Portal to Islamic Knowledge

The Start of Darkness

2015-03-31T09:33:56Z

A while had passed since the usurpation of the caliphate from Imam Ali (PBUH) and the attack on the house of Lady Fatimah (PBUH), which led to her grave injuries. As her health worsened, few women in Medina came to visit her and expressing, “Dear daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) how did you spend your night in illness and how are you now?”

Eternal in the History

2014-10-15T10:15:32Z

A tradition referenced in Sahih Muslim1 which was narrated by “Tariq Ibn Shihab”: A group of Jews told the second caliph that: If the Jewish community had been revealed a verse like “This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favor unto you” and we knew the day in which the verse was descent, we would have considered that day as a great festival2.

The Kind Helper

2014-09-07T12:03:58Z

An Imam has various characteristics (1), among which the most important of them is the guidance of people. In addition to the apparent guidance the Imam has for the people, he has a specific kind of guidance and spiritual pull, and with it the Imam has an impact on the hearts of those qualified, which will guide them towards the highest degree of guidance. This is called the innate guidance.

The Festival of Struggle

2014-07-30T18:44:52Z

The holy month of Ramadan is a month of struggle with self, a month to control one’s desires. And now is the opportunity to hold a great and magnificent Eid celebration. This festival is the Islamic Eid al-Fitr, which Allah has placed for all Muslims, making them participants in this blessed celebration.(1) This is an Eid in which obedience of Allah is observed, where Muslims of all races and social classes stand as brothers in the line of servant hood to Allah and pray.

The Principle of Oath Keeping

2014-07-23T11:24:22Z

The principle of oath keeping is considered one of the highest virtues in Islam. The teachings of the Holy Quran and the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT) regard oath keeping as a fundamental requirement of faith (1); where neglecting one’s oath has been considered alongside irreligiousness and faithlessness. (2)
This principle does not pertain solely to relations between members of the religious community; they are responsible to observe this faith-oriented, yet humanistic rule also in respect to non-Muslims whether they be friends or enemies. As evident in the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP), history shows us the many oaths the Prophet made and kept with the pagans, Christians of Najran, and other Arab tribes.

The Imam in Occultation

2014-06-17T10:05:01Z

What is the benefit to believing in an Imam who is not apparent to the public eye, and resides in occultation? How can people benefit from this Imam? These are common questions which crosses the minds of Shiites. In the following narration, Imam Sadigh (PBUH) compares the manner in which people benefit from an Imam who is in occultation as “similar to how they benefit from the sun, when covered by clouds.”(1) The occultation of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) is similar to when the sun is behind clouds; people do not see it, but they benefit from its light.

Authorization to Sin

2014-06-01T09:19:48Z

He had experienced the taste of many sins; however, he still looked for a way to free himself from his vicious ending. Destiny guided him to the noble descendant of the Prophet of Mercy (PBUH&HP). So he spoke out his cause to Imam Hossein (PBUH):

The Road Map

2014-05-28T09:32:50Z

The beginning of the appointment (Mab'ath) of the Prophet of Islam to Prophethood is in a way the start of the revelation of the holy Book of the religion of Islam, the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran is a direction and a map to a path that humans through sticking to it and to its main teacher, the Prophet of Islam (PBUH&HP), will attain their destination. But in order to become familiar with this everlasting miracle of the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP), the best way would be to refer to this Holy Book. Allah (SWT)who revealed the Holy Quran, knows the Holy Quran better than any other creature and He is the most deserving one to describe the Holy Quran; therefore, the best description is the description that Allah says about this holy book:

The Manner of Criticism

2014-05-27T04:31:40Z

It might have happened for you too that when encountering a bad behavior we have started criticizing the person. Instead of confronting the individual, we can remind the unacceptable behavior and show distaste for that. In such a case there would be no hatred toward the guilty person, as well as the fact that he too won’t regard that encounter as an offense against his personality. The teachings of the Holy Quran and the Ahl al-Bait (PBUH) encourage a culture of confronting the sin of an individual, not hispersonality. (1)

Ladder to Proximity

2014-05-15T12:02:25Z

One of the foundational teachings of all prophets has been to worship Allah (SWT), to the extent that none of their teachings were void of an act of worship. However, people’s perception of worship are not necessarily the same.
Some view it as a kind of transaction, compensation, and exchange of work with reward. This view of worship is similar to the case of a worker who puts his efforts and energy into a work day, only to expect his wage from his employer at the end of the day. Believers who worship Allah (SWT) with this view see the results of worship mainly in its reward, namely the goods and compensation they will receive in the hereafter.