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The following hadith are presented to describe the knowledge of Imams from the pure progeny of the prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) that has been gifted to them by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) after the prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم).. The following hadith are taken from Al kafi and these have been graded authentic / reliable: 5 - أحمد بن إدريس، عن محمد بن عبد الجبار، عن محمد بن خالد، عن فضالة بن أيوب، عن عبد الله بن أبي يعفور قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: يا ابن أبي يعفور إن الله واحد متوحد بالوحدانية، متفرد بأمره، فخلق خلقا فقدرهم لذلك الامر فنحن هم يا ابن أبي يعفور فنحن حجج الله في عباده، وخزانه على علمه، والقائمون بذلك. H 490, Ch. 11, h 5, Vol 1 English Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Fudala ibn Ayyub from ‘Abdallh ibn ya‘fur who has said that Imam abu ‘Abdallh ((عليه السلام).) said him the following. "O ibn abu ya‘fur, Allah is One and is the only One in His Oneness. He alone issues His command. He created a creature and appointed and measured them for that command (Amr, task). We are, O ibn abu ya‘fur are that creature. We are the authority of Allah over His creatures, the treasurers of His knowledge and the guardians of it." Majlisi Sahih (باب) * (ان الأئمة ورثوا علم النبي وجميع الأنبياء والأوصياء) * * (الذين من قبلهم) * 1 - علي بن إبراهيم، عن أبيه، عن عبد العزيز بن المهتدي، عن عبد الله بن جندب أنه كتب إليه الرضا عليه السلام: أما بعد، فان محمدا صلى الله عليه وآله كان أمين الله في خلقه فلما قبض صلى الله عليه وآله كنا أهل البيت ورثته، فنحن أمناء الله في أرضه ، عندنا علم البلايا والمنايا، وأنساب العرب ، ومولد الاسلام، وإنا لنعرف الرجل إذا رأيناه بحقيقة الايمان، وحقيقة النفاق، وإن شيعتنا لمكتوبون بأسمائهم وأسماء آبائهم، أخذ الله علينا وعليهم الميثاق، يردون موردنا ويدخلون مدخلنا، ليس على ملة الاسلام غيرناوغيرهم، نحن النجباء النجاة، ونحن أفراط الأنبياء ونحن أبناء الأوصياء، ونحن المخصوصون في كتاب الله عز وجل، ونحن أولى الناس بكتاب الله، ونحن أولى الناس برسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله، ونحن الذين شرع الله لنا دينه فقال في كتابه: " شرع لكم (يا آل محمد) من الدين ما وصى به نوحا (قد وصانا بما وصى به نوحا) والذي أوحينا إليك (يا محمد) وما وصينا به إبراهيم وموسى وعيسى (فقد علمنا وبلغنا علم ما علمنا واستودعنا علمهم نحن ورثة اولي العزم من الرسل) أن أقيموا الدين (يا آل محمد) ولا تتفرقوا فيه (وكونوا على جماعة) كبر على المشركين (من أشرك بولاية علي) ما تدعوهم إليه (من ولاية علي) إن الله (يا محمد) يهدي إليه من ينيب " من يجيبك إلى ولاية علي عليه السلام. H 598, Ch. 33, h 1, (Vol 1 English) Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn al-Muhtadi from ‘Adallah ibn Jundab to who Imam al-Rida ((عليه السلام).) wrote the following. "Thereafter, (thanking Allah) Muhammad (s.a.) was the trustee of Allah for His creatures. When he was taken away from this world we, Ahl al-Bayt inherited him, thus, we are the trustees of Allah over His earth. With us is the knowledge of the sufferings, the death, the genealogy of the Arabs and the birth of Islam. We know the man when we see him in the truth of faith or hypocrisy. Our followers (Shi‘a) are listed (with us) by their names and the names of their fathers. Allah has established a covenant with them and with us. They land wherever we would do so and enter wherever we would enter. There is no besides us and our followers as living the Islamic culture. We are the noble saviors and the descendants of the prophets and of the children of the successors of the prophets. We the ones to whom the book of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has come exclusively. We, of all people, have the first priority (closeness) to the book of Allah. We, of all people, have the first priority (closeness) to the Messenger of Allah. For us He formed His religion. "He has established for you (family of Muhammad) a form of religion which is of the commands to Noah {we are commanded with whatever Noah was commanded}. It is of the mattes that We have revealed to you (Muhammad) and of the commands to Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus to follow.{We have taught and preached the knowledge that was taught to us. We were given the knowledge of these prophets. We are the heirs of the commissioned Messengers}. (He has explained it) so that you (family of Muhammad) would be steadfast and united (all in a united group) in your religion. What you call the polytheists {polytheists in the acknowledgement of the Divine authority of Imam Ali ((عليه السلام).} to{the acknowledgement of the Divine authority of Imam Ali ((عليه السلام).}is extremely grave for them. God {O Muhammad} attracts to (the religion) whomever He wants and guides to it whoever turns to Him in repentance." (42:13) Majlisi صحيح مجلسي (3/11) ..........Contd.

