O

In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful

The precious legacy left behind by the Holy Prophet’s Household [ahl al-bayt] (may peace be upon them all) and their followers’ preservation of this legacy from the menace of extinction is a perfect example of an all-encompassing school [maktab], which embraces the different branches of Islamic knowledge. This school has been able to train many talented personalities by quenching them with this gushing fountain. This school has presented scholars to the Muslim ummah who, by following the Holy Prophet’s Household (‘a), have occupied the station of clarifying doubts and skepticisms brought forth by various creeds and intellectual currents both inside and outside Muslim society. Throughout the past centuries, they have presented the firmest answers and solutions to these doubts. 

Anchored in the responsibilities it is shouldering, the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) World Assembly has embarked upon defending the sanctity of risālah [messengership] and its authentic beliefs—truths which have always been opposed by the chiefs and leaders of anti-Islamic sects, religions and trends. In this sacred path, the Assembly regards itself as a follower of the upright pupils of the school of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a)—those who have always been ready to refute those accusations and calumnies and have tried to be always in the frontline of this struggle on the basis of the expediencies of time and space.  

The experiences in this field, which have been preserved in the books of scholars belonging to the school of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a), are unique in their own right. It is because these experiences have been based upon knowledge [‘ilm] and the preeminence of the intellect and reasoning, and at the same time, they are completely devoid of blind prejudice, whim and caprice. These experiences address experts, scholars and thinkers in a manner that is acceptable to a healthy mind and the pure human natural disposition [fiṭrah].

In a bid to assist those who are in quest of truth, the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) World Assembly has endeavored to enter a new phase of these worthy experiences within the framework of research and compiling and translating the works of contemporary Shi‘ah writers or those who, through divine guidance, have embraced this noble school.

The Assembly is also engaged in the study and publication of the valuable works of pious predecessors and outstanding Shī‘ah personalities so that those who are thirsty for the truth could quench their thirst from this refreshing fountain by listening and embracing this truth, which the Holy Prophet’s Household (‘a) has offered as a gift to the entire world.

It is hoped that our dear readers would not deprive the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) World Assembly of their valuable opinions, suggestions and constructive criticisms in this arena.

We also invite scholars, translators and other institutions to assist us in propagating the pure Muhammadan (ṣ) Islam.

We ask God, the Exalted, to accept this trivial effort and enhance it further under the auspices of His vicegerent on earth, Hadrat al-Mahdī (may Allah, the Exalted, expedite his glorious advent).

It is appropriate here to express our utmost gratitude to Ḥujjat al-Islām wa’l-Muslimīn Sayyid Riḍā Ḥusaynī Nasab for writing the book,[1] and to Mr. Mansoor Limba for translating it, as well as to all our honorable colleagues in accomplishing this task especially the dear ones in the Translation Office for undertaking this responsibility. ?

Cultural Affairs Department

Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) World Assembly

Preface

?

O

In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful

The spiritual facets of Ḥajj, which are the asset of eternal life and take man to the horizon of monotheism [tawḥīd] and transcendence [tanzīh], cannot be realized unless the devotional precepts of Ḥajj are properly and fully observed.

Hadrat[2] Imām Khomeinī (q)[3]

Ḥajj is a splendid spectacle of a monotheist’s utmost deliverance from everything except Him; a battlefield in which the unbridled urges of the self [nafs] are suppressed; and an unparalleled manifestation of love and sacrifice as well as awareness and responsibility throughout individual and social life. Hence, Ḥajj is a genuine crystallization of the truths and values of the Islamic school [maktab]. 

Although believers have for long been familiar with this divine devotional rite, and through their astounding presence from around the world every year they cleanse the heart’s rust with the putrid well [zamzam] of monotheism and renew their allegiance to the Beloved, and albeit our legacy of literature and culture is replete with the revitalizing tenets of Ḥajj, numerous dimensions of this significant religious duty have remained unknown and ignored.

Thanks to the luminous thoughts of Imām Khomeinī (q), the victory of the Islamic Revolution has located Ḥajj in its real position as in the case of other Islamic tenets and laws, and brought out its authentic visage and rich content. Yet, there is still a long way to go before the philosophy, dimensions, effects, and blessings of Ḥajj would be understood and internalized and before Ḥajj-performing believers would take steps with religious consciousness and ardor in those holy stations [mawāqif al-karīmah] and magnificent sites [mashā‘ir al-‘aẓīmah], which were the descending spots of the angels of Allah and the places of sojourn of the prophets and saints [awliyā’].

