Leto

It's horrible what is being done to these people and others in North Iraq. Someone should put these ISIS animals down once and for all.

Thanks for sharing this book!

My blog with personal texts and reflections: http://sarastro-lucis.tumblr.com/

The Pope has spoken out against American plans to invade Syria in the past. It is nonsense to believe that the Catholic Church is allied to Western politics. About Stalin and the Pope: the role of John Paul II in the collapse of communism is quite famous and well-known really.

This week I've read the book "The Perfect Man" by Ayatullah Murthada Mutahhari as Imam Ali as a perfect example of ethics. What a brilliant book about philosophical anthropology!

Thank you! I am very happy that you like it. I've decided to put the poem on a blog site ( http://sarastro-lucis.tumblr.com ) and sign it with the pen name "Sarastro Lucis", simply to be able to sign the poem without having to give my own name. You are free to share the poem as you see fit but please put the pen name underneath it. :) Thank you for your reaction! No at the moment I am not a Shia. But when I study the Ahlulbayt my souls burns with a great joy and so I want to express this love to them in my own limited way. But who knows what the future holds. :)

Thank you. I am happy you appreciate my writing. :)

The second poem I wrote. I just like to share it with you without pretending that it would have any special merit. This poem is inspired by my contemplation of the person of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (as) and the peace that gives to my soul. My soul contemplates Lady Al-Zahra (as) As I walked the roads of many lands, I saw the beggars of this world stretching out their hands, People desiring wealth and glory they can possess, believing their happiness lies in wealth and fine dress. Long have I ponderd which way to follow, for the promises of this world often prove hollow. Power, might and riches cannot bring true light, the rulers of this world destroy each other for vain might. But when all seemed dark there appeared a radiance so strong, shining forth from the place where all souls belong. It is the light of a Sun not from this earth, a treasure of the highest worth. It is the fragrance of a Flower nipped in the bud, a being too pure for this world's mud. A Lady whose virtuous light drives out all fears, for her passing the faithful still shed countless tears. Her Radiance was a beauty too great for this world to stand, and so her light was taken away to dwell in the Eternal Land. There she walks in gardens evergreen, leaving behind her children with the sure hope of their Deen. But still the rays of her love touch the faithful one, embracing his soul with her light under and upon. Filling the upright with chastity, love and strength, to follow his Lady to the Paradise she went. Now I know that by following this Radiance I will find the way, to stand firm on the Final Day. When all wrongs will be righted and judgements heard, and our Lady will once again walk this earth. -Leto

Just my primitive attempt to write a poem I inspired by my reading of the Nahjul-Balagha. :) My heart speaks to Imam Ali (as) I greet you o Light that shines from the East, of all the men who walked this world I am the least, Lacking am I of true piety and hence, my only hope is to hold myself to the pillar of your eloquence. I greet you o Light that shines through the ages, knowing that at the end God will pay us our just wages, It will be during that Day of righteous Judgement, that you will retake of all the faithful the command. I greet you o Light that shines in all lands, testifying that the fate of this world is in Gods hands, It is only in your words that true wisdom is kept, in your sayings is philosophy's true depth. O greet you Light that enlights every faithful home, who's body rests under Najaf's golden dome. Died by the betrayal of an unfaithful sword, you stand now in the glory of God's own Court. I greet you o Light that shines in the darkness, I mourn that your holy life has ended thus. But you were worth of a martyr's death, and so you teach us to escape this world's net, I greet you o Light that shines in my soul, because contemplating your words is my sole goal. And so I sing of your virtue in jubilation, and strive to cleanse myself through the way of emulation. -Leto

Ok; that explains something. :)

The good manners and eloquence of the Ahlulbayt is far removed from the attitude of the first post of this topic. This doesn't help any form of debate or dialogue.

It´s in the Bible in the book of Revelation which discusses the situation of Christians in the Roman Empire and was a message of encouragment to them.

666 refers to Emperor Nero, who was responsible for persecuting the Christians in Rome. All citizens of Rome where obliged to worship the emperor. The Christians refused to worship the emperor and so they were persecuted. The sign of the beast is the document someone would receive as proof that he had fulfilled his obligation to sacrifce to the emperor. This was called the sign of the beast because from the Christian perspective it proves that a person had lapsed into idolatry.

Thanks for the links to the lectures. I watched the first one of the ones by Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Ali Shomali, certainly very intestering. Great scholarship! God bless, Leto

Thank you for sharing this Baqar! Wonderful!