Our Belief - Part II
(A Brief Description of Islam as the Shi'ites Believe)
By : Ayatullah al-Uzma Naser Makarem Shirazi
CHAPTER THREE
The Holy Qur'an and the Scriptures
24- THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE REVELATION OF DIVINE BOOKS
WE BELIEVE that, for the guidance of man, God sent down several DIVINE BOOK, among which we may name:_ The SOHOF, given to NOAH; the LAW, given to Moses; the GOSPEL given to JESUS, and the Holy QURAN given to Mohammad. Were these books not sent, human would have been led astray, falling afar off from the natural path of piety, ethics, and straight path of truth. Such divine Books, like the clouds of mercy, have rained upon the plane of the hearts, making to fruitful the seeds of knowledge, wisdom and virtues.
"The APOSTLE (MOHAMMAD) believes in that which is revealed to him from his LORD, and so do man of faith they all believe in ALLAH, His angels, His books, and in all His apostles. They say:_ "We make no distinction between any of the prophets." They also say: "We hear the prophets and we obey." Our LORD! we BEG Your forgiveness that to you ends all the road."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S2: 285
Unfortunately through long elapse of time, many of the scriptures have been tampered with, and altered to some extent, by the interference of some ignorant and unauthorized people, resulting in the replacement of some wrong thoughts and immoral ideas. Among these an exception is the Glorious Quran, which has remained unaltered and exactly is the same as it was; and It has always been shining like the bright sun, throughout the ages and the nations, alighting the hearts.
25- QURAN, IS THE GREATEST OF THE MIRACLES OF OUR PROPHET
WE BELIEVE that QURAN is the greatest and the most important one, among the many miracles of Islam's prophet: Not only for its eloquence, fluency, vividness and expressiveness, but rather for other important aspects and wide dimensions of the book, about which broad descriptions have been given by the experts and commentators in their books.
WE BELIEVE that no one can ever bring a book like the Holy QURAN, even not a chapter comparable to it! This is because, the Holy QURAN frequently asks the doubtful to do it if they can, and all who have endeavoured have failed! "Say:_ "If the whole of mankind and JINNS gather together to make out a book like this QURAN, they cannot do it even if they back up each other with help and support."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S17: 88
"If you are in doubt of what we have revealed to our servant (Mohammad), then produce only one chapter comparable to this book; and call your witnesses or helpers to help you, if there are any besides Allah to assist you; if what you say be true. But if you fail to do so, and certainly you will fail, then fear the FIRE whose fuel is man and STONES prepared for the unbelievers.
THE HOLY QURAN _ S2: 23_24
WE BELIEVE that age will not make the Holy QURAN old and out of date; but rather its miraculous points and views shall appear more and more clearly, and its greatness shall become more evident to the world.
We have a tradition narrated by Imam Jaafar Sadiq that:_ "God has not made QURAN to answer a certain age or distinct group of people. It shall always remain fresh, New, and lively."
26- QURAóN IS NOT ALTERED AT ALL
WE BELIEVE that this book, _ (QURAN)_ which is now at the hands of the Muslims, is the exact and unaltered copy of that which was revealed to our prophet Muhammad _ nothing less and nothing more. A group of trustworthy scribes chosen by the prophet himself took note of the revelations from the very beginning up to the end, and Muslims had it a duty of must, to read and recite the verses by day and night. A large group of Muslims committed the book to memory and a group of them had it on the scrolls. Those who had the book in their memory and those who could recite it for the others, had always had a very respectful position among the believer. Such customs and else, prevented the least amount of changes or any alteration to take place in the book. Besides that, God Himself has promised and guaranteed to look after His book and keep it safe and secure until the end.:--
"We have without doubt, sent down the QURAN, and We will assuredly guard it."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S15_9
All the learned, and researcher of Islam, whether SHIITE or SUNNI, agree that the least alteration has not ever occurred in this Holy Book.
Some literate persons discuss some rare and obscure tradition (HADITH) that may mean that some changes have taken place, but the highest majority of those who have the knowledge of Islam, reject that, taking it false and the mistake of some unaware commentators.
