The Reality of Taqwa
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. 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) and do not go near the prohibited." It means that one should endeavor to ...
Lying causes forgetfulness
26. Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) is reported to have said,
"One of the divine punishments for too much lying is that Allah makes the liar afflicted with forgetfulness." (Wasaelush Shia)
Thus a man speaks a lie and then forgets his lie. Consequently people come to know that he has spoken a lie and his falsity is exposed to the people.
Now to save his skin he speaks more lies and is insulted further because his ...
The worst kind of falsehood is what one utters against Allah the Almighty, His Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and the Imams (a.s.). The divine book, Quran says:"And, for what your tongues describe, do not utter the lie, (saying) this is lawful and this is unlawful, in order to forge a lie against Allah; surely those who forge a lie against Allah shall not prosper. A little enjoyment and they shall have a painful punishment." (Surah Nahl 16:116-117)
The ...
Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Viewed from the point of view of the Western intellectual tradition, Islamic philosophy appears as simply Graeco-Alexandrian philosophy in Arabic dress, a philosophy whose sole role was to transmit certain important elements of the heritage of antiquity to the medieval West. If seen, however, from its own perspective and in the light of the whole of the Islamic philosophical tradition which has had a twelve-century-long ...
The opinions of the Muslims who emphasize personal reasoning (ahl al-ra'y) have differed on this. Malik and al-Awza`i have said that the verse is not a part of the Qur'an and have unanimously forbidden its recitation in the obligatory [prayers] whether it be at the beginning of sura al-Hamd or the suraafter it, or whether it (the prayer) is recited loudly or silently. Yes, they have allowed it's recitation in the supererogatory prayers.
As ...
The Christians believe in the trinity of the Godhead. The Father (God), The Son (Jesus) and the Holy Ghost (Jibraeel). They believe that each of them have a special quality and that together they constitute the Godhead. The Quran flays their assertion thus: "Certainly they disbelieve who say, 'Surely Allah is the third (person) of three'; and there is no god but One God." (Surah Maidah 5:73)
The Holy Quran clearly states that Allah is not ...
The first and foremost condition for one's strife with his own self, and hence his movement(mobility) towards God essentially(chiefly) means introspection and self-reflection. Some of the moral philosophers have given it the fifth position in priorities, which is also correct. Here introspection is used in the sense of devoting some time, however insignificant it is, contemplating about our duties towards our Master and Creator, Who has ...
Sufian At Thawri related: As I saw Abu-Abdillah[Imam Sadiq](A.S.) putting dresses as white as eggs. I said: This is not your dress."The Imam Sadiq(A.S.) answered: Listen to me carefully so that you will be benefited in this world as well as the life to come if you depart this life keeping the true Sunnah and right, not heresy. I tell you that the Prophet(S.A.W.) was in time of famine and poverty. In times of affluence, the pious not the ...
According to the corpus of traditions false testimony is a Greater sin. It is also mentioned in the narration of Abdul Azeem quoted from Imam Muhammad al-Taqi (a.s.). Similarly the tradition of Fazl Ibne Shazaan includes it in the list of Greater sins as mentioned by Imam Reza (a.s.). That it is a Greater sin is also proved by the hadith of Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) as quoted by Amash. We have already mentioned in the chapter on "lying" that ...
From the viewpoint of both Sunni and Shi‘ah traditions, it can be inferred that certain parts of the earth, and likewise the people dwelling therein, are endowed with qualities of either wickedness or prosperity and salvation:1. On his own chain of transmission, Bukhari recounts that ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umar said, “When the Holy Prophet (S) was passing through the land of Thamud, he said, ‘Do not enter lands whose ...
n the Name of God the Most MercifulMy road to Islam started when I made the decision about thirty years ago to find this Kingdom of God that Jesus told us to seek. I struggled with the idea of a Sovereign God that was in control of everything. During my life I kept coming to the idea that in order to find this Kingdom I must do what Jesus told the rich young man to do, sell everything I have and seek it. I would do as this young man ...
In all respects, fulfillment of a promise is so much emphasised in the Quranic Verses and the traditions, that one should be extremely cautious in honouring every type of agreement and pledge. If a person has to give a promise under compulsion and he does not wish to become a sinner, he can use words like, 'May be', 'If', or 'Insha-Allah' etc. For example he can say, "Insha-Allah (If Allah wills) I will do this."
It is the opinion of ...
The worshippers of the unique God should accept that Allah is the provider of him and all the existing things. Whatever he gets is due to the beneficence of the Almighty. The apparent causes and the effects are also in control of Allah. Then it is Him only who deserves unlimited love and attachment. If someone else deserves to be loved it is only due to his being the beloved of Allah. This is because such a love is itself commanded by ...
HIS RELIGION 3
1.5.16. Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Nufali said, “When ‘Ali ibn Musa al-Rida(a.s.) came before Ma’mun the later commanded Fadl ibn Sahl to gather the scholars (ashab al-maqalat) such as the Catholicos (Jathaliq), the Exilarch (Ra’s al-Jalut), the chiefs of the Sabeans, Hirbidh al-Akbar, the Zoroastrians, NasTas al-Rumi and the theologians so as to hear his words and their words. Fadl ibn Sahl gathered them and informed Ma‘mun ...
In every aspect of life, a form of leadership exists, whether it is in the workforce, education, government, family or religious institutes. The Quran emphasizes the role and significance of leadership in Islam and God states, “And remember the day on which we will call together all human beings with their leaders [imams].” (17:71)
Throughout his mission of propagation of the message of Islam, Prophet Muhammad had on several occasions named ...
"The sway of tyrants was long, so that their tyranny and oppression could be fully exposed and their infamy and disgrace could be disclosed. They deserved the revolution which overtook them. They were destroyed and annihilated, and the people were rescued from calamities and destruction, were relieved of war, and bloodshed, which were brought about by the tyrants."The pious people, who bravely passed through those days, patiently bore the ...
I have masturbated many times so far and I have regretted my sinful act each time but to no avail. Please advise me how to get rid of this evil habit.Concise answerSin is like a foul-smelling swamp full of sewage; the more one sinks into it, the less he senses its smell, because he actually loses his sense of smell and can't tell that he is drowning anymore.At the same time, anytime one makes a strong decision to return from this swamp, it is ...
Sousan Sattar boroujenisousansattar@phu.iaun.ac.ir,Department of English, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Branch, Isfahan, IranSaeedeh Shafiee Nahrkhalajis_shafiee@phu.iaun.ac.ir,Department of English, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Branch, Isfahan, IranAbstractGod says about the Qur’an.. “It (Qur'an) is a guide and a healing to those who believe" (S.41: V. 44).Our religion, Islam, plays a significant role in satisfying our physical ...
Our discussions have been about Islamic jihad. Tonight, there are three issues that I wish to speak about, one of which has a Quranic basis, the other, reason as a basis, and the third, has both a Quranic basis and a historical one.
The issue that has the Quranic basis is in connection with the Quranic verses about jihad. Before, we had said that some of the verses about jihad are unconditional while others are conditional. Unconditional ...
Martyr Murtada Mutahhari
translated from Persian by 'Ali Quli Qara'i
Vol. II No. 2
Rabi al Thani 1405 - January 1985
This long article is a part of Martyr Murtada Mutahhari's book Ashna'i ba 'ulum-e Islami (An Introduction to the Islamic Sciences). The book consists of seven parts: (1) logic (2) philosophy (3) al-kalam (Muslim scholastic philosophy) (4) 'irfan (Islamic mysticism) (5) usul-e fiqh (the principles of ...
