text:
Chapter 3: Peace be on you, O son of the Commander of the Faithful and the son of the leader of the successors
السّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ ياَ بْنَ اَمِيْرِالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَابْنَ سَيِّدِ الْوصِيِّيْنَ
Peace be on You, O son of the the Commander of the Faithful and the son of the Leader of the Successors
يَابْنَ اَمِيْرِالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ
The apparent import of this verse signifies that Imam al-Husayn (AS) is the son and offspring of Amir al-Mu'minin (AS). This is a historical fact and we would not like to go into details about the same. However to reveal how brilliant is the origin of Imam al-Husayn (AS) verses 19-20 of Surat al-Rahman come to mind:
مَرَجَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيانِ.بَيْنَهُما بَرْزَخٌ لا يَبْغِيانِ
He merged the two seas, meeting each other. There is a barrier between them which they do not overstep. (55:19-20)
Yahya bin Sa'id narrates:
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ يَقُوْلُ فِيْ قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: مَرَجَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيانِ بَيْنَهُما بَرْزَخٌ لا يَبْغِيانِ قَالَ: عَلِيٌّ وَفَاطِمَةُ، بَحْرَانُ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ عَمِيْقَانِ لاَ يَبْغِي أَحَدُهُمَا عَلىَ صَاحِبِهِ يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُمَا اللُّؤْلُؤُ وَالْمَرْجانُ، اَلْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْن.
I heard Aba 'Abdillah [al-Sadiq] (AS) saying the following about the verse of Allah "He merged the two seas, meeting each other. There is a barrier between them which they do not overstep.": 'Ali and Fatima are two deep seas of knowledge, none of who oversteps the other. From them emerge the pearl and the coral, who are al-Hasan and al-Husayn (AS).1
The appellation Amir al-Mu'minin was conferred to Imam 'Ali (AS) by Allah Himself in the higher levels of existence prior to this material world. Consider the following traditions:
1. Shaykh Saduq narrates in his Al-Khisal:
عَنِ النَّبِيّ قَالَ: فِي اللَّوْحِ الْمَحْفُوْظِ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ عَلِيُّ بْن أَبِيْ طالِبٍ أَمِيْرُ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ
The Holy Prophet (S) is reported to have said: In the Guarded Tablet under the Divine Throne is [written] 'Ali bin Abi Talib is Amir al-mu'minin (Commander of the faithful) (AS).2
2. Al-Kulayni in his Al-Kafi narrates with his chain of narrators:
عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ لِمَ سُمِّيَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ اللَّهُ سَمَّاهُ وَهَكَذَا أَنْزَلَ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ مِنْ ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلى أَنْفُسِهِمْ أَ لَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولِي وَأَنَّ عَلِيّاً أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ.
Jabir reports3: I said to Abu Ja'far [al-Baqir (AS)]: Why was Imam 'Ali (AS) named Amir al-Mu'minin? He (AS) said: Allah is the One who named him, and this is how He revealed it in His Book: "When your Lord took from the children of Adam, from their loins, their descendants and made them bear witness over themselves, [He said to them,] Am I not your Lord (7:172) and isn't Muhammad My Messenger and 'Ali Amir al-mu'minin (the commander of the faithful)?.4
3. Furat bin Ibrahim in his Tafsir Furat al-Kufi narrates the following tradition:
عَنْ أَبِيْ جَعْفَر قَالَ: لَوْ أَنَّ الْجُهَّالَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ يَعْلَمُوْنَ مَتَى سُمِّيَ عَلِيٌّ أَمِيْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ لَمْ يُنْكِرُوْا وِلاَيَتَهُ وَ طاعَتَهُ قَالَ فَسَأَلْتُهُ وَمَتَى سُمِّيَ عَلِيٌّ أَمِيْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ؟ قَالَ حَيْثُ أَخَذَ اللهُ مِيْثَاقَ ذُرِّيَةِ آدَم...
Imam al-Baqir (AS) is reported to have said: If the ignorant of this nation would know when Imam 'Ali (AS) was named Amir al-mu'minin, they would not reject his guardianship and obedience. The reporter said: I asked him (AS): And when was Imam 'Ali (AS) named Amir al-mu'minin? He replied: It was when Allah took the covenant with the progeny of Adam...5
Some traditions clearly tell us that the Holy Prophet (S) called Imam 'Ali (AS) Amir al-mu'minin (AS) on different occasions during his life time. Consider the following:
1. When Hadhrat Fatima bint al-Asad, the noble mother of Imam 'Ali (AS), comes out of the Ka'ba with her exalted offspring 'Ali (AS), the following is reported to have transpired:
قَالَ عَلِيٌّ أَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَهْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ ثُمَّ تَنَحْنَحَ وَقَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ...فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ قَدْ أَفْلَحُوا بِكَ أَنْتَ وَاللَّهِ أَمِيرُهُمْ تَمِيرُهُمْ مِنْ عِلْمِكَ فَيَمْتَارُونَ وَأَنْتَ وَاللَّهِ دَلِيلُهُمُ وَبِكَ وَاللَّهِ يَهْتَدُونَ
Imam 'Ali (AS) said: Peace be unto you, O father and may Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you. Thereafter he coughed a little and recited [the following verses of Surat al-Mu'minun]: In the name of Allah, the All-Beneficent, the All-Merciful. Indeed the believers have become victorious (23:1)... Thereupon the Messenger of Allah said: Surely they have gained victory by you; You are, by Allah, their Amir (commander), you provide them from your knowledge, and hence they gain knowledge; and I swear by Allah you are their Guide, and I swear by Allah they attain guidance through you.6
This tradition has so many allusions worthy of contemplation. Not only does the Holy Prophet (S) call Imam 'Ali (AS) as the commander of the faithful, but also informs us the close relationship between one's commandership of the faithful and one's vast knowledge. In clearer words, since Imam 'Ali (AS) is the commander of the faithful he practically serves as the source and treasure trove of their knowledge. And that is why he provides them with the knowledge they require.
Another allusion worthy of consideration is that Imam (AS) upon birth already manifested an ocean of knowledge. Perhaps it alludes to the Muhammadan Light (al-Nur al-Muhammadi) where he unites with the Holy Prophet (S). For, any kind of grace, whether knowledge or otherwise, is conferred to the creation through this very reality. This truth is elicited from a tradition narrated from Jabir bin Abdillah al-Ansari:
قُلْتُ لِرَسُوْلِ اللهِ:أَوَّلُ شَيْءٍ خَلَقَ اللهُ تَعَالَى مَا هُوَ؟ فَقَالَ:نُوْرُ نَبِيِّكَ يَا جَابِرُ، خَلَقَهُ اللهُ، ثُمَّ خَلَقَ مِنْهُ كُلَّ خَيْرٍ
I asked the Messenger of Allah (S): What is the first thing that Allah created? He (S) said: The light of your prophet O Jabir. Allah created it; thereafter He created from it every good.7
2. 'Amr bin Husayb, the brother of Burayda bin Husayb is reported to have said:
بَيْنَا أَنَا وَأَخِي بُرَيْدَةُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ إِذْ دَخَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ انْطلِقْ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَنْ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟ قَالَ: عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طالِبٍ. قَالَ عَنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ وَأَمْرِ رَسُولِهِ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ. ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عُمَرُ فَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ انْطلِقْ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَنْ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟ قَالَ: عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طالِبٍ. قَالَ: عَنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ وَأَمْرِ رَسُولِهِ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ.
While I and my brother Burayda were in the presence of the Prophet (S), Abu Bakr entered and greeted the Messenger of Allah (S), and he (S) said: Go and greet Amir al-mu'minin. Abu Bakr asked: O Messenger of Allah, and who is Amir al-mu'minin? The Prophet (S) said:'Ali bin Abi Talib (AS). Abu Bakr asked: Is this by the command of Allah and the Apostle of Allah? The Prophet (S) said: yes. Thereafter 'Umar entered and greeted, and the Prophet (S) said to him: Go and greet Amir al-Mu'minin (AS). 'Umar said: O Messenger of Allah, and who is Amir al-mu'minin? The Prophet (S) said: 'Ali bin Abi Talib (AS). Umar asked: Is this by the command of Allah and the Apostle of Allah? The Prophet (S) said: yes.8
3. Imam al-Ridha (AS) is reported to have narrated from his fathers from Imam al-Husayn bin 'Ali (AS):
قَالَ لِي بُرَيْدَةُ: أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ أَنْ نُسَلِّمَ عَلَى أَبِيكَ بِإِمْرَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ .
Burayda said to me: The Messenger of Allah commanded us to greet your father with the name Amir al-mu'minin.9
يَابْنَ اَمِيْرِالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ
The appellation Amir al-mu'minin, according to different traditions, has different meanings, all of which aptly befit the exalted personality of Imam 'Ali (AS). Therefore in reality there is no contradiction. The most well-known meaning of this appellation is 'commander of the faithful'. The word amir comes from the word amr (order, command). Imam 'Ali (AS) manifesting faith in its utmost purity in all the dimensions of his being qualified to be the amir of the faithful.
One of the milestomes of history that brilliantly manifested this reality is the battle of Khandaq, when after having permitted Imam 'Ali (AS) to fight against 'Amr bin 'Abd Wudd, the Holy Prophet (S) said:
بَرَزَ الإيْمَانُ كُلُّهُ إِلى الشِّرْكِ كُلِّهِ
Faith in its totality has come out to fight with polytheism in its totality...10
The Holy Prophet (S) in calling Imam 'Ali (AS) al-iman kulluh (faith in its totality) resonated a wealth of information, which only the comprehending ears (al-udhun al-wa'iyah) were able to appreciate. It is such epitomization of faith that makes the entity of 'Ali emanate nothing but instructions of faith and makes him worthy of being the commander of the faithful.
Unfortunately those who later branded themselves with this title were oblivious of the simple reality that 'faqid al-shay' la yu'tih" (one who lacks something cannot confer the same). One who clearly disobeys Allah and usurps the right of others becomes a laughing stock when he names himself Amir al-mu'minin. This is because only one who totally submits to Allah (SwT) and personifies faith can confer injunctions and directions of faith. In an interesting tradition narrated from 'Umar bin al-Khattab we are told:
سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ إِنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعَ وَالأَرَضِينَ السَّبْعَ لَوْ وُضِعَتْ فِي كِفَّةٍ وَوُضِعَ إِيمَانُ عَلِيٍّ فِي كِفَّةٍ لَرَجَحَ إِيمَانُ عَلِيٍّ
I heard the Messenger of Allah (S) say: Surely if the seven heavens and the seven earths were placed in one of the palms of the scale, and the faith of 'Ali bin Abi Talib placed on the other, the faith of 'Ali would be heavier.11
In another tradition the Holy Prophet (S) vocally informs us that the yardstick of the belief of the believers is the radiant being of 'Ali. In one of his conversations with Imam 'Ali (AS), the Holy Prophet (S) says:
لَوْ لاَ أَنْتَ لَمْ يُعْرَفِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ مِنْ بَعْدِي...
If you were not there, the believers would not be known after me...12
Therefore Imam 'Ali (AS) serves as the scale of faith (mizan al-iman).
