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tawakkull · 18 days ago

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SPIRITUALITY IN ISLAM: PART 110: SAFA’ (PURITY)

Safa’, in the language of Islamic Sufism, signifies the state of a heart at peace because it has been purified of all kinds of things that contaminate it, such as sin, feelings of vengeance, jealousy, and hatred, and suspicion of others. The verse (38:47), They were, in Our sight, among the most purified, chosen, truly godly ones, which expresses the holiness and greatness of some Prophets, stresses purity in the greatest degree. The word mustafa, derived from safa, and which means pure essence, extract or the cream of something, is the special used to express in particular the rank of our Prophet, due to his being the essence and cream of existence and the master of both worlds-this and the next. So, having a special distinction among all ranks and being a symbol of transcendence among the Prophets, it has always been a goal toward which the Prophets and the purified, saintly scholars have tried to rise.

Purity originates from the purest and most blessed of sources and reaches the pool of the human heart, from which it issues and flows into other hearts to enlighten them on new wavelengths according to the capacity and disposition of each and the requirements of time and conditions. It sheds light on the ways of the travelers to the Truth so that they can follow them easily. It purifies their hearts and equips them with sincerity, guiding them to the truth of Divinity, causing their spirits to move in ecstasy with the infinite pleasures of supplication and their hearts to move with love, zeal, and yearning for meeting the Beloved. It is usually dealt with in three categories:

The first is purity of knowledge. It occurs when a traveler continues the journey under the guidance and in the light of the knowledge taught by the Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings. The Book and the Prophetic Sunna are followed strictly and with utmost care during the journey, the requirements of doing so being never neglected. With the good pleasure of God as the sole aim of the journey, the traveler faces all hardships and difficulties, without ever losing the resolve to continue on the way.

In other words, purity of knowledge occurs when an initiate who is traveling under the guidance of the sun of Prophethood, puts heart, spirit, and reason under the command of this sun. Following him to the utmost possible in all thoughts, actions, and attitudes, the traveler is annihilated and revived in him, and appeals to his judgment to solve all the problems encountered. The traveler is honored with various favors to the extent of love and knowledge of the supreme goal-God-and zeal and yearning to meet with Him in the footsteps of the pride of Messengers, upon him be peace and blessings. The author of the Gulshan al-Tawhid (“The Rose-Garden of Divine Oneness”), talks about this rank as follows:

Go and pursue such knowledge that

It can open your heart and solve all your problems.

By contrast, any knowledge that does not inspire in people the true aim of life and, in order to realize that aim, does not equip their sight with the necessary light, their will with strength, their spirits with love and zeal, and their hearts with the desire to reach the realms beyond the heavens, is not promising, even though it may not be a delusion or mere illusion.

The second rank in purity is purity of state. It occurs when the heart opens and closes with the awe of God and love of the truth. It expresses its excitement and anxiety in supplications and entreaties to the Almighty, removing feelings of loneliness and gloom that come between it and the truth, becoming a hill where the breezes of peace blow. Setting itself solely on God alongside all the other faculties, such as the emotions, consciousness, and perception, the heart flings all else except the Almighty into the abyss of nothingness, like a stone, in order that nothing should veil God from it.

When seekers after Truth attain the state of purity and refinement, their hearts overflow with the manifestations of the truth of Divinity, their spirits are flooded with the love of truth, and enraptured with the real beauty of existence which they observe through the windows that have been opened in them. In this state, they turn to the Realm of the Holy Presence with the most enchanting of supplications voiced with the full force of their sincere feelings, feelings that have begun to speak instead of themselves. They unburden themselves, feel that God is turning to them, and taste the deepest of pleasures. It even happens that in this state they invoke the Divine Being Himself as Allah-the Proper Name of the Supreme Being encompassing all other Names-and as the All-Merciful (al-Rahman)-the primary Title of the Supreme Being which, like the Name Allah, can be used for Him exclusively-among the Attributes with which they qualify Him. In the rising waves of their feelings, they sense the pleasure that the angels have in worshipping the Almighty, witness the self-possession of other spiritual beings, are enchanted with the mysteries of the higher, incorporeal realms of existence and the beings that inhabit them, and feels as if they have transcended the limits of humanity. In the following couplet, the author of al-Minhaj points to this spiritual state, which one who does not experience it cannot grasp:

Sometimes a person is dumbfounded in this state,

without being able to utter a word,

And sometimes only one who experiences it can know what state this is.

Purity of meeting with God, which is the third rank in purity, occurs when the worshipping servants become as nothing or, to put it in other words, feel and know annihilation of their own being, attributes, and actions in the Being, Attributes and acts of the Necessarily Existent Being, and live immersed in observation of the blazing manifestations of God’s Existence and Knowledge. In other words, the pleasure that the worshipping servant feels in God’s service is combined with, and melts away in, the duties of servanthood due to His being the Lord (One Who creates, sustains, brings up, and protects), and the mysteries of existence become unveiled and come into view on all sides. The manifestations of God’s Existence and Knowledge that pour in completely pervade the conscience, and the shadow of the truth, which will become visible in the other world, begins to be seen with the eye of the heart. To paraphrase the state, God declares to His servants whom He has made near to Him: He hears by Me, and sees by Me, and holds by Me, and walks by Me. So, such servants observe from their observatories of heart and innermost faculties, such as the Secret, the Private and the More Private, the pure spiritual realm with some of its mysteries, and the pure realm of the Divine Dominion with some of its particularities, and the spiritual realm of the Divine Power with some of its aspects, and the truths originating from the Divine Being. They know the substantial truth behind realities that are evident to everybody, and acquires certainty in their knowledge, and their certainty rises to the degree of certainty that comes from direct experience (haqq al-yaqin) according to their capacity. Peculiarities vanish and particular natures melt away in the burning rays of the manifestations of His Face, and only His Self-Subsistence is felt. In this rank, initiates, who have reached a state of pleasure that pervades the whole being, feel as if a drop has become an ocean, a particle the sun, and everything has turned into nothingness. They feel and know Him only, and begin and end with Him, and work by Him. They may go so far as to confuse His Being with His manifestations. Those who are not able to enlighten their feelings, consciousness, and faculties of perception with the light brought by God’s Messenger, may make mistakes or be confused in their comments. Many people have uttered words showing this confusion:

When you have seen the lights of the sun,

You no longer exist, (burnt away by the lights of His Face).

A drop is lost in the waves of the ocean, and you, being a drop,

Have been lost in the ocean of mysteries.

You will no longer be able to find the drop.

Though it is not in the capacity of everyone to be lost,

Those who are annihilated like you are not few.

If those who try to explain purity of meeting with God use words that suggest incarnation and union in order to convey their states and pleasures, they are apt to be confused in their interpretations. Therefore, they must immediately appeal to the light of Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, and correct their confusion. On the other hand, those who adopt an interpretation and attitude that arise from a spiritual state and pleasure simply as a thought system and philosophy, are clearly misguided and are regarded as being in rebellion against God until they enter the way of the Messenger and his Companions.

O God! Show us the truth as the truth and enable us to observe it; show us falsehood as falsehood and enable us to avoid it.

O God! We ask You for forgiveness, health, and approval. O God! Guide us to what You like and are pleased with; and may Your peace and blessings be upon our master Muhammad, the sun of guidance, and means of happiness, and on his family and all of his Companions.

#allah #god #islam #muslim #quran #revert #convert #convert islam #revert islam #help #revert help #revert help team #islamhelp #converthelp #how to convert to islam #convert to islam #welcome to islam

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lifeofresulullah · 1 year ago

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The Life of The Prophet Muhammad(pbuh): Before His Birth, His Birth and His Childhood

Extraordinary Events that Took Place When the Prophet was Born

The greatest event in the universe, for sure, is the birth of Prophet Mohammad, the Lord of the Universe.

This is because he is the seed of the tree of creation. If Allah had not willed his birth, there would neither be universe nor human beings now. Therefore, the door to the world of testing would not be opened. “If one looks at this great universe as if it were a book, the divine light of Prophet (pbuh) will be the ink of the pen of that book’s writer. If one considers this great universe as if it were a family tree, the divine light of Muhammad will be both its seed and fruit. If one considers the world a great living being, this divine light will be its spirit. If one considers it an enormous human being, that divine light will be its wit.”

This is mystery to which the hadith “But for you, the dearest, I would not have created the skies (the universe)” indicates.

Moreover, Hazrat Muhammad’s prophethood is not particular to a specific community, but general and universal. Accordingly, some miraculous events would certainly occur when he honored the world with his arrival. And these events would make intelligent and sagacious people think.

