FORTY HADITHS OF THE FOURTEEN INFALLIBLE - IMAM ALI (A.S.)

 

Shaykh Muhammad ishtihardy’s book titled “Fascinating Discourses of the Fourteen Infallible” was translated by Javed Iqbal Kizilbash under Islamic Propagation Organization. Selected Ahadiths from Imam Ali (a.s.) is reproduced below:

The one who recognizes himself has recognized his Allah. Indeed, raised Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.) upon righteousness so that he may move His servants (out of) the state of adoration of servants towards His own adoration, and the commitment of His slaves towards His own commitment and from the obedience of His slaves towards His own obedience and from the guardianship of His servants towards His own guardianship. The one who is pleased and satisfied with the deed of a nation (group) is like the one who has shared with it. And for all those entering a falsehood there are two sins; the sin of practice and the sin of being pleased with it. Verily, ordering the good deed and stopping from evil doings do neither draw the death closer nor decreases the sustenance. Absolutely must never the good doer and evil doer be equal in your eyes, since this becomes the reason of inclination of those performing virtuous deeds in their performance of virtuous deeds and the encouragement of the evil doer upon doing bad deeds.

Paradise is acquired by practice not by aspiration. The person calling and inviting others without himself practicing is just like an arrow man with a bow without a string. I recommend you five things for obtaining it if you have to move around on the camel back even then it is worthwhile.: Do not have hope in anyone except Allah, do not be afraid of anything except your sins, if one of you is questioned about a thing which he does not know, he must admit it, exercise patience and forbearance in every work. People are of three categories; the Godly scholars, the students on the way to salvation, and the silly and stupid ones who run after every call who have not been illuminated by the light of knowledge. The world’s example is that of a snake which is soft to touch but it has perilous poison. A servant (of Allah) does not taste the faith till such time that he abandons telling lie both seriously and as joke. The real jurisprudent is the one who does not permit the people to commit sins and does not make the people disappointed with the mercy of Allah and does neither make the people think safe from the plans of Allah. What has the son of Adam got to do with pride (since) he begins as a semen and ends as a corpse? The worth of all the men is in the virtuous deeds that they perform. The person who corrects and rectifies his interior, Allah rectifies his exterior. O, people, the most things regarding which I am afraid are two things: The following of patience and desires and the longevity of hopes and aspirations. Do not look at who speaks and look at what he speaks. The one whose conversations and speech becomes large in quantity; his faults increase in number. Your friends are three and your enemies are three. Your friends are your friend and the friend of your friend and the enemy of your enemy. And your enemies are your (own) enemy and the enemy of your friend and your friend of your enemy. Do not be slave of another person since Allah made you a free person. Indeed, persons do not identify the religion of Allah, instead, it is recognized by the sign of Rights. Therefore, do identify the light to identify the people of the right. The one who is pleased.

 

Source: al-islam.org/Fascinating Discourses of the Fourteen Infallible by Shaykh Mohammad Ishtihardi

PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE LETTERS OF AMIR-AL-MOMINEEN ALI (A.S.)

 

While examining the Nahj-ul-Balagha, I noticed a vast collection of valuable wisdom from every sentence of the letters written by Amir-ul-Momineen Ali (a.s.) in Nahju-ul-Balagha, a huge ocean of knowledge delivered by the “Gateway of Knowledge,” Imam Ali (a.s.):

The Creation of the Universe: Allah initiated creation initially without reflection and experimentation. He allotted all things their time, gave them their properties, determined their properties before creating them, realizing fully their limits and confines, appreciating their propensities and intricacies. When Allah created the openings of atmosphere, expanse of firmament and strata of winds, He flowed into it water whose waves were stormy whose surges leapt one over the other. He loaded it on dashing wind and breaking typhoons, ordered it to shed back, gave wind control over the vigor of the rain, and acquainted it with its limitations. The wind blew under it while water flowed furiously over it. Then Allah created forth wind and made its movement sterile, perpetuated its position, intensified its motions, and spread it everywhere. Then He ordered the wind to raise up deep waters and intensify the waves of the oceans. So, the wind churned it like the churning of curd and pushed it fiercely into the firmament throwing its front position on the rear and the stationary on the flowing till its level was raised and the surface was full of foam. The Allah raised the foam on to the open wind and vast firmament and made there-from the seven skies and made the lower one as a stationary surge and upper one as protective ceiling and a high edifice without any pole to support it or nail to hold it together. Then He decorated them with stars and the light of meteors and hung in it the shining sun and effulgent moon under the revolving sky, moving ceiling and rotating firmament.