ياَ بْنَ اَمِيْرِالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ
O the edifice of the Commander of the Faithful
As explained in the previous verse, the word اِبْن ibn can either refer to the meaning 'the son of' or 'the product of'. Hence, Imam al-Husayn (AS) is both the physical edifice13 of his noble father as well as his spiritual artifact. And if we consider the genitive construction Amir al-mu'minin to mean 'commander of the faithful' then he becomes an edifice of one who deserves to command the faithful, and consequently inherits and acquires the same qualities.
Due to his infallibility in thought, speech, and action, and ability to bear the Divine Leadership (imama), Imam al-Husayn (AS) is qualified to command the faithful. In the radiant salutational recital Ziyarat al-Jami'a narrated from Imam al-Hadi (AS), we address the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) as follows:
...وَعِبَادِهِ الْمُكْرَمِينَ لاَ يَسْبِقُوْنَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ وَهُمْ بِاَمْرِهِ يَعْمَلُوْنَ ..
And His ennobled servants who do not advance Him in speech, and act according to His Command...14
And in another place of the same Ziyarat we say:
فَاِنّي لَكُمْ مُطيْعٌ، مَنْ اَطاعَكُمْ فَقَدْ اَطاعَ اللهَ، وَمَنْ عَصَاكُمْ فَقَدْ عَصَى اللهَ...
So indeed I am obedient to you; whosoever obeys you has obeyed Allah, and whosoever disobeys you has indeed disobeyed Allah...15
There are other traditions too that clearly depict that the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) are the ulu al-amr (those worthy to command) mentioned in the following verse:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا أَطيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الأََمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ تَنازَعْتُمْ في شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْويلاً
O you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those among you who hold command. And if you dispute concerning anything, refer it to Allah and the Apostle, if you have faith in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more favourable in outcome. (4:59)
Jabir al-Ju'fi narrates: I heard Jabir bin 'Abdillah al-Ansari say:
لَمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلىَ نَبِيِّهِ مَحَمَّدٍ: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُوْلَ اللهِ، عَرَفْنَا اللهَ وَرَسُوْلَهُ، فَمَنْ أولُو الأَمْرِ الَّذِيْنَ قَرَنَ اللهُ طاعَتَهُمْ بِطاعَتِكَ؟ فَقَالَ: «هُمْ خُلَفَائِيْ- يَا جَابِرُ- وَأَئِمَّةُ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ مِنْ بَعْدِيْ، أًوَّلُهُمْ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِيْ طالِب، ثُمَّ الْحَسَنُ، ثُمَّ الْحُسَيْن، ثُمَّ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْن، ثُمَّ مُحَمَّد بْن عَلِي الْمَعْرُوْف فِي التَّوْرَاةِ بِالْبَاقِرِ، سَتُدْرِكُهُ- يَا جَابِرُ- فَإِذَا لَقَيْتَهُ فَاقْرَأْهُ مِنِّي السَّلاَمَ، ثُمَّ الصَّادِقُ جَعْفَر بْن مُحَمَّد، ثُمَّ مُوْسَى بْن جَعْفَر، ثُمًَّ عَلِيّ بْن مُوْسَى، ثُمَّ مُحَمَّد بْنِ عَلِيّ، ثُمَّ عَلِيّ بْن مُحَمَّد، ثُمَّ الْحَسَن بْن عَلِيّ، ثُمَّ سَمِيِّي وَكُنْيَي حُجَّة اللهِ فِي أَرْضِهِ، وَبَقِيَّتُهُ فِي عِبَادِهِ ابْن الْحَسَن بن عَلِي، ذَاكَ الَّذِيْ يَفْتَح اللهُ تَعَالَى ذِكْرَهُ عَلىَ يَدَيْهِ مَشَارِقَ الأَرْضِ وَمَغَارِبَهَا...
When Allah revealed unto His Prophet Muhammad (S) the verse "O you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those among you who hold command"(4:59). I asked [the Prophet (S)]: O Messenger of Allah, we know about Allah and His Messenger. But who are the Ulu al-Amr (those who hold command) whose obedience Allah placed in line with your obedience?
He (AS) said: They are my successors, O Jabir, and the leaders of the Muslims after me. The first among them is 'Ali bin Abi Talib (AS), then comes al-Hasan (AS), and then al-Husayn (AS), then 'Ali the son of al-Husayn (AS), then Muhammad the son of 'Ali (AS) who is well-known in the Torah as al-Baqir (the cleaver). Soon you will meet him, O Jabir! And when you meet him convey to him my salams (greetings). Then comes al-Sadiq Ja'far bin Muhammad (AS), then Musa bin Ja'far (AS), then 'Ali bin Musa (AS), then Muhammad bin 'Ali (AS), then 'Ali bin Muhammad (AS), then al-Hasan bin 'Ali (AS), then one whose name and teknonym (kunya) would be like mine, the proof of Allah on the earth and His remnant among His servants, the son of al-Hasan bin 'Ali (AS). He is the one by whom Allah will conquer the easts and wests of the earth...16
Therefore all the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) qualify in the universal sense to be Amir al-mu'minin (commander of the faithful).
يَابْنَ اَمِيْرِالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ
O edifice of the Commander of all the Faithful
A grammatical allusion worthy of consideration, can be understood by looking at the article 'al' prefixed in the plural "al-mu'minin" (the faithful) above. One the well-known grammatical laws is that when the article 'al' precedes a plural, it signifies that all the extensions of the plural are taken into consideration.
In our case, when we say al-mu'minun, we mean "all the faithful". Therefore, the appellation Amir al-mu'minin signifies that Imam 'Ali (AS) is the commander of all the faithful. In a tradition the Holy Prophet (S) after informing Imam 'Ali (AS) how Allah Himself named him Amir al-mu'minin, says:
...فَأَنْتَ يَا عَلِيُّ أَمِيْرُ مَنْ فِي السَّماَءِ وَأَمِيْرُ مَنْ فِي الأَرْضِ وَأَمِيْرُ مَنْ مَضَى وَأَمِيْرُ مَنْ بَقِي فَلاَ أَمِيْرَ قَبْلَكَ وَلاَ أَمِيْرَ بَعْدَكَ لأَنَّهُ لاَ يَجُوْزُ أَنْ يُسَمَّى بِهَذاَ الاِسْمِ مَنْ لَمْ يُسَمِّهِ الله ُتعَاَلىَ بِهِ
...Therefore, you, O 'Ali, are the commander (amir) of those in the heavens and the commander (amir) of those in the earth, and the commander (amir) of those who have passed, and the commander (amir) of those who remain. Hence there is no amir prior to you, nor is there any amir after you. For it is impermissible to name someone with this name whom Allah has not named.17
Consequently his edifice, Imam al-Husayn (AS), who is ibnu Amir al-mu'minin is also the amir of all the believers.
Amir Al-Mu'minin – An Exclusive Apellation
It should be known that the appellation 'Amir al-mu'minin' although widely employed by different people in history, is exclusively for Imam 'Ali (AS). The other Imams (AS) would not allow their followers to use it for them. Observe the following narrations:
1. Imam 'Ali (AS) is reported to have said:
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ لَمَّا أُسْرِيَ بِي إِلَى السَّمَاءِ كُنْتُ مِنْ رَبِّي كَقَابِ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنى فَأَوْحَى إِلَيَّ رَبِّي مَا أَوْحَى ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ اقْرأْ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ السلام فَمَا سَمَّيْتُ بِهِ أَحَداً قَبْلَهُ وَلاَ أُسَمِّي بِهَذَا أَحَداً بَعْدَهُ
The Messenger of Allah (S) said: When I was made to ascend to the Heavens, I was at a distance from my Lord that was like the length of two bows or nearer. So my Lord Revealed unto me what He Revealed. Then He said: O Muhammad send your greetings to 'Ali bin Abi Talib, Amir al-mu'minin (AS). Indeed I have not named anyone with this appellation before him, and will never name anyone with it after him.18
2. 'Allama Majlisi in his Bihar al-Anwar narrates:
قَالَ رَجُلٌ للصَّادِقِ: يَا اَمِيْرَ الْمُؤْمِنينَ فَقَالَ: مَهْ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَرْضَى بِهَذِهِ التّسْمِيَة أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ ابْتَلاَهُ ببَلآء اَبيْ جَهْل.
A man called Imam al-Sadiq (AS) 'O Commander of the faithful! whereupon the Imam (AS) said: Stop! For surely no one approves being named so, save that he is tried with the trial of Abu Jahl.19
3. Shaykh al-Kulayni in his al-Kafi narrates the following tradition:
سَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ عَنِ الْقَائِمِ يُسَلَّمُ عَلَيْهِ بِإِمْرَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ لاَ ذَاكَ اسْمٌ سَمَّى اللَّهُ بِهِ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَمْ يُسَمَّ بِهِ أَحَدٌ قَبْلَهُ وَ لاَ يَتَسَمَّى بِهِ بَعْدَهُ إِلاَّ كَافِرٌ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَيْفَ يُسَلَّمُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ يَقُولُونَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بَقِيَّةَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ بَقِيَّتُ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ
A person asked Imam al-Sadiq (AS) about [Imam] Al-Qa'im (AS), whether it is proper to greet him with [the appellation] Amir al-Mu'minin, and he said: No. That is a name that Allah named Amir al-Mu'minin with it, none before him was named with it, and none will name himself with it after him save a disbeliever. The person said: may I be made your ransom, how should one greet him? He (AS) said: They should say: Peace be unto you, O remnant of Allah (Baqiyyat Allah). Thereafter he A read the verse of Qur`an, "What remains of Allah's provision is better for you..."(11:86)20
يَابْنَ اَمِيْرِالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ
Another meaning of 'Amir al-mu'minin' is the 'one who provides knowledge to the believers'. This is when the word Amir stems from the infinitive مِيرْ 'mir' which means جَلْبُ الطعَامِ 'jalb al-ta'am' (to draw food). Al-Turayhi in his Gharib al-Qur`an says:
يُقَالُ : فُلاَنٌ يَمِِيْرُ اَهْلَهُ اِذَا حَمَلَ إِلَيْهِمْ اَقْوَاتَهُمْ مِن غَيْرِ بَلَدِهِمْ مِنَ الْمِيْرَة بِكَسْرِ الْمِيْمِ وَسُكُوْنِ الْيَاءِ طعَامٌ يَمْتَارُهُ الإِنْسَانُ اَيْ يَجْلُبُهُ من بَلَدٍ اِلى بَلَدٍ.
It is said: Fulan yamiru ahlahu (So and so provides his family) when he carries to them their provisions from another town. It comes from al-mira which is food that a person obtains or takes from one town to another.21
And food in this case does not only refer to 'physical food' that satisfies one's stomach, but fundamentally to spiritual food that elevates the human being. Under the verse of the holy Qur`an that says 'Then let man look at his food'(80:24).