During the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, the following miraculous events occurred:

A star was born at the night he was born

There were many scholars amongst Jews. They deduced from their books that the Messenger of Allah would come. They were expert in making conclusions from the movements of stars. At the night the Prophet was born, a star shone in the sky and Jewish scholars understood that the last Prophet was born.

Famous poet of the Prophet, Hassan bin Thabit describes it as follows:

“I was about eight years old. One morning a Jewish man was running crying out ‘Hey Jews!’ Jews gathered around the man saying ‘What is it? Why are you shouting?’ The man was crying out:

‘Let me give this news to you, Ahmad’s star was born tonight. Ahmad was born tonight.”

The following is narrated by Ibn al-Sa’d regarding the issue:

“There was a Jewish man living in Mecca. In the morning after the night the Messenger of Allah was born, he went and stood in front of the people of Quraish and asked: “Was a baby boy born tonight in your tribe?” People of Quraish answered: We do not know. Upon this answer, he continued his speech: “Go, search and seek; the prophet of this community was born tonight. He has got a sign on his back.”

People of Quraish went and made a search. They came to the Jewish man and gave the news: “Abdullah had a son tonight; he has got a sign on his back.”

The Jewish man went and saw the seal of prophethood. And he cried out as if he had lost his mind:

“Prophethood is not with Israelites anymore. The people of Quraish will be bestowed with such a great fame that it will be heard everywhere from east to west.”

The sky was celebrating the birth of the Great Prophet with cressets of stars shining brightly.

Fourteen towers of Kisra’s Palace in the city of Madayin fell down

It was the night the Lord of the Universe was born. The clock struck the hour he was born.

The city of Madayin, which was in a deep sleep, woke up with a terrible crackling noise. The scene was terrifying and hectic. Fourteen towers of the Sovereignty Palace, which were so firm, had crackled and fallen down.

Kisra, who spent the night in fear, called religious leaders of the country for a meeting as soon as the morning broke. They would discuss about what happened that night in the meeting.

Kisra sat in his throne with his crown on. No sooner had they started the meeting than a man on horseback, running at a full gallop brought a letter. In the letter, it was written that the fires which had been burning brightly for thousands of years in Istahrabad died out.

This news added to Kisra’s fear and excitement.

At that time, Iran’s head qadi (judge), Mubezan, took the floor and told them a dream he had: “I saw that hundreds of roaring camels, with rearing Arabian horses before them, swam across the River Tigris and spread into the lands of Iran.”

Kisra found this dream of honest, knowledgeable and just Mubezan very meaningful. He grew nervous to the utmost. He wanted to solve this puzzle. He asked Mubezan, whose knowledge and wisdom he trusted: “Then, what does it mean?”

The head qadi’s answer was short and yet succinct: “It means that something very important will happen on the Arabian side.”

Upon this, Kisra wrote a letter to Numan bin Munzir, the governer of Hira. In the letter, he said ‘If there is anyone from the scholars there who are knowledgeable enough to answer my questions, send him here right away!”

Having received the letter, Numan understood the seriousness of the issue and sent a scholar named Abdul-Masih bin Amr to Madayin right away.

The ruler gave audience to the scholar right away. After telling the scholar what happened, Kisra asked him to explain them.

Abdul-Masih told him that he could not give information to Kisra about what happened and he added: “My uncle Satih, who lives near Damascus, has got enough knowledge to answer them.”

Upon this, Kisra assigned Abdul Masih to go and get information about the events from Satih.

Famous prognosticator of Damascus, Satih, was a freak of nature, his body being boneless and having almost no organs, his face being on his chest, and he was very old. He would lie on his back all the time. When he was called to a place, they would fold him like a packet. The news of the unknown and unseen he said was true and he was very popular with people of the time.

Abdul Masih covering a long, hard way, he arrived in his uncle Satih’s. Satih was living the last days of his life. He was suffering severely from a serious illness. The severity of the illness left him no strength to speak and he could neither salute him nor speak.

However, when Abdul Masih told him what happened, he suddenly changed. Satih, who was in throes of death in his bed, opened his eyes and started to cry out in excitement as if he was at the door of life and not of the grave: “O Abdul Masih! Divine revelation will be read more. The owner of the baton has been sent as a prophet. The Valley of Samawa had been flooded. The fire of the Persians has died out. And Damascus is not Damascus anymore for Satih. Keep in mind that the Unique Judge who can rule the time willed this and He tied up the both ends of the rope of prophethood.” He took a deep breath and added: “As many as the number of the towers that fell down, Rulers will come out from the Sasanids and then the promise will be realized.”

Those words were the last words Satih spoke; as if he had waited to put this truth into words before dying. As soon as he finished speaking, he closed his eyes and submitted his soul to Allah.

Famous prognosticator Satih heralded the birth of The Last Prophet clearly with those words.

This event, which nothing like it was ever seen before, indicated that the sovereignty of Persia which was writhing in four dark beliefs of Mazdaism would be swept away by the undying light which the prominent person who was born that night brought with himself. As a matter of fact; history witnessed it and what Satih foresaw occurred: the State of Persia was included into the lands of Islam by the Prophet’s army is Qadisiyya, after the sovereignty of fourteen rulers which lasted for 67 years.

Most of the idols, which covered the Qaaba with darkness and filthiness, broke and fell down

The idolaters of Quraish had covered the Qaaba with darkness of idols, which once was the place where Allah’s oneness had become an honored symbol for the first time. However, these idols which were clinched with lead, could not stand before the greatness of the birth of Great Prophet, the representative of the creed of Tawhid (Allah’s Oneness) and fell down.

This had an important meaning: The person who was just born would sweep away the idolatry as the duty assigned to him required. The creed of Tawhid, so pure and blissful, would bloom in peoples’ hearts.

The world witnessed it. The Honorable Prophet set the Qaaba free from those lifeless idols and also replaced the idols in hearts by the faith of Islam.

Enormous fire of Zoroastrians which had been burning for thousands of years in Istihrabad suddenly died out

Zoroastrians regarded that fire as their god. Upon the birth of the Prophet, that enormous fire died out like a simple fire killed by flood from the ocean.

That is to say; the person who was just born would sweep away Zoroastrianism, like Idolatry, too in a short time and would light up the earth with the cresset of Tawhid.

The famous Lake of Sawa (Tabariyya), which was deemed holy, dried up all of a sudden

It also indicated that the person who was just born would prohibit glorifying the things which Allah does not allow.

A divine light, which lit up the east and the west as if they had been a small room, was observed at the time of his birth

It meant that the religion which would be conveyed by the person who was just born would embrace the east and the west and would train and educate one fifth of humankind affectionately.

The Valley of Samawa disappeared under the floods

It was the night The Great Prophet was born.

Floods covered the Valley of Samawa and the city of Samawa. The people of the city sought refuge by climbing up the hills and mountains in horror. Then they wrote a letter to Kisra, explaining the situation, and asked for food and drink from him.

Stars fell down from the sky

Stars fell down from the sky like the leaves in autumn at the night the Prophet was born.

That event indicated that the devil and the jinn would not be able to take information from the sky anymore. “As The Messenger was born with revelation, of course it was necessary to hinder prognosticators and the jinn who gave superficial information mixed with lies so that they would not mix doubts into revelation. Yes, prognostication was very wide-spread before the prophet. After the Quran was sent, it gave an end to them. Moreover, many prognosticators became believers, because they could not find their informants from the jinn anymore”.

Of course, it was not coincidental that those events which had not been seen before occurred at the time the Prophet was born. They occurred with the will of the Eternal Might and heralded the world about the birth of the Last Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh).

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lilac-honey · 2 years ago

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WIP intro: saints and pearls

genre: litfic, coming of age

pov: 1st person retrospective

setting: very very small valley town in southern bc. (i hear you. ur saying “but you’ve never been to canada !!!” no. you’re right. but i feel its Vibes within me). it’s an isolated, fundamentalist christian sect founded by a prophet in the 60s who claimed to be the living word of god, succeeded by his son. the year is between 2013-16, i sense.

themes/aesthetics: god, divinity & power, devotion & worship, girlhood & motherhood, innocence, sin & corruption, desire & temptation, resurrection & rebirth, truth, lies & false prophecy. identical grey houses, the sun setting through a wire fence, girls in white dresses cycling down an empty road, mountains in the distance dusted with snow, a town with no traffic lights, screaming and hearing no echo back.

cws: christian fundamentalism, cult, deeply patriarchal society, death, implied murder, disappearance / missing person, children in implied danger.

logline: when her mother vanishes, fifteen-year-old opal returns to live with her father in the isolated religious sect she grew up in. as she tries to find the truth about her mother’s disappearance, she becomes entangled in a sinister love affair with her father’s young new wife & the struggle to succeed the sect’s ageing prophet.

literal logline: opal’s reputation era takes an unexpected turn when she comes up against siblings as weird about god as she is

synopsis & characters under the cut <3

synopsis:

When her mother disappears, fifteen-year-old Opal chooses to return to the isolated sect she and her mother fled two years prior. But when she returns to Virtue, things have changed. Her father, Franklin, has remarried to a young new convert: the alluring, saintly Neeve, whom Opal is irresistibly drawn to. What’s more, the mounting health problems of the sect’s ageing prophet are set to kickstart the race to replace him in earnest at any moment.