Inspired by the lofty and everlasting thoughts of the reviver of the Abrahamic Ḥajj, the late Imām (q), and benefiting from the valuable guidelines of the beloved Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Hadrat Āyatullāh Sayyid ‘Alī Khāmene’ī (may his sublime presence endure), the Delegation of the Supreme Leader has established the Education and Research Department. Its aim  is to open a new chapter beyond the way sought by the Muslim scholars interested in the culture of Ḥajj, and the pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Places. In the field of research, writing and translation, it has commenced its work in publishing different works on the facts and precepts of Ḥajj, familiarity with the holy places, history and biographies of great personalities of Islam, analysis of events, presentation of reminiscences, and most importantly, a catechism of the issues [masā’il] and etiquettes [ādāb] of Ḥajj.  

What is presented herein is a green page of this book.

Undoubtedly, the guideline and assistance of scholars will remove the inadequacies, so the Education and Research Department of the Delegation of the Supreme Leader welcomes the cooperation of all those who are interested and warmly shakes their hands.

“And success comes from Allah and to Him we repose our trust.” ?

Education and Research Department

The Delegation of the Supreme Leader

Introduction

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O

In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful

Those who are aware of the circumstances prevailing in the Muslim world know well that nowadays the Muslim ummah[4] has become “ummahs” and every “ummah” has its own way and customs and the life of its subjects has fallen into the grasp of individuals who regard their hegemony and survival as depending on kindling flame of differences. Consequently, these individuals have made investment in various forms and are able to make use of every possible means.

This situation has left no room for dialogue among the Islamic sects and there has been a lot of dispute over many questions. Most of these questions are scholastic [masā’il-e kalāmī] originated by Muslim scholastic theologians [mutakallimūn] and many Muslims are unaware of those differences. However, there are common axes which form a good ground for unity among them. In fact, the common points of the various Muslim sects are more than the points of difference; yet, the sponsors of discord have dwelt on those differences and so they mention nothing but the common issues related to the roots and branches of religion.

In one of the conferences on “Proximity among the Islamic Schools of Thought”, I was assigned to expound on the topic, “The Schools of Jurisprudence Regarding Personal Statuses” (marriage, divorce, inheritance, etc.). I presented to the conference the writer’s paper which surprised the Sunnī participants. Prior to reading the paper, they rejected the idea that in most issues pertaining to these three questions the Shī‘ah jurisprudence has identical view with that of the present four Sunnī schools of thought.

From a distance a grudge is nursed and the Shī‘ah is regarded as apart from the Muslim sects. Day and night they speak in the mass media against this group which has been wronged by history. This act can only render service to the common enemy. This unwary group is invited to lift the veils of ignorance from their views and establish better ties with the Shī‘ah,[5] strengthen their connection with their ‘ulamā’ and scholars, and recognize the Shī‘ah as their own brothers—an aim which the Shī‘ah has for centuries been looking for, and thus, realizing the purport of the verse that follows:

 ﴾ فَاعْبُدُونِ رَبُّكُمْ وَأَنَاْ وَاحِدَةً أُمَّةً أُمَّتُكُمْ هذِهِ إِنَّ ﴿

“Indeed this community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord. So worship Me.”[6]

One of the old plots hatched by imperialism in the Muslim nations is to create skepticisms and to intensify problems and then to strike a blow for the glorious Islamic Revolution, and various forms of this old method was common in the Middle East and other regions in recent centuries.

On meeting Iranian pilgrims during the Ḥajj season, many pilgrims who have familiarity with the Islamic Revolution and whose minds are poisoned with the enemy’s sinister propaganda, ask questions and want to know the answers.

In response to this demand, the eminent and honorable scholar, Sayyid Riḍā Ḥusaynī Nasab, compiled the answers (to those questions) under my supervision and according to the permission given to him, he was to observe brevity in answering the questions and to put detailed explanations to a later time.

It is hoped that this little service would be accepted by the Imām of the Time (may our souls be his ransom). ?

Ja‘far Subḥānī

The Islamic Seminary, Qum

Ādhār 1, 1374 AHS

(December 22, 1995)