Imam al-Sadiq (AS) explains to Zayd al-Shahham22, one of his companions that food here refers to knowledge, and that the human being is told to reflect on his knowledge and its origin. Likewise, as we shall soon see, the 'mir' referred to in this case is interpreted by the infallible Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) to mean knowledge. Consider the following narrations:
1. 'Allama Majlisi in his Bihar al-Anwar reports :
عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ: لِمَ سُمِّيَ اَمِيْرُ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ اَمِيْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ؟ قَالَ: لاَنَّهُ يَمِيْرُهُمْ اَلْعِلْمَ، اَمَا سَمِعْتَ كِتَابَ اللهِ عَزَّوَجَلَّ ونمير أهلنا؟
Jabir is reported to have said: I asked Abi Ja'far (al-Baqir (AS)): "May I be made your ranson; why was Amir al-Mu'minin (Imam 'Ali (AS)) known as Amir al-mu'minin?" The Imam (AS) said: 'It is because he provides them (yamiruhum) with knowledge; haven't you heard the Book of Allah 'wa namiru ahlana' (...we will get provisions for our family... (12:65))?23
2. 'Allama Majlisi in his Bihar al-Anwar reports:
أَبَانُ بْنُ الصَّلْتِ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ: سَمِيُّ اَمِيْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ إنَّمَا هُوَ مِنْ مِيْرَةِالْعِلْمِ، وَذَلِكَ اَنَّ الْعُلَمَآءَ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ امْتَارُوْا وَ مِنْ مِيْرَتِهِ اسْتَعْمَلُوْا
Aban bin al-Salt is reported to have said that Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said: Indeed naming Amir al-mu'minin is from 'the provision of knowledge'; and that is because the knowledgeable ones took knowledge from him, and took advantage of his provision.24
Some esteemed muhaddithun like the late 'Allama Majlisi give the probability that the word Amir instead of being a common noun meaning 'commander' is an indefinite verb (al-fi'l al-mudhari') meaning 'I provide' (اًَمِيْرُ) that later turned into a proper noun ('alam). In other words, Imam 'Ali (AS) said "Amiru (I provide) al-mu'minina (the believers)' and thereafter the whole statement turned into a noun referring to Imam 'Ali (AS). They liken this with name تَاَبَّط شَرّاً (lit. he put evil beneath his armpit). The well-known poet Thabit bin Jabir was called that because it is said that the sword never left him.25 According to a narration indicated in the Bihar al-Anwar, he was known to be so because:
تَاَبَّط سَيْفًا وَخَرَجَ فَقِيْلَ لاُمِّهِ: اَيْنَ هُوَ؟ فَقَالَتْ: تَأبَّط شَرًّا وَخَرَجَ.
...he put a sword beneath his armpit (ta'abbata sayfan) and went out; and when his mother was asked, 'Where is he?' she said: He put evil under his armpit (ta'abbata sharran) and left.26
In short, therefore, Amir al-mu'minin (I provide the faithful) could be a sentence which later turned into a proper noun.
يَابْنَ اَمِيْرِالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ
If we carefully consider the meaning of al-mu'minun (plural of al-mu'min) in the genetive construction Amir al-mu'minin we may be able to unravel and draw some of the secrets of this radiant verse. Following are some narratives that define the word mu'min:
1. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) was asked why a believer was known as mu'min and he said:
لِأَنَّهُ اشْتَقَّ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ اسْماً مِنْ أَسْمَائِهِ تَعَالَى فَسَمَّاهُ مُؤْمِنا، وَإِنَّمَا سُمِّيَ الْمُؤْمِنُ لِأَنَّهُ يُؤْمَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى، وَيُؤْمِنُ عَلىَ اللهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيُجِيْزُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ.
It is because He (Allah) derived for the believer a name from His Names, and named him mu'min. And he was named mu'min because he is protected from the punishment of Allah, the Exalted, and gives warrant to Allah [for others] on the Judgment Day, and Allah would approve that for him.
2. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) when defining the meaning of the Divine Name al-Mu'min is reported to have said:
سُمِّيَ الْبَارِئ ُعَزَّ وَجَلَّ مُؤْمِنًا لأنَّهُ يُؤْمِنُ مِنْ عَذاَبِهِ مَنْ أَطاعَهُ
The Maker, Invincible and Exalted, was named Mu'min because He protects (yu'minu) whosoever obeys Him from His punishment...27
Notice carefully that the aforementioned traditions allude to the following important realities:
(a) The believer is a manifestation of the Divine Name al-Mu'min.
(b) He enjoys protection (aman), and
(c) He confers protection (yu'minu) by seeking the same for others from Allah.
3. The Holy Prophet (S) is reported to have said:
أَلاَ اُنَبِّئُكُمْ لِمَ سُمِّيَ الْمُؤْمِنُ مُؤْمِنًا؟ لإِيْمَانِهِ النَّاسَ عَلىَ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَأَمْوَالِهِمْ
Should I not inform you why a believer was named mu'min? It is because he grants security to people in themselves and their wealth.
4. The Holy Prophet (S) is reported to have said:
وَاللَّهِ مَا سُمِّيَ الْمُؤْمِنُ مُؤْمِناً إِلاَّ كَرَامَةً لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِين
"I swear by Allah, the believer was not named mu'min save in honor of Amir al-Mu'minin."
If we study the various derivatives of the word mu'min as expounded in the above traditions, we would realize that all of them converge at one single attribute: protection (aman). The reason why a believer is called mu'min is because he 'enjoys protection' and 'confers the same'.
The fourth tradition however requires deliberation to comprehend. Perhaps it would like to tell us that in order to bestow the honorable appellation Amir al-mu'minin to Imam 'Ali (AS), Allah named the believer as mu'min. For the appellation Amir al-mu'minin would have no meaning in the absence of people called 'mu'minun'. Obviously this should not be considered a kind of superficial honorification. The Imam (AS) most brilliantly manifesting the Divine Attribute al-Mu'min, qualified to command the believers who manifest this attribute acording to their limitations. Therefore Allah bestowing honor to Him called the believer a mu'min and named Him Amir al-mu'minin.
In conclusion, the genitive construction Amir al-Mu'minin means 'The commander of those who confer protection'. Therefore Imam 'Ali (AS) is the commander of one who enjoys and confers protection. Consequently, he is the professor and teacher of the lesson of protection (aman). He is not merely a theoretical professor, but 'a commander' and thus 'a practical mentor'. And the believers always benefit from his banquet. If we ponder over the abovementioned traditions we would realize that the protection that is spoken about is not always physical protection. A believer fundamentally seeks the spiritual protection of others.
The entire life of Amir al-mu'minin (AS) serves as a lesson for those who would like to learn how to protect themselves and others. The yardstick of such a life, as mentioned in the aforementioned tradition of Imam al-Sadiq (AS), is obedience to Allah. The Imam's thoughts, words, and deeds, all reflect utter submission to Allah's will.
The Holy Prophet (S) describing some of the phenomena of the Day of Judgment to Imam 'Ali (AS) says:
...ثُمَّ يُنَادِيْ مُنَادٍ مِنْ قِبَلِ اللهِ تَعَالى: أَلاَ إِنَّ عَلِيًّا وَشِيْعَتَهُ الآمِنُوْنَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
...Thereafter a caller on behalf of Allah would call: Look! Surely 'Ali and his followers are the protected ones (al-aminun) on the Judgment Day.28
And in another tradition, the Holy Prophet (S) says:
يَا عَلِيُّ، أَنْتَ وَشِيْعَتُكَ عَلىَ الْحَوْضِ تَسْقُوْنَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْتُمْ، وَتَمْنَعُوْنَ مَنْ كَرِهْتُمْ، وََأَنْتُمْ الآمِنُوْنَ يَوْمَ الْفَزَعِ الأَكْبَر...
O 'Ali, you and your followers would quench the thirst of whom you love at the Fountain, and hamper those whom you abhor. You are the protected ones (al-aminun) on the Day of the great terror (See 21:103)...29
Some of the verses of the Holy Qur`an also inform us that by maintaining pure faith and observing taqwa, 'protection' (aman) is a guarantee:
الَّذينَ آمَنُوا وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوا إيمانَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ أُولئِكَ لَهُمُ الأَمْنُ وَهُمْ مُهْتَدُونَ
Those who have faith and do not taint their faith with wrongdoing for such there shall be safety, and they are the [rightly] guided."(6:82)
إِنَّ الْمُتَّقينَ في مَقامٍ أَمينٍ
Indeed the God wary are in a secure station (44:51)
Imam al-Husayn (AS) who is ibnu Amir al-mu'minin is in this sense "the product of the commander of those who confer protection". Necessarily, then, he likewise enjoys the characteristics of his father. His entire life serves as a lesson of aman and protection from Hell Fire.
In one of the supplications of the Holy month of Sha'ban we express the following about the Ahl al-Bayt (AS):
اَللَّهُمَّ صَل ِّعَلىَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّآل ِمُحَمَّد اَلْفُلْكِ الْجَارِيَةِ فِي اللُّجَجِ الْغَامِرَةِ يَأْمَنُ مَنْ رَكِبَهَا وَيَغْرَقُ مَنْ تَرَكَهَا
O Allah bless Muhammad and his progeny, the moving ark in the covering depths [of the sea], whosoever boards in it is protected and whosoever leaves it drowns.30
Recitation & Realization
Reciting this verse after having known its comprehensive meaning undoubtedly fills the heart of the loving za'ir with awe and veneration for the mazur. However, as we had mentioned in the very beginning of this commentary, the most important and fundamental purpose of our recitation must be unity and coherence with the mazur. If we address Imam al-Husayn (AS) with ibnu Amir al-mu'minin, and believe that he is fit to command the believers, then we must resolve to practically follow his commands.
Believing someone to be amir is practically realized when one follows him. And when we understand Amir al-mu'minin (AS) as the commander of those who confer aman and safety, then we must practically seek and follow the lesson of confering safety from Imam (AS) and apply the same in our lifetimes.
And if we comprehend the appellation Amir al-mu'minin as the provider of knowledge to the believers, then we must practically draw our fundamental knowledge from authorities like Imam 'Ali (AS) and the Ahl al-Bayt (AS). And if we understand the meaning of Amir al-mu'minin (AS) as the Commander of those who have faith, then we should resolve in following his footsteps and drawing closer to him so that we are entitled to be the bearers of iman and faith.
يَابْنَ اَمِيْرِالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ
The word mu'min is conventionally translated as 'faithful' or 'believer'. Its literal import however is worthy of consideration. It comes from the word 'amn' which according to leading lexicographers like al-Isfahani, means 'tuma'ninat al-nafs' (tranquility and contentment of the heart). And the word iman which we translate as faith actually means 'to place in oneself or another [the state of] amn (tranquility). And when we say آمن بالله 'amana bilLahi' which we conventionally translate as 'he believed in Allah' we literally mean 'he attained contentment and tranquility by Allah'.
Principally when we speak of iman billah we mean to agree and have tranquility that God exists, He is the overwhelming One, and to Him belong the Attributes of Beauty and Majesty. However, such tranquility which is limited to the belief in the existence of God is substantially different from the tranquility and serenity attained in Allah.
Perhaps the most apt example of tranquility one can cite in the life of the commander of the tranquil ones (Amir al-mu'minin) is what transpired on the well-known laylat al-mabit when Imam 'Ali (AS) rests with utter peace and tranquility on the blessed bed of the Holy Prophet (S) while the Prophet (S) sets for his well-known migration to Madina. Indeed I feel it is only the Holy Qur`an that can properly narrate the nature of this historic incident. Almighty Allah says:
وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْري نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغاءَ مَرْضاتِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ رَؤُوْفٌ بِالْعِبادِ
And among the people is he who sells his soul seeking the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is most kind to [His] servants.(2:207)
Imam Zayn al-'Abidin (AS) is reported to have said:
نَزَلَتْ فِيْ عَلِيٍّ حِيْنَ بَاتَ عَلىَ فِرَاشِ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ
This verse was revealed about 'Ali (AS) when he slept on the bed of the Messenger of Allah (S).31
In another tradition which shows the extent of itmi'nan and tranquility of 'Ali (AS), we are told:
...فَباَتَ عَلِيٌّ مُوَطنًا نَفْسَهُ عَلىَ الْقَتْلِ
So Imam 'Ali (AS) slept while he stationed his soul to be killed...32
The phrase 'muwattinan nafsahu 'ala al-qatl' reveals so much. It shows the Imam's readiness to be martyred in the way of Allah. The word 'muwattinan' literally connotes that Imam 'Ali (AS) had stationed his spirit in the watan (hometown) of martyrdom.
