STATUS OF LADY OF PARADISE FATIMA ZAHRA (S.A.)

 

Lady Fatima Zahra (s.a.) was created by Allah (s.w.t.) to be a Sign of His Magnanimity and incomprehensible Might. He bestowed her with a vast share of loftiness and a high caliber of grandeur. She is one of the prominent people close to Allah, whose greatness was acknowledged by Allah before the creation of mankind. Sayyida Fatima herself describes the origin of her creation. All the sacred personalities like prophets, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and Imam Ali (a.s.)  were born through the normal procedure but Allah did not want His special creation like others. When the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) went on the Mairaaj the Divine Will directed him to pluck the apple and eat it. Allah had created the light of Fatima Zahra earlier. He placed that light in the apple. After return from Mairaaj and the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) entered Sayyadah Khadija (s.a.), that light of Fatima Zahra (s.a.) was transferred into her. The name Khadija is also significant. It means the baby will not stay in her mother’s womb for more than 4 months and ten days because after that period the Janeen starts to take mother’s blood. Because Allah wanted to have her daughter to be Batool, the one who does not suffer from normal women who cannot pray for certain number of days in a month. Allah could have sent the apple through Gabriel as he brought the Ayats of Qur’an, but He did not want His angel to touch the apple.

Lady of Paradise other name is Kausar which is Surah Kausar.

“Inna A’taina kal Kausar. Fasbbeh le Rabbekaeka wanhar. Inna Shane’aka huwal Abtar.” The Surah is a detailed and complete representation of her personality. The word “Ataituka” means given as mentioned Surah Hijr Ayah 87, Certainly We have given you the seven oft -repeated verses and the Qur’an.” In Surah Kausar, the word “Atainaka” signifies a gift. Here Allah is saying We have given you Fatima. Next word is “Fasalle le Rabbeka” In appreciation you pray. In Surah, al-Nasr when Allah says, “Iza Ja’a Nasrullahe wal Fath. Wa Rayatan nas Yadkhluna fe Deenillahe Afwajan. Fasabbeh behamdeka wanhar.” When Allah’s help comes with victory, and you see the people entering Allah’s religion in throngs., then celebrate the praise of your Lord…” Here Allah is saying celebrate. In Surah Kausar, Allah is asking His Messenger to Pray. Here Allah is asking His Messenger to recite “Night Prayer.” After the birth of the Lady of Paradise, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) started praying Night Prayer as obligatory prayer. The last Ayah says, “Inna Shaneaka Huwal Abtar” It means “Your enemy will be without posterity. If Kausar meant the pond of Kausar, there is no link between the contents of first two Ayahs and the last Ayah.

The Lady of Paradise was equal to Imam Ali in every respect like, knowledge, piety, bravery. One day Imam Ali asked her to sit with him so he could impart superior knowledge. She sat down and said, “You are my Imam and my husband, I could listen to you but if you permit me, I can reproduce the knowledge you wanted to tell me.” Imam Ali used to pray the whole night, who could match his worship but Sayyida Fatima being the “Batool” could match his worship all year round. Someone asked lady A'isha to speak about Sayyida Fatima, she said that Fatima’s infallibility and piety may be imagined by the fact that she gave birth to Imam Hasan and started praying the obligatory salat without interruption! Whenever the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) see Sayyida Fatima, he would stand up at his place, move towards her, kiss her hand, and bring her back to his place and made her sit at his own place. Some time, he (s.a.w.a.s.) would smell her hand. When she inquired, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “I still remember the smell of the apple I ate in the Paradise.” Lady of Paradise Sayyiada Fatima Zahra defended the work of all prophets, the Noble Messenger, Wilayat of Imam Ali, and the Glorious Qur’an.

 

               Sources: The Glorious Qur’an and Syed Ali Hussain Madni

SHORT SUPPLICATIONS

 

Short supplications which all of us should recite at the time of going to bed. It is especially important to

 cultivate piety.Remember that Allah is watching us all the time and have firm conviction in these

 supplications. Perform wuddu.Comprehend and understand the meanings of all Surahs and Dua’s.

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) advised his daughter, the Lady of Paradise, Sayyida Fatima

 Zahra (s.a.) to do four things before going to bed:

Recite surah Ikhlas three times, recite ten times salawat to get intercession from all the Prophets,

 seek forgiveness for  all believers and recite Tasbihat ul Arba’a; Subhanallahe waalhamdullillahe

 wa La Ilaha Illallaho WallhoAkber

Other supplications are:

Surah al-Hamd.

