Monday, December 10, 2018

WAS AZAR THE FATHER OF PROPHET IBRAHIM (A.S.)?


No, Azar was not the father but uncle of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.).

His father’s name was Tarukh, according to Al-Mizan, Majma-ul-Bayan, and Jawami ul Jami. Ibn Katheer wrote, “Ibrahim (a.s.) was the son of Tarukh. When Tarukh was 75 years of age, Ibrahim (a.s.) was born to him.” (volume 1 page 139) Also reported in al-Bidaya wan Nahaya and History of Tabari (volume 1 page 119), The famous Sunni scholar in Tafsir Tabari by Ibn Jarir al-Tabari (volume 7 page 158). Similarly, many Shi’ite and Sunni scholars have confirmed the fact that Tarukh was the biological father of prophet Ibrahim. A few of them are Tabarsi in Majma-ul-Bayan, Neyshapuri in Qaraib-ul-Qur’an, Allama Fakhruddin Razi in Tafsir-ul-Kabeer, Allama Alusi in Ruh-ul-Ma’ni. (volume 7 page 169)

The famous Sunni scholar Suyuti writes in Masalak-ul-Hunafa quotes Fakhruddin Razi in Asrarul-Tanzil stressed the forefathers of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) were never polytheist. He further argued that the prophets’ forefathers till Hazrat Adam were the best in their times.
According to the Shi’ite faith, all 124,000 prophets sent by Allah to guide the humanity were infallible. Polytheism is one of the greater sins, hence no prophet or his ancestor could be a polytheist.

Before we proceed to establish our contention, let us discuss the enormity of Arabic language that for every word there are more than one meaning to it. “Ab” has also many meanings including teacher, father, ancestor, uncle. Each person who takes pains and exertion in the upbringing, may be referred as “Ab”.

The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Ali and I both are the fathers of this community”
According to Jawami ul Jami, the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Ceaselessly, Allah, the Sublime, transported me from the purified lions of men into the purified wombs (of mothers) and never had He polluted me with the filth of paganism”

Prophet Ibrahim promised his uncle Azar to pray for his forgiveness, but when he saw that his uncle was in a state of disbelieve, then he stopped praying for him. (Surah al-Tawbah Ayah 114 refers to it.)
Prophet Ibrahim prays for his parents in the following Ayah 41 of Surah Ibrahim, “Lord, on the Day of Judgment, forgive me and my parents and all the believers.” Here the Arabic word “Wa’lid” has been used which is the biological father.

Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 133 says, “Ney, were you witnesses when death approached Yaqoub (Jacob)? When he said to his sons: what will you worship after me? They said: We will worship your God and the God of your forefathers Ibrahim, Ismail and Is’haque, the One (true) God alone and to Him do we submit.” Prophet Ismail was not Yaqoub’s father or forefathers, but he was Yaqoub’s uncle. But in the Ayah the word “aba” is used which is the plural of the word “Ab” Hence it is confirmed that in Arabic the word “Ab” is used for uncle also.

               Sources: The glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation) by Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi
                              Shi’ite Encyclopedia, Enlightening Commentary into the Light of Glorious                                    Qur’an

Sunday, December 2, 2018

GOLDEN SAYINGS OF THE INFALLIBLE IMAM JA'FAR AS-SADIQ (A.S.)


Selected sayings of the Imam (a.s.) are reproduced below:

The person moving to help his Momin brothers, is like the person who is walking between Safa and Marwa.
The desire for the worldly pleasures causes grief and sadness. Its abstinence brings rest of heart and body.
A Muslim is one who has knowledge about the religion, good management of life, perseverance facing calamity.
A true believer is the one whose sexual appetite does not overcome him, and whose stomach does not shame him.
Enjoining good and forbidding evil should be practiced with a believer who may learn a lesson, or an ignorant to learn
Allah should not see you in situations against which He warned, miss you in situations of which He ordered.
Asked about short instruction that collects welfare of both worlds, he (a.s.) said: Never tell untruths.
Debt is grief at night and humility in day.
Treat your fathers piously so that your sons treat you piously.
Salutation (Salaam) is voluntary (Sunnah) while responding is obligatory (Wajib).
Do not answer those who speak before they greet you.
Shake hands, because this will confiscate malice.
As for those who control themselves in rage, desire, fear and lust, Allah will prevent Hell from burning their bodies.
He who recognizes Allah accurately will fear Him. He who fears Allah accurately will disregard the worldly pleasures.
We love those who are intelligent, knowledgeable, perceptive, expert, clement, courteous, patient, veracious and loyal.
The firmest handle of faith is to love, hate, give and deprive – all for Allah’s sake.
You should not trust the betrayer after you have tested him, and you should not accuse him whom you have trusted.
Beware of associating with the lowly, because the association with them will never lead to welfare.
Good mannerism is a part of the religion. It increases the earnings.
The actual generous charitable individual is the one who spends his wealth for fulfilling the rights of Allah.
You should know that I will fulfill the trust of even the killer of Imam Ali (a.s.) if he deposits something with me or seeks advice of consultation.
A believer should never have bad temper, bad humor, envy, obduracy, fabrication and oppression.
Daughters are advantages and sons are graces. You will be rewarded for the advantages and asked about the graces.