Ayatullah al-Rayshahri quoting al-Tabaqat al-Kubra among other historical texts writes in his Mawsu'at al-Imam 'Ali bin Abi Talib (AS):
...فَاقْتَرَحَ عَلى عَلِيٍّ أَنْ يَبِيْتَ فِيْ فِرَاشِهِ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَة، فَسَأَلَهُ: أَوَ تُسْلَمْ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ. فَرَحَّبَ الإِمَامُ بِهَذاَ الاِقْتِرَاحِ مُوَطنًا نَفْسَهُ لِلْقَتْلِ عِنْدَ مُوَاجَهَةِ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ صَبَاحًا، وَسَجَدَ سَجْدَةَ الشُّكْرِ عَلىَ هَذِهِ الْمَوْهِبَةِ الْعَظِيْمَةِ وَالْتَحَفَ بِالْبُرْدِ الْيَمَانِي الأَخْضَرِ الَّذِيْ كَانَ يَلْتَحِفُ بِهِ النَّبِيُّ عِنْدَ نَوْمِهِ، َونَامَ مُطمَئِنًّا فِيْ فِرَاشِهِ
...So the Prophet (S) suggested to 'Ali (AS) that he sleeps that night in his bed, and 'Ali (AS) asked him: Would you be protected thereby O Messenger of Allah? He (S) said: Yes. So the Imam (AS) welcomed this suggestion while stationing himself to be martyred when he confronts the polytheists in the morning, and he prostrated in thanks to Allah for this great gift, and wrapped himself with the green Yemenite cloak that the Messenger of Allah would cover himself with when he slept, and he slept in the state of tranquility...33
The phrase 'wa nama mutma'innan fi firashihi' (and he slept in the state of tranquility in the Prophet's bed) is worthy of reflection. It shows how Amir al-mu'minin having sold his soul to the only beloved is overwhelmed and overtaken with utmost composure and tranquility.
Bearing the aforesaid understanding of the appellation Amir al-mu'minin in mind, the meaning of ibnu Amir al-mu'minin confers the implication that Imam al-Husayn (AS) who is the edifice of the commander of the tranquil spirits also exemplifies the same attribute of tranquility.
Both his words as well as his deeds reveal this reality. In his well-known supplication of 'Arafa, Imam al-Husayn (AS) is narrated to have said:
مَا ذَاوَجَدَ مَنْ فَقَدَكَ وَمَا الَّذِيْ فَقَدَ من وَجَدَكَ؟
What has he who has lost You found? And what has he who has found You lost?34
And Imam al-Sadiq (AS) is reported to have said:
اِقْرَؤُوا سُوْرَةَ الْفَجْرِ فِيْ فَرَائِضِكُمْ وَنَوَافِلِكُمْ، فَإِنها سُوْرَةُ الْحُسَيْنِ وَارْغَبوا فِيْهَا رَحِمَكمُ الله فَقَالَ لَهُ أبُو أُسَامَة وَكَانَ حَاضِرَ الْمَجْلِس: كَيْفَ صَارَتْ هَذِهِ السُّوْرَةُ لِلْحُسَيْنِ خَاصَّةً؟ فَقَالَ: أَلاَ تَسْمَعُ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطمَئِنَّة اِرْجِعِيْ إِلَى رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَرْضِيَّة فَادْخُلِيْ فِيْ عِبَادِي وَادْخُلِيْ جَنَّتِيْ إِنَّمَا يَعْنِي الْحُسَيْن بْنِ عَلِيّ صَلَوَاتُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِمَا، فَهُوَ ذُوْ النَّفْسِ الْمُطمَئِنَّة الرَّاضِِيَةِ الْمَرْضِيَّةِ...
Read Surat al-Fajr in your obligatory and supererogatory prayers, for indeed it is the chapter of al-Husayn (AS), and have a liking to it, may Allah have mercy on you. Thereupon Abu Usama, who was present in the gathering asked him (AS): How did this sura become specifically for al-Husayn (AS)? The Imam (AS) said: Do you not listen to Allah's word "O contented spirit (ya ayyatuha al-nafs al-mutma'inna), return to your Lord, while you are pleased with Him, and He is pleased with you, and enter the company of My servants, and enter My paradise". It refers to Imam al-Husayn bin 'Ali (AS), for he is the contented spirit who is pleased with his Lord and his Lord is pleased with him...35
Al-Bahrani narrates a beautiful tradition from Imam Zayn al-'Abidin (AS) which describes the situation of Imam al-Husayn (AS) and his brilliant companions before their departure from this world when the situation intensified as follows:
...وَكَانَ الْحُسَيْنُ وَبَعْضُ مَنْ مَعَهُ مِنْ خَصَائِصِهِ تُشْرِقُ أَلْوَانُهُمْ، وَتَهْدَأُ جَوَارِحُهُم، وَتَسْكُنُ نُفُوْسُهُمْ...
...while the situation of al-Husayn (AS) and some of those with him, would be such that their colors would shine, the parts of their bodies would be composed, and their spirits would be in the state of serenity...36
Having known the subtle meaning of ibnu Amir al-mu'minin as the edifice of the possessor and bestower of tranquility, our aspiration should be to uplift ourselves and realize the characteristics of a tranquil soul.
'Allama Majlisi in his Bihar al-Anwar narrates:
عَنْ أَنَس بْن مَالِك قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ: اَلَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا وَتَطمَئِنُّ قُلُوْبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللهِ تَطمَئِنَّ الْقُلُوْب: أَتَدْرِيْ مَنْ هُمْ يَا ابْنَ أُمّ سليم؟ قُلْتُ: مَنْ هُمْ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ: نَحْنُ أَهْلُ الْبَيْتِ وَشِيْعَتُنَا.
Anas bin Malik is reported to have said: The Messenger of Allah recited "And those who have faith and their hearts are tranquil by the remembrance of Allah..." (13:28) and said: Do you know who they are, O son of Umm Sulaym? I said: Who are they, O Messenger of Allah? He (S) said: They are we and our Shi'a.37
...وَابْنَ سَيِّدِ الْوصِيِّيْنَ
Here, as in the previous cases, اِبْن 'ibn' bears two different messages: Imam al-Husayn (AS) is the son of sayyid al-wasiyyin, as well as his spiritual product. And because he is the spiritual product of the master of all the past successors of the prophets of Allah, he likewise excels them and is embellished with the attributes of his father. The word 'sayyid' literally means 'leader'. Its correlatives are the verbs sada-yasudu (he led, he is leading). That which makes Imam 'Ali (AS) to be sayyid al-wasiyyin is his capability to succeed the Leader of the Apostles (sayyid al-rusul), who bore the most comprehensive message of Allah, the Qur`an, which is introduced as al-Muhaymin. Consider the following verse of the Holy Qur`an:
وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءهُمْ عَمَّا جَاءكَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ...
We have sent down to you the Book with the truth, confirming what was before it of the Book and as a guardian (muhayminan) over it. So judge between them by what God has sent down, and do not follow their desires against the truth that has come to you. (5:48)
No Divine Messenger (rasul) or Successor (wasi) can bear the message of the Holy Prophet (S) save Imam 'Ali and his successors, for every Prophet (S) enjoys the station of the Book that was revealed unto him. Therefore because the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) are the bearers of the Qur`an (hamalat kitabilLah) they excel the other prophets and their successors and are rightly known as sadat al-awsiya'. Consider the following narrations:
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ: أَنَا سَيِّدُ النَّبِيِّينَ وَوَصِيِّي سَيِّدُ الْوَصِيِّينَ وَأَوْصِيَاؤُهُ سَادَةُ الاَوْصِيَاء
The Apostle of Allah, upon whom and whose immaculate progeny be peace, said: 'I am the leader of the Prophets and my successor is the leader of all the successors, and his successors are the leaders of all the successors.38
وعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ: أَنَا سَيِّدُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ وَأَفْضَلُ مِنَ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ وَأَوْصِيَائِي سَادَةُ أَوْصِيَاءِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ وَذُرِّيَّتِي أَفْضَلُ ذُرِّيَّاتِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ...
Ibn 'Abbas is reported to have said: The Holy Prophet (S) said: 'I am the leader of the Prophets and Apostles, and better than the angels nearmost to Allah, and my successors are the the leaders of the successors of the other prophets and apostles, and my lineage is the best of the lineages of the Prophets and Apostles of Allah.39
And in the proximity of the radiant dome of Imam al-Husayn (AS), Imam al-Sadiq (AS) tells his companion Safwan that all the Divine prophets and their sucessors visit Imam al-Husayn (AS), including the Imam (AS) himself. He (AS) says:
...وَمُحَمَّدٌ اَفْضَلُ الاَنْبِيَاءِ وَنَحْنُ اَفْضَلُ الاَوْصِيَاءِ...
...[including] Muhammad the best of the Prophets and we, the best successors...40
In the first volume of his well-known thematic exegesis of Qur`an, the grand Ayatullah Jawadi Amuli (may the Almighty protect his noble self) says:
'Inasmuch as the Noble Qur`an is muhaymin (supervisor and protector), the Seal of the Apostles is also muhaymin over the prophets, for every Apostle invites his community to the station of his book, and the station of every prophet is the same as the station of his book, and the station of the Messenger of Allah (AS) is the same as the station of the Message that he brought.41
And when trying to establish how Imam al-Husayn (AS) is the Leader of martyrs, Ayatullah Jawadi Amuli in his Shekufaieye 'Aql says:
Husayn (AS) is the leader and superior to all the martyrs of the universe. And this station is due to his company with the reality of the Holy Qur`an which is a guardian over all other heavenly scriptures. In other words:
1- The reality of the Prophet (S)'s progeny is at par with the Holy Qur`an.
2- The reality of Qur`an, apart from verifying the previous books has a supervisory role over them.
3- Every prophet is at par with the heavenly book given to him.
4- When the Progeny of the Holy Prophet (S) is equal to the noble Qur`an, they [obviously] are guardians over the great divine men of the past.
This same evidence can be employed to prove that Imam al-Husayn (AS) is among the leaders of all the sucessors of the previous prophets of Allah (sayyid al-wasiyyin).
...وَابْنَ سَيِّدِ الْوصِيِّيْنَ
The word wasiyyin is the plural of wasi and it literally means [the] 'trustee' to whom one entrusts his will (wasiyya). In the present context, however, it refers to the Divine Trustee who is entrusted with a Divine Will, which is to govern the Islamic state and rule according to the Divine Laws. And Imam 'Ali (AS) was entrusted with this Divine Will before the demise of the Holy Prophet (S) on several occasions, the fundamental of which was in Ghadir Khumm, where he (S) announced Imam 'Ali (AS) as his successor and sought confirmation from others too.