The family are intent on ensuring Franklin’s accession as the next prophet, and Opal suspects they know more about her mother’s disappearance than they’re telling her. There’s a simple solution: gain Neeve’s trust and use her to find out what the family are hiding—yet Neeve’s magnetic zealotry only pulls Opal in closer, and their intoxicating relationship threatens to derail Opal’s quest to expose the truth.

Meanwhile, Opal’s rebellious flirtation with Warren, Neeve’s cunning older brother and Franklin’s main rival for the prophethood, opens the door to escape from her family’s control—and the opportunity for long-awaited revenge against the man and church who terrorised her childhood.

As Opal becomes entangled in the struggle to become Virtue’s final prophet—a deadly web of plots, fanaticism, and false prophecy—she draws closer to uncovering the dark secrets she’s sought all along about her family and community. But, with disaster edging ever-closer, Opal must confront the truth about herself, and her own hunger for power: is she really any different from the people she seeks to destroy?

this is not my Best Work unfortunately bc it does not accurately capture the goals, conflict and stakes but i will not be rewriting it again actually ! sorry ! i have suffered enough !

characters:

there are too many … more than listed here and that was not my intention

opal lauritzen

15/16, narrating the story probably in her 20s although unspecified.

delighted to unveil my very own unhinged teenage girl protagonist

she’s a little bit Scary !!

morally challenged, if you will

homosexually charged rivalry with neeve

fundamentally on a silly little mission to be adored & worshipped but she’s taken on a side quest (finding out who killed her mother)

she’s so remember my name by mitski coded. she needs someone to remember her name, something bigger than the sky…how many stars will she need to hang around her before she can finally be all done, somewhere like heaven?

everyone is a means to an end for her, apart from her adopted sister, runa (aged six), her bestie. can’t hate a child.

neeve lauritzen/sloane

17/18

neeve is playing chess while everyone else plays chequers

vegetarian (this is very important to her character like … after everything eating meat is still where she draws her moral lines in the sand. and i respect that!)

actually not as evil as opal thinks she is in the beginning. she does actually want to be friends.

she plans to name her baby cinnamon or cherry or similar. maybe moon. she’s silly and goofy like that

she’s fighting demons (comphet) and losing

alicent hightower … is that you ???

warren sloane

20/21

looks so much like austin abrams in my head

if neeve is playing chess … warren is playing monopoly

Charismatic Leader. manipulation is his thing

he’s mastered the female gaze but in a bad way

college dropout for sure. that stem major was so hard he became a creationist and joined a cult

franklin lauritzen

early 40s

opal’s father

a villainous little villain if ever there was one

wants to be the next prophet-leader So Badly it’s kind of embarrassing xx

he’s like low-key an incel he really hates to see women succeed

truly needs to get a life outside of terrorising teenage girls

runa caraway

opal’s adopted sister and also biological cousin

really need to develop her as a character but she’s basically an infant

fundamentally she reminds opal of her childhood self, creating Guilt and Conflict

asa and calvin lauritzen

20ish & 17ish

opal’s older brothers

they really Really hate each other xx

accidentally set them up as cain and abel so i’m now going to have to follow through on that foreshadowing

father paul

late 20s

token outside world character

this random catholic priest who becomes very concerned about opal after her mother goes missing

he wants to Fix opal and she knows this and very much enjoys pretending to be a damsel in distress around him

not really sure what purpose he serves in the story apart from a nice scene in a church (with candles !!) in chapter one

he gives her his number so i think she’s going to call him every now and then for a pep-talk

i think he’s going to try to stage an intervention for her later actually

betsy

15ish

opal’s slightly unhinged school friend

true crime girlie

i can’t explain her she’s best seen in action

like when opal and runa come to stay with her family when annora disappears she’s like .. exciting !!!! do u guys want to see my if i go missing folder !!!!! let me get all the true crime twitter girlies On to this !!!!

i might make her detective dreams come true later in the story so stay tuned xx

lux

15ish

opal’s childhood best friend in virtue

now betrothed to asa, opal’s oldest brother

retired from golden sunshine new career in false prophecy

newest addition to the cast but the story holds terrible things for her i fear

ask to be added to the taglist <33

#saints and pearls #wip intro #writing update #wip update #own work #this took so long to post oh em gee #sorry

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wisdomrays · 5 months ago

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REFLECTIONS ON THE QUR'AN: Sūratu’d-Duhā (The Forenoon): Part 1

Assuredly, what comes after will be better for you than what has gone before. (Ad-Duhā 93:4)

Sūratu’d-Duhā was revealed when Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, was having the most distressful days in Makkah. Revelation had ceased to come for a while. Umm Jamīl, the wife of Abū Lahab, had come to the Messenger and say in derision: “I cannot see your owner (Lord). He may have abandoned you.” In such an atmosphere, God consoled His Messenger by revealing this sūrah, in which He says: “Your Lord has not forsaken you, nor has He become displeased with you. Assuredly, what comes after will be better for you than what has gone before” (Ad-Duhā 93:3–4). If this verse is interpreted from the viewpoint of the days when it was revealed, the meaning is: “Your every new day will be better for you than the previous one, and your future will be brighter for you than your present.” In fact, history witnesses that it happened so. For his rising star and the map of his mission shined more brightly every new day than the previous. The verses following this and certain other sūrahs that were revealed after gave this same promise and drew the attention to his bright future. For instance, the Qur’anic chapters al-Inshirāh (The Expansion), which mentions some of God’s favors upon the Messenger of God, beginning with the verse, “Have We not expanded for you your breast” (94:1), and al-‘Ādiyāt (The Chargers) beginning with, “By the charges that run panting; striking sparks of fire” (100:1–2), which points not only to the horses that run panting but also other modern instruments like tanks and various other armored weaponry, became great sources of hope for our master, Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings. They became so, for even today we picture in our mind and before our eyes a long, glorious history and a brighter future which the shining spirit of Muhammad illuminated and will illuminate, respectively.

In Sūratu’d-Duhā, the dominion of a community in the realm of spirituality which will follow an individual constraint and distress shows itself in grades. There is also music of sorrow in this sūrah. But in Sūratu’l-‘Ādiyāt one can hear the loud, resounding sounds of successes and triumphs in physical realm. The Qur’ān chooses words according to the meaning and content so extraordinarily that those who are aware of this could not help going into raptures.

The style of the chapter ad-Duhā has a unique feature from a psychological perspective as well. For example, God began it with swearing by the forenoon in consoling His Messenger, and then swore by night. Therefore, when we recite ad-Duhā (The Forenoon), we feel the shining lights of the sun illuminating the world and are exhilarated. If we can feel this after fourteen centuries in the net of too much familiarity, we cannot imagine to what great extent the leader of all Prophets, upon him be peace and blessings, felt it. May our souls be sacrificed for both he who felt this and He Who made him feel! Also, with the verse, “Assuredly, what comes after will be better for you than what has gone before,” it is stated to the Messenger that his present state of Prophethood is better than the period of his life prior to his Prophethood, and it is promised to him that his every new moment and day will be better than the previous; the future, in which God will manifest more with His Power and Mercy than with His Wisdom, will be brighter for both the Messenger and his community compared to his present distressful days; and the Madīnan period of his Messengership—God certainly knew beforehand that he would emigrate to Madīnah—will witness the wider acceptance and spread of his Message when compared with the Makkan period. The present, apparently distressful atmosphere surrounding him will change places with the atmosphere of bounties and blessings. All these and many other promises and the promise of a happy end are made primarily to that peerless one of time and space, upon him be peace and blessings, and secondarily to his followers.

Consequently, with the verse, “Assuredly, what comes after will be better for you than what has gone before,” it is also promised to both the Messenger and his community that they will advance from a good state to a better one, from relative good to greater, genuine good, from belief to its practice, from practice to deeper devotion and consciousness of God, from pains to innocent pleasures, from distresses to climes of contentment and exhilaration, and finally from the world to Paradise, eternal happiness, vision of God, and the eternal attainment of His approval and good pleasure.