 

The Creation of the Angels: Then He created the openings between high skies and filled them with all classes of His angels. Some of them are in prostrations and do not kneel up. Others in kneeling position and do not stand up. Some of them are in array and do not leave their position. Others are extolling Allah and do not get tired. The sleep of the eye or the slip of wit or the languor of the body or the effect of forgetfulness does not affect them. Among them are those who work as trusted bearers of His message, those who serve as the speaking tongues for His prophets and those who carry His orders and injunctions. Among them are the protectors of His creatures and guards of the doors of the gardens of Paradise. Among them are those whose steps are fixed on earth but their necks are protruding into the skies, their limbs are getting out on all sides, their shoulders are in accord with columns of Divine Throne, their eyes are down cast before it, they have spread down their wings under it and they have rendered between themselves and all else curtains of honor and screens of power. They do not think of Creator through image, and do not impute to Him attributes of the created, do not confine Him within abodes and do not point at Him through illustrations.

 

Source: Al-Islam.org - Nahjul Balagha Part 1 – The Sermons by Sharif Razi

THE BIRTH OF THE INFALLIBLE SAYYIDA FATIMA ZAHRA (S.A.)

 

Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) was the only daughter of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and Sayyida Khadijatul Kubra (s.a.). Her birth was specially arranged by Almighty Allah (s.w.t.): Gabriel descended in the presence of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and conveyed His peace and ordered him not to come close to his wife for forty days. He (s.a.w.a.s) complied by fasting during the day and praying at nights. After forty days Gabriel once again with another angel Michael (Mikael) descended with a plate covered by a handkerchief of brocade and asked that he should break his fast on that day with the food under cover. Imam Ali (a.s.) narrates, “The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) used to order me to open the door to anyone who came to join him in iftar. On that day he ordered me to guard the door and said, “O Son of Abu Talib! This food is forbidden to everyone save me.” Then, he said “I sat at the door, and the Prophet uncovered the plate and found a cluster of dates and a bunch of grapes, he ate until satisfied and drank his need of water. He then extended his hands for washing, so Gabriel poured water, Michael washed his hands and Israfil dried them. Thereafter, the remaining food ascended to Heavens. Then he started to prepare for prayers when Gabriel said to him, “Prayer is forbidden to you until you go to Khadija and perform coition with her; for Allah (Glory be to Him) ordained upon Himself to create noble progeny from you tonight.”

The birth of Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) was also miraculous. Sayyida Khadija (s.a.) called the midwives of Quraish for help, everyone refused because she had married the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) ignoring the rich youths of Quraish. She was stressed, but Allah sent the towering women of the world. Four ladies, whose beauty and brilliance are indescribable, entered the room. One of them said, “I am your Mother Eve (Hawwa), the second one said, “I am Umme Kulthum, Musa’s sister, the third one said, “I am Asiya binte Muzahim and the fourth one said, “I am Mariam bint Imran, mother of Isa.” We have come to deliver your child! (Tabari, Qanduzi in Yanabiul Muwaddah, Bihar ul Anwar of Majlisi)

The Infallible Imam Jaffar al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “My grandmother Fatima Zahra (s.a.)’s light (Noor) was created by Allah (s.w.t.) long before Adam was created. According to Ibne Abbas, she would grow in one month as ordinary babies grow in one year. When she would go to her father, he would stand up to receive her as a mark of respect and make her sit on his place and often kiss her hand.

People asked the sixth Infallible Imam Jaffar al-Sadiq (a.s.), “Why do they call Fatima, Zahra?” The Imam replied, “Because Zahra means shining, and Fatima was such that when she stood in the “Mihrab” of prayers, her light was radiance for the inhabitants of skies, just as the light of the stars are for the inhabitants of earth.”

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “My daughter is named Fatima because she and her Shias, the followers of her school, are separated from the fire of Hell (Sawaiq ul Muhriqa). Her other names are more than eighty-five; some of which are,” Ummul A’imma” (Mother of Imams), “Umme Abiha” (Mother of her father), Siddiqah (The Honest), “Taahirah’ (The Virtuous), “Zakiyyah” (The Chaste), “Marziyyah” (Pleasing for her prayers), “Muhaddisah” (One who converses with angels).

 

Sources: Fatima, the Gracious by Abu Muhammad Ordani, Bihar ul Anwar by Allama Muhammad Baqir Majlisi,

                World’s Most Outstanding Lady by Ayatullah Naser Makarem Shirazi, Dua.org

FORTY HADITHS OF THE FOURTEEN INFALLIBLES - SAYYIDA FATIMA ZAHRA (S.A.)