HELP FROM OTHER THAN ALLAH? This debate, in the Shia community, is an unnecessarily controversial topic. You can find the description of this dilemma under various headings, the most famous of which is “Is saying Yā ʿAlī Madad allowed in Islam?” Is it shirk (association of partners with Allah), bidʿah (innovation in religion), mustaḥabb (recommended) or ḥarām (prohibited)? Many people resort to asking the Marājiʿ , seeking their fatāwā’ (jurisprudential ruling) on this matter. Some resort to their own whims and opinions, without caring or bothering to research, investigate, and peruse the Islamic literature on this matter. Among those who choose the more difficult of the three paths, i.e., to search for truth by investigation and research (taḥqīq), are two factions. First are those with confirmation bias who only set out to find proofs that fortify their claim, while ignoring or misinterpreting any evidence against their argument—these people are actually not looking for the truth, they have already made up their minds as to what the truth is, and won’t be convinced no matter how obvious and in their face the reality is. It is very hard for a person who is firmly rooted in a certain belief system to change his/her mindset, and if Allāh leaves them wandering in their rebellion, then not even the Prophet ﷺ can guide them. [7:186] The second group is constituted by actual skeptics who are willing to stand corrected when the argument presents itself in front of them, and strive to the best of their capability to remain logical and unbiased in their research. Āyatullāh Sayyid Kamāl al-Ḥaydarī said in one of his lectures: “When you or I read history, we seek to take what supports and establishes the correctness of our creed, sect, and religion, (i.e., what we already believe), however, if we put these biased glasses on, we will not reach the truth. Therefore, the search for truth must be more important than belonging to a sect or religion. Let the focus of your research be upon the truth. It may be that what you find is congruent with the religion you are convinced about, and it could also be that what you are convinced about is contrary to the truth. Akhbārī seeks to establish Akhbāriyyah, Uṣūlī seeks to establish Uṣūliyyah, philosophers seek to establish philosophy, ʿIrfāni seeks to establish ʿIrfān. If this is your focus, then rest assured you are not searching for the truth. Memorize this statement: ‘The search for truth is more important than belonging’—this is what we are calling for when we call towards logic (mantiq), i.e., we must find that you exhibit a logic geared toward the search for truth, not a logic which seeks to support whatever you are already upon.” WHERE TO SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH? The answer is clear-cut and straightforward. The Qur’ān should be any Muslim’s first point of reference whenever researching religion. The first question that should arise in a believer’s mind regarding Allāh’s decree or order is, “What does the Book of Allāh say?” George Tarabishi, a Syrian writer, has reportedly said that the reason why Muslims have become as debased and impotent as they have, is because they have left the Islām of the Qur’ān and accepted the Islām of ḥadīth. Regardless of what state the rest of the ummah­ is in, this notion most certainly holds true for the majority of the Twelver Shias today. The approach towards religion, for centuries, in the Shīʿī school of thought has been a traditional (ḥadīth-based) one. The practice of most turbaned scholars nowadays is to read the ḥadīth books, pick out traditions that support their cause, and feed them to the masses, without caring in the least to verify, at least, the chain of narrators first. How would they? Most are not even adept in ʿilm ar-rijāl (the study of people who transmitted/reported sayings from the holy Prophet ﷺ or the Imāms). Even if some of them do bother to verify the chain, they still fail on the second, and perhaps the most important step, which is to test the veridicality of the narration upon established principles from the verses of the holy Qur’ān. No matter how strong the chain of narrators is, if the narration opposes the Qur’ān, it should be thrown away, because whatever is from the Infallibles (عليه السلام) can never contradict the word of Allāh. In Mu’jam Rijāl al-Ḥadīth, Imām ʿAlī ar-Riḍā (عليه السلام) has confirmed the above methodology. However, most modern scholars have a converse approach: They study the corpus of narrations and subsequently read the Qur’ān, interpreting the verses according to the ḥadīth perspective. What they are doing is trying to make the Qur’ān comply with what they have already established from the narrations. Such a reading of the Book is close to fabricating lies against Allāh and His Messenger ﷺ. Then who is more unjust than [the one] who invents a lie about Allāh to mislead the people without