Such improvident who lack forethought, by such false ideas strike upon the validity of the most important DIVINE BOOK, in contrast to the belief of all the learned Muslims of different sects, which maintain that QURAN is unaltered for the least of words. These unwise friends, water the mills of the enemy through their ignorance, and bring into question the book which is sent by Allah, and has been promised to be guarded by Allah.
If we carefully study the ways that the book was revealed to the prophet and collected by the chosen scribes, and how it was guarded, written, memorized and recited by so many firm and true believers, no doubt remains as to any alteration or the change of even an epsilon in the whole work.
On the other hand, of the imaginary or assumed Quran with some alteration, not ever a copy exists anywhere, or in any hand, so as to differ with the famous HOLY QURAN which all the Muslims hold as their SACRED DIVINE BOOK.
Today the Holy Quran is found in every house and in every library. Even those Qurans written several hundred years ago are kept in our MUSEUMS and those in the non Islamic countries, and no one can find the least differences in all the existing Qurans throughout the wide world.
Today the roads to investigations are open to all, and anyone who doubts, may look for it himself and make sure that QURAN has not been altered for the least.
"So announce glad tidings to My Servants _ to those who listen to My PRECEPTS, and follow what is the best in them. Those are the ones that Allah has guided and those are endued with understanding."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S39: 17_18
Today, in our religious schools, the knowledge of QURAN is extensively taught, and one of the most important of our lessons in this field is the UNCHANGEABILITY OF QURAN.
27- QURAN AND THE SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS OF HUMAN
WE BELIEVE that whatever is needed in SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL dimensions of man is fundamentally found in the holy QURAN. All the governmental and political tenets, all the social principles, the bases of symbiosis, the fundamentals of war and peace, the elements of judgements and economics, and whatever is needed, can be traced in the BOOK and taken out for use, so as to alight the space of human life:__
"And We have sent down to you the BOOK, explaining all things, It is a GUIDE, a Mercy, and Glad tidings to Muslims."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S16: 89
This is why WE BELIEVE that Islam is not APART of politics and diplomacy. This belief makes the Muslims to rule over themselves, so as to revive the precious Islamic values in their societies, leading towards justice and equity. A Muslim Must be just and fair to his enemy as he does justice to friends:_
"O, Believers! Stand up firmly to hold JUSTICE, and be as a witness to ALLAH, even against yourselves or your parents or your kins, and whether it be against rich or poor for God is preferable to all that.
Follow not your lusts, lest you swerve. If you fail to do justice, verily Allah is aware of all that you do."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S4: 135
"O, BELIEVERS! Stand up firmly for the sake of Allah, and bear true witness, and let not the hatred for other men, turn you away from doing justice. Deal justly. Justice is nearer to PIETY. Have fear of Allah. He is aware of all that you do.
THE HOLY QURAN _ S5: 8
28- RECITATION, CONTEMPLATION, AND ACTION
WE BELIEVE that the recitation of QURAN is the best of worship, because it inspires the reciter to think and to contemplate, by which actions may result. QURAN addressing the prophet says:_
"Keep vigil all the night (i.e. stand in prayer) except for a few hour,half the night, more or less; and with measured and." rhythmic tone recite the QURAN." THE HOLY QURAN _ S73: 2_4
And addressing all the Muslims, QURAN has:_
"Read you the QURAN as much as you can."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S73: 24
"Do they not contemplate the QURAN, (so as to catch its meanings) or their hearts are locked up?"
THE HOLY QURAN _ S47: 24
"And We have indeed made the QURóAóN, easy to understand and remember. Then is there anyone who may receive admonition?"