 Four QULS; Qul Howallah, Qul A’uzu Be Rabbil Falaq, Qul Ya Ayyuhal Kaferoon, Qul A’uzu Be

 Rabbin Nas

La Ilaha Illallah, (there is no god but Allah)

 Ayatal Kursi, (Surah al-Baqarah Ayat 255 to Ayat 257)

 Ya Shafi Ya Kafi Ya Hayyo Ya Hafizu Ya Salaamo, (Cure Giver, Sufficient, Ever Living, the

 Preserver, Giver of perfection)                                                

 Durood or Salawaat, (Allahumma Salle ala Muhammadin (s.a.w.a.s.) wa Ale Muhammad (a.s.)

 Hazbunallaho Nemal Vakeel Nemal Maula Wa Nemal Naseer, (Allah is sufficient for us, most

 excellent is Protector)

 La Illah Illa Anta Subhanaka Inni Kuntu Minazzalemeen, (There is no God but You, Glory be to

 You, verily I was of Unjust)

 Masha Allah Wa La Quwwata Illah Billah, (There is no Power save in Allah)

 Wa Ufawwezu Amri Illalah Inallaha Baseerul Bil Ibad. (I entrust my affair to Allah; Allah sees his

 servants)

 Nade Alian Mazharal Ajaib Tajidhu Aunalaka FilNavaib Kullu Hammin Wa Ghammin Say-

njali Be Wilayateka Ya Ali Ya Ali Ya Ali.

MUHKAM AND MUTASHABEH AYATS OF THE GLORIOUS QUR'AN

 

There are two types of Ayats in The Glorious Qur’an: Muhkam and Mutashabah. Muhkam (Decisive) ayats are the foundation of the Book, Mutashabah (Metaphorical) ayats are those which have multiple meanings. The Arabic language has words with multiple meanings. The true meanings of Mutashabah ayats are known only to Allah and the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and his Pure Progeny. Interpretation of the Noble Qur’an is important and anyone with superficial knowledge of Arabic cannot perform this.

Examples are: The Beneficent (Allah) sits on the Arsh (Throne): (20:5) It denotes the Divine Authority, “And your Lord comes and also angels in rank.” (42:11),

 “The hand of Allah is over their hands.” (48:10) Noble Messenger was completely representing Allah hence Muslim’s commitment with him was their commitment to Allah. “Looking at their Lord” (75:23)” And those who patiently persevere, seeking the countenance (face)of their Lord.” Means the Glorious Essence of Allah (13:22) “Yet lasting is the Face of your Lord.” (55:27) Only Person of your Lord with Majesty and Splendor will endure.

Our scholars have approached the interpretation Qur’anic Ayats by comparing Ayats within the Noble Qur’an.

There are reasons for inserting Mutashabeh Ayats. One reason is to encourage people to enhance their thinking power. Another reason is to check who are the mischief makers as they want to circumvent the meanings to their advantage. Yet other reasons are to enhance Allah’s generosity and magnanimity and other attributes of Allah.

During the period of Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.), there was a Christian Philosopher named Ishaque al-Kindi. He compiled a book collecting Ayat of the Noble Qur’an which he thought were contradicting and named it “Self-Contradictions” and he planned to print it. In his faulty approach he thought that the Glorious Qur’an was written by the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) himself. When this was brought to Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.)’ attention, he tried to persuade his students to go to Ishaq al-Kindi and tell him that in Arabic words, have multiple meanings, what he thought was the only one meaning and erroneously concluded to be contradictory. Ishaq al-Kindi was a fair-minded person, and he realized his mistake. He asked his students as to who pointed this out to them. First, they tried claim the ownership, but he said that he was fully aware of their mental capacities, then they told the truth. He said, “this level of knowledge is the heritage of only the Prophets Family”. He directed his students to set on fire that manuscript he had compiled and was ready to be printed.

 

Sources: The Glorious Qur’an Translation by Ayatullah Muhammad Hussain Tabatabai

AlulBayt in South Africa (afosa.com), ezsoftech.com

                                           

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IMAM ALI (A.S.) TEACHES 400 GOLDEN RULES FOR THE WORLD AND HEAREAFTER I

 

Imam Ali (a.s.) said the following about salat:

One should not offer salat in a state of laziness and tiredness.

Blessed is the Prophet (s.a.w.a.s) and his Pure Progeny (a.s.), Allah will accept your prayers when you mention them respectfully.

Depend upon Allah after you perform two rakats of morning salat. The duas are accepted during that salat.

Do not go to the Holy Haram with your swords.

Prostrate for extended duration in Allah’s obedience to achieve salvation.