O God! We ask You for resignation and submission after any of Your judgments about us, the coolness of life after death, the delight of looking toward Your “Face,” and a zeal for returning to and meeting with You, O the Most Compassionate of the compassionate. And may God’s blessings and peace be on our master Muhammad, and on his Family and Companions!

#islam #allah #quran #muslim #revert #god #help #convert #religion #ayat

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taskeenedil · 3 months ago

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🧵 *Kitāb al-Aqā'id Series*

*Aqīdah No 38:*

*The blessed body of the Noble Messenger, Ḥaḍrat Muḥammad (peace be upon him) had a shadow.*

*Evidence:*

*[1]:* Ḥaḍrat Anas bin Mālik RA narrates: One night, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was offering prayer when suddenly he extended his hand forward and then pulled it back. We asked, "O Messenger of Allah, we have seen you perform an action in this prayer that you have never done before." He replied: "Yes, indeed, Paradise was presented before me, and I saw its lofty trees with their clusters hanging low. I intended to take something from it, but then the revelation came to me, saying, 'Step back.' So, I stepped back. Then Hell was presented before me, and it was between me and you, to the extent that in the light of its flames, I saw my shadow and your shadow. I then gestured for you to step back. Then revelation came to me, saying, 'Let them remain in their places, for you embraced Islam, and so did they. You migrated, and so did they. You fought in _Jihād_, and so did they. Hence, I see no other superiority of yours except for Prophethood.' From this, I concluded that my _Ummah_ will be afflicted with tribulations after me."

— _(Mustadrak al-Hākim, Vol. 4, Page 456. Imam Hākim and Imam Dhahabī: Sahīh)_

*[2]:* Ḥaḍrat Ā'isha RA narrates: The Prophet (peace be upon him) was on a journey, and some of his other noble wives were accompanying him. Ḥaḍrat Safiyyah’s RA camel fell ill, while Ḥaḍrat Zaynab RA had an extra camel. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Safiyyah’s camel is unwell, O Zaynab! If you give her your spare camel, it would be good." She replied: "Should I give my camel to that Jewess?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) became displeased with her inappropriate response and refrained from visiting Ḥaḍrat Zaynab RA for two or three months during _Dhū al-Hijjah_ and _Muharram_. Ḥaḍrat Zaynab RA said: "I lost hope and moved my bedding away. One day, in the afternoon, I suddenly saw the shadow of the Prophet (peace be upon him) approaching me."

— _(Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 6, Page 336; Majma' al-Zawā'id, Vol. 4, Page 323)_

⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️

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quranwithsehar · 6 months ago

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It is said that after prophethood began, the first command given was about Namaaz. Hazrat Jibreel AS came and taught how to pray and do wuzu, and the order was to pray two rakaat in the morning and evening. It didn't start with five daily prayers all at once, but rather with a small beginning.

Imagine the desert of Arabia, a nation deeply involved in idol worship. In such a time, Allah sent His angel to the best among them, granting him prophethood and the responsibility to spread the message.

The first thing they were taught was to pray. They weren't given orders about charity, jihad, or anything else, nor were they told not to listen to music or how to raise children, or even what not to eat. There was no prohibition at the start, just one task: keep yourselves clean and pray two rakaat of prayer, once in the morning and once in the evening. That's it!

What do we do? When we join an Islamic school or take a Quran course, we often rush home on the first day and immediately start telling our parents about all the wrong practices they are following. We tell our sisters that their nail polish is forbidden, and we tell our cousins how shaping their eyebrows or not wearing a headscarf will lead them to hell. Within 24 hours of listening to an Islamic lecture, we start giving verdicts on what others shouldn't be doing and how they are making mistakes.

By doing this, we start many arguments and upset a lot of people. We engage in debates, and in the end, we defend our points with flushed faces and shaky voices, thinking that the opposition we face is the same as what the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) faced, or that every follower of the truth must endure such challenges. We end up seeing ourselves as victims, while labeling our family members as misguided.

When you preach Islam by giving speeches, passing judgments, and pointing out others' mistakes, this has nothing to do with the way the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) spread Islam. The Prophet (PBUH) didn’t spread Islam by criticizing people, raising his voice, making them feel bad, or forcing them to follow Islam through anger. The Prophet (PBUH) started spreading Islam — not by forbidding things, but by encouraging people to do something positive: keep themselves clean and pray.

When we come back from Islamic schools or courses, the first thing we do is criticize people's appearances and actions. We point out whose pants are too long, who doesn’t have a beard, or who isn’t covering themselves properly. Our focus starts with things that were introduced much later in Islam.

What we need to learn is that if we truly want to connect someone to the religion, we should first introduce them to an act of worship, something they can do. The time to forbid things will come, but not yet. First, we should gain proper knowledge ourselves, and then, when this act of worship starts bringing light into their life, we can gradually guide them toward the things they should avoid.

But we don’t do this. We start with criticism. Why? Because we focus on feeling superior. We want to say something different in gatherings, show people that we know more, and tell them they are wrong according to religion. This gives us a sense of satisfaction, but it’s actually pride in our knowledge. This is the same pride that Iblees had when he refused to bow to Adam.

Our goal should be to guide people toward Islam, not to push them away. We should think, "This person is in darkness, and I want to connect them with Allah's light, just as I was guided by Allah." We should approach them with kindness, making sure that none of our words hurt their feelings. They should not feel distant from religion after seeing us. Our words about Islam should inspire them, not push them away.

This is how you spread Islam with love, gentleness, and kindness. Unfortunately, it’s often those who have limited knowledge of religion who end up pushing entire groups of people away from Islam by focusing only on criticism, instead of connecting them with Allah.

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abuubaidahh · 1 year ago

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The Preference Of Jihad Over Hajj

‎Dhirar bin Amr said: “I have spent a very long time in Jihad and my heart was longing to Hajj. I made my preparations to go and then went to greet my brothers.

‎I visited Ishaaq bin Abu Farwah to tell him good-bye. He asked me, “Where are you going?”

‎I said: “I am going on Hajj,”

‎He said: “Has your opinion on Jihad changed or what?”

‎I said: “No! Its just that I have been here on Jihad for a long time and I was longing for Hajj and visiting the House of Allah.”

‎He told me: “Dhirar! You should not do what you love, but you should do what Allah loves.

‎O Dhirar, don’t you know that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم only made Hajj once, but then spend his life fighting in Jihad until he met Allah.

‎O Dhirar! If you make Hajj then you are rewarded for your Hajj or umrah. But if you are posted in Jihad or fighting and protecting the backs of Muslims, then if that House is visited by 100,000 pilgrims or whatever number, you would be getting the reward of everyone of their Hajjs and the Hajj of every believing man or woman until the Day of Judgment!

‎Because whoever protects the believers is like the one who protects them from the time of Adam until the Day of Judgment.

‎You are also rewarded for fighting the nonbelievers from the day Adam was created until the Day of Judgment because whoever fights them today is like the one who fights them from the day Adam was created until the Day of Judgment.

‎You are also rewarded for every letter revealed in the Torah, Gospel and Quran because you are fighting to protect the light of Allah from being extinguished.

‎O Dhirar bin Amr! Don’t you know that there is no one closer to the status of prophethood than the scholars and Mujahideen?

‎ I said, “And how is that?”

‎He said: “Because the scholars are the ones who fulfil the role of the Prophets in guiding others to the truth and teaching it to them.

‎While the Mujahideen are the ones who fight for what the Prophets have brought and strive to make the word of Allah the highest and the word of the nonbelievers the lowest.”

‎Dhirar said: “I decided to give up Hajj and remain in Jihad until I die and meet Allah.”

‎رَحِمَهُمُ اللّهُ

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basicsofislam · 8 months ago

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ISLAM 101: Creation: Part 7

Submission, Sense, and Reason

Many people ask how Islam, which requires submission to God, can be in accord with sense and reason. What we must realize here is that these two realities are not mutually exclusive. Islam does mean submission to God, and Islam is indeed in accord with sense and reason.

The principles of Muslim life are set forth in the Qur’an. If they were not, how could we know them? The Qur’an is an uncorrupted revelation of reality. The demonstrations presented therein concerning Divinity require Prophethood since only Prophets can make the Divine known to humanity. Such demonstrations appeal to reason and sense, as do those concerning death and resurrection. Our intuition of eternity actually arises from eternal life itself. If this were not so, how could we intuit its existence, based upon our limited human knowledge and experience?