THE HOLY QURAN _ S54: 17
"And QURAN is a book which We have revealed as a blessing: So follow it, and be righteous, so that you receive God's Mercy."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S6: 158
Therefore those who read QURAN, without any contemplation, and action, lose a lot for ignoring two main, important elements (thought and act) and grasping only one. (reading)
29- THE DEVIATING DISCUSSIONS
WE BELIEVE that some mysterious hands have always tried to deviate and swerve Muslims from contemplation and thought over the verses of QURAN. The OMAYYED and BANIABBAS dynasties engaged the Muslims on void disputes, to answer the question whether QURAN is old or new!? Is it created or is eternally old as God!? Such prolong controversies divided the united Muslims into rival groups altercating and fighting each other. Today we know that thousands of bloods have been shed upon such arguments about nonsense, and quarrels for nothing! While any one with a common sense can answer that easily:_ If by QURØN, the paper and ink, the cover and the painting is meant, it is certainly created and is something new. On the other hand if by QURAN the meaning is the aim, it is certainly among the knowledge of God, and as the God's Attributes are not apart of His substance, one may say that QURØN is as old as God Himself. But the inhuman, merciless governors tried to keep Muslims busy on these useless subjects; and nowadays too, we see that the same thing and similar affairs happen in Muslim societies, so as to keep them aside of contemplation and thought.
30- RULES AND REGULATIONS OF COMMENTATING QURAN
WE BELIEVE that the words of QURAN should commonly be taken for their fundamental meanings and not for their connotations, with the exception of some, that clear reasons prove them to mean other ways. The verses in QURAN should never be commentated on the basis of conjectures or self interests. As an instance when we read in QURAN:_
"And he who was blind in this world, will be blind in the hereafter (next world), and most astray from the path.(of salvation)
THE HOLY QURAN _ S17: 72
We are sure enough that blind in this verse does not mean, sightless. It rather means some one who has lost his sense of understanding and judgement, and not him who has lost his sense of vision. This is because there is many a blind one, who is virtuous and truthful, and on the contrary, there are many who can see well with their eyes, but who are out of mind and their hearts are locked up and cannot use even their common sense! As another example we may consider the following verse about the enemies of Islam:_
"The parable of those who reject faith is that of a man (i.e. the prophet) who calls an animal that can hear nothing except a shout or cry. DEAF, dumb and blind are they, and void of wisdom. (they understand nothing)
THE HOLY QURAN _ S2: 171
It is evident that those heretics, who are addressed here, were not deaf, dumb or blind. We then may conclude that they were mentally such. Therefore when we read in Qur'an such verses that:_
"The HANDS of God are widely out stretched.
THE HOLY QURAN S5: 67
OR
"O,NOAH! construct the ark under OUR EYES."
S11: 37
We don't understand that God has physical hand or eye. We rather take hand to mean GOD'S POWER and the EYE to mean HIS KNOWLEDGE. This is because any material or matter consists of parts and needs time and space, as well as direction and is of course perishable. God the Almighty is far Greater and clear of having such attributes. We never take the fundamental meaning of such words as mentioned above which is not reasonable.
"We sent not any Apostle, except to teach in the language of his own people, in order to clear things for them."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S14: 4
31- THE DANGER OF SELF COMMENTARIES
WE BELIEVE that self commentary of QURAN (i.e. to use one's own views and interests in comments) is a very dangerous programme in relation to QURAN, and of course one of the few DEADLY SINS. Through a tradition God says:_
"He who commentates any words with his own views and self interest does not believe in Me!"
Evidently had he been a believer, he would not commentate the words of God to accord with his lusts and conjectures. In many important books among which we may name SAHIH TIRMIDHI page 304: It is written that the prophet has said:_
"He who commentates QURAN by his fancies, and on the basis of self interest, or what he knows not, he should prepare himself to join the Fire of HELL." By self commentary we mean to describe or explain the Quranic verses by one's own point of view. Such a commentator is not a follower of Quran, He rather tries to make Quran to follow his caprices and conjectures. If the gates of self commentaries be kept open to Quran, the sacred Book will lose importance and soon will be of no value among all, because every one could then seek to compare and conform his false ideas to Quran, as an evidence to prove. Self commentary is also in contrast with the accepted rules and regulations of Arabic literature and linguistics,. The likening of QURAN'S verses to one's fancies and conjectures will cause deviation and swerving in the straight path of the book. Self commentary consists of several branches, among which, to USE OUR the self interests is one. To make it short, as the unreasonable grasp of the fundamental meaning of the words may lead to deviation from the truth, so is self commentary,; both ways will keep the believer far apart from the excellent commandments and blessfull teaching of the Glorious Quran.
