Stating that the event of Ghad¢r Khumm too soon after the Farewell Pilgrimage, Ibn Kath¢r (774 AH) adds, “Abu Ja`far Mu¦ammad ibn Jar¢r ±abar¢, the historian, has shown interest in this ¦ad¢th and collected its wordings in a two-volume book.”[1] He then mentions some ways of narrating this event as recorded by ±abar¢.
He elsewhere writes, “The book of ±abar¢ which I saw is of two big volumes comprising the narrations related ...
A good collection of short maxims has been transmitted from the Prophet (a.s.) that are of wonderful eloquence, literature, and wisdom. Though brief, they show the top of eloquence and expressiveness, and they include the high Islamic morals and manners. The following are some of them:
1. “The farthest of you in being like to me (not like me) is the stingy, the obscene, the indecent.”
2. “The most hateful of men to Allah is a quarrelsome ...
Ka'b during the Reign of the Third Caliph ('Uthman)The influence of Ka'b continued to grow after the death of 'Umar. During the reign of the Third Caliph, 'Uthman the righteous Umayyad, Ka'b was able to give verdicts in Islamic affairs. The Caliph often agreed with him, and no one among the attendants of the Caliph's meetings would oppose him, except for people like Abu Dharr who became so furious one time upon hearing Ka'b giving verdicts in ...
The responsibility of the three leaders
As we look back at this war retrospectively, we find that thousands from the Bassrites met their death, believing that they were on the right side. They were confounded, and it was difficult for them to believe that a wife of the Messenger and two of his outstanding companions had parted with the truth. People were, and still are, trying to know the truth through their Leaders, rather than to try to ...
Islam is criticized for allowing polygamy, for popular culture in the West views polygamy as relatively backward and impoverished. For many Christians, it is a license to promiscuity, and feminists consider it a violation of women’s rights and demeaning to women. A crucial point that needs to be understood is that for Muslims, standards of morality are not set by prevalent Western thought, but by divine revelation. A few ...
Hazrat Luqman was a wise person and a great man, he was always fighting with his selfishness and always was working on purification of the soul, and God sent his blessings on him. Hazrat Luqman says to his son:
“يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَكَ إِنَّ ...
The Prophet’s Birth
Perhaps one of the most debatable subjects regarding the life of the Prophet is the biographers' dispute on the exact date of his birth. If someone were to gather all of the different opinions on this issue, there would be about twenty options to choose from.[1] Of course, the year and the month of the Prophet's birth is agreed upon by the vast majority of both Sunni and Shi'i historians and narrators of hadith. It is ...
Their Opposition to Islam
The followers of the Holy Prophet Mohammad Al-Mustafa(pbuh&hf) were continually increasing, but whenever a new convert came to him and pledged his or her allegiance, it was more often than not a slave, or a freed slave, or even a member of Quraysh of the outskirts or else a young man or woman from Quraysh of the Hollow, of the influential family but of no influence in themselves, whose conversion would increase tenfold ...
When the God, the Munificent (extremely liberal in giving, very generous) wished and created the earthly face and body of Adam a.s. and kindled the spirit in it and commanded the angels to prostrate before him in his respect. Iblis a specie of the Jin who by his extreme adoration to God was honoured the status, to worship God in the row of the archangels, He refused to prostrate the Adam a.s. He was the first who went against the wish of ...
KHADIDJA'S BUSINESS PROPOSAL
Khadidja, who was an honourable wealthy woman, used to put her wealth at the disposal of others who traded for her and received wages in return for their services.
As Muhammad's fame for honesty, virtue and trustworthiness spread throughout Arabia and reached Khadidja, she started seeking his cooperation. Then she made this proposal to him: `I will put at your disposal some property plus a servant, Masara, and pay ...
The effects of the revolution of al-Husayn began to appear through the poetry of lamentation for the martyrs of the revolution and in the poetry of regret and repentance by those who had stayed away from giving support to the revolution or had actually participated in fighting against it.
The relative paucity of such poetic references in the first period after the revolution is due to the fear of persecution by the Umayyads who launched a ...
Authorities on the Event of Karbala
The event of the tragedy of Karbala is nearing completion. It however seems desirable to mention some important authorities and authentic references which have not been stated up till now.
One of those valuable authorities is the sermon which Imam Sajjad, the fourth Imam delivered in Damascus, the capital of the Islamic caliphate, in the year 61 A.H. He acquired a very suitable opportunity, which he ...
We should have a short break to talk - in brief - about the kings whom Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) was contemporary with, and give a picture about their conducts and the misfortunes, and distresses the imam suffered under their reigns. Al-Mutawakkil Al-Mutawakkil son al-Mu’tasim assumed the rule in 232 AH.1 In the same year Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) was born.2 When al-Mutawakkil assumed the rule, people were afflicted with a natural disaster that ...
The Fijar War
Just as Muhammad learned the routes of the caravans in the desert from his Uncle Abu Talib, and just as he listened to the poets and the orators in the markets around Makkah during the holy months, he learned how to bear arms. In the Fijar War [Literally, "the immoral war." -Tr.] he stood on the side of his uncle. The war was so-called because, unlike other wars, it was fought during the holy months. Arabia stood ...
The course of history is generally thought to be along a progressive path, but there are occasions when its progress seems to come to a standstill, and it becomes quiescent and inactive. The release of energy in such situations is converted into entropy, i.e. energy that cannot be used.
Such situations and occasions are those that are opposed and are antithetical to the dynamism of history, its usual characteristic. When man, forgetting his ...
Islam was advancing rapidly but at the same time the idol-worshippers of Mecca, as well as the Jewish tribes of Arabia, were unrestrained in their harassment of Muslims. With the help of the hypocrites of Medina who were among the community of Muslims, they created new misfortunes for the Muslims every day until finally the matter led to war.
Many battles took place between the Muslims, the Arab polytheists and the Jews. The Muslims were ...
Zaynab bint Ja¦sh
A close relative of the Holy Prophet, Zaynab was married to Zayd ibn °¡rithah, the Holy Prophet's stepchild.[1] She married the Holy Prophet after her separation from Zayd.
Zayd had been the slave of Khad¢jah before he was freed and adopted by the Holy Prophet. From then on, he was called Zayd son of Mu¦ammad.[2]
After the prophethood, God made the adoption of sons illegal:
Allah has not made for any man two hearts ...
For us Muslims, Jesus' (pbuh) second coming is of utmost importance. Born as a miracle of God, he invited the Israelites to the righteous path, performed many miracles in their presence, and is the Messiah and God's word (Qur'an, 4:171). When he returns, the differences between Christians and Muslims, who actually share the same values and have the same belief in God, will be resolved. According to the Qur'an, Christians are the closest to ...
Al-Qutb al-Rawandi mentions that his name was Ayaash, and that after Nuh he was the first ruler whose kingdom included (all) the countries of the east and west. It must be clarified that there is a difference of opinion among the historians and commentators whether Dhu’l-Qarnayn was same as Alexander of Rome. According to authentic traditions it wasn’t so.Whether he was a Prophet or not is another point of difference. Actually he was ...
Ibn Ziyad sent a messenger to Yazid to inform him that al-Husayn (‘a) and those in his company were killed, that his children were in Kufa, and that he was waiting for his orders as to what to do with them. In his answer, Yazid ordered him to send them and the severed heads to him.1 ‘Ubaydullah wrote something, tied it to a rock then hurled it inside the prison where the family of Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his ...