Therefore, when we say that Imam al-Husayn (AS) is the edifice, product, and inheritor of the Leader of the Divine successors and trustees, we are also implying that he has inherited the qualities of such successorship. And in rising against an illegal government that would ruin and demolish the material and spiritual felicity of the believers, he practically manifested his trustworthiness and successfully undertook his mission of Divine leadership.
- 1. Shaykh Saduq, Al-Khisal, v.1, p. 65
- 2. Sayyid Radhi al-Din bin Tawus, Al-Yaqin, p. 152
- 3. Al-Kulayni, Al-Kafi, v.1, p. 412
- 4. It should be noted that Imam al-Baqir wanted to inform Jabir about what is not apparently indicated in the verse, but is a reality that exists in the higher realm. Therefore one should not misconstrue and conjecture that the exposition of the Imam is a physical part of the Qur`an.
- 5. Furat bin Ibrahim al-Kufi, Tafsir Furat al-Kufi, p. 147
- 6. 'Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v.35, p.17
- 7. 'Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v.25, p.21
- 8. Shaykh al-Tusi, Al-Amali, p. 289
- 9. Shaykh al-Saduq, 'Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha , v.1, p. 73
- 10. Sayyid Radhi al-Din bin Tawus, Al-Tara'if fi Ma'rifati Madhahib al-Tawa'if, p. 60
- 11. Haji al-Nuri, Mustadrak al-Wasa'il, V.15, p. 337
- 12. 'Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v.37, p. 272
- 13. In his well-known Treatise of Rights, Imam Zayn al-'Abidin specifying the rights of the father alludes to his fundamental mediation of the existence of his offpring. He says: And as for the right(s) of your father, you should know that he is your source (fa'lam annahu asluk), and that was it not for him you would not have existed; so whatever you find in yourself that pleases you, then know that your father is the source of the blessing (fa'lam anna abaka asl al-ni'ma), then praise and thank Allah. (Shaykh al-Saduq, al-Amali, pp. 453-454)
- 14. Shaykh al-Kaf'ami, Misbah, p. 505
- 15. 'Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v.99, p. 133
- 16. Al-Bahrani, Tafsir al-Burhan, v.2, p. 103
- 17. Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Qummi, Mi'at Manqaba, pp. 52-53
- 18. Shaykh al-Tusi, Al-Amali, p. 295
- 19. 'Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v. 37, p. 334
- 20. Al-Kulayni, Al-Kafi, v.1, p. 411
- 21. Al-Turayhi, Gharib al-Qur`an, p. 279. Also check his Maj'ma' al-Bahrayn v.4, p. 253
- 22. Shaykh al-Bahrani, Al-Burhan fi Tafsir al-Qur`an, v.5, pp. 584-585
- 23. 'Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v.37, p.293
- 24. Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v. 37, p. 334
- 25. E.W.Lane, E.W.Lane Arabic-English Lexicon, see under the root word 'abata'
- 26. Ibid,, v. 35, p. 133
- 27. Shaykh Saduq, Al-Tawhid, p. 205
- 28. 'Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v. 37, p. 75
- 29. 'Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v. 65, p. 45
- 30. 'Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v. 87, p. 19
- 31. Al-Bahrayni, Al-Burhan fi Tafsir al-Qur`an, v.1, p. 442
- 32. Ibid., v.1, pp. 442-443
- 33. Al-Rayshahri, Mawsu'at Imam 'Ali bin Abi Talib, v.1, pp. 158-159
- 34. Al-Rayshahri, Mizan al-Hikma, v.1, p. 502
- 35. 'Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v. 24, p. 93
- 36. Al-Bahrani, Al-'Awalim, pp. 350-351.
- 37. 'Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v. 35, p. 405
- 38. Shaykh al-Tusi, Man la Yahdhuruhu al-Faqih, v.4, p. 174
- 39. 'Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v.8, p. 22
- 40. Ibid., v.101, p. 60
- 41. Ayatullah Jawadi Amuli, Qur`an dar Qur`an, p. 292


text:
As seen in my last post about the Basch family, the children of Lena Goldsmith Basch suffered two losses in 1915. Their brother Jacob died on April 5, 1915, and Ella's husband Isidor Shatz died seven months later. But not all the events of the 1910s were sad ones.
On February 5, 1917, Lena and Gustavus Basch's oldest granddaughter, Frank's daughter Rae, married Sidney Katz in Columbus. She was twenty years old, and he was 28.
Sidney was born in Ohio on January 13, 1889,1 and grew up in Cincinnati, where in 1900 he was living with his widowed mother, Dina Bing Katz, and siblings.2 Sidney's father Henry Katz had died when Sidney was just ten on December 24, 1899.3 Both of Sidney's parents were German immigrants. In 1910, Sidney was living with his mother and sister in Cincinnati, working as a traveling millinery salesman.4
Rae and Sidney settled in Chillicothe, Ohio, about fifty miles from Columbus, where their first child, Dorothy Basch Katz, was born on March 19, 1919.5 In 1920 they were still living in Chillicothe, and Sidney was working as a dry goods merchant.6 Rae and Sidney had a second child, Jean, born on June 19, 1920,7 and then a year later a third daughter Frances was born on November 5, 1921.8
Rae's younger brother Lewis served in World War I. He enlisted on October 18, 1918, when he was just eighteen. He was discharged two months later after the war ended.9 In 1920 he was back in Columbus, living with his parents Frank and Fred and his sisters and attending Ohio State University. According to the 1920 census, no one in the household was employed.
Joel's son Sidney Basch also served in World War I. He served from November 1917 until April 25, 1919.10 In 1920, he also was safely back home and living with his parents Joel and Jeanette and brother Gustavus. Joel was still in the tobacco business, and Sidney was a clerk in the industrial slate business.11
In 1920, Joseph Basch and his wife Ida were living with their twins, Elene and Joseph, Jr. Their father Joseph, Sr., was working with his brother Joel in the tobacco business.12
The two sisters, Hinda and Ella, were living together in 1920. Neither had children, and neither was working. The bequests left by their brother Jacob (and perhaps by Isidor Shatz also) must have left them sufficiently comfortable that they did not need other income.13
Thus, as of 1920, the surviving five children of Lena Goldsmith and Gustavus Basch were all living in Columbus, Ohio.
The 1920s brought another marriage and more children to the extended family. On March 9, 1925, Frank and Freda (Rosenthal) Basch's youngest child Ruth married Sigmund S. Front in Columbus.
Sigmund was born on November 4, 1893, in Krakow, Poland, to Henry Elias Front and Rose Thieberger.14 He immigrated with his mother and siblings in August, 1899, joining his father who was already here.15 By 1901 the family was settled in Wheeling, West Virginia, where his father was working as a laborer in a brewery in 1910.16 In 1920 Sigmund was living with his family and working, along with his brothers, as a salesman for the gas and electric supplies business now owned by his father in Wheeling and known as The Front Company.17
Their wedding received a lovely detailed write-up in the Columbus newspaper, which also reported that they would be living in Wheeling after their honeymoon:
Wheeling is about 130 miles east of Columbus, Ohio, and I have no idea how Ruth and Sigmund met. After marrying and settling in Wheeling, they had two sons born in the 1920s. In 1930, Ruth and Sigmund and their children were living in Wheeling, and Sigmund was now the secretary of the Front Company, according to the census, although the 1930 Wheeling directory lists him as its president.18
Meanwhile, Ruth's father Frank Basch and his wife Freda and their two unmarried children, Coryne and Lewis, were still living in Columbus in the 1920s. Lewis studied dentistry at Ohio State University graduating in 1925, and then he served in the dental reserves.19 In 1930, Lewis was living with his sister Coryne and his parents in Columbus where he was practicing dentistry. He was the only family member with an occupation listed.20
Frank and Freda's oldest child Rae, who had married Sidney Katz in 1917 and moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, was still living with Sidney and their three daughters in 1930. Sidney was a clothing merchant.21
As for the other Basch siblings, the 1920s were relatively quiet. Joel Basch and his family continued to live in Columbus. In 1926, Joel purchased for investment a building in Columbus, perhaps with his inheritance from his brother Jacob.22 In 1930, Joel was still in the tobacco business and living with his wife Jeanette and sons Sidney and Gustavus in Columbus. Sidney was working as a clerk in a finance company and Gustavus as a salesman in a furniture store.
The youngest brother Joseph and his wife Ida were also still in Columbus during the 1920s. Their daughter Elene was studying at Smith College in the 1920s,23 and her twin brother Joseph was a student at Ohio State University.24 In 1930 both Joseph and Elene were living at home in Columbus, where their father continued to work in the tobacco business with his brother Joel. Neither Elene nor Joseph, Jr. was employed.25
There also do not appear to have been any noteworthy events in the lives of the two sisters, Hinda Basch and Ella Basch Shatz, during the 1920s. Ella, however, was not destined to enjoy the next decade. She died on January 29, 1930, from heart failure; she was sixty-four. According to her obituary, she had been a social worker, although I never saw any indication of that on any of the census records.26 She had been a widow for almost fifteen years and had no children who survived her. Under the terms of her brother Jacob's will, the property that she had inherited from him now passed to her sister Hinda. Hinda continued to live in Columbus in 1930.27
There were now four remaining siblings left in the Basch family: Frank, Hinda, Joel, and Joseph, all living in Columbus, Ohio. By 1940, there would only be three left.
- Sidney Katz, World War I draft registration, Registration State: Ohio; Registration County: Ross; Roll: 1851088, Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 ↩
- Sidney Katz, 1900 US census, Census Place: Cincinnati Ward 2, Hamilton, Ohio; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0017; FHL microfilm: 1241274, Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census ↩
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156611817 ↩
- Sidney Katz, 1910 US census, Census Place: Cincinnati Ward 2, Hamilton, Ohio; Roll: T624_1188; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0023; FHL microfilm: 1375201, Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census ↩
- SSN: 300184495, Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 ↩
- Sidney and Rae Katz, 1920 US census, Census Place: Chillicothe Ward 1, Ross, Ohio; Roll: T625_1431; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 132, Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census ↩
- Ancestry.com. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1 ↩
- Ancestry.com. Ohio, Birth Index, 1908-1964 ↩
- SSN: 273365982, Branch 1: ARMY, Enlistment Date 1: 18 Oct 1918, Release Date 1: 11 Dec 1918, Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 ↩
- Ancestry.com. Ohio Soldiers in WWI, 1917-1918. ↩
- Joel Basch and family, 1920 US census, Census Place: Columbus Ward 5, Franklin, Ohio; Roll: T625_1381; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 96, Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census ↩
- Joseph Basch and family, 1920 US census, Census Place: Columbus Ward 4, Franklin, Ohio; Roll: T625_1381; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 86, Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census ↩
- Hinda Basch and Ella Basch Shatz, 1920 US census, Census Place: Columbus Ward 7, Franklin, Ohio; Roll: T625_1381; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 138, Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census ↩
- SSN: 233053103, Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 ↩
- The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Records of the US Customs Service, RG36; NAI Number: 2655153; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85, Ancestry.com. Baltimore, Passenger Lists, 1820-1964 ↩
- Wheeling, West Virginia, City Directory, 1901, Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995. Sigmund Front, 1910 US census, Census Place: Wheeling Ward 7, Ohio, West Virginia; Roll: T624_1692; Page: 15B; Enumeration District: 0108; FHL microfilm: 1375705, Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census ↩
- Sigmund Front, 1920 US census, Census Place: Wheeling Ward 7, Ohio, West Virginia; Roll: T625_1966; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 102, Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census ↩
- Sigmund Front and family, 1930 US census, Census Place: Wheeling, Ohio, West Virginia; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 0036; FHL microfilm: 2342284, Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census ↩
- "Play Will Open Graduation Days at University," Columbus Dispatch, Friday, Jun 12, 1925, Page: 6. "More Reserve Officers," Columbus Dispatch, Wednesday, Jul 15, 1925 Columbus, OH Page: 5. ↩
- Frank Basch and family, 1930 US census, Census Place: Columbus, Franklin, Ohio; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0044; FHL microfilm: 2341530, Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census ↩
- Sidney and Rae Katz and family, 1930 US census, Census Place: Chillicothe, Ross, Ohio; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0021; FHL microfilm: 2341599, Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census ↩
- "Store Building Sold," Columbus Dispatch, June 13, 1926, p. 27. ↩
- Columbia Dispatch, December 28, 1924, p. 30 ↩
- School: Ohio State University, School Location: Columbus, Ohio, USA, Yearbook Title: Makio Yearbook, "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; Yearbook Title: Makio Yearbook; Year: 1926 ↩
- Joseph Basch, 1930 US census, Census Place: Columbus, Franklin, Ohio; Page: 22A; Enumeration District: 0029; FHL microfilm: 2341529, Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [Elene is listed a number of lines below her parents and brother on the page.] ↩
- "Mrs. Ella Schatz, Social Worker, Passes Away," Columbus Dispatch, January 30, 1930, p. 2 ↩
- Hinda Basch, 1930 US census, Census Place: Columbus, Franklin, Ohio; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0056; FHL microfilm: 2341528, Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census ↩

subset: commoncrawl


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Although modern computing devices and software offer much richer ways to consume, manipulate, and share content, there are still people who prefer to put their documents and images on slices of dead tree. Google introduced a service called Cloud Print in 2010 with the aim of helping said people print physical copies of their files from smartphones and Chromebooks.