32- THE PROPHET'S METHODICAL WAY, (SUNNAT) IS TAKEN FROM THE BOOK OF GOD. (QURAN)
WE BELIEVE that no one should say the Book of God is enough for our guidance, ignoring the true traditions that we have received as to what the prophet said or how he behaved. For these traditions may serve to explain the realities, and clear the meanings of some of the more difficult verses in the Book to show us better the roots and branches of our religion.
This is because Quran has declared that the words, and the methodical ways (SUNNAT) of the prophet should serve as an example for us; as that of the God's.
"... So take whatever the Apostles assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you, and fear Allah, for Allah is strict in punishment."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S59: 7
"It is not becoming to a believer, whether man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and by His Apostle, to have any option. If anyone disobeys Allah and His Apostle he is on a clearly wrong path."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S33: 36
"He (i.e. Muhammad) does not speak out of his own fancy, His speech is none except that which is inspired to him from God. (i.e. what he says is none but inspired revelation)
THE HOLY QURAN _ S53: 2_3
Those who are indifferent to the SUNNAT of the prophet are in fact ignoring QURAN and the inspired REVELATION. Of course whatever is related to the prophet must be clearly proved: That, it really is said by the prophet, and it is not forged. We cannot easily accept whatever is ascribed to the prophet to be truly of Him! Imam Ali in one of his speeches WHICHIS collected in the famous book, named NAHJOL BALAGHEH has said, "So many lies were forged and ascribed to the prophet. So much so that one day he got up and said to an audience. `He who ascribes a lie to me should prepare himself to take his place in the Fire of Hell.'" A similar tradition is also written in the famous book SAHIH BUKHARI volume one; page 38.
33- THE IMAM) METHODECAL WAY (SUNNAT)
WE BELIEVE that the traditions and orders of the innocent Imams are all taken from the prophet, through their fathers, and are all to be obeyed. There is a famous tradition related by successive witnesses:_
"I have left among you two heavy things to prevent you being misled:_ The Book of Allah and my nearest KINS."( SAHIH TIMIDHI_ volume 5 _ P.662)
On the other hand, whatever the saints have said, are narrations from the prophet: The prophet foresaw the future and to solve its problems, laid the key in the hands of his nearest kins, and THE BOOK OF ALLAH; and how can a true Muslim ignore such a firm and important Hadith? If the above tradition was considered precisely, our present difficulties in faith, comments, and the disputes in jurisprudence, would not exist.
CHAPTER - FOUR
RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE AFTER DEATH
34- WITHOUT RESURRECTION, LIFE IS VOID
WE BELIEVE that all men and women will be raised up in a certain day after death. They all will be judged, and those who are good and virtuous shall live in PARADISE (THE GARDEN OF BLISS), and the sinners will join the fire in Hell. "Allah, there is no God but He. Of a surety He will gather you all together in the resurrection day about which there is no doubt, and whose word can be truer than Allah?"
THE HOLY QURAN _ S4: 87
"As for he who transgressed and chose this present life, his abode will be Hell-Fire. And as for those who feared to stand before their LORD, and restrained their souls from lusts, (LOW DESIRES) their abode will be PARADISE."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S79: 37_41
WE BELIEVE that this world is only a bridge that man should pass it over so as to join an eternal life; or in other word it may be a farm, to sow here and to harvest in hereafter or else it may be taken as a market here to provide for the next life to come.
About this life of ours, Imam Ali says:_
"This WORLD is a place of truth for him who confronts it with truthfulness. It is a house (means) for being FREE OF WANT, for him who gathers provisions from it and stores for his next life. It is a place of awareness for him who takes advice from it. It is the mosque of the friends of God, a place of worship for the angels; where God's inspirations is sent down, and a trade market for God's friends."
35- THE REASONS FOR THE RESURRECTION ARE CLEAR ENOUGH
WE BELIEVE that the reasons to prove the resurrection are very clear, because, it can easily be seen that this mortal life cannot be a reasonable object, and the final goal for such a creation; i.e. to come and live here for a short period, living with immense hardships and difficulties, and then end to nothing or to some dusts! Is that what is meant by our complex creation?
"Do you think that we have created you for nothing, (IN JEST) and that you would not return to us?"
