali Khamenei on the personality and be’that of the Holy Prophet of Islam (s.w.a.)