knowledge? Indeed Allah does not guide the transgressors [6:144]. Hence, our methodology for this research will be primarily based upon clear (muḥkam) verses from the Qur’ān, and ḥadīth shall only be relied upon if it conforms to the Book. This is important because, the Qu’ān is “Furqān” or “Criterion” that separates truth from falsehood [2:185] [3:4] [25:1]. And truth has become distinct from error [2:256]. THE QUR’ĀN It’s harrowing how this explicit verse is still not enough to shatter the arguments that our fellow Shias come up with. Despite having memorized “You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help” [1:5] since childhood and hopefully reciting the verse at least 10 times a day in our daily prayers, it seems like we haven’t understood the message of it (and how clear a message it is!). The verse declares that worship is for Allāh alone—this is because of the use of the word “iyyāka”. If the verse said “We worship you” (as opposed to the usage of ‘only’ or ‘alone’), then the wording would have been different; Allāh could have revealed, “نَعْبُدُكَ وَ نَسْتَعِيْنُكَ”, which would translate to “We worship you and seek help from you.” But no! The word “إياك” has reserved the act of worship for Allah alone, without exception. This is clear to every believing Muslim, and is the fundamental pillar of Islām, i.e., tawḥīd. The rejection of other deities and gods as unworthy of worship is the very foundation of this monotheistic religion. But what most of us often choose to forget is that the same reservation and restriction is placed, without any distinction, to the act of seeking help. Both the phrases are separated only by a “و” (and). The import of the verse would have not changed had Allāh chosen to omit the second “إياك”, that means, the Qur’ān could have said, “You alone we worship and seek help from.” The meaning is not that different, is it? So, what is the need to add another “iyyāka” before “nastaʿīnu”? The reason is right in front of you. It is to put emphasis on the “You only/alone” part. “Seeking help” is very similar to the act of “worship” in the manner that both are reserved, by how this verse reads, for Allāh, and no one else. Here comes the layman Shia’s first question: “That seems illogical, how can it be said that “seeking/asking for help” is reserved for Allāh alone? Do we not seek help from other human beings like family, friends, doctors, teachers, strangers, and so on? Are we then flouting and violating an Islamic law by seeking help from the creation of Allāh, while it is reserved for the Creator alone?” This question is insincere, and only asked by those who want to defend their practice of saying “Yā ʿAlī madad” or “Yā Ḥusayn madad” to the very last breath. The answer to this question is very simple, “Asking for help from anyone who is alive and present in front of you is allowed and unproblematic, but seeking assistance from someone who is behind the curtain of ghayb is prohibited, because ghaybī assistance is from Allāh alone.” A counter that opponents of this argument often come up with is, “But the Prophet (S) and his Ahlulbayt (عليه السلام) are all alive, just like those killed in the way of Allāh (martyrs/shuhadā’). Doesn’t the Qur’ān say, “Do not call those slain in Allah’s way ‘dead’. No, they are living, but you are not aware. [2:154] …they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision [3:169]”?” First of all, most scholars opine that this realm of existence or state of living is not the same as ours, but it is barzakh. This will be confirmed if you refer to Tafsīr al-Mīzān for the above verses. Secondly, the verse still doesn’t legitimize or vindicate seeking help from martyrs because of the simple fact that even if alive, they are not present in front of us, but are on the other side of the curtain of ghayb, and therefore, seeking help from them would be disobedience in light of the verses of the Qur’ān. Moreover, they themselves are dependent on Allāh for their provision. In sūrah al-Baqarah, Allāh says, “And seek help through patience and prayer. And indeed, it is difficult except for the humble ones—who are certain they will meet their Lord and they will return to him.” [2:45-46] A very similar verse is found later on in the same sūrah: The phrase “ٱستعينواْ بٱالصبر وٱلصلوة” appears in both the verses. Patience and prayer are listed as the means or methods of seeking help. The verb for help is “astaʿīnu”—same as the one in sūrah al-Fātiḥah. In verse 153, Allāh is explicitly addressing “those who believe”, however, in the verse 45, Allāh is addressing Banī Isrā’īl (The Children of Israel). From the context of both verses, it can be understood that the teaching is not specific to Children of Israel, but even if someone ignorant enough does come up with the objection, the latter verse (153) clarifies the matter. Verse 45 is just