Salat is the most favorite deed to Allah. The worldly pleasures should not distract you from performing salat at their proper time. Allah has rebuked those who disregarded their times of prayers. “Woes to the prayer ones” (107:4) Who are ignorant of their prayers.” (107:5)

While praying, notable turnings invalidate the salat.

Tucking up the clothes is purity for offering prayers. Cleanse your clothes (74:4)

Teach your children how to pray. When they are eight years, you should discipline them if they are negligent of Salat. Saho doubts are forbidden in the Witr Salat, in the first two rakas of every obligatory, in Fajr and Maghrib salat, and every obligatory two rakats prayers as offered in travel.

It is unacceptable for men to prostrate on pictures or pictured rugs. It is allowed if the pictures are covered. It is unacceptable for men to prostrate on a bag of wheat or other eatables.

Allah will forgive those who offer prayers with full recognition of their worth.

Avoid offering a recommendable prayer in the time of an obligatory one.

The Persistent in their salat are those who complete their salat of the day by nighttime and complete their salat they missed at night the next day. (70:23)

A single prayer at the two place Al-Harmein is equal to one thousand prayers at other places.

When you finish your prayer then raise your hands for supplications. Every time you pray salat, treat every salat as your last salat.

The prayers of those who consume intoxicants will not be accepted by Allah for forty nights.

You should concentrate towards Allah while praying salat. In salat, justify the Surah, and Ruku’ and Sujood.

Extracts from an article in Al-islam.org by Muhabali.

LIFEAFTER DEATH OR DOORSTEP TO BARZAKH

 

Every human being who is born must die sooner or later. There is a barrier between life and death; that barrier is called Barzakh. It is the imaginal world and after a man is dead, he is transferred in an imaginal body. It is as light as a dream or thought. The soul becomes freer and more active. The body is the carrier of the soul.

What is soul? It is a part of us that makes decisions of love and hate. Often, we think our mind or brain makes decisions, but they are just cells, these tissues are not aware of each other, in the sense that a group of cells cannot decide a thing but in fact they can concert to create effects that are perceived by the soul. Through the body the human soul can know the world and undergo countless experiences. If the body was not available, the soul could not become familiar with this material world. As soon as the soul decouples the material body it needs a marginal body to interact with the imaginal world. The imaginal body resembles the material body in color, size and features but does not have substance. In fact, our true dreams are during a type of imaginal world. As we grow our imaginal bodies are formed and shaped.

 In this world we live in material bodies and imaginal bodies, both are coincident and synchronized with each other. Since the imaginal body exists in hidden dimensions which most human beings are not aware of. At the time of death soul leaves the material body and enters the realm of Barzakh by entering the imaginal body.

The experience of death will depend on the type of life we have lived. Everyone will die in the same manner as he lived. Angel of death is the first mirror of his true nature. Depending on the individual’s personality, the angel of death can be beautiful or ugly, kind, or cruel. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, “One day when Ibrahim (a.s.) returned to his home, he saw an individual whose beauty he had never seen before. He asked, “Who are you?” “I am angel of death”, he replied. He said,” Glory be to Allah! How can someone who sees you dislike you when you are so beautiful. The angel replied, “O Friend of all-Merciful! When Allah desires goodness for an individual He sends me in this form to him. But when He desires to punish him, He sends me in a different form. “Those whom angels of death cause to die while they led pure life, they say to them, “Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise because of what you used to do.” (6:32)

The People of the Middle State: This group encompasses most human beings. The angels remove the veils from their eyes and ears and reveal some information vital for the new environment. Angels are the manifestation of love and care of Allah. The human soul is a manifestation of his likes and dislikes.

Pure Individuals: Since conceits and self-love are roots of all vices, by controlling themselves these individuals manage to cleanse their hearts of all impurities and adorn their souls with purity out of their love of Allah. Their imaginal bodies are half awake at the time of death with the help of angels they are fully alert to ascend to the proximity of Allah.

Corrupt individuals: These are the people who did not follow Allah’s commands but followed the Shaitan. For them the sight of angels is painful. For them every moment of dying is like the stroke of a sword. “If you could only see when the angels of death take away the souls of disbelievers; they smite their faces and their backs.” (8:50) “repentance is not accepted from those who continue their evil conduct until, when death comes to one of them, he says, “Now I repent; nor for those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful torment.” (4:18)

Sources: Towards Eternal Life by Muhammad Saeed Bahmanpour

                  The Hereafter (Ma’ad) by Sayyid Abdul Hussain Dasteghaib Shirazi

                 The Last Journey by Shaykh Abbas Qummi

PREPARATIO/PLANNING FOR JOURNEY TO ALLAH (S.W.T.)

