Identifying Truth by Looking at Supporters of Falsehood, Tyrants

IQNA – One of the divine trials is the test on identifying the truth and falsehood; one of the ways to identify the truth and falsehood is to examine the followers and supporters of falsehood and to stay away from the oppressors and foreigners.

In the midst of the Battle of Jamal, someone went to Imam Ali (AS) and told him: “I do not consider the companions of Jamal as misguided!” The Imam (AS) said: “You saw under your feet, but you did not look around you, so you went astray. You did not recognize the truth so that you would know who the people of truth are, and you did not recognize falsehood so that you would know the followers of falsehood.”

In this narration, Imam Ali (AS) points out a methodological flaw in the way of thinking. Those who have a limited depth of vision and do not pay attention to all aspects of the matter will make mistakes; for example, a person may make the living situation (described in this Hadith as looking under one’s feet) the criterion, while being indifferent to the plans of the enemies (the surrounding situation).

When the enemies of Islam, who have a history of killing Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan, support a particular movement; when their leaders are notorious global figures accused of raping children on Epstein Island or committing genocide in Gaza, and bombarding children, people, and Iran’s infrastructure with the promise of freedom, the alignment of the righteous and the wicked becomes clear.

The Holy Quran warns of the consequences of leaning towards foreigners and oppressors: “And do not lean towards those who wronged, lest the Fire seize you” (Verse 113 of Surah Hud).

The Quran also points to friendship with disbelievers instead of believers: "O you who have believed, do not take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers.”

At the height of the complexity of the trials, God provides the clearest evidence to distinguish between the truth and falsehood, and the truth never remains hidden in a broad way. In the present era and in the era of human communication, where almost everything becomes transparent, those who have not cleansed themselves of their spiritual defects will fall. All that is needed is a little faith and reason to safely pass through the trials of the end of times.