a continuation of Allāh’s commandments to Banī Isrā’īl that begin from verse 40, which includes upholding covenants, believing in Allāh’s revelations, establishing and bowing down in prayer, paying the charity (zakāh), etc. The succeeding verses are also addressed to the same nation. A believer’s prayer is established when his niyyah (intention) is khāliṣ (pure), that is, to seek nearness to Allāh, his Lord and Sustainer (qurbatan ilallāh). Allāh continues, “and it is difficult except for the humble ones”—“it” refers to the act of prayer or “ṣalāh”. Clearly, prayer is the ultimate representation of complete submission to one’s Lord, when one bows down and then prostrates to Him, he admits his weakness to his Lord, who is the Almighty and All-Powerful. The believer is always in need of help from his rabb. Prayer is where a believer is humbled, as Allāh says in sūrah al-Mu’minūn, “Certainly the believers will have succeeded. Those who are humble in their prayer” [23:1-2]. Allāh repudiates those who are negligent of prayer and do good deeds only to show off: “So woe to those who pray [but] are heedless of their prayer. Those who make a show of their deeds.” [107:4-6] It is clear how humbly standing in prayer in front of Allāh is one of the best ways to seek help from Allāh. The second way mentioned in the verses is through “patience”. Patience is an exemplary trait in a human being that makes any hardship possible to overcome. It would seem that the believers, by being patient, have helped themselves, out of their own ability, but that is where verse 153 corrects you, “Indeed Allah is with those who are patient”—so even when the believers are being patient in the face of hardships, Allāh is with them. This confirms that the source of help is Allāh alone, in all cases! It could be said that on the basis of these verses that ṣabr and ṣalāh are two “wasā’il” of receiving divine assistance and support. The import of these verses is crystal even from a superficial reading, and does not need much clarification, as the meaning is not of an esoteric or arcane nature. However, just to supplement our argument, let’s take a narration from al-Kāfī, as mentioned in al-Mīzan fī Tafsīr al-Qur’ān by ʿAllāmah Ṭabāṭabā’ī: Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq said: “Whenever ʿAlī ((عليه السلام).) faced a difficulty, he used to stand up for the prayer and then recite this verse…” and also, “When a man is confronted by a hard misfortune, he should fast. Surely Allāh says: and seek help through patience, that is, fast.” Here, the Imām ((عليه السلام).) has interpreted ṣabr as “fast” or “ṣawm”. The tafsīr mentioned in this ḥadīth does not contradict the matn of the Qur’ān because fasting certainly requires a lot of patience. Hence, a wasīlah of seeking recourse other than prayer is fasting. Verse 46 says that the humble ones are “those who are certain that they will meet their Lord and return to him.”—this clause is important, as we’ll explain next: The translation of the above verses of the same chapter 2, al-Baqarah, [2:155-157] is: “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, and give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allāh and indeed to Him we will return. Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy and it is those who are rightly guided.” These verses tie up beautifully with [1:5], [2:45], and [2:153]. In al-Fātiḥah, we are taught to ask Allāh for help, and what help did we ask Him for?—“Guide us to the straight path” [1:6]. We’re asking for “guidance”. Allah’s guidance is to be found in His Book, which is a guidance for the godwary [2:3]. He ((سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى).) taught us to seek recourse through praying and observing patience (or fasting, acc. to tradition) in verses 45 and 153, where he also said, “إن الله مع الصابرين“. In the verses under discussion, He (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) has detailed who the الصابرين are. He (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) says that the believers will be tested with fear, hunger, monetary loss, death, fruits, etc. but also instructs his Prophet ﷺ to bear good news for the “patient” ones. What are the characteristics of those people? They patiently remember their Lord in times of affliction and calamity, remembering that their return is to Allāh, therefore the calamities of this world are trivial compared to those of the Hereafter. It is this remembrance of the day of Judgment that helps them stay patient in the face of adversity, because they are certain they will meet their Lord [2:46]. Such are the people who are helped by Allāh, and upon whom are blessings from their Lord [2:157]. There you have the guidance you asked for in al-Fātiḥah! Hence, is is those who are rightly guided. The 62nd verse of Surah An-Naml (27) is a cogent argument for all believers who exercise their reason. It is a rhetorical question or challenge to people who invoke or call upon anyone besides Allāh from among his creation. The translation is: Who answers the distressed when he calls Him and removes evil and appoints you as inheritors of the earth? Is there a god with Allāh? Little do you remember! If anyone other than Allāh could possibly answer you and remove your distress, then would not this challenge of Allāh become pointless (astaghfirullāh!)