By definition, every act of God accords with sense and reason, for He is the All-Wise and the All-Knowing. We are bound to conclude that our best works, when compared to His, are of almost no significance. This world, which He gave us to live in, always will far exceed all that our living can add to it. Moreover, we can add to it only what God allows us to add. Given this, we can deduce that each of God’s actions has a definite purpose. This realization is wholly pleasing to sense and reason.

All that we see around us when contemplating the Divine laws so evident in His creation, as well as our inner personal conviction, makes it impossible for us not to believe in God. That belief in God, that sense of His Being, whether in the outer world or within ourselves, inevitably leads us to submit to Him. In this way, a path moving from sense and reason ends in submission. And submission means willing, intended obedience to God by obeying all His commands and prohibitions.

God has sure reasons for His commands and prohibitions, some of which we can understand. One such reason is that they are for our own individual or collective benefit. Take the five daily prayers, each of which must be prayed during its allotted time. Some benefits are immediately obvious: self-discipline and order, the stability of faith and community.

The manner of praying also is prescribed for definite reasons. The value of washing certain bodily parts before worship has obvious health and other benefits. Congregational prayer enables and sustains the community’s existence. Zakat (the alms-tax) contributes significantly to preserving responsibility and balance between rich and poor people. Fasting has undeniable health benefits. As a further example, the Islamic penal code, (when applied by God-conscious rulers and) if studied in the light of sense and reason, leads to submission to the All-Wise and All-Mighty.

Regarding pilgrimage (hajj), the Qur’an says: Pilgrimage to the House is a duty to God for all who are able to make the journey (3:97). Obeying this command is an act of submission that leads to the experience of hajj, which leads us to contemplate its benefits: a worldwide conference for Muslims, an occasion for us to be together for the sake of God and free of all human and therefore artificial discrimination based on race, sex, color, or level of education.

Whether we start from an act of submission and the use of our sense and reason, or use our sense and reason and then are led to submission, Islam is confirmed, for it is grounded in sense, reason, and submission.

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howtomuslim · 1 year ago

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The Light of Humanity: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) revolutionised society, leading a profound transformation in the realms of spirituality, ethics, and governance. His achievements include the establishment of social justice, the abolition of harmful practices, and the preservation of human dignity.

A Messenger of Compassion and Mercy:

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) embodied the epitome of compassion and mercy towards all creation. His teachings demonstrated kindness, empathy, and forgiveness, setting a timeless example for humanity to follow.

Quran (21:107) — “And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.”

Hadith (Sahih Bukhari) — “I have been sent to perfect good character.”

The Epitome of Moral Excellence:

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) exemplified moral excellence in every aspect of his life. His character was characterised by honesty, integrity, humility, and patience, earning him the title of Al-Amin (The Trustworthy) even before his prophethood by his community. When the revelation first came down, he had rushed back to his wife Khadija who consoled him and assured him that God would not punish such a noble and truthful man. Among many of the companions around him, they accepted him as a prophet of God due to his truthfulness and their belief he would never lie about such a matter.

Hadith (Sahih Muslim) — “The best among you are those who have the best manners and character.”

Beloved by All:

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was deeply loved and revered by those around him. His companions held him in the highest esteem, cherishing his guidance, wisdom, and affectionate nature. Many had converted to Islam after their interactions with the prophet (PBUH). Those who rejected him wanted to preserve their old ways of living as they often profited from various pre-Islamic practices such as Idol worship.

Narrated by Anas bin Malik: “A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger! Who is the most beloved person to you?’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘Aisha.’ The man then asked, ‘Among the men?’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, ‘Her father (Abu Bakr).’” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 73, Hadith 33)

A Model of Leadership and Humility:

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was not only a spiritual guide but also a visionary leader. His leadership style was characterised by humility, consultation, and inclusivity, fostering unity and cohesion among diverse communities. He was not only humble in his actions and behavior but in his dress as well. Often times when an emissary visited the prophet they were not able to distinguish between him and his companions.

Hadith (Sahih Bukhari) — “Allah will elevate some people with this book (the Quran) and abase others.”

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stands as an exemplary example of moral virtue, guiding humanity towards righteousness, compassion, and justice. His life serves as a timeless beacon of hope and inspiration, illuminating the path towards a life of piety, humility, and service to others.

References:

Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources by Martin Lings

The Biography of the Prophet Muhammad: Peace be upon Him by Ibn Kathir

The Companions of the Prophet Muhammad by Abdul Wahid Hamid

Leadership Lessons from the Life of Prophet Muhammad by John Adair

#islam #islamicreminders #muslim #islamdaily #islamic #allah #quran #islamiyet #mosque #new article #newblog #new blog #prophet muhammad

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loverandservantoftheahlulbayt · 1 year ago

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🍂🍁🍂 Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) -

The Last Imam

We have already mentioned that after the Messenger of Allah (S), the number of his successors and the leaders of this nation is twelve. The first of them is Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (as) and the last is Imam al-Mahdi (atfs), who is still alive and in occultation on Allah's command.

🍂 On analyzing these false claimants, the following consequences come to light:

1) The presence of false claimants proves the existence of the true claimant to this esteemed position. The counterfeit of only those currencies are available, which are actually in circulation. Hence, one can never find a 75 paise coin or a 25 rupee counterfeit note in the market.

2) An important peculiarity of the real Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) is that he will spread Islam to the nooks and corners of the world. The Islamic slogan 'There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" will echo throughout the universe. All these bogus charlatans have departed from this world but failed in making Islam as the dominant religion of the universe. On the contrary, they became the cause of further dissension and disputes among the Muslims.

3) Yet another significant characteristic of the real Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) is that his Imamat and leadership will continue till the Day of Judgment. Immediately after his death, Resurrection will occur. These phony claimants have already left this world, causing confusion and chaos with all their deviations and no sign of Resurrection. T heir demise without the occurrence of Resurrection is another proof of their falsity.

4) Yet another very important feature of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) leadership, which has been highlighted in all books concerning him, is that he will fill the earth with justice, fairness and equity as it would be fraught with injustice, tyranny and oppression. These sham impostors neither reduced the oppression and tyranny of the world nor did they fill it with justice and fairness. The converse was the reality. They became the cause of intense augmentation and increase in tyranny and oppression. This is another evidence of their deception and fallacy.

5) Allah the Almighty has never appointed any fallible and sinning person as a Prophet or an Imam. Human intellect supports the idea that a person who is responsible for the guidance of the entire humanity and is the guarantor of their salvation has to be infallible (ma'soom). While, we observe that among all these fake claimants, none were infallible. A brief look at their lives will reveal the filth and contamination in which they existed.

6) The true representatives of Allah always raised their voice against injustice and oppression. Consequently, the tyrants and their despotic reigns always opposed them and afflicted them with all kinds of tortures and troubles. On the other hand, these sham impostors assisted the oppressors in their mischievous designs and considered rebellion against the tyrants as prohibited.

Obviously, they had to support these oppressors for otherwise, from where would they receive support and assistance for their devious aims? This is precisely the reason that even today their head offices are based in imperialist and colonial capitals. For instance, while intense war rages on in Palestine, Bahaism continues to have its headquarters in Israel. Similarly, Qaadiyanism has its main centers in Britain and the United States. Obviously, children feel secure in the lap of their parents and are nourished in better there.1

For details, refer to books on Finality of Prophethood and on Imam al-Mahdi (atfs). Moreover, reliable and authentic books have been penned in refutation of these self-idolizing impostors and their sham religions.

These few lines have been jotted down to caution all from being deceived by every false claimant and glib talker, and to preserve our religion and belief.

The Messenger of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (S) is the last Prophet, his Shariat is the last Shariat and the Majestic Quran is a divine book. After him (S), there is neither any prophet nor book nor religion. Even today, he (S) is a Prophet and hence, everyday we proclaim in our azaan and our prayers, ' I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (S)'. Not that he 'was' the Messenger of Allah, but he 'is' the Messenger of Allah.

Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) is the twelfth and last of the chain of leadership and guidance. He is alive and in occultation on divine command. Further information concerning Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) will be provided for in the coming pages, Inshallah.

Blessings of Allah be on you, O Master of Age, help us!

The belief in the Imamat, awaiting, and reappearance of Hazrat Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) is a mirror, which reflects the peak and perfection of true Islam.

In it lies the cure of oppressed mankind and the remedy for tyrannized humanity.

In which one can observe justice, equity, brotherhood and fraternity, instead of injustice, oppression and tyranny.

In which one sees the manifestation of pure monotheism (Tawhid) and sincere worship instead of polytheism and unbelief.

In which man, free from all sorts of dangers, hazards and insecurities, is worshipping the One God.

