The word ‘Taqwa’ is derived from the root ‘waqaya’ which means ‘to safeguard’ or ‘to abstain’. In the Islamic terminology it is defined as the action of restraining oneself from disobeying the commands of Allah (S.w.T.). When Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) was asked to elaborate on the meaning of the word, ‘Taqwa’ he replied, “Submit to the command {of Allah (S.w.T.)} and do ...
Arguments for the oneness of GodTheologicalTheologians usually use reason and deduction to prove the existence, unity and oneness of God. They use a teleological argument for the existence of God as a creator based on perceived evidence of order, purpose, design, or direction-or some combination of these-in nature. Teleology is the supposition that there is a purpose or directive principle in the works and processes of nature.[16]Another ...
The Strange Phenomenon of Death
Death is a fact whose remembrance will break the tyrant’s neck and will make the Kesras bow and will make the ceasars despair.
Everybody is afraid of death and all are waiting for its arrival. Its arrival is inevitable. When it arrives, it will drag people from castles into tombs, from the bright rooms full of chandeliers into small dark spaces, from the presence of beautiful women and men into the presence of ...
Ninth LectureGuidance and Misguidance are in the Hands of God
1. Kinds of Guidance and Misguidance
Suppose a tourist stopped you to ask you for directions. There are two options available to you to show him the way:
The first option for you is to accompany him to his destination, and then to turn back saying good-bye to him.
The second option for you is to show him the way with gestures and body language.
You have definitely shown him the ...
The Issues of The Grave And The Barrier:
After the soul is taken from the body, the second phase of dying is the tomb. In fact, the grave is the same as the barrier for man. There are some verses which point out to this fact. Each person’s barrier is a reflex of his moral, and ethical and ideological status.
For a believer, the barrier is a place for ease, prosperity and company of clean souls and God’s abundance. For an infidel, the ...
As much as men are given apptitude from the side of Allah, they are expected to perform more good and their duty is more difficult. Prophets are from those people who are given more and are asked more .Therefore , disagreeable moments by which prophets are afflicted are a real example of hardship. Professor Hossein Ansarian In his book “ The land of lovers “ interprets this issue by considering the invocations of Sahifeh Sajjadieh and verses ...
Ninth LectureBodily Resurrection and Spiritual Resurrection
An important question regarding the issue of the Resurrection is whether resurrection pertains only to the spirit or whether the human body becomes alive in the other world once more and whether man enters the new life with the same body and soul, of course a little better than before.
Some of the ancient philosophers believed only in a spiritual resurrection and considered our bodies ...
We believe that Allah (swt) provided guidance to his servants via sending prophets who has a duty to call people to good deeds, keep aloof from the bad and submit themselves the teachings of Allah (swt). This chain of Prophethood started with Hadhrath Adam (as) and was completed with Hadhrath Muhammad al Mustafa (sa). Anyone that claims Prophethood after him (s) is a liar.Shaykh Saduq sets out the Shi’a position on Prophethood in ‘A ...
Seventh LectureThe world view of the Holy Qur’ªn
As a prelude to our discussion, we should discuss the environment in which the Holy Qur’¡n was nurtured.
In the opinion of all historians, the land of °ij¡z was one of the most retarded and backward sections of the world of antiquity. For this reason, the pre-Islamic Arabs were considered as savage or semi-savage.
Ideologically, they enthusiastically worshipped idols and these stone and ...
Is Death Considered as One’s End or Beginning
Death has always manifested itself as a horrendous monster in the eyes of man. The very thought of it has made life miserable for many.
These people not only fear the name of death, but also abhor the graveyard. They decorate the graves in order to forget about the very nature of death.
In literature, expressions such as “the monster of death,” “the claws of death,” and “the blow of ...
To awaken people from pure corruption, the prophet of Islam read to them three types of verses. The present text that is adopted from “ the land of lovers” by Professor Hossein Ansarian interperates these verses as distinct from each other.
1) The verses on creation
2) The verses on man
3) the verses on shariat
The verses on creation
These verses attract our attention to the creator:
وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا ...
Any conscious and intelligent person in this world does not like desperation, so it can undoubtedly be said that hope is good whereas hopelessness bad and hence a hopeful view is preferred to the one full of desperation. With this is mind, let us assess the points of view of Islam and Materialism. Materialism says, a human being lives his fixed life in this world and then dies and thereafter he will never be bestowed with life again., he will ...
The title of this section is the translation of Imam Zainol Abedin's elegant expression: it is adopted from “The land of lovers” by Professor Hossein Ansarian.
وَمَضَتْ عَلى اِرادَتِكَ الأشْياءُ
The heart of Ibrahim(s) was filled with the fatherly care and affection for his son Ismail (Ismail, Samuel).
He continuously thought of his son. He loved him but he was obedient to Allah and had concern for ...
Fifth LectureThe Holy Qur’An and Imamate
The Holy Qur’¡n provides the best answers to the problems in our daily lives; it is the best guide for everything, especially on the issue of Imamate. It has dealt with this problem from different dimensions.
1. The Holy Qur’An considers Imamate as an Appointment by God
As we have already read about Abraham(s), the idol-breaker, the Holy Qur’¡n considers Abraham’s imamate as a significant ...
All the stories to come after, are adopted from “ a commentary on Kumayl supplication” by Professor Hossein Ansarian”. To see refrences and quotations you can refer to this book at the Publication of Erfan research center, Qom, Iran.
It is narrated that on the Resurrection Day, the servant is called to account and his letter of deeds, full of sins, is given to his left hand. When getting the letter, the servant states ...
The Blowing of the Trumpet or the Interlude to the Doomsday:
وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَصَعِقَ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا مَنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ نُفِخَ فِيهِ أُخْرَى فَإِذَا هُمْ قِيَامٌ يَنْظُرُونَ.
“And the trumpet shall be blown, so all those that are in the heavens and all those ...
There is no breach in the promise of Allah. Heaven is rewarded to true believers, those who never remember God and never involve themselves in wrongdoings. In fact there is no breach in the promises of the God and this good news to people will be fulfilled by the mercy of the Almighty. Rather than Quran, good news of “Janat” is repeated in many Islamic documents including the rich Supplication of Kumayl. This issue along with Paradise and ...
Fifth LectureThe Greatest Miracle of the Prophet of Islam
The Eternal Miracle
All Islamic scholars believe that the Holy Qur’¡n is the greatest miracle of the Prophet of Islam. The reasons for this statement are as follows:
The Holy Qur’¡n is a rational miracle which deals with people’s souls.
The Holy Qur’¡n is an eternal miracle.
The Holy Qur’¡n is a miracle that says aloud:
“If you say this book is not from God, then ...
Three meanings are mentioned for the word remembrance. 1. Hearty attention to Allah, 2. The Qur’¡n, 3. The Prophet (s.a) and his Household (a.s). Rather than whole heartedly attention to the almighty God as a vital pillar in Tauhid, there are two other blessings that we have to pay them heary attention to be saved. These two resources are refered to as great saves in Kumyl supplication. Here we present you with a section of “ a commentary ...
A man who is not righteous in actions has no relegion. A true relegion not only consist of ideas and beliefs but also actions and good deeds. What that is of greater importance in Islam is the action rather than saying and beliefs and faith without action is not accepted. True faith and deep belief toward God accompanied by good deeds and righteousness is the only way for a muslim to be saved and salvated. What is good deed and which deed is ...