 

Shaykh Mohammad Ishtihardy’s book titled “Fascinating Discourses of The Fourteen Infallible” was translated by Javed Iqbal Kizilbash of Seminary of Qum, under Islamic Propagation Organization. Selected Ahadiths from Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) are reproduced here:

Praise is for Allah for the blessings and bounties which He has bestowed and thanks to Him upon what He revealed. They are irredeemable and not compensable due to their plentifulness, and the imagination of its end is out of the range of human mind. I testify that there is no deity except the sole and matchless Allah. The Allah Who cannot be seen by the eyes and tongues are unable and baffled to describe His attributes and virtues. Allah made all the beings without previous matter, shape, sample, and pattern. Allah fixed His reward for His obedience and torments for His Insubordination and disobedience so that He may restrain His servants from His Wrath and lead them to His Paradise. And I testify that my father Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.) is His servant and apostle. And Allah selected and chose him before appointing him as Prophet He chose him before everything. Then all the creations were hidden and covered under the screen of unseen. Allah saw nations idol worshipping. So, Allah illuminated the darkness through my father Muhammad and removed the darkness from their hearts and cured the blindness of eyes. My father Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.) stood up with his guidance among the people and guided them towards the firm religion. You the servants of Allah are the ones to maintain His Injunctions and prohibitions and the carriers of His religion and trustees on your souls and the propagators of His religion among other nations. O the servants of Allah! Beware the real leader from Allah, is present among you and the commitment has previously been made to you and the remaining and left over of the prophet hood has been appointed for your guidance. The Book of Allah is the guide of its followers towards the pleasure of Allah. Allah made the faith for you as a purity from polytheism. He made salat the cause of your getting distant from pride and rendered alms for the purity of your souls and nourishment and expansion of your sustenance and rendered fasting for the maintenance and firmness of your sincerity. He set Hajj for the consolidation and reinforcement of the religion. He executed and rendered justice for the putting together and harmonization of the hearts. He set the subordination and obedience of us (AhlulBayt) for the security of the society’s systems and our Imamate as a safety from segregation and disunity. He made jihad the honor and glory for Islam and abjectness and humbleness for the infidels and hypocrites. He rendered patience as a help for getting reward. He caused commanding goodness and forbidding to do evil for the amendment and correction of society and commoner. He made the kindness to parents as a protection to His Wrath. He made the joining and connecting with kinship the cause of lengthening life. He made the law of retaliation (revenge for homicide) as the security of blood (from being shed). He executed the vow performing as a medium for forgiveness. He rendered the correct use of weight and measure a medium for stopping from selling less. He rendered prohibition from drinking wine the cause of taking distance from contamination (evils). He made the prohibition to accuse someone of adultery a protection for avoiding His curse. He made refraining from theft for the sake of positivity and affirmation of modesty. He prohibited polytheism for the sake of bringing about sincerity in His adoration and worship. Certainly, an apostle has come to you from among yourselves and if you recognize him, he is my father and not the father of any women, and the brother of my cousin Ali not that of your men. He invited people toward Allah by wisdom and beautiful admonition. You were at the edge of a fire ditch, suffering from moral and social degradation, so Allah liberated you (from these misfortunes) through my father. O Allah! Belittle me in my eyes and glorify and magnify your station to me and inspire me about your obedience and the practice which may cause your pleasure and evading from things which are the cause of Your Wrath. Content me with sustenance you have granted me. O Allah! Bestow upon my parents and those who have rights of their blessings upon me, the best of your reward.

Source: Fascinating Discourses of the Fourteen Infallible by Shaykh Mohammad Ishtihardi (al-islam.org)

THE DECISIVE AND THE ALLEGORICAL AYAHS IN THE GLORIOUS QUR'AN

 

The decisive (Muhkamaat) are the basis of the Glorious Qur’an, while the Allegorical (Mutasha’bihat) used to test if  people’s heart have perversity and may seek to cause diversion among the people. The real meanings of such Allegorical Ayahs are known to Allah and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge. They are mentioned in Surah Ale-Imran Ayahs 7 to 9. This Surah starts with such ‘Letter Symbols’ like ‘Alif Laam, Miem’