THE HOLY QURAN _ S23: 115_
Secondly; in this world the evildoers are usually in one line with the beneficent and some times higher; a none equity which doesn't read with the great justice of God. So there must be somewhere or some how to distinct bad from good and false from truth.
"Do the evildoers think that they are equal in OUR SIGHT, with the believer who does good works, so that their lives and deaths are alike? How bad they judge!
THE HOLY QURAN _ S45: 21
Thirdly; the Infinite Mercy of God NECESSITATES that His Mercy and Bounties come not to an end by man's death.
"Say to who belongs all that heavens and the earth contain? say to Allah; He has inscribed Mercy for Himself and willl gather you all on the day of resurrection. That day is sure to come. Those who have lost their own souls are those who will never have faith."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S6: 12
Quran, addressing those who doubt about the resurrection asks: How do they doubt the Power of the Almighty to raise the dead? While they already have seen God's first creation, BEGINNING to make them out of the soil:_
"Were we weary with the first creation that they should be in confused doubt about a new creation?"
THE HOLY QURAN _ S50: 15
"And he (the unbeliever) makes comparison for Us, and forgets his own creation. He asks:_ `Who will give life to the rotten bones?' say:_ `He who created them for the first time will give them life again, He has knowledge of every creature.
THE HOLY QURAN _ S36: 78_79
Besides that; is the creation of man important in comparison with that of heavens and the earth? He who was able to create such a vast, and strange world, is He not able to raise the dead?
"Do they not see that Allah who created the heavens and the earth, and was not wearied by their creation can raise the dead to life? Yes, He Has Power to do everything."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S46: 33
36- RESURRECTION IS CORPOREAL
WE BELIEVE that not only the SOUL, but the soul and body of man both will be raised to life in resurrection. This is because whatever is done here is done by both the soul and the body; so the reward too should be given to both of them. Most of the Quranic verses which refer to resurrection have put the stress on corporeal raise of the body as well as the soul. In answer to the amazed questioner, who asked the prophet:_ who raises the dead? Quran answers:_
He who gave them their first creation can easily raise them once again.
"Does man think that we cannot assemble his bones once again? Yes! We are able to remold the very Tips of his fingers."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S75: 3_4
Such verses also denote that the resurrection is corporeal too. There are also verses that report of getting out of our graves, proving the raise to be bodily.
37- THE STRANGE WORLD, AFTER DEATH
WE BELIEVE that whatever is going on after death, and in the PARADISE & HELL, is far above what we see here!
"No one knows what delights of the eyes,(THE REAL BLISS THAT GIVES MOST SATISFACTION) are kept hidden for them as a reward for their good deeds."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S32: 17
Through a famous tradition God says:_
"I have prepared for my virtuous servants.
BOUNTIES that not eye have ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no heart has ever comprehended."
As a matter of fact, in this world we are similar to a FOETUS in the mother's womb! If the fetus could have a mind and wisdom he could certainly KNOW nothing of whatever is outside the womb, such as the sun, the bright moon, the beautiful flowers AND the roaring sea-waves. So is this world COMPARED to the hereafter? It is comparable with the womb in relation to the next. Please note carefully.
38- RESURRECTION AND THE RECORD OF OUR DEEDS
WE BELIEVE that in DOOMSDAY, the RECORD BOOK of whatever we have done, will be given to us. The record of those who are sanctified will be given to their right hand, and that of the wrongdoers shall be given to their left. By reading the book of their deeds the virtuous will be happy and the evildoers anxious.
"He who is given his record in his right hand will say:_ `Take mine and read it! I knew that I would come to my account.' And he will be in a blissful life, in a lofty garden with clusters of fruit within his reach. We shall say to him: Eat and drink to your happiness.' Here is your reward for what you did in days gone by.' And as for him whose book is given to his left hand, will say: `Ah! Would that my record had not been given to me! Would that I knew nothing of my account. Would that death had made an end of me. "My wealth has availed me nothing, and I AM BEREFT OF ALL MY POWER."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S69: 19_25
As for the book; how it is written or read, no one knows enough, but it exists, no one can deny. The particularity of that day is such that we cannot know it in detail, but generally we know what is going to happen.