Google Cloud Print got an update today with several new features, including improved Android integration and the ability to print a file to a local FedEx office. Google also announced that Canon has joined the lineup of hardware vendors who natively support the service.
Google Cloud Print allows users to associate their Google account with a printer, making it remotely accessible over the Internet. This feature works out of the box with "cloud-aware" printers that support Google's protocol. It can also be used with "legacy" printers by using a software intermediary that runs on a computer. Canon, Epson, Kodak, and HP support the feature on some models.
Google has introduced a new "Print to FedEx Office" option in Google Cloud Print. This feature will relay the specified file to FedEx and give the user a retrieval code they can tap into a Print & Go machine at a local FedEx Office store. The machine will print the user's file on the spot. This feature has been available for about a year with HP's ePrint service, but FedEx is now extending it to support Google Cloud Print.
In addition to adding the FedEx printing option, Google has also added support for "printing" to an Android 4 device that has Chrome for Android installed. When the user associates such a device with their Google account, it will show up in the Google Cloud Print list as a printing destination. Printing to an Android device will generate a PDF that automatically opens in Chrome for Android.


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The line is pencil, and the wash is ivory black watercolor mixed with water in a film can, whose snap-on lid never leaks. It's one of the easiest ways to get started with painting on the spot, because the tools are so simple. It all fits in your pocket.
May I show you a page from my wife Jeanette's sketchbook? The line is from a ballpoint pen, and the washes are raw sienna, ultramarine, and burnt umber watercolors. She was thinking of the colors that John Singer Sargent used in his Venetian watercolors (too bad it's Poughkeepsie, not Venice). To see more Sargents, visit the post on "warm and cool."
Tomorrow: Taboret


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A close call between a left-turning car and an oncoming semi-truck is turning heads online.
The risky maneuver happened near Highway 97 and Highway 99 outside of Cache Creek, according to dashcam footage posted to YouTube on Tuesday by Canadian Roadtripper.
The video shows a white car lined up behind another vehicle in the left-turn lane at a three-way intersection. As the first vehicle starts to turn left, the driver capturing the video can be heard saying, "Come on, man," before honking his horn a number of times.
The driver of the white car zips through the turn as well just before an oncoming semi-truck barrels through, and the rig narrowly misses clipping the back of the car.
The driver and passenger in the vehicle capturing the footage can be heard screaming as they witness the close call, before making the turn themselves and pulling over.


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Email's Changing Role in Social Media: Digital Archive, Centralized Identity
July 9, 2008 20 Comments
Alex Iskold wrote a great post recently, Is Email in Danger? This quote lays out the premise of the post:
From the 20th century mail was a fundamental form of communication. The invention of electronic mail (email) changed two things. It became cheap to send mail, and delivery was instant. Email became favored for both corporate and personal communication. But email faces increasing competition. Chat, text messages, Twitter, social networks and even lifestreaming tools are chipping away at email usage.
When it comes to email, there are some parallels to what happened to snail mail with the spread of the Internet and email. The biggest thing is this:
Snail mail found an unexpected opportunity for growth with the rise of the Web.
Email will lose out on some of its uses, but there are some interesting possibilities that will emerge.
The Disruption of Snail Mail
The diagram below depicts the disruption that occurred to snail mail.
I've kept the disruption focused on the effects of the Internet. In other words, no fax machine or FedEx in here.
Back in the day, the mail system was the way you got a variety of important communications to other people. Our grandparents wrote letters. L.L. Bean mailed us the stuff we ordered via their catalogs. All our bills came through the mail. We were notified of things like jury service.
With the arrival of the Net, a good portion of snail mail's portfolio was assumed by other technologies. And it's had an effect. Here's a quote from a 2001 General Accounting Office report on the future of the U.S. Postal Service:
Although it is difficult to predict the timing and magnitude of further mail volume diversion to electronic alternatives and the potential financial consequence, the Service's baseline forecast calls for total First-Class Mail volume to decline at an average annual rate of 3.6 percent from fiscal years 2004 through 2008.
Pretty bad, eh? Electronic alternatives were evaporating the revenues of the post office.
But something else was out there which would help offset these losses in first-class mail: e-commerce. With the growth of the Internet, people got more comfortable shopping online instead of going to their local mall.
Those packages had to get to shoppers somehow. That's where the U.S. Post Office shined. It already had the infrastructure to get things from a centralized place to multiple individual residences. What got disrupted were the trucking companies who moved merchandise from manufacturers to retailers.
Sure enough, the U.S. Postal Service saw a rebound thanks to online purchases, according to Web Designs Now:
In 2005, revenue from first-class mail like cards and letters, which still made up more than half the Postal Service's total sales of $66.6 billion, dropped nearly 1% from 2004. But revenue from packages helped make up for much of that drop, rising 2.8%, to $8.6 billion, last year, as it handled nearly three billion packages.
And the dark mood at the U.S. Postal Service headquarters brightened quite a bit:
"Six years ago, people were pointing at the Web as the doom and gloom of the Postal Service, and in essence what we've found is the Web has ended up being the channel that drives business for us," said James Cochrane, manager of package services at the Postal Service.
There is a lesson here for email.
The Disruption of Email
Email is undergoing its own disruption:
Again, similar to the previous diagram, I'm focusing on the web here. No mobile texting as an email disruptor, even though it is.
As Alex outlined in his post, the easy messaging of social media is supplanting the email messages that used to be sent. I haven't seen any surveys that show the decline in person-to-person communications because of email. But my own experience reflects the migration of communications to the various social media.
- LinkedIn messages
- Facebook messages
- FriendFeed comments
As Zoli Erdos pointed out in his blog post Email is Not in Danger, Thank You, wikis are growing as the basis for sharing documents. They provide better capabilities than does email: wider visibility, versioning and searchability.
But it's in notifications where email's future is bright. Many of us are members of social media sites. As we go through our day, it's hard to stay on top of activity in each one: new messages, new subscribers, new friend requests, etc.
Where is the central clearinghouse of my multiple social media identities? Email.
Email is the permanent record of what's happening across various sites. This is actually a very valuable position in which to be. Here are two examples where email helped me:
- After I wrote a post about nudity on FriendFeed, I lost some FriendFeed subscribers. I know this because my number of followers went down. There was one person in particular I wanted to check. This person wasn't on my list of followers, and I thought, "maybe wasn't subscribed to me in the first place?" Checked email, and I did indeed have a follow notification from this person a few weeks earlier. So I knew I'd been dropped.
- I inadvertently deleted a comment to this blog. On wordpress.com, once deleted, the comment is not recoverable. I was in a bind. But then I realized I get whole copies of comments to this blog emailed to me. So I went to Gmail and found the comment notification. I was able to add the comment back by copying it from my email.
As snail mail had to adjust to the rise of email, so too will email adjust to the rise of social media:
As the number of social media sites and participation in them expands, email will find new growth and value in being the centralized notifications location.
Email = Centralized Identity Management
Much has been written about email being the ultimate social network. The basis for this is your address book and the emails you trade with others. But might there be another opportunity for email?
If email has all these subscription and message notifications, doesn't it potentially have a role in helping you manage your centralized identity? Gmail could map out my connections across various sites. Find those that are common across the sites. Gauge the level of interaction with others.
Even add APIs from the various sites and let me send out communications from email. Suddenly, email's back in the communication game as well.
I'm just scratching the surface of what might be possible here.
What Do You Think?
Email's primary role as a communication medium is diminishing. Many of us are enjoying the easy, contextual basis of communicating via the various social media sites.
But like snail mail before it, email has interesting possibilities for what it will do for us in the future.
What do you think?
See this post on FriendFeed: http://friendfeed.com/search?q=%22Email%E2%80%99s+Changing+Role+in+Social+Media%3A+Digital+Archive%2C+Centralized+Identity%22&public=1


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New York Knicks sign Cleanthony Early
Associated Press
NEW YORK — The New York Knicks have signed forward Cleanthony Early, their first draft pick under Phil Jackson.
Early was taken in the second round with the 34th pick after leading Wichita State to an undefeated regular season. The 6-foot-8 Early averaged 16.4 points last season.
A New York native, Early could serve as a backup to All-Star Carmelo Anthony.
Terms of the deal announced Friday were not disclosed.


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Posts From March 2003
Gimmie, Gimmie a graphic contest winner!It's been a long and grueling task. We got in soooo many good graphics that the choice was emeasurably hard, Corey liked so many of the entires that he's keeping most of them and plastering his bedroom wall. Without further anticipation, the results are in and the winner is....Ed Syder from Manchester, England. He became lucky number one by putting together this killer graphic. Concrats goes out to Ed!! $500 in product and his art will be slided off by kids all over the world!
You may have already seen it in the new Thrasher and you can win one from thrashermagazine.com starting April 1st.
Boards are available only in skateshops now!
Corey Duffel's 20 Questions.In case you missed the print version or just want to read it again its Corey Duffel's 20 questions.
FOSKCO news and more!How do you make the best better? Good question, but Foundation is tirelessly trying to find new ways to improve its deck construction. Currently working on some new advancements to the Pop Top.
Foundation is also working on a new concave. It will be an upgraded upswing for your feet. Due to be released this summer.
Foundation Team rider Corey Duffel just returned from a South America trip with Slap Magazine where he killed every spot that was put in front of him. You think he didn't? Just wait till you see the article!!!!!!!