It is the reappearance of the Imam who will raise the standard of a divine government.

Who will destroy and uproot the oppressors and raise the oppressed slaves to unprecedented glories.

Whose advent will be a living portrait of perfection of religion, completion of bounties and satisfaction of the Lord.

🍂 1) The Creed of Imamate

The belief of Imamate is that important pillar of Islamic belief, without which the religious structure remains incomplete. The acceptance of all actions depends on the belief in Imamate. When the Holy Prophet (S) commenced his mission with Daawat al-Zul Asheerah, along with the call for Divine Monotheism, proclamation of his own messengership, he (S) also announced the mastership and vilaayat of Ameerul Mu’mineen (as).

He invited one and all for accepting this invitation. From then onwards, the Holy Prophet (S) kept informing and announcing the people about Imamate and Caliphate. Finally, on 18th Zilhajj, 10 A.H., in the vast plain of Ghadir al-Khumm, in front of a crowd of 1,24,000 pilgrims, he (S) not only announced the successorship and Imamate of Ameerul Mu’mineen (as) in clear terms, but, even ordered the people to pay allegiance to ‘Ali (as). The Muslims duly obliged. Later, in the destruction of Harith Ibn No'man, people also saw the fate of him who denies ‘Ali's mastership.

Along with the announcement of the mastership of ‘Ali (as), the Holy Prophet (S) also declared the Imamate and mastership of his eleven descendants. On various occasions, and in numerous ways, he made it clear that after him, till the Day of Judgment, the number of his successors and caliphs shall remain only twelve. The first of them will be ‘Ali (as) and the last, Imam al-Mahdi (atfs).

In a number of traditions, he has also mentioned the names, titles, agnomens, and characteristics of these twelve successors. Through his companion, Jaabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari, he sent salutations to the fifth among the Imams, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as). All these are practical testimonies of the truthfulness of the Holy Prophet (S).

The series of Imamate and guidance continues today and will go on till the dawn of resurrection. The Messenger of Allah (S) has underlined the significance of Imam al-Asr's (as) recognition through the famous tradition,

"من مات ولم يعرف إمام زمانه مات ميتة جاهليّة"

"One who dies without recognizing the Imam of his time, dies the death of ignorance (i.e. unbelief)."2

As is evident, the unbelievers will not attain salvation. They will go to hell and shall abide in it forever. Anybody who desires to save himself from the perennial chastisement of hell and gain the everlasting bounties of paradise, then it is for him to gain the recognition of the Imam of his time. On the flip side, one who does not recognize the Imam of his time, his religion is not perfect, his bounties are not complete and Allah the Almighty is not satisfied with him.

🍂 Today, who is our Imam?

The Holy Prophet (S) has already mentioned that the chain of Imamate will continue after him till the Day of Judgment. Therefore, it is necessary that there should be somebody from that series who has been divinely ordained. Who is he? In the light of reliable and au the n tic traditions (narrated by Shias as well as Sunnis), the Imam of our time, is the son of Imam Hasan al-Askari (as), Hazrat Imam al-Mahdi (aj).

🍂 2) The Importance in the Belief of Mahdawwiyah

If somebody believes and is certain about the Prophethood of all the previous Prophets and Messengers (pbbuta) but denies the Messengership of the last Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (S), is an unbeliever and his salvation, impossible.

Similarly, if someone believes in the Imamate of all the infallible Imams (pbbuta) but refuses to accept the Imamate of the last Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (atfs), he is not a believer and his deliverance, unattainable. Renowned Sunni scholars like Shaikh al-Islam Hamveeni, in his book "Faraaedus Simtain" and Shaikh Sulayman Qundoozi in his famous work "Yanaabee' al-Mawaddah" have recorded that the Holy Prophet (S) said,

"من أنكر خروج المهدي فقد كفر"

"One who denies the reappearance

of Mahdi, is an unbeliever."

🍂 Imam's Life at a Glance

Name : Muhammad

Title : Mahdi, Baqiyyatullah, Imam az-

Zaman, Vali al-Asr, Qa’im, etc.

Agnomen : Abul Qasim, Aba Saaleh

al-Mahdi (aj)

Father : The Eleventh Imam,

Hasan al-Askari (as)

Mother : Narjis Khatoon,

also called as Sosan.

Birthday : 15th Sha’ban, 255 A.H.

Birthplace : In the house of

Imam al-Askari (as)

in the Iraqi city of Saamarra

Commencement: 8th Rabi-al-Awwal,

260 A.H. of Imamat

Age : Still alive. Shall reappear on the

command of Allah the Almighty

🍂 3) Occultation (Ghaibat)

One can find in reliable traditions narrated on the authority of the Holy Prophet (S) that when Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) reappears, oppression and tyranny will be eradicated from the face of earth, and unjust and tyrannical rulers will be uprooted.

Therefore, every oppressive king, particularly the contemporaries of Imam Hasan al-Askari (as), strove to prevent the birth of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) and his advent in this world. Also, as the Messenger of Allah (S) had prophesied that the number of Imams will be twelve, and that Imam Hasan al-Askari (as) will be the eleventh Imam, (and al-Mahdi (aj) the twelfth), they were sure that Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) will be born in his house only.

Consequently, tight security and strict surveillance was imposed. But just as Firaon had failed in his machinations to prevent the birth of Hazrat Moosa (as), which ultimately did occur, in the same way, despite all their efforts, the oppressors could not stop the birth of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs). As there was a great danger to the life of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs), the news of his birth was not announced to all and sundry. Only those who could be relied upon were informed about this holy occurrence. After the martyrdom of Imam Hasan al-Askari (as), when the Imamate and leadership of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) began, the perils to his life increased.

His residence was raided umpteen times by the king's army. Hence, on divine command, Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) went into occultation. On the one hand, conditions were threatening and danger loomed large. While on the other, the masses had their queries and posers for which contact with Imam (as) was necessary. Considering this necessity, Imam (as) appointed four special deputies, through whom contact with Imam (as) could be possible. These four persons were called as Special Deputies (Nawwaab al-Arba' or Naaebeen al-Khaas).

The names of these Special Deputies were as follows (in chronological order):

1) Uthman Ibn Saeed Amri

2) Muhammad Ibn Uthman Ibn Saeed Amri

3) Husayn Ibn Rauh Nawbakhti

4) ‘Ali Ibn Muhammad Seymouri

The series of special deputyship started from 260 A.H. and terminated in the year 329 A.H. (i.e. 69 years). This period is called as Minor Occultation (Ghaibat al-Sughra). The year 329 A.H., with the death of the fourth deputy, ‘Ali Ibn Muhammad Seymouri, marked the end of minor occultation and the beginning of the Major Occultation (Ghaibat al-Kubra). Till Allah the Almighty does not permit Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) to reappear, the major occultation will continue.

Today, we are living in the era of the major occultation in which, Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) has not appointed any special deputy. But he has also not abandoned us. For our religious problems and questions, he has appointed jurists (mujtahideen), bearing all the necessary conditions, as his proof upon us and has ordered us to refer to them. As per his command, it is essential that our lives should be in conformity with the edicts of the living mujtahid.

🍂 4) Benefit of Imam az-Zaman's Existence in Occultation

Presently, our Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) is in occultation. But it does not mean that he is living in an isolated place, far away from inhabitation.

Occultation means that people are not aware of his place of abode. Even when they see their Imam al-Mahdi (atfs), they do not recognize him. Imam al-Sadiq (as) says,

"يرونهُ و لا يعرفونه"

"They see him but do not recognize

him."3

But Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) sees the people and recognizes them too. He himself declares,

"None of your news is hidden from us. We are not negligent in your protection nor are we forgetful of your remembrance. Had it not been so, calamities would have descended upon you and enemies would have annihilated you."4

This proves that although Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) is hidden from the eyes of the people, he is aware of their conditions. Now, we can benefit from his existence just as people draw advantage from the sun when it is concealed behind the clouds. We can relate all our difficulties to him. At every step, we can reach out to him through our cries for help.

Just let us give it a try, and feel his hand reach unto us, notwithstanding the veil of occultation. One can find thousands of such incidents in reliable books when people have called out to Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) for help and he has come to their rescue.

🍂 5) Longevity

Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) was born in 255 A.H. Today the age of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) exceeds 1150 years. This is just his present age and his reappearance is still pending. The years after reappearance have also been discounted.

Perhaps some minds might pose the query, 'Is it possible for a man to live so long?'

The answer is a definite yes. Man can certainly attain longevity for the following reasons:

1) Till date, no limit has been fixed for human age, that after such and such age, man cannot or should not live.

