[Precise observation and an ability to find new mathematical solutions to old problems were the two main strengths of Muslim scientists in the Middle Ages. Celestial mapping sprang from a religious concern: the need to establish correct coordinates of cities so that Muslims could determine the direction of Ka'bah - the qibla - towards which all Muslims face themselves in prayer five times a day. This need led to significant developments in ...
The Holy Qur’an states: “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion” (Surat Al-Ma’idah, Verse 3) One of the controversial interpretations about this verse is that there is no relationship between this verse and what is said before and after it. Whether we regard this verse as Al-Ghadir Verse like all Shia or most of Sunn scholars or we ...
It has been narrated from Abu Sa’id al-Khudri that he said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say the following to a person whom he was advising: 'Actively seek that which is in the presence of Allah so that Allah will love you; keep away from that which is in the hands of the people so that the people will have love for you. The one who is an ascetic in the transient world is at ease and his heart and body are at ease, ...
As God Himself says: “… and whoever respects the signs of Allah, this is (the outcome) of the piety of hearts.” [1]
The Arabic word “Sha’a’ir” is the plural of “Sha’eerah” used in the Quran on different occasions and several meanings. One of them is used for the Hajj rituals including the stops (in certain places), circumambulation, and sa’iy (the running between Safa and Marwa). The second meaning is the camel which is ...
Imamat and Nahjul BalaghaThere is a famous tradition from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) recorded by both - the Shias and the Ahle Sunnah traditionalists:'One who dies without recognizing the Imam of his time, dies the death of ignorance.'This means that even if a person accepts and conforms to all the Islamic beliefs and puts in practice all the edicts, but dies without recognizing the Imam of his time, his death will be on ignorance and apostasy. ...
The fifth imam of the school of the Ahlul Bayt, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir once told his student by the name of Jabir, “Is it enough for a person to embellish himself as our Shi‘a (follower) by professing love for us, the Ahlul Bayt? Nay! By Allah, a person is not our follower unless he fears Allah and obeys Him. Our followers are only recognized, O Jabir, by their humility, submission, honesty, abundant praise of Allah, fasting, prayers, ...
This article is prepared in three parts with these submenus as follows: 1. The Event of the Day of Warning 2. The Tradition of Ghadir and Its Continuity (Part 1) 3. The Tradition of Ghadir and Its Continuity (Part 2) Once the Holy Prophet addressing his companions said:"Greet Ali and address him as "Commander of the Faithful". He said so on the occasion of Ghadir, but somehow or other this sentence is ...
1. Hope and Feeling of Love: Anyone who knows that all his deeds are accounted for, and that his efforts do not go in waste, and also that Allah rewards him for his actions and deeds with Paradise, though He by His benign Mercy sometimes bestows upon him rewards for his good intentions too, he then leads his life with his love for Allah in a state of cheerful hopefulness.2. Abstains from Corruption: Such a man abstains from treachery, meanness, ...
One of the most misunderstood aspects of Shi'ism is the practice of dissimulation or taqiyyah. With the wider meaning of taqiyyah, "to avoid or shun any kind of danger," we are not concerned here. Rather, our aim is to discuss that kind of taqiyyah in which a man hides his religion or certain of his religious practices in situations that would cause definite or probable danger as a result of the actions of those who are opposed to his religion ...
The Third Spurious Argument:VISITING THE SHRVINES OF THE PROPHETS, IMAMS AND SAINTSSome people accuse the Shias of believing that it is permissible to visit the shrines of the Prophets, Imams and saints, building them, to seek blessings through them, to pray and make supplications around them whereas it is prohibited to consider tombs as mosques or to build mosques upon tombs.THE ANSWERThere is no prohibition on visiting tombs in any of the ...
The Theory of Necessity (Sadra’s theory in the interpretation of causality and its relation to human freedom) Before explaining the theory of necessity, it is noteworthy that the reason beyond calling this theory "The Theory of Necessity" lies in the fact that according to this theory the relation between cause and effect is both the relation of existence and that of necessity. The dispute between Muslim philosophers and theologians on all ...
Narrations (ahadith) make up one of the most important sources of Islamic knowledge and are subsequently greatly utilized in various different Islamic sciences. In order to best make use of narrations, it is imperative to have a good and correct understanding of them before making or basing conclusions based off of them.A correct and deep understanding of narrations will not only deepen one’s understanding of Islam, but also perhaps ...
The 'bismillah' preceding one surah is different from that preceding another surah.
We were saying to which word the preposition and the noun it governs in the 'bismillah' are related. One of the possibilities is that the 'bismillah' of every surah is related to some appropriate word of that very surah; for example in the Surah al-Hamd it may be related to the word, al-Hamd. In that case 'bismillahi al-hamdu lillahi' would mean: With the name ...
The topic of Imam al-Husayn’s (as) knowledge about his own martyrdom is something that is not hidden to any researcher of history and can be proven in a variety of ways:1. In general, all Shi‘ahs believe that Imam al-Husayn (as) and all the other Imams had and have prior knowledge of events and knowledge about what would and will happen in the future. They acquire this knowledge from the Holy Prophet’s (S) teachings and divine ...
Everyone according to his ability and his style can be diligent in reviving the great Eid of the Khilafat and Wilayat and be himself a missionary in this field. We cite some examples as follow: Fathers can: 1. By buying sweets, new clothes or small gifts for his wife and his children. 2. By increasing his children’s pocket money on Eid Ghadir leave good memory of this day in their mind. 3. By asking his children ...
Then he who is given his Record in his right hand,”“Soon will his account be taken by an easy reckoning,”“And he will turn to his people, rejoicing!"“But he who is given his Record behind his back,”“Soon will he cry for perdition,”“And he will enter a Blazing Fire.” (Al-Inshiqaq: 7 to 12)The Qur’an has talked about people who get their Records with ...
A vicious circle is a situation in which an attempt to resolve one problem creates new problems that lead back to the original situation. It is also a fallacy in reasoning in which the premise is used to prove the conclusion, and the conclusion used to prove the premise For example, “A” depends on “B” and “B” depends on “A”. The conclusion is that “A” depends on “A”. ...
Specifying the signs before the time of reappearance has its own advantages and benefits both before and after the occurrence of the signs. As we mentioned, some of the foretold events are related to the hardship of people before the reappearance of the Imam (PBUH) and warn people about the situations that they may face if disappearance is prolonged.These prophecies urge the believers to turn to Allah and supplicate to Him with the hope that He ...
By: Ghulam-Husayn Muharrami Shi‘ism experienced ever-increasing expansion during the period of the ‘Abbasid caliphate. This fact had some reasons and factors, some of which are the following: 1. The Hashimis and ‘Alawis during the Period of Umayyad Caliphate During the Umayyad period, the Hashimis—including both the ‘Abbasids and the ‘Alawis—were united, and from the time of Hashim when the ‘Abbasid campaigns started and ...
Is it allowed to help a sinful person, by way of giving loan or solving his difficulties to one who does not pray or is an alcoholic? Sometimes it is very difficult to decide as to what is the proper course of action in such circumstances, because we are commanded to maintain a distance from sinners. Thus Ali (a.s.) says:
"The Messenger of Allah has ordered us to be unfriendly with the sinful people." (Wasaelush Shia)
Hazrat Imam Sadiq ...