39- THE WITNESSES IN THE FINAL JUDGEMENT
WE BELIEVE that in the final judgement, besides God who is controlling all the judgements, there are other witnesses too; such as the hands and feet; the skin and even the ground upon which we live. All of these will testify as to what we have done before!
"That Day, We should set a seal on their mouths, (SHUT THEM UP) and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet shall bear witness to all that they did."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S36: 65
"When they reach it, their ears and their skins will testify to their misdeeds! `Why did you speak against us?' they will say to their skins? And their skins will reply:_ "ALLAH, who gives speech to all, has made us to speak."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S41: 20
"When the Earth is shaken to her utmost convulsion, and man asks:_ `What may this mean?' On that DAY will she declare her reports, because your LORD has inspired her to do so?"
THE HOLY QURAN _ S99: 4_5
40- THE PASSAGE_WAY, (BRIDGE) AND THE SCALE TO WEIGH DEEDS
WE BELIEVE that in the Doomsday, the PASSAGEWAY (SERØT) and the scale for weighing our deeds do exist. By the PASSAGE_WAY, a bridge is meant, which is laid over the Hell, and every one must pass over that bridge to reach PARADISE! Yes! The bridge or passage way that may lead to Paradise, hangs over the FIRE. "There is not one of you who shall not pass through the confines of the Hell! Such is the absolute decree of your LORD. We will deliver those who fear Us, but the wrongdoers shall be left to endure its torments on their knees."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S19: 71_72
Passing through that hard passage-way, depends on what MAN had done before. We read a famous tradition thus:_ "Some people will pass the bridge as quick as a lightning! Some pass it over as, fast as a speedy horse, others like the pedestrians. A group will go on, leaning on their hands and feet, and some are hanged by their hands, trying to pass over the blaze of Hell. So the Hell catches some and leaves some to go to the gardens of BLISS; As for the SCALE, it is a means by which the human deeds are measured and weighed so as to specify their values.
"We shall set up the scales of justice on the day of judgement, and not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it to account; and enough are We as the accountant."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S21: 47
"Then he whose scales (OF GOOD DEEDS) are heavy, shall dwell in BLISS, but he whose balances (OF GOOD DEEDS) are light, the ABYSS shall be his home."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S101: 6_9
WE BELIEVE that salvation in the next life, depends only on one's deeds and acts and not on his fancies and thoughts. There; No one can be redeemed unless by piety and good deeds, and the Grace of God.
"Every soul will be held in pledge for its deeds."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S74: 38
This is a brief description about the scale, the detail of which we know not, because the world to come is far above the lower world within which we are imprisoned.
41- INTERCESSION IN DOOMSDAY
WE BELIEVE that in doomsday the prophets and the innocent saints might intercede on behalf of some sinners with God, and plea for their forgiveness. We should not forget that such intercession is only permitted for those who have not entirely cut off their relation with God, and His Apostles. Therefore the intercession is not done unconditionally.
"He knows what is before them and what is after them, and they (i.e. the APOSTLES) offer no intercession except for those who are conformed, to the will of God, and they (ALL) stand in awe and reverence of God's GLORY."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S21: 28
As we have already mentioned, intercession is a way to train man, a means of preventing him to drown in the sea of sins, while it may teach him to repent and return to his Merciful Lord from evil. Certainly the highest rank of intercession belongs to the APOSTLES, and then it lowers to the saints, to the learned, the martyrs, and true believers to some relative extents. In a tradition narrated by Imam Sadiq we have:_
"There are none among the first and the last, who are not in need of Mohammad's intercession in doomsday. And also in another tradition we have:_
"There are five intercessors in Doomsday:_1_ QURAN 2_OBSERVATION OF BONDS OF KINSHIP. 3_TRUSTEESHIP 4_YOUR. PROPHET (MOHAMMAD). 5_YOUR PROPHET'S NEAREST KINS."( BIHAR _ Vol.8 _ P.42)
We have also received another tradition from Imam Sadiq:_
"In the resurrection day God raises the Ascetic worshipper and the LEARNED BELIEVER to life. He will say to the ASCETIC WORSHIPPER:_ `Go and live in MY PARADISE.' But He will say to the learned:_ `Stay here, and intercede on behalf of the people.'