2) There have been people who have lived even more than the present age of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs), like Hazrat Nuh (as) who propagated for 950 years before the famous deluge and his total age exceeded 2500 years.

3) Hazrat Khizr (as) and Hazrat Ilyas (as) continue to live till date.

4) Shaitan preceded Hazrat Adam (as) in existence and is still alive.

Imam Zaynal al-Abideen (as) says,

"In our Qa’im, is the tradition and

sign of Hazrat Nuh (as) and that

is his longevity."5

🍂 6) Awaiting

In the major occultation, an important duty is to await the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs). Imam al-Sadiq (as) relates from the Holy Prophet (S),

"أفضل أعمال أمتي انتظار الفرج"

"The best act of my nation is to

await the reappearance."6

Awaiting is an inner condition that we experience vis-à-vis our beloved. Our restlessness for the meeting with the beloved is directly proportionate with the presence of love in our hearts for him. If you are waiting for a guest, you will prepare yourself for his arrival by cleaning up the house and providing the necessities of his comfort. You will inform the people about his arrival and will exhort them to join you in welcoming him. More than the house, you will prepare your heart for his comfort, leisure and ease.

If such preparedness and restlessness is found in us, then we are truly awaiting for the guest. But if I am simply sleeping lazily, without feeling the need for any preparation and readiness, then such an awaiting is nothing more than lip service.

Those who are waiting for Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) are restless for his reappearance. They are preparing for his arrival by improving themselves and inviting others to change for the better. They are themselves learning religious laws and injunctions while making others also aware of their religious obligations. They are restless due to the delay in the reappearance. The occultation of their beloved Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) has snatched sleep from their eyes.

Imam Zaynal al-Abideen (as) has described the characteristics and importance of the one who awaits the reappearance thus,

"O Abu Khalid (Kabuli)! In the period of his occultation, those who believe in his Imamate, await his reappearance are the best people of all times. Allah the Almighty has endowed them with intellect , understanding and cognition to such an extent that occultation (of Imam) for them is as good as his presence.

They are equal (in status) to those who are fighting alongside the Prophet of Allah (S) with their swords. Certainly, these are the real believers and our true Shias and they call towards the path of Allah, openly and secretly."7

🍂 7) Duties and Responsibilities

It is clear now as to how important it is to await for the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) and how great is the status and position of those who await. Also, it is a reality that as the level increases, responsibilities and duties increase too. Although there are a number of responsibilities of a believer during the major occultation, we shall mention a few important ones hereunder, keeping brevity into consideration.

🍂 a) Recognition of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs)

By recognition, historical knowledge and information is not what is implied. Rather, it means to be aware of those levels, perfection and authority that has been granted to Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) by Allah the Almighty. If we believe in these, then we will be sure that he is definitely keeping a watch on all our actions, every single one of them. He rules on each and every particle of this world. The entire universe is subject to his command. Only then will we refrain from sins and seek refuge and help from him for all our difficulties.

🍂 b) Improvement in deeds

We cannot see Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) with our sinful eyes but he, definitely, is observing us. If somebody really believes that he is constantly being watched by Imam al-Mahdi (atfs), he will keep away from quite a few sins. Good deeds are the only way to gain proximity and nearness to Imam al-Mahdi (atfs). And who does not desire to be nearer to his Imam (a.s.)? He (atfs) himself has admonished us,

"Then each one of you should act in such a way that your deeds bring you closer to our love, and refrain from all those actions that will bring you nearer to our wrath and anger."8

🍂 c) Reformation of the Society

To rectify and improve our society, i.e. our children, brothers, sisters, relatives, friends, acquaintances, etc. is also our responsibility. For, it is essential that the ground be prepared for the reappearance.

Imam Hasan al-Askari (as) says,

"An orphan is he who loses his father. But greater than him is he who has become distanced from his Imam and does not have access to him . He is not aware of his responsibilities and obligations. Among our Shias, one who is knowledgeable of our traditions and knowledge, should teach this Shia who is ignorant and unaware, and guide him. It is as if he has sheltered and nourished an orphan. Yes, the one who guides him and teaches him our religious laws, will be with us in the highest grades of paradise."9

🍂 d) Supplication (Dua)

Supplication is a weapon of the believer through which he repels calamities and encounters difficulties. He attains his desires with its help. The reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) and his being safe from all evils and calamities is the heartfelt desire of every believer. One of the rights that he (as) enjoys upon us is that we should pray for him, first and foremost, in our supplications and invocations.

Naturally, we always pray for that thing first which enjoys utmost significance in our eyes. Nobody is greater than Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) nor is anything more important than his reappearance. It is necessary that after every Salat (prayer), our first supplication be in favor of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs).

We must begin and end our day with the prayers for the reappearance of our beloved Imam (as). Although there are a number of invocations for Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) like Dua al-Nudbah, which should be recited on Fridays, etc. we shall suffice here with only two important supplications for him.

🍂 (a) In every Salat (prayer), especially in obligatory prayers, we should recite the following invocation in the Qunoot. This is also called as Dua al-Salaamati.

اَللّـهُمَّ كُنْ لِوَلِيِّكَ الْحُجَّةِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ صَلَواتُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلى آبائِه في هذِهِ السَّاعَةِ وَفي كُلِّ ساعَة وَلِيّاً وَحافِظاً وَقائِداً وَناصِراً وَدَليلاً وَعَيْنا حَتّى تُسْكِنَهُ اَرْضَكَ طَوْعاً وَتُمَتِّعَهُ فيها طَويلاً

🍂 (b) After Salat (prayer) al-Subh (morning prayers), we must recite the brief Dua al-Ahd. It is a salutation, a covenant and a supplication, all put together.

اللّهُمَّ بَلِّغْ مَولايَ صاحِبَ الزَّمانِ صَلواتُ الله عَلَيْهِ عَنْ جَمِيعِ المُؤْمِنِينَ وَالمُؤْمِناتِ فِي مَشارِقِ الاَرْضِ وَمَغارِبِها وَبَرِّها وَبَحْرِها وَسَهْلِها وَجَبَلِها، حَيِّهِمْ وَمَيِّتِهِمْ وَعَنْ وَالِدَيَّ وَوُلْدِي وَعَنِّي مِنَ الصَّلَواتِ وَالتَّحِياتِ زِنَةَ عَرْشِ الله وَمِدادَ كَلِماتِهِ وَمُنْتَهى رِضاهُ وَعَدَدَ ما أحْصاهُ كِتابُهُ وَأَحاطَ بِهِ عِلْمُهُ، اللّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُجَدِّدُ لَهُ فِي هذا اليَوْمِ وَفِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ عَهْداً وَعَقْداً وَبَيْعَةً فِي رَقَبَتِي، اللّهُمَّ كَما شَرَّفْتَنِي بِهذا التَّشْرِيفِ وَفَضَّلْتَنِي بِهِذِهِ الفَضِيلَةِ وَخَصَصْتَنِي بِهِذِهِ النِّعْمَةِ فَصَلِّ عَلى مَوْلايَ وَسَيِّدِي صاحِبِ الزَّمانِ، وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أَنْصارِهِ وَأَشْياعِهِ وَالذَّابِّينَ عَنْهُ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ المُسْتَشْهَدِينَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ طائِعاً غَيْرَ مُكْرَهٍ فِي الصَفِّ الَّذِي نَعَتَّ أَهْلَهُ فِي كِتابِكَ، فَقُلْتَ: صَفّا كَأَنَّهُمْ بُنْيانٌ مَرْصوصٌ عَلى طاعَتِكَ وَطاعَةِ رَسُولِكَ وَآلِهِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ ؛ اللّهُمَّ هذِهِ بَيْعَةٌ لَهُ فِي عُنُقِي إِلى يَوْمِ القِيامَةِ

🍂 (e) Sadaqah

When a person knows and likes somebody from the depth of his heart, he wishes him well and desires his safety from all evils and calamities. He prays for his wellbeing and health. He gives sadaqah for his safety and protection.

Praying or giving sadaqah does not mean that the concerned person is afflicted with calamities. Rather, it is an expression of our love for him. The more we love him, the more will be our invocations and sadaqah in his favor.

Today, who is more deserving to be loved and be attached with than the holy persona of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs)? Can a believer’s heart love anybody else more than him? To pray for Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) and to give sadaqah for his safety is an expression of our love for him. In the ta’qeebaat of the obligatory prayers, it has been emphasized to recite Ayat al-Kursi for the safety and security of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs).