Corey Duffel, Justin Strubing, Kris Markovich, and the rest of the 88 Shoe team rented out a carnival last weekend for a TWS photo shoot kickflip over ferris wheels, ollied bumber cars, and tailslid there way into chaos!!!!!
Rumor has it that Gareth Stehr bs 180 ollied the massive steps at the infamous El Toro school. Can't wait to see the new Foundation video being worked on right now!! It's going to be the best video of 2003!!!!
By now everyone has seen the cover of Big Brother. Yeehaw Daniel!!! And all he got was a lousy ad.
The new Pharmacy video will be out in April.


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NFL Quick Shots: Texans still first despite losing stars to injury
No one should ever use injuries as an excuse after the Packers put 15 players, including nine starters, on injured reserve last year yet still reached the Super Bowl, and then won it despite losing Charles Woodson, Sam Shields and Donald Driver during the game.
The Texans may be just as indefatigable. The Texans have never made the playoffs, but are tied for the best record in the AFC despite losing Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Schaub, Pro Bowl defensive end Mario Williams and backup quarterback Matt Leinart for the year and All-Pro receiver Andre Johnson for six weeks.
Running without impact
The Bears ran for 172 yards and averaged 6.4 per carry in a 25-21 loss to Oakland. That's exactly what Chicago needed with Caleb Hanie making his first start. Except those numbers are very misleading. The Bears broke three runs of more than 20 yards but had zero touchdown runs and only two third-down conversions on the ground, both by Hanie.
The reason to run is to control the ball. With Matt Forte getting off to a slow start, four of the Bears first five drives lasted only three plays. That's no way to help a young QB.
Bears stack up well
Even though the Bears lost, they solidified my belief that with Jay Cutler healthy they are as good as any conventional team in football. They'd beat the 49ers and Jets and have 50-50 shots against the Steelers and Ravens. Teams that like to run don't gain the important yards against Chicago, which held the Raiders to six field goals. The pass-happy Patriots, Saints and undefeated Packers are the only teams the Bears don't match up well against. Part of that is because supposedly pass-happy offensive coordinator Mike Martz has found better ways to run; I loved the fake-pass, draw play that Matt Forte gained 33 yards on.
Knuckleheads on both sides
Bob Costas did his Sunday night halftime essay on "knuckleheads" drawing penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct celebrations. "On playing fields everywhere, true style is in decline," he said, "while mindless exhibitionism abounds."
Costas is correct in asking coaches to bench players who draw penalties for "buffoonery" Intentional stupidity should always be discouraged. But the biggest problem is the rule, not the rule breaker. We all survived the Mark Gastineau sack dance that Costas so laments. Costas says "we live in a culture that in many ways grows more stupid and graceless by the moment." I say penalizing end zone celebrations as severely as horse collar tackles and helmet-to-helmet hits is more stupid and graceless than any dance.
Angelo average in draft
The Bears' last 10 draft classes rated a B- and was ranked 13th by coldhardfootballfacts.com. That surprisingly put GM Jerry Angelo only two spots behind Green Bay as measured by number of Pro Bowlers, draft picks still active and their career value. The Packers, though, will zoom upward; most of their best picks are still young, while Chicago's best picks (Lance Briggs, Devin Hester, Charles Tillman) are in the second half of their careers. The big surprise was the team Angelo left; Tampa Bay ranked 31st out of 32 teams, behind even the Lions.
Matt Trowbridge's NFL Quick Shots appear Tuesdays. He can be reached at 815-987-1383 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Category Archives: Electronic Music
Korg Mono/Poly Part 1
Recently, I got the urge to dust off and fix my Korg Mono/Poly's keyboards. They are notorious for not making contact after a while! This was my first synth and I spent hours/months trying to learn synthesis using it. It … Continue reading
Posted in Analog, Electronic Music, Music, Synthesizers Tagged Analog, Korg, Korg MonoPoly, Music, Synthesizers Comments Off on Korg Mono/Poly Part 1


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The U.S. electronics retail giant will leave the European market by selling its 50 percent stake back to its partner, the U.K.-based Carphone Warehouse.
Best Buy is selling its 50 percent joint venture stake back to mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse for 500 million pounds ($775 million).
It's a massive loss for Best Buy, which bought 50 percent of Carphone Warehouse's retail operations for $2.1 billion in 2008, during the time where the global financial crisis was about to kick the European market firmly where it hurts.
In a statement on Tuesday, Best Buy said it has entered a definitive agreement to sell its half of the business in conjunction with Carphone Warehouse back to the company. The total figure includes 420 million pounds in cash and about 80 million pounds in Carphone Warehouse's stock.
In addition, 29 million pounds will satisfy obligations under existing agreements.
The deal is subject to the approval of Carphone Warehouse's shareholders, but not subject to any financial closing conditions. Best Buy will also see a non-cash asset impairment charge of around $200 million, as a result of the losses made in accumulated foreign currency written off at the time of the deal closing.
The transaction is expected to close by the end of June 2013, the statement said.
"Each international market is different and the sale of our European operations should not suggest any similar action in our other international businesses," Best Buy president and chief executive Hubert Joly said in prepared remarks.
The U.S. technology retailer joined up with U.K. mobile phone seller in 2008 in a bid to expand to the European market. It was hoped that around 200 stores would open up under the Best Buy brand across the EU over the coming years.
In 2011, the first sign of trouble began to show when Carphone Warehouse announced it would close 11 branded Best Buy stores it first opened up around the U.K. during the year. But a poor economic climate and general consumer apathy led to a rejection on British stores, hampering any likelihood of rolling out stores across the continent.
Best Buy still has more than 1,300 stores worldwide, including many outside the U.S.
This story originally appeared at ZDNet's Between the Lines under the headline "Best Buy exits European market; sells stake back to Carphone Warehouse for £500M/"


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Hello All,
The bar exam is one week from today. So here are more of my "predictions". Remember that I use the word predictions loosely. However, I really do think that it is helpful to think of potential exam scenarios. I pass these along to my students throughout our review course. And, now I am passing some of these along to you.
So here are my thoughts:
So far we have suggested Civil Procedure and Criminal Law & Procedure. I want to make a few additional comments about Criminal Law/Procedure: First of all, as I stated in my previous post ("Part One") Criminal Procedure has not been tested since July of 2010 (four bar administrations ago). That is a long time for it to be absent. What is also significant (at least I attach significance to this) is what was tested and what was not tested on the past Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure essays:
July 2011: Criminal Law was tested without Criminal Procedure (the Criminal Law issues were: burglary, robbery, larceny, criminal battery and accomplice liability issues – no murder)
July 2010: Both Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure were tested (the Criminal Law issue was kidnapping – no murder, the Criminal Procedure issues were: 4th Amendment admissibility issues – which are very typical and common – and a guilty plea issue – not so common – no 5th Amendment, no 8th Amendment).
So, here is what I think you should keep in mind: 1) Criminal Law and Procedure is a likely topic – know it, 2) Criminal Law and Procedure may very well not be on the exam, but KNOW IT, 3) if you were to be tested on Criminal Law and Procedure it would seem like a cross over with Murder (the whole Murder approach* crossed with Criminal Procedure issues is likely.
*Note: For a good example of how to address murder in a quick fashion, search this blog for: "shorthand murder approach"
The 4th and 5th Amendments are always likely in this context. But, what hasn't been tested in some time are the jury issues (6th Amendment) that can come up within the context of a murder exam. For example, peremptory challenges on the basis of not believing in the death penalty and then an 8th Amendment issue about the constitutionality of imposition of the death penalty (the most commonly tested aspect of 8th Amendment imposition of the death penalty issues are: the requirements that there be guidelines and discretion (discretion to impose – "automatic imposition" of the death penalty is NOT allowed, anything that would require a judge or jury to automatically impose a death sentence would be unconstitutional) and allowance of mitigating factors (defendant must be allowed to present mitigating evidence, also hearsay evidence IS allowed in the penalty/sentencing phase).
In addition to the above, you should be cognizant of issues that can come up in the context of the imposition of the death penalty and felony murder – imposition of the death penalty will not be allowed where a co-felon was not a major participant in the felony murder).
Review the 8th Amendment in general (search this site for "8th Amendment Template" (I released it as a download in a prior post – you should be able to easily find it by searching the blog for it. It covers both the capital punishment issue as well as bail issues (another area I would review).
The above issues are things that I would want to brush up on. Just as likely is a very run of the mill, straight forward, Criminal Law Murder crossed with 4th and 5th Amendment issues. Still, be ready for any of the above.
Okay, that is what I wanted to pass along about Criminal Law and Procedure.
Torts – Products Liability or Miscellaneous Torts (miscellaneous torts like: Abuse of Process & Malicious Prosecution). So it should be no real surprise that I think Products Liability is a likely possibility (see last February for my "predictions" where I indicated "IF you were to be tested on Torts, here is what I think might be likely . . . products liability . . ." ).
So, if you were to get Products Liability (or defamation, or any other topic) would you know how to start your exam? You should work on having an introduction to sort of get the ball rolling and to use as a framework for the organization of your exam. Remember, Products Liability is a race-horse exam. As a result, you do not have a lot of time to think about it, you simply have to get writing. So, having a canned up approach ahead of time (one of the cornerstones of our program) is not only a good idea, I think it is a necessity.
Here is a good introductory statement: The plaintiff may have claim against defendant (here, insert the defendant or defendants plaintiff is suing) for Products Liability. A Products Liability claim may be based upon the following theories: 1) Intentional Tort, 2) Negligence, 3) Strict Liability (for defective products), 4) Implied Warranty theories and 5) Express Warranty.
Something like the above is very handy. It will work on virtually any Products Liability exam even if your particular essay ends with a discussion of Implied Warranty of Merchantability and does not have any relevant discussion for Implied Warranty of Fitness for Particular Purpose or Express Warranty. Why is this the case? Because you have just, in one quick paragraph, at the very beginning of your exam, told the grader that YOU know what you are talking about, that you get it. You can modify the above paragraph, but, keep in mind that laying it out ahead of time not only puts the grader at ease with your knowledge and where you are going, it also anchors YOU in an approach. It is much easier to write from this position – having an approach.
Community Property – Value Enhanced Separate Property Business Like many, I think Community Property is likely. I would definitely know the two tests for determining the Community Property interests in a separate property business that has increased in value (Van Camp and Pereira). One of these tests favors separate property and one favors community property (meaning that one favors finding more of the value to be considered separate property and the other favors finding more of the value of the business to be considered community property).
So how does this come up? Often it comes up where an ex-spouse is attempting to collect for child support – and you have to determine whether the ex-spouse can reach a separate property business. Here is an example: Wilma and Hank were married in 2001. In 1999 Wilma opened a brokerage account. Wilma continued to manage her brokerage account through the course of her marriage to Hank. The brokerage account increased in value. Wilma and Hank divorce in 2012. The call of the question is whether Wendy, Hank's first wife, who has obtained a judgment for past due child support may reach Wilma's brokerage account.
Keep in mind, it could be any creditor of Hanks that is trying to reach Wilma's brokerage account.
The key is to recognize that the only way you can properly answer this call of the question is to apply the tests (Van Camp and Periera) for value enhanced businesses so that you can determine what portion of the business is considered Community Property and therefore what Wendy (or any other creditor) can reach.