“He it is Who has sent down to you the Book, of it there are some Ayahs decisive , they are the basis of the Book, and others are ambiguous , they follow the part of it which is ambiguous (allegorical) , seeking to mislead , and seeking to give it ( their own) interpretation, but none knows its interpretation except Allah; and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord; and none do mind except those having understanding. Our Lord! Make not our hearts deviate after You have guided us (aright); and grant us from You mercy; surely you are the most liberal Giver. Our Lord! Surely You are the Gatherer of men on a day about which there is no doubt; surely Allah fails not (His) promise.”  (3:7-9)

 Of course, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) must be the first who was fully aware of such Ayahs.. According to the Traditions, he (s.a.w.a.s.) had said, “I am the City of knowledge and Ali its Gate.” He (s.a.w.a.s.) further declared before his departure from this world about the other “Rasikhona fil ilm” saying, “I leave behind me Two especially important things: the Book of God and my (divinely chosen) descendants (the Ahlul Bayt), should you be attached to These Two, never, never shall you get astray after me. These Two shall never be separated from each other, until they meet me at the Spring of Kauthar.”

Anas bin Malik relates that he asked the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) as to who the ‘Rasikhona fil ilm’ are. He (s.a.w.a.s.) replied: the Rasikhona fil ilm are those whose hands never wrought anything but righteousness, whose tongue uttered not but truth, whose hearts and mind are always on the right, whose stomachs have always been free from every prohibited or forbidden stuff.” “All these qualities can be found only in the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and the Holy Ahlul Bayt about whose purity and cleanliness God Himself has declared in Ayah 33:33.

The Glorious Qur’an in Ayah 31:13 The greatest inquiry is Shirk- polytheism, and it is declared as impurity or uncleanliness. Who can deny the historic fact that while the Glorious Qur’an was being revealed, except for the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and his vicegerent Ali, everyone had once been a polytheist, and only few years before their death they joined the rank of Muslims? Ali alone was there besides the Noble Messenger, who could rightly claim equal purity of body and souls with the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and the fact is also confirmed by the Noble Messenger in his saying: - (Ali your flesh is my flesh, and your blood is my blood.)

Further reference about knowledge, please refer Ayahs 3:17, 4:162 29:49, 58:11, 16:43, 21:7

Sources: Tafsir al-Mizan by Allama Sayyid Muhammad Husayn at-Tabatabaei’

 Tafsir-e-Namouna by Ayatullah Naser Makarem Shirazi

The Holy Qur’an by Ayatullah Agha H.M.M. Pooya Yazdi   

EXAMPLES OF REVIVING THE DEAD IN THE GLORIOUS QUR'AN

 

Prophet Ibrahim saw a dead person whose half body was submerged in water and other half was being eaten away by animals. He paused and wondered how Allah will reassemble the scattered parts of a body. He enjoyed a prominent position among all the prophets but needed a conviction. “And when Ibrahim said, ‘My Lord! Show me how you revive the dead,’ He (s.w.t.) said, ‘Do you not believe?’ He said, ‘Yes indeed, but in order that my heart may be at rest.’ He (s.w.t.) said, ‘Take four of the birds.’ Then cut them into pieces and place a part of them on every mountain, then call them; they will come to you hastening.” (2:280)

 Before him, there was another pious person named Uzair, who came upon a township as it lay fallen on its trellises. He said, ‘How Allah will revive this after its death?” So, Allah made him die for a hundred years, then He resurrected him.” He (s.w.t.) said, “How long have you remained? Said he, “I have remained a day or part of a day.” He (s.w.t.) said, “Rather you have remained a hundred years. Now look at your food and drink which have not rotted! Then look at your donkey.” (2:259) Then Allah resurrected the donkey from the bones!

In the year 249-251 B.C. a king ruled over Rome who forced the people toward idol worshiping. A few pious youths rebelled against him and went in hiding in a Cave and prayed, “Our Lord! Grant us mercy from Yourself and help us on to rectitude in our affair.’ “So, We put them to sleep in the Cave for several years.” (18:10-11) “They remained in the Cave for three hundred years and added nine more.”