🍂 (f) Seeking of Desires

Allah the Almighty has appointed the infallible Imams (as) as the media and doors for approaching Him. Presently, Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) is that door through whom Allah is approached. The Holy Quran says,

وَلِلَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا ۖ وَذَرُوا الَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِي أَسْمَائِهِ ۚ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

And Allah's are the best names, therefore call on Him thereby, and leave alone those who violate the sanctity of His names; they shall be recompensed for what they did.

Surah al-A'raaf

(7:180)

In the interpretation of this verse, traditions say that good names in the verse implies the infallible Imams (pbbuta) and that we should call Allah through them.10

Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) is the Door of Allah and His Name. If we plead to Allah through this all-important medium, our supplications will be accepted. Besides, it is the sincere desire of every father or every elder that the youngsters of the family approach him for their needs and that he fulfils them. Particularly, when he is in a position of power and authority. The elders feel great joy in fulfilling the needs of the youngsters.

Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) is our father, elder and the master of all bounties. Today, it is an important duty for us that we present our difficulties to him for their solution.

Unfortunately, we speak of our problems to everybody but to that Imam who is able to provide its remedies within no time.

The Holy Prophet (S) says,

"Whenever you get entangled in some difficulty, then seek refuge in the presence of Hazrat Hujjat (atfs) and invoke him. He will save you and grant you salvation. He answers the needy. He is the refuge of anybody who seeks refuge in him."11

🍂 (8) Meeting

Today, we are living in the times of the major occultation but it does not imply that all the doors leading to Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) have been shunted. Direct visitation is possible only on account of his grace. Nobody can arrange a meeting with him unilaterally (without Imam's consent). There have been some extremely fortunate people who had the honor and grace of a direct meeting with their master, Imam al-Mahdi (atfs).

Consequently, their problems were solved. Reliable books have mentioned the incidents of these fortunate ones. This was regarding apparent, physical visitation. As far a s heart to he art rendezvous is concerned, the possibility always exists for everybody. The heart is aware of the path to the sought one. For heartily contact, words are not required. Rather, its beats translate into the most effective of words. A broken heart narrates a thousand incidents in a few seconds. In Dua al-Nudbah, we cry,

بِنَفْسِي أَنْتَ مِنْ مُغَيَّبٍ لَمْ يَخْلُ مِنّا بِنَفْسِي أَنْتَ مِنْ نازِحٍ مانَزَحَ عَنّا

"May our lives be sacrificed on him who is distanced from the eyes but the hearts are not devoid of him. He is physically far from us but his remembrance and memories are not distant from our gatherings."

🍂 (9) Time of Reappearance

There is no doubt that one day certainly Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) will reappear from the Holy Ka'bah. A heavenly voice will announce his advent to one and all. There will not be any place on earth where the voice of this announcement will not reach. Of course, none knows that when this reappearance will actually occur. Its knowledge is only and only with Allah and none else. The holy Prophet (S) says,

"The reappearance of Mahdi will be like resurrection which will be very heavy for the heavens as well as for the earth. It will be sudden, unexpected."12

We cannot fix the time of reappearance but can advance it with our incessant and unceasing invocations and supplications. Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) exhorts,

"Pray more for the reappearance

for in it lies your salvation."13

🍂 (10) The Companions of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs)

We all desire earnestly and fervently to be included among the companions of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs). Every believer aspires to help the Imam of his time. There is no status or fortune higher than this for him.

More than nearly fourteen hundred years after his friends achieved martyrdom in Karbala while defending the Imam of their time, Imam Hussain (as), Prophets, Messengers, successors, angels, martyrs, witnesses, the truthful ones, and even the Almighty Allah Himself, continue to send incessant blessings and salutations on them.

The door of helping and assisting the Imam of the time is not closed. We too can be among the helpers and supporters of the Imam of our time. Traditions have talked about the characteristics of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) helpers.

If these attributes and traits are found in us, then a million thanks to the Almighty, and we should pray for their betterment and improvement by the day (both quantitatively as well as qualitatively). But if these characteristics are not found in us, or if some are found and others are not, then we should supplicate to Allah the Mighty and the Wise that he adorns us with these attributes, for the sake of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs). Some of these characteristics and attributes are as follows:

• They are devout and highly religious

individuals.

• Their hearts are overflowing with the

love of their Imam al-Mahdi (atfs).

• They are nice and decent.

• They are concealed like mines of

treasures in the earth.

• In their certitude, they are stronger

than steel; if they pass by mountain,

they will render it into pieces.

• They fight only for divine pleasure;

any opponent who stands against them,

bites the dust.

• They are not cowed down by criticism

and censure.14

🍂 11) Advent and Government

When Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) arrives, the world will be a completely different place. Every particle will rejoice at his advent. Hazrat Esa (as) will descend from the fourth heaven and perform Salat (prayer) behind him. Self-sacrificing, pious, devout, religious and sincere believers will gather around Imam al-Mahdi (atfs).

They will form circles around him, with him sitting right in the middle, like a moon encircled with stars. He will reappear from Mecca and make Kufa his capital. The entire world will be under the rule of true Islam and the standard of Tawhid will be hoisted in the universe. Polytheism, disbelief, hypocrisy and their like will be uprooted from the face of the earth. Justice, equity, brotherhood and fraternity will be the order of the day.

Traditions have painted the picture of his reappearance beautifully. We shall mention a few special characteristics of his reappearance hereunder:

🍂 (a) Justice and Equity

Numerous traditions contain the following sentence,

"يملأ الأرض قسطاً وعدلاً كما ملئت جوراً وظلماً"

"He will fill the earth with justice and equity as it would be fraught with injustice and oppression."

Today, whatever oppression or injustice we are witnessing in any form whatsoever, will be totally annihilated. Justice, and sheer justice, will prevail. The deeply felt prayer of humanity will be actualized with the reappearance. The efforts of the Prophets (pbbuta) and the Messengers (pbbuta) will yield fruits with the establishment of justice.

🍂 (b) Honor For Religion

Religion will be honored in the government of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs). It will be implemented with all its minute details. The Holy Quran will dominate the universe. All those religious injunctions that have been forgotten or distorted will regain their original practical form and every one will act on them. In the salwaat of Friday, we find,

"O Allah! Enliven through him those laws of Your religion that have been destroyed. Grant a fresh lease of life to those sciences of Qur’an that have been forgotten . Manifest through him those laws that have been distorted. Till Your Religion appears in its original and pure form at his hands."15

🍂 (c) Unity and Harmony

One of the most serious maladies of our society is mutual discord and disharmony. Capabilities are destroyed. Assets are rendered useless. Respect and honor is ground to dust. Houses are divided and families are torn to shreds. All because of a single ailment - disunity and factionalism. But after the reappearance, all this will change. Factions will unite on one platform. In Dua al-Nudbah, we read,

"أيْنَ جامِعُ الْكَلِمَةِ عَلَى التَّقْوى"

"Where is the one who will gather

the people on piety and devotion?"

🍂 (d) Freshness and Greenness

Traditions have prophesied that when Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) reappears, the earth will throw up all its treasures. It will be green and vibrant. There won't remain any piece of land that will be dry and barren. The earth will gain new life and there will be vitality and vigor everywhere. Grains and fruits will be in immeasurable abundance. In one ziyarat, we salute Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) with the following sentence,

"السلام عليك يا ربيع الأنام ونضرة الأيام"

"Peace be on you, O spring of creation

and brightness of days."

🍂 (e) Perfection of Intellect

Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) will not only enliven the earth and extricate its hidden treasures but he will infuse new life into hearts, restore capabilities and perfect intellects. Traditions have prophesied,

"When Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) reappears, he will gently stroke the heads of the people by which their intellects will become complete and perfect."16

Ameerul Mu’mineen ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (as), in the first sermon of Nahjal Balagha, while explaining the aim of sending the Prophets and Messengers (pbbuta), states,

"...that they may extricate the hidden

treasures of the intellects..."

Therefore, the advent of Imam al-Mahdi (atfs) will mark the realization of the aim of sending of divine emissaries. Moreover, he will also avenge the blood of Imam Hussain (as). All those who killed him, oppressed him or were satisfied at these oppressions will be the targets of his sword.

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🍂🍁🍂 Sources 🍂🍁🍂

1. Taryaaq al-Quloob, (page. 15)

2. Bihar al-Anwar, (23/76)

3. Muntakhab al-Asar,

(part. 2, ch. 38, pg. 301)

4. Bihar al-Anwar, (vol. 53, ch. 31)

5. Kamaal al-deen, (vol. 2, pg. 524)

6. Kamaal al-deen, (vol. 2, pg. 644)

7. Kamaal al-deen, (ch. 31, had. 2)

8. Bihar al-Anwar, (vol. 53, pg. 181)

9. Tafseer Imam Hasan al-Askari (as),