This tradition contains a minutely fine point about the philosophy of INTERCESSION.
42- THE WORLD OF THE DEAD (BARZAKH)
WE BELIEVE that between death and resurrection, there is a third WORLD, called BARZAKH, in which the souls of all the human beings who die will live there until they are raised again:_(1)
"When death comes they say:_ "`My Lord! Turn me back to life in order that I may do the good works which I have neglected.' No! BY NO MEANS! (Is the answer to their request?) This is what they ask, but over them is the BARZAKH." (A world in which people shall live ofter death and before judgement.)
THE HOLY QURAN _ S23: 94_100
We know not much about this world which is in between the raise and death and is called BARZAKH,
.- KANZ UL AAMAL_ Vol.14 _ P.390
but we know that therein the sanctified souls, like the martyrs and the pious live a blissful life:_
"Do not think of those who are slain for the sake of God, as deads. No! They are ALIVE, and have their sustenance in the presence of their Lord. They rejoice for what Allah gives them out of His BOUNTY; and with regard to those left behind, (THE BELIEVERS WHO ARE NOT DIED YET) who have not yet joined them, the martyrs give glad tiding, not to fear, nor have they any cause to grieve. They give good news of the BOUNTY of ALLAH, and that God will not leave the rewards of the faithful to be lost."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S3: 169
On the other hand the souls of the oppressors and the rebels and their followers and evildoers are all under torture in their life in BARZAKH. They are brought (i.e. THE PHARAOH'S FOLLOWERS) in front the fire morning, and evening, and when they are raised for the FINAL JUDGEMENT, the companion of PHARAOH are cast into the severest penalty."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S40: 46
A third group with less guilt are neither among the first group nor among the second ones. In the world after death they are some how like a sleeper who sleeps by death and awakes by resurrection.
"When the hour of doom overtakes them, the wrong doers will swear that they tarried not in (BARZAKH) but an hour, and thus they are ever deceived. But those who are endued with knowledge and faith will say:_ `You have stayed till the day of resurrection, as was decreed by Allah, and this is the day of resurrection yet you did not know it."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S30: 56
In an Islamic tradition it is narrated by the prophet who said, "The grave is either a GARDEN OF BLISS OF the Paradise: or AN ABYSS of the Hell."( SAHIH TIRMIDHI VOL.4 _ CHAP.26;BAHAR AL ANWAR_ VOL.6 _ P.2148218
43- THE CORPOREAL AND INCORPOREAL REWARDS
WE BELIEVE that the rewards in Hereafter are corporeal as well as incorporeal; (i.e. SPIRITUAL) because the resurrection is Spiritual as well as PHYSICAL. Whatever is written in the HOLY QURAN about the fruitful Gardens in paradise with streams flowing beneath its trees (S9: 89) with perpetual foods and shades, (S13: 35) and the beautiful clean wives there in, with whom they marry (S3: 15), and also about the penalty and punishments in hell, and that burning fire, are all evidences that the rewards there are corporeal. And more important are the SPIRITUAL rewards that are promised the faithful believer, such as being near to God, and seeing the manifestations of God's GLORY and beauty. These are among the pleasures that no eyes has seen and no tongue can describe. Some of the verses in QURAN that denote the material bounties and Graces of God in the Paradise, end with phrases like:_ THE PLEASURE OF ALLAH:_ "But the greatest of all the bliss, is the PLEASURE of God which is the supreme FELICITY."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S9: 72
There is not an enjoyment higher for a man THAN SEEING that he is accepted by his LORD, and God is pleased with him! A tradition is narrated by Imam Zeinul Abedin saying, "God will say to those in Paradise:_ 'My love and pleasure for you is far above the bounties with which you live in FELICITY.' "(TAFSIR AYYASóHI AND TAFSIR AL-MIZAN S9:72)
What a pleasure can be higher for a man who is addressed by his LORD that:_ "O,YOU SERENE SOUL! Return to your LORD! Joyful, and pleasing in his sight. Enter My Paradise and join My Servants."
THE HOLY QURAN _ S89: 27_30.
