Some cultures or cultural elements certainly seem more stable than others. Various theories have been proposed accounting for their stability, and it is quite useful to study them. First, we should keep in mind that some cultures have not at all remained firm due to their elements being general human virtual facts -in fact, they should be regarded as man's virtual elements “as they are.”Studying these cultures may make their scholars and ...
Imam al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib, peace be upon them, is quoted on p. 49, Vol. 2 of al-Saduq's book Man la Yahdarohu al-Faqih saying that a group of Jews once visited the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and the most learned man among them asked him about several issues one of which was: "Why did the Almighty enjoin fast upon your nation during day-time for thirty days after having required previous nations to fast for a longer period of time?" The ...
The History of the Islamic Calendar in the Light of the Hijra
Hakim Muhammad Said
Vol X No. 1 , Spring 1984
Reprinted, by courtesy of the editor, from Hamdard Islamicus, vol. IV, no.3 {1981)
The course of history is generally thought to be along a progressive path, but there are occasions when its progress seems to come to a standstill, and it becomes quiescent and inactive. The release of energy in such situations is converted ...
In the province of Hejaz in the western part of Arabia, not far from the Red Sea, there lies the town of Makka. In the centre of this town there is a small square building made of stones, about 60 feet long, 60 feet wide and 60 feet high. Since time immemorial this town and this stone built house has been known to world travellers. This is Baitullah, the House of Allah. Its sanctity and antiquity is older than history itself. Tradition goes that ...
My heart goes for your head atop a spearOutfitted with its own lights with an attire,Reciting the Book from the top of the spear,Through him did they raise the Book even higher.38
The martyred grandson of the Prophet (S) remained an ally of the Qur'an since his early childhood. Thus were he and his brother (‘a), for they were the legacy of the Messenger of Allah, his vicegerents over his nation. The greatest Prophet (S) had stated that they ...
The things that a person leaves unfulfilled in this world and those that need to be done only after the death of the person, he entrusts to a person close to himself whom he deems capable and willing to comply with his wishes. It is the bounden duty of a person to comply with the will of a dear departed person to the best of his capability. The Prophet (a.s) had appointed `Ali (a.s) as his wasi with the confidence that he would comply with ...
As for the sciences of Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, they were an automatic extension to the sciences of his fathers, who inherited them from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family. The historians unanimously agreed that the Ima`m was the most knowledgeable of the people in all sciences and arts. The proof of this is that the religious scholars and reporters narrated countless sciences on his authority.( Khulasat Tahdhib ...
A materialist passes his life in the dark valley of materialism. He is plunged in the sea of evil desires and always is tossed from this side to that side by the waves of material relations of wealth, wife and children. He cries for help, but in vain and in the end gets nothing but disappointment.
Sometimes in this sea a breath of enlivening breeze (divine impulse) pats him and kindles in him a hope that he may reach the shore safely. But ...
When sending greetings to Prophet Muhammad,· some say: Peace be upon him (PBUH)· others say: Peace be upon him and his family (S.A.W.)· some others say are more generous and say: Peace be upon him and his family (Aalihi) and his wives (wa Azwajihi) and all his companions (wa Sahbihi Ajma'een).Now let us see how the Prophet himself thought us to send blessing for him:The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said, "Do not salute for me in short!" The ...
For us Muslims, Jesus' (pbuh) second coming is of utmost importance. Born as a miracle of God, he invited the Israelites to the righteous path, performed many miracles in their presence, and is the Messiah and God's word (Qur'an, 4:171). When he returns, the differences between Christians and Muslims, who actually share the same values and have the same belief in God, will be resolved. According to the Qur'an, Christians are the closest to ...
Allah has made obligatory upon you the pilgrimage (hajj) to His sacred House which is the turning point for the people who go to it as beasts or pigeons go towards spring water. Allah the glorified made it a sign of their supplication before His Greatness and their acknowledgement of His Dignity. He selected from among His creation those who on listening to His call responded to it and testified His word. They stood in the position of His ...
It is obligatory to have faith in all that has been conveyed by the Holy Prophet and the Imams including what they have said about the Prophethood of the past Prophets, about the revealed Books, the existence of the angels, the account of what is going to happen in the grave, its punishment and its reward, revivification, its horrors, reckoning, the 'balance', the path, speaking of the limbs and organs, the existence of the Paradise, the Hell ...
Is it the 17th or the 19th? Imam Abu Ja'fer Muhammad ibn Ali-al- Baqir (as) is quoted in Bihar al-Anwar and Da'aim al-Islam as having said, "The 17th night of the month of Ramadan is when the two parties met, and the 19th is when the lists of the pilgrims is written down, and the 21st is when successors to the Prophets passed away and Jesus Christ (as) was raised to heaven and Moses (as) passed away, whereas the 23rd is hoped to be ...
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) of Islam, on his way back from his last pilgrimage to Mecca, received some commandments from God through Gabriel: “O Prophet! Declare what you were commanded to”; “Your Prophetic mission is not incomplete unless you declare the commandment of God” and “God protects you from the malevolent”. On the basis of the above commandments, the Prophet, after introducing his ...
Muslims need first of all to insist before the world that the Iberian peninsula (Jazirat al‑Andalus) flourished, culturally speaking, under Islam. Those nine Islamic centuries (711‑1610) were glorious, and they made the rest of Europe look pale and barbarous by comparison.
The southern portion of Spain that is still called Andalusia remains as al‑Firdaws al‑Mafqud or `Paradise Lost' in the North African imagina tion, for Arab ...
People are curious about how Jesus (pbuh) will be recognized on his second coming and what features will reveal his true identity. As a person of superior knowledge, intellect, body, and virtue, he will have an expression of Prophethood on his face. His strong fear and respect of God and deep faith will enlighten his face. This enlightenment on his face will be so revealing that people who encounter him will know that they are dealing with a ...
It is well known that Abu Sufiyan did not convert to Islam of his own volition and inclination. On the contrary, he became a Muslim out of a feeling of fear and intimidation.
When the Holy Prophet (S) conquered Mecca, Abu Sufiyan came with ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib before the Holy Prophet (S) and requested immunity and safe-conduct from the Holy Prophet (S). The Holy Prophet (S) said, "Woe unto you O Abu Sufiyan! Has the time not yet come ...
The Prophet (a.s.) used to offer his prayers towards Jerusalem, but on Tuesday the fifteenth of Sha’ban in the second year of Hijra the qibla was changed (by Allah’s order) to the Kaaba. The place where the Prophet (a.s.) offered prayers was called the mosque of the two qiblas.[23] The Prophet (a.s.) offered prayers towards Jerusalem for sixteen months.[24] And in the second year of hijra too, the Prophet (a.s.) was ordered to fast during ...
The woman, who bore and brought up a hero such as Hazrat Abbas (SA), the standard-bearer to Imam Hussain (AS), was Umm-al-Banin (SA). She was the daughter of Hazam ibn Khali and wife of Imam Ali (AS). She was from the courageous family of Bani Kalab.Aquil arranged the marriage. Her maiden name was Fatima, but when she bore Imam Ali four sons -- Abbas, Abdullah, Jafar and Uthman -- she was called Umm-al-Banin (i.e., mother of sons only).Her sons ...