There was a rich man in the Bani Isra’il whose only heir was his nephew. The nephew was impatient for his uncle’s death to inherit his wealth. After waiting for a long time, he killed his uncle and cried to hide his crime. When the news reached Prophet Musa (a.s.), he communicated with Allah. Allah directed the people to slaughter a cow. There was a long discussion about the cow; its age, color etc. described in the Glorious Quran Surah al-Baqarah. They found the cow and touched one of its body parts to the dead whereupon the dead (rich man) was revived and identified the murderer. (2:67-74)    

Prophet Isa, with permission from Allah, revived the dead; “And I revived the dead by Allah’s leave…” (3:49) and also Allah addressed Prophet Isa as, “…and you would raise the dead, with My leave…” (5:110)

Prophet Musa took along himself seventy people to mount Tur. On reaching the Mount, they insisted to see Allah with their eyes. A lightening struck them all and they were revived on Prophet Musa’s prayer. “And when you said, O Musa! We will not believe you until we see Allah visibly. Thereupon a thunderbolt seized you as you looked on. Then We raised you up after your death so that you might give thanks.” (2:55-56)

One of the groups of Bani Is ‘rail left their homes in fear of some epidemic, but they were killed by Allah. They were revived by the prayer of a prophet Hizqil. “Have you not regarded those who left their homes in thousands, apprehensive of death, whereupon Allah said to them ’Die,’ then He revived them. Indeed, Allah is Gracious to humankind, but most people do not give thanks.” (2:243)  

Source: The Glorious Qur’an

ENORMOUS BENEFITS OF RECITING SURAHS BAQARAH TO SURAHMURSALA-Part One

 

Surah al-Baqarah (2): Tabrasi reported in Maj ’ma al Bayan that the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said that surah al-Baqarah has the distinction and Ayat al-Kursi has the most distinction. Imam Zain al-Abidin (a.s.) said that the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Whoever recites first four Ayahs, Ayat al-Kursi and two Ayahs after Ayat al-Kursi and the last three Ayahs then he will not have any adverse effects in his person nor in his wealth.”

Surah Ali-Imran (3): The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Whoever recites this Surah on Friday then until the sun-set, he will be showered by Mercy of Allah and the angels will beg for his forgiveness.” Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “If a person faces hardships in earning his livelihood, then he should write and wear it as talisman to increase his sustenance. Also, if anyone recites both Surah al Baqarah and Surah Ali Imran then these Surahs will protect him from the scorching heat on the Day of Judgement.”

Surah al-Nisa (4):  Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “Whoever recites this Surah on every Friday, he will remain safe from the squeezing in the grave (Fishare Qabr) (Tafsir al Burhan)

Surah al-Ma’idah (5): The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, whoever recites this Surah will get a reward equivalent to ten times the Christians and Jews alive in the world and will be forgiven the same number of sins.”

Surah al-An’aam (6): Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “People should accord due respect as names of Allah (s.w.t.) appears 70 times in it.” Imam Reza (a.s.) said, “This was revealed accompanied by 70,000 angels. They will ask forgiveness from Allah (s.w.t.) for the person who recites till the Day of Judgement.”

Surah al-A’raaf (7): The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “There will be a veil between the reciter and the Iblees and also the reciter will be in the company of Prophet Adam.” Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, “whoever recites this surah once a month, he will have no fear on the Day of Resurrection and if it is recited on a Friday, the reciter will be exempted from accounting on the Day of Judgement.”

Surah al-An’faal (8): Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, “Whoever recites this Surah and Surah at-Tawba every month will be protected from being a hypocrite and will be counted among the followers of Imam Ali (a.s.)

Surah at-Tawba (9): It is narrated that 70,000 angels accompanied at the time of revelation. keeping this Surah over one’s head is a safety from thieves and destruction of property by fire.

Surah Yunus (10): Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, “Whoever recite this surah once in two three months, he will be treated in “Muqarrabeen” on the Day of Reckoning and rewarded by the number of people in prophet Yunus community.”

Surah Hud (11): The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Whoever recites this surah will be rewarded by the number people during my time, ranked as a martyr, and his accounting will be made easy.”

Surah Yusuf (12): The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Whoever recites this surah and teaches his family how to recite it, Allah (s.w.t.) will make his last moments before death easy, remove jealousy from his heart.

Surah Ra’d (13): The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Whoever recites this surah will be made among those who have fulfilled his promise to Allah (s.w.t.) and will be rewarded ten times the sins he had committed. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, “whoever recites this surah will enter Jannah without accounting and will be allowed to intercede on behalf of his relatives and friends.”

Surah Ibrahim (14): Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, “Whoever recites this surah and surah Hijr in a two rak’at prayer on every Friday, he will remain safe from poverty, insanity and sudden calamity.”

Surah Hijr (15): The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Whoever recites this surah will be rewarded equal to the number of Muhajireen and Ansaar.”

Important note: The rewards for reciting any Ayahs should be followed by pondering over them and putting into practice the contents.

Sources: The Glorious Quran-Tafsir-e- Namoona by Ayatullah Nasir Nakarem Shirazi

               Fawaid-e-Qur’an by Allama Sayyid Mustafa Musawi