You should always address BOTH tests, even if you believe that based upon the facts, one test is more applicable than the other. If you do feel you can make that call – then simply bring up both and weigh in on which test you think is more applicable. But, remember the bar examiners really want to see your breadth of knowledge – so bringing up both tests is important.
You may not be given numbers to deal with and you need to be comfortable with the absence of numbers. You may also get numbers (what Wilma initially used as start up capital for her business, what it is now worth today, etc.). So either is an option. Review past exams for how the bar expects you to deal with this – it is simpler than you might think.
What is Goodwill – another consideration for community property when dealing with a separate property business is the concept of goodwill. This is something that is important to address when you have a separate property business that has NOT increased in value. In these situations, a court may assign a value to the "goodwill" of the business. For example, any business where there are repeat customers and/or a good reputation, long standing business, etc. the concept of goodwill is important to mention. The goodwill of a business has some value – the fact that there will be continued customers, a future business, etc.
Therefore, if you end up in the situation on the exam where you have a separate property business, but, there is no increase in value or the business has gone down in value, the non-owner spouse may receive some interest based upon the "goodwill" of the business.
With respect to Community Property, be sure to be ready for any issues and remember that you MUST know the introductory paragraph for Community Property. You should have it as I do not know if any bar review course that does not provide it (and if for some reason you do not have it, you ought to be able to find it in virtually any California bar released answer for Community Property). Still, if for some reason you can not find it, feel free to email me or leave a comment here and I will provide one for you.
Okay, that is it for right now. Do a search for the "Shorthand Murder Approach" (I put this up in a blog post for the February 2012 bar exam, it is easily found by searching this blog for" shorthand murder approach").
Stay tuned . . . there is more to come.
Good luck to everyone who is studying for the July 2012 bar exam!
Lisa Duncanson
Program Director/Founder
Bar None Review
(949) 891-8831


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Baltimore (CNN) - Lenny Robinson is still getting acclimated to his 15 minutes of fame. When he pulled up to Baltimore's Sinai Hospital in a black Lamborghini decked out head to toe in a custom Batman outfit, he was greeted by a crush of reporters, news photographers and giddy hospital staff armed with smartphones snapping pictures.
Robinson became a viral video sensation last month when police pulled him over in full costume. The dashboard camera in the Montgomery County, Maryland, police cruiser caught the entire scene, including the officer calling for back up. "You can send me Robin if you wish," the officer snickered to dispatch before asking the driver, "What's your name other than Batman?"
"Lenny," Robinson replied from the driver's seat in a cape and Batman headdress.
The police pulled over Robinson's car because instead of a Maryland license plate, he had the Batman logo. He likes his outfit and car to look just right when he visits hospitals across Washington and Maryland to cheer up terminally ill children. Once police heard that and saw that the official license plate was inside the car, Robinson was on his way both to the hospital and Internet stardom. Last week a local paper unmasked the caped crusader with a front-page article detailing the charitable work done by the 48-year-old father of three.
Parked outside Sinai in a valet lot where expectant mothers come at delivery time, the Robinson Batmobile gleams. The black Lamborghini is customized with yellow trim and tricked out with the Batman logo nearly everywhere, including on the floor mats, the door jams and the monster rims. A collection of "Batman" themes blasts out from the stereo. Robinson grins from ear to pointy ear, fielding interviews and breaking away to pick up a sick child, say hello and cheer them up.
Upstairs, Hope for Henry is having its annual superhero celebration.
"We're delighted to work with him and bring the magic of Batman to these kids," says Laurie Strongin, executive director of Hope for Henry. Her group has brought pizza, cupcakes, superhero capes and games to help young cancer patients with their treatment by making them forget, for one afternoon, that they're stuck in the hospital.
Strongin knows firsthand what the families here are going through. "My husband and I started Hope for Henry back in 2003 to honor the life of our son Henry, who had died when he was 7 years old after a bone marrow transplant," she says.
Henry was a Batman fanatic. He never got to meet Robinson, but Strongin says Henry would have loved the day.
When Batman walks into the room, all the heads in the room turn. Sick children have a glimmer in their eye. Robinson flashes a smile and grumbles, "I'm Batman."
And for the next two hours he is as close to the real thing as possible.
"I know the suit weighs almost 40 pounds and I lose approximately between 5 and 6 pounds of water weight each time I do it," he says after autographing a boy's forearm just above the tiny hospital bracelet.
"The car was a quarter-million dollars and the suit was 5 grand, and I give away approximately $25,000 worth of Batman sunglasses and T-shirts and hats (and) coloring books, and everything I give away I always sign. But it wasn't about the money. It wasn't about spending the money on the car or the suit. It was about coming to see the kids," Robinson says.
While the party also features a man dressed as Spider-Man and a woman dressed as Wonder Woman, Batman is the star. He's giving out books and toys, and if you're under the age of 14, you're starting wonder whether this actually may be the real Batman.
"Some of these kids recognize that this is not Batman, but in their head it is, and this is a great thing for them," says Dr. Joseph M. Wiley, the hospital's pediatrics chairman.
The party is medically important for the patients, Wiley says. "It is absolutely clear to those of us in the field that attitude and play therapy and distraction help children overcome illnesses, so this is a big deal for all the kids who are here today."
Robinson says, "It's rewarding in a whole different way, just making that child smile. And if I only just touch one kid out of all this, then I know I've done something really successful."
Robinson volunteers much of his time these days as Batman at events such as this one. In 2007, he sold the industrial cleaning business that he began in high school. He told The Washington Post that his volunteering is part of his own maturation process, nodding to a few brushes with the law in his younger years thanks to, according to the Post, "fights and other confrontations."
He says his cleaning business - which cleaned office buildings, churches and synagogues - was fulfilling, but being Batman and cheering up sick children is his calling.
"You see what's going on. It has to be moving. Sometimes you're crying on the inside but you're strong on the outside. These are the real superheroes. It's not me, it's not you. They're fighting for their lives every single day," he says.
Robinson says he hopes to take his act on the road and around the world. Turns out that getting pulled over by police was one of the best things ever to happen to Batman.
Before we leave, he stops and looks right into CNN's camera. He says he has been working on his closing line.
"Remember, at the end of the day, ask yourself, 'Self, did I make a difference?' And the answer had better be yes."
Good job sir!! We need more people like you on this planet.
i used to be a batman ! now i am just a fatman.
I was not expecting to be that moved when I clicked play. What an incredible story. Thank you for reminding us that people like this still indeed exist.
i wish this guy was running for president
I wish these stories were the front page leaders every day. Move the idiots to the back and the heros to the front!
Ummm.... is anyone else "concerned" about a 40+ year old dressing up in costumes and playing with younger children?? This guy is a creepy SOB.
Stop him while you can!!! – Alfred beat me after I tried to tell on Mr. Wayne for his inappropriate "touching"
Please save us all the trouble and electrocute yourself. A bullet with Bang on it would be fine too.
No matter how innocent something is, there's always a prik to corrupt it and see the worst. Probably because you are the worst.
Ya. It really concerns me with a person goes out in public and spends time to comfort sick children, give them a laugh, and a distraction from treatment and possibly dying of a painful disease. You are right, this guy is so creepy. Let's shut him down. /sacrasm
To quote Stu from The Hangover, you are literally too stupid to insult.
I understand what you're saying with all the bad apples in this world, but in case you haven't noticed, everything he's doing is in public, at hospitals, with everyone taking pictures. For once, it's refreshing to hear good news. You need to realize that there are good people such as Batman in this world.
You are a moron. Seriously – do you have any brain in your head? I doubt it.
This man is awesome......I think anyone who gives his time to make even one child smile is just incredible. He didn't have to do this. He could have taken his money and spent it on other things, but he chose to take it and use it to brighten sick child's day.
Excellent work Lenny!!!! We need more peope ilike you in the world!!!
Go Batman! Nice to read a story that's not depressing for once!!
I used to be a batman like you, but then I took an arrow to the knee.
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Wildcat Ink has two tattoo studios in Dublin and a wholesale tattoo and piercing supply business with clients all over Ireland. What first attracted us to C+P Medical /My Tattoo and Piercing was the fact that their prices were so competitive. What...


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BMC Genetics 2012, 13:39 doi:10.1186/1471-2156-13-39
Genetic analysis of ancestry, admixture and selection in Bolivian and Totonac populations of the New World
W Scott Watkins, Jinchuan Xing, Chad Huff, David J Witherspoon, Yuhua Zhang, Ugo A Perego, Scott R Woodward and Lynn B Jorde
Abstract (provisional)
Populations of the Americas were founded by early migrants from Asia, and some have experienced recent genetic admixture. To better characterize the native and non-native ancestry components in populations from the Americas, we analyzed 815,377 autosomal SNPs, mitochondrial hypervariable segments I and II, and 36 Y-chromosome STRs from 24 Mesoamerican Totonacs and 23 South American Bolivians.
Results and conclusions
We analyzed common genomic regions from native Bolivian and Totonac populations to identify 324 highly predictive Native American ancestry informative markers (AIMs). As few as 40-50 of these AIMs perform nearly as well as large panels of random genome-wide SNPs for predicting and estimating Native American ancestry and admixture levels. These AIMs have greater New World vs. Old World specificity than previous AIMs sets. We identify highly-divergent New World SNPs that coincide with high-frequency haplotypes found at similar frequencies in all populations examined, including the HGDP Pima, Maya, Colombian, Karitiana, and Surui American populations. Some of these regions are potential candidates for positive selection. European admixture in the Bolivian sample is approximately 12%, though individual estimates range from 0-48%. We estimate that the admixture occurred ~360-384 years ago. Little evidence of European or African admixture was found in Totonac individuals. Bolivians with pre-Columbian mtDNA and Ychromosome haplogroups had 5-30% autosomal European ancestry, demonstrating the limitations of Y-chromosome and mtDNA haplogroups and the need for autosomal ancestry informative markers for assessing ancestry in admixed populations.
May 20, 2012
Ancestry, admixture and selection in Bolivian and Totonac populations
2 comments:
- Nathan said...
" Bolivians with pre-Columbian mtDNA and Ychromosome haplogroups had 5-30% autosomal European ancestry "
That is surprising, I would have expected an upper limit lower than 30% because Bolivia is majority full blooded Amerindian.
- Monday, May 21, 2012 12:31:00 am
- Galloglass said...
Depends on where they sampled. The eastern part of Bolivia has had much more mestizaje than the western Altiplano areas.
- Tuesday, June 12, 2012 12:05:00 am
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Everybody knows the insanity of governor Jan Brewer's suicidal* new law that basically gives Arizona police not only the right but the responsibility to demand citizenship papers of anyone they suspect may be illegal immigrants (read: All Latinos). Duncan Hunter, republican congressman from California, suggests they go one further and deport children of illegal immigrants born in the United States, despite being legal US citizens themselves.
I suggest a simple, elegant solution to the Wehrmacht surreality of Arizona: Give the state back to Mexico. It solves so many problems:
For starters, it was Mexico's to begin with. The Latino population has more historical right to be there than their Caucasian counterparts.
Then, it rids America of a large swath of radical assault rifle-toting vigilantes (and ASU graduates), who will soon find that the Mexican Policia Federale are somewhat less forgiving, not to mention an end to the political scene that gave us John McCain and Barry Goldwater.
It's perfect!
*Alienating Latinos, a third of the state's voting population, is a brilliant idea for the GOP, especially since they can't get Black votes either.