According to Shi’a Islam the second fundamental pillar is Justice. It means that Allah (swt) is equitable and fair.In this regards we have the comments of Shaykh Saduq who wrote in ‘A Shi’ite Creed’ the English translation of I'teqadat-Al-Imamiah page 65:Verily Allah, Who is Blessed and Exalted above all others, has commanded us to be just, while He Himself treats us with something even better, namely grace (tafaddul). And that is ...
Ninth LectureThe Twelve Imams
The Narrations Concerning the Twelve Imams
Having proved the issue of the Imamate and Caliphate of `Al¢(s), we now will discuss the Imamate of the other Imams.
A summary of our discussion is as follows:
There are numerous narrations recorded in the books of both Sh¢`ah and Sunni scholars which talk in general about the caliphate of “twelve caliphs and Imams” after the demise of the Prophet(s).
These ...
Seventh LectureSome Examples of the Order of Creation
Order, purpose and planning are vividly observable in all of creation. Here are some striking examples.
Luckily, the doors of knowing God are open to us today due to the great advances in the physical sciences, the uncovering of the mysteries of the world, the vast knowledge of man’s anatomy and the structure of the bodies of animals and plants and our vast knowledge about the stars and ...
From the above verse it could be realized that to stay a human being, we must thank God for what He has bestowed upon us. Anybody who refrains from doing so is not considered a human being.
The tools to recognize the asset-Giver and the assets are wisdom, man’s nature, conscience, Nobovvat (Prophethood), Imamate and the Holy Quran. The tools for praising God are our limbs and organs.
How miserable are those who merely engaged in eating, ...
Third LectureThe Imam’s specific traits
Before we delve into the subject, one point should be explicitly stated: It can be easily understood from the Holy Qur’¡n that the position of imamate is the most prestigious position for a person to have. It is even higher than that of prophethood. This is because in the story of Abraham, the idol-destroyer Prophet(s), the Qur’¡n states:
وَإِذِ ابْتَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ ...
By: Prof. Dr. Sayyid Husayn Muhammad Ja'fari From the time 'Ali moved to Kufa in 36/656, or even earlier, the city became the main centre of Shi'i movements, aspirations, hopes, and sometimes concerted efforts. It was in and around Kufa that so many of the stormy events which make up the early history of Shi'i Islam took place: events such as the mobilization of forces by 'Ali for the battles of Al-Jamal and Siffin the election and abdication ...
The Sound of Mother's Heart:
In Medina of the classical time where the scientific means and laboratories could not be found, Imam Sadiq(s) recommended that mothers should let their new-born babies sleep on their left-side.
This recommendation went unnoticed by most people who could not visualize its effects. Some people were even under this assumption that new-born babies would get hurt if the mother turned her body over it.
When Mohammad ...
What Buddhist scripture says about the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W)
The Buddha leader Gautama, has prophesized the coming of an inspired person.
(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - In the Gospel of Buddha by Caras (pp. 217-8) it is written that this great Buddha will come to the world known as the "Maitreya". The Cakkavatti-Sihanada Suttana gives him the name "Metteyya". Both these words mean "The Merciful One". By reference to the life-history of ...
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 (S.w.T.). 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 (S.w.T.)} and do ...
Fourth LectureThe Answer to an Important Question
The Question
In the previous lecture, we discovered that we always hear the call of monotheism and theism from the bottom of our hearts, and that this is more strident at the time of danger. Under such conditions, we inevitably remember God and resort to His infinite Benevolence.
At this juncture, we might assume that this call which we have named the call of conscience is nothing more than ...
Ninth LectureThe Friendship between Insects and Flowers
One spring day, when the weather becomes warm, pay a visit to a garden or a green field. You will observe swarms of small insects, bees, flies, butterflies and tiny mosquitoes flying here and there, from one flower to the next, and from one branch to the other.
They are so involved in their activities it seems as if a stern supervisor commanded them to move about. Their wings and feet ...
From the first day of creation, men were in hardship to be tested against Allah and to be evaluated in their faith in the site of Allah . The prophets are not only exceptions but also from those who are afflicted and tested more than others. Taking into account the concepts of Sahifeh Sajjadieh, specially the sixth invocation, Professor Hossein Ansarian in his book “ The land of lovers” exemplifies this issue.
Adam vis-à-vis ...
God, out of His favors, keeps man away from any form of blasphemy including worshipping the world, worldly positions, indulging in voluptuous life, giving way to one’s wishes, being fond of aggression, and satan worshipping.the text to be followed is selected from “ the land of lovers” by Professor Hossein Ansarian who exemplifies this issue.
All praise is due to Allah who attracted our attentions towards sincerity in our prayers and ...
In the previous section we said, All scholars who have made researches on this issue, say: the recognition of God, the Almighty, is possible through three ways:
1) The nature;
2) Research on creatures;
3) Reasoning and rational thinking;
The first factor is elaborated on in the previous part. Now the 2nd and 3rd factors are investigated.
In the first volume of “ land of lovers” which is an exposition on Imam Zainol Abedin’s ...
What is the meaning of seeing God? and what are the conditions of seeing God? Is a hard-to-answer question. Analysing such a subject, of course, is not an easy job, too. This subject is well analysed in the book ” the land of lovers” by profesor Hossein Ansaryan.
First Be Clean And Then Cast Your Eyes On Allah
The writer of Asol Osul, who is among the well – known Gnostics and great philosophers of Islam, says at the end of his precious ...
First LectureWhen was Imamate first discussed
We know that after the passing of the Prophet of Islam, Muslims were divided into two groups.
One group, called the Sunnis, believed that the Prophet of Islam had not selected a successor and that he had left it up to the people to assemble and choose a leader for them.
A second group believed that the Prophet’s successor should be as pious as the Prophet himself and should be competent to have ...
Allah’s Guidance; a Valuable Blessing
The faith in the help of Allah, the Greatest, the Merciful, in not leaving men to wander aimlessly is underlined in sublime instructions of Islam as well in the Quranic verses and tradition. To enjoy the Guidance from Allah, all men are sheltered by the Merciful and no one is deprived of this valuable blessing. To illuminate the case, the following text is selected from the book “ a commentary on Kumayl ...
First LectureWhat is Justice
Why is justice, above God’s other attributes, considered as one of the principles of religion?
What is the difference between justice and equality?
Why was Justice Selected above all other attributes?
Before anything else, it should become clear why justice was chosen as one of God’s most significant attributes and why it was selected as one of the five principles of religion.
God is All-knowing; He is ...
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the 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 the all-encompassing school [madrasah] that embraces all the different branches of Islamic knowledge. This school has been able to train many talented personalities by quenching ...