 

Allah had created Adam and Hawwa and sent them on earth to reproduce, spread all over the earth and when Allah sends His Guides on earth, to follow their commands. The prime objective of man’s creation was to pray (Ibadh) andobey His Commands communicated through Hid Guides.

When He created a new born, his tentative age is determined and recorded in the Safe Tablet (Lauh-e-Mahfouz). A new born is created on the nature i.e. Islam. Later his parents make him a Christian, Jewish or Hindu.  As the caravan of humanity progressed, Allah sent 124,000 prophets according to needs of the time. As the human intellect reached a level, He finally sent Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.) as the last messenger and no prophet will come after him till the Day of Resurrection.

Allah sent the Glorious Qur’an as a complete guide together with the Divine Instructor-the Messenger who practically demonstrated the teachings of Islam during his lifetime. But as the guidance was to be available to human race till the last day of this world, hence the Merciful Allah has other set of Guides known as the Imams to fill the gap. First imam was Imam Ali (a.s.) born inside the Holy Ka’ba, raise by the Prophet himself, who defended Islam from idol worshipers. As the guides had to be infallible, hence all prophets and twelve Imams were infallible. The Prophet married his daughter Sayyida Fatima Zahra to Imam Ali, hence the Imamate continued in Imam Ali (a.s.)’s sons Imam Hasan and Imam Hussayn (a.s.). The nine Imams were from Imam Hussayn (a.s)’s lineage. As every Imam were being martyred by the enemies of Allah by poison, hence Allah saved the twelfth imam. Imam Mahdi was about 5 years old when by the Divine Will he disappeared in Samarra, Iraq. When Allah permits, he will reappear in the world to fill it with Justice as it will be filled with injustice and oppression. The infallibility of “The Holy Fourteen” which includes the Noble Messenger, Sayyida Fatima Zahra and the Twelve Imams has been established by many Ayahs of the Glorious Qur’an specially the following:

Surah al-Najm Ayah 3, “Nor does he speak out of his own desire.” (The Noble Messenger s.a.w.a.s.)

Surah al-An’am Ayah 50, “Say ‘I follow only what is revealed to me.” (The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)

Surah al-Ahzab Ayah 33, “Indeed, Allah desires to keep away all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a through purification.”  (Prophet Muhammad, Fatima Zahra, Imam Ali, Imam Hasan & Imam Hussayn)

Surah al-Imran Ayah 61, “Should anyone argue with you concerning him (Jesus), after the knowledge that has come to you , say, ‘Come! Let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our souls and your souls, and let us   pray earnestly and call down Allah’s curse upon the liars’ (same as above)

Surah al-Ra’d Ayah43, “The faithless say, ‘You have not been sent by Allah’ Say, ‘Allah suffices as a witness between me and you, and he who possesses the knowledge of the Book.”   (Imam Ali)

Every soul has been assigned a time in this world to do virtuous deeds which is the prime reason for their creation. No one knows when he will be called back by Allah, hence we should be ever ready for the return to the Creator. There are two bonus points to increase our life span: virtuous behavior with our kins and charity to the deserving.

Roots of Shia Islam are; the Unity and Justice of Allah, the prophethood and Imamate and the Day of Resurrection. The jurisprudence Shia Islam is detailed in the books. Important points may be mentioned here. Every human being is born free. No one should oppress others. Everyone is strongly encouraged to acquire (useful) knowledge. Everyone is required to account for his deeds on the Day of Resurrection and will rewarded for virtuous deeds and punished for committing sins. Allah owns everything and sees His creatures 24 hours hence every action should be done for His Pleasure only not to show to anyone else. He gives life takes it back and increases sustenance. Respect for elders specially parents is over emphasized. Rights of kins or relatives is especially important. Family life is the foundation of Islam.

Sunnah of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) is also a great source of guidance. It includes all the spoken words as well as his silence when an action was performed in front of him but he did not disapprove it. Unfortunately, an enormous number of fake hadiths were fabricated by the successive governments hence any hadith has to be thoroughly scrutinsed to separate the fake hadiths. The followers of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) rely on those hadiths which were reported by one of the Infallible Imams. Thousands of books have been written as aid for the salvation but for the followers of AhlulBayt (Household of the Messenger) there are three books sufficient for the preparation of the journey:

                  The Glorious Qur’an

                  Nahjul Balagha, a compilation of the Sermons, letters, and golden sayings of Imam Ali (a.s.)

     Sahifa-e Kamila (Sahifa-e Sajjadia), Supplications of Imam Ali ibnal Hussayn, Zayn-al-Abidin (a.s.)

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