What is the \'proof of the veracious\'? Is it considered to be the most apposite and strongest argument for the existence of God?Concise answerIn the history of Islamic philosophy different explanations have been given for this proof [burhan] the first of which has been presented by Bu Ali Sina (Avicenna) in his Isharaat. Meanwhile, one of the best of explanations has been established by Mulla Sadra, the founder of Transcendental Philosophy, ...
Greater Sin and Lesser Sin
The foregoing discussion has made it clear that sins are of two types- The Greater and the Lesser. The characteristics of the Greater Sins and their evil effects have also been explained. Now we shall enumerate various Greater Sins. The traditions regarding the number of Greater Sins are sometimes in disagreement with each other. It is not possible to study all such traditions due to their voluminous nature. It is ...
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Accepting employment under a tyrant ruler becomes wajib in one condition
At times it is Wajib to accept rulership or a post in government. A person should do so only when he is confident that if he assumes the post he will be able to uproot a great evil or will be able to prevent at least one sinful ritual or system. But such a situation is rare because it depends on personal confidence, that after one assumes authority, one will never ...
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 ...
The thirtieth sin, which is mentioned as a Greater sin, is 'not helping the oppressed people' and 'not warding off oppression from them'. In the tradition of Amash, Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) says, "…and not helping the oppressed (is a greater sin)."
To defend the oppressed is to help them ward off evil; not performing such a task is shirking a great duty which Allah has made incumbent upon us.
Imam Musa al-Kazim (a.s.) says: "If a person ...
Islam and social concerns
Undoubtedly, no religion has respected relation of individual and society, and has strengthened the social chains by its decrees and regulations like Islam. Of course, a divine and eternal religion, guaranteeing education of hidden talents of man, and his perfection and progress should certainly be so.For understanding the importance of society in view of Islam, and special concern of Islam to this subject, studying ...
Just as we believe in a prophet's infallibility, so also we believe that he must be endowed with the most perfect attributes -bravery (ash-shaja'ah), diplomacy (as-siyasah), sagacity (at-tadbir), patience (as-sabr), intelligence (al-fitnah), and quick-wittedness (adh-dhaka'), so that there is no-one who excels him in such qualities. Otherwise, it is not fit that he should lead people and administer the affairs of the whole world. He must be of ...
The eighth among the Greater Sins is to usurp the property of an orphan who has not attained maturity.
This is categorized as a Greater sin by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.), Imam Ali (a.s.), Imam Reza (a.s.), Imam Kazim (a.s.) and Imam Taqi (a.s.). It is a sin, the punishment of which is fixed by Allah to be the fire of Hell.
The Quran says, "(As for) those who swallow the property of the orphans unjustly, surely they only swallow fire into ...
Allah’s Attributes are not merely verbal; rather; they are objective and having external realization. The first Attributes which manifested themselves from the invisible God at His will are four according to a narration, and seven according to another which can somehow refer to the same name. The first Attributes are the Ever-living, the All-knowing, the All-Powerful, and the Speaker.
Each of these Attributes has a domain and property for ...
In order to discourage the evil habit of drinking, Allah and the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has commanded that people should not associate with a drunkard and remain totally aloof from him. It is a method by which the drunkard will feel self-conscious about the lack of respect with which his vicinity members view him. Being strictly excluded from company, he will not be able to influence tender or immature minds to develop this obnoxious habit. ...
Before marriage when I was 19 years old I was in a friendship relationship with a distant relative's son. Several times, we hugged and touched each other physically because I was then certain that I would marry him but something happened and the two families started to distance from each other. As a result, instead of marrying that man I married another man. Ever since I realized the graveness of my sin, I have been repenting and seeking divine ...
Numerous reports (Rawayaat) testify that Sileh Rahmi (kindness to one's relatives) also has worldly benefits. Like, increase in the life-span, postponement of death, increase in the number of descendants etc., Hazrat Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) related three traditions from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) in the court of Mansur Dawaniqi (l.a.).
1) "A man who has only three years of life remaining, performs an act of kindness to his ...
Adopted from the book : "The Faith of Shi'a Islam" by : Allamah Muhammad Ridha al-Muzaffar"We do not exaggerate about the Imams as some sects have done;A monstrous word it is, issuing from mouths. (18:5)but we believe that they are human beings like ourselves, i.e that if they do good they are rewarded and if they commit sin they are punished. Indeed, they are honoured servants and Allah has given them great dignity and authority, for they have ...
The narration of Manzilah and the narration of Yawm Al-Dar
A large number of great Sh¢`ah interpreters and Sunni scholars have narrated the narration of Manzilah under verse 142 of S£rah A`r¡f which deals with Moses going to the appointed place to talk to God and the appointment of his brother, Aaron, as his successor.
The narration goes like this: The Prophet(s) headed for the battlefield of Tab£k.([1]) He was informed that Byzantium had ...
When we notice one of the many Qur’anic verses, we realize this meaning clearly. Allah has granted us blessings that cannot be counted, however people try to number them. Allah
says:
“And if all the trees in the earth were pens, and the sea, with seven more seas to help it, (were ink), the words of Allah could not be exhausted. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise.” Qur’an 31:27
O man, you should think of the creation of your ...
Some of the great Islamic philosophers have said that love is the relationship we have with those things that contribute to the maintenance and completion of our existence. When we experience or meet such things we don’t like to be separated from them and we feel a great need for them in our lives. This attachment is what we call love.Thus we find ourselves loving food, loving wealth, loving power, the opposite sex, etc., all of which ...
No scholar of Sunni or Shi'a profession has questioned the genuineness and authenticity of Nahj al-Balagha for more than two centuries. The first person to raise doubts about its attribution to Amir al-Mu'minin was Ibn Khallikan (d. 681/1282), who, without referring to any author or source,made the following remarks about the authorship of Nahj al-Balaghah:People have different opinions about the compiler of Nahj al- Balaghah, a collection of ...
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: "On the Day of Judgement there would be people whose good deeds will be as heavy as the mountains of Tahama. Inspite of this it would be ordered that they be tossed into the fire of Hell."
Upon this someone said, "O! the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.), were these people performing salaat (prayers)?",
"Yes, they used to pray, and fast, and also spend a part of the night in worship. But, whenever they chanced ...
A Mu'min is recognized by two essential traits-he has fear of Allah and hopes for His rewards in moderation. The Mu'min neither spends all his life in acute fear of Allah's retribution, nor has he excessive hopes of rewards! One has to bear in mind that both these excesses are sins!
Ruja means carrying hope of Allah's Mercy. A person who expects ruja but continues with his sinful acts will be a hypocrite of the highest order. This will be ...
The twenty-ninth sin, that is classified as a Greater Sin is 'Helping the oppressors'. Fazl Ibne Shazaan has narrated from Imam Reza (a.s.) that he said concerning the Greater Sins: "And helping the oppressors and bending (leaning) towards them."
In the narration of Amash from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) the following is mentioned, "Not helping the oppressed people is a Greater Sin." In other words helping the oppressors is also a Greater Sin.
Imam Musa ...