? Imām ʿAlī (عليه السلام) and Rasūlullāh ﷺ are clearly separate from Allāh and are His creations. They are not gods, that is true, and no Shīʿī believes that. All of the anbiya’ and ‘awliyā are His righteous servants whose only purpose is to guide us to the right path. They do not have a share in Allāh’s creation or might. They do not control the atoms of the universe. Therefore, when you call upon them in times of need, you are actually countering Allāh’s argument in the above verse. To boil it down for the layman in simple terms, what you are implying is: “Yes, O’ Allāh, apart from You, there are some creations of Yours who can answer us when we call them, and can remove our adversities, difficulties and problems.” Allāh: “Is there a God with Allāh?” You: “No, my Lord, they are not gods, but You have created them and appointed them as intermediaries. They can only hear our call and respond to us with Your permission. They are not indepentent of You, rather they are a wasīlah to You!” This is the typical Shīʿah argument, which is, unfortunately, often even put forward by pseudo-scholars who occupy the pulpit and address majālis consisting of hundreds and thousands of laymen who only know how to applaud the “mawlānā” or “dhākir” no matter what ghuluww or kurf they may be insinuating. Allāh answers this first in Sūrah al-Isrā’: Verses 56-57: Say: “Invoke those whom you claim besides Him, for they neither have power to remove your adversity nor bring change. They (themselves) are those who call and seek means to their Lord, whoever is nearer, expecting His mercy and fearing His punishment. Indeed your Lord’s punishment is to beware of. Lo! You were claiming that the prophets and Imāms have been given power by Allāh to hear you (even when they are in ghayb or deceased) but Allāh refuted you and negated your argument. If this verse talked about idols, then verse 57 would be meaningless because idols do not call upon Allāh or seek wasīlah to Him, or seek His nearness or fear His punishment. Therfore, it is proven that those whom “you claim besides Him” are clearly living creatures who pray to their Lord and fear His punishment. Was this not the exemplary behavior of all the prophets, Imāms and His righteous servants? You claimed that the prophets and Imāms themselves are a wasīlah to Allāh! That is why you were calling them. The argument you put forward is that you call upon these servants of Allāh because they are nearer to their Lord and therefore, will intercede for you in your supplications. But what did Allāh say? Read the āyāt again. "لا يملكون" means no power/control. Allāh again refutes the same argument in Sūrah Fāṭir: And those whom you call besides Him do not control even as much as the husk of a date stone. If you call them, they do not hear your call, and if they heard they would not respond to you. And on the day of qiyāmah will deny your shirk [35:13-14] The translation is clear. Those whom you invoke are creations who have not been given a share in Allāh’s power to control anything, they are nothing but dependent servants of Allāh. They can not even control a thing as small and insignificant as the husk of a date-seed, so how can they solve your problems? This verse, again, is not talking about the idols worshipped by idolaters, because of the words, “and if they heard, they would not respond to you”—we all know idols can not hear in the first place, so there was no need for Allāh to say “and if they heard”. Neither are idols conscious, sentient, speaking entities who possess intellect. That is why, it is only fitting that those who, on the day of qiyāmah will deny your shirk are righteous servants of Allāh, like the awliyā’, the angels or the prophets. Verse [27:62] when talking about calling Allāh, used the phrase: “Is there a god with Allāh” and this verse says “will deny your shirk”—hold on! But we never worshipped the Imāms or considered them to be gods, we only called upon them to help us—that is what the layman says. However, in Allāh’s eyes, this is shirk. Say: “Have you not considered your partners whom you call besides Allāh. Show me what have they created from the earth. Do they have partnership (with Him) in the heavens or have we given them a book so they are on evidence from it? No, rather the wrongdoers promise one another nothing but delusion.” [35:40] Are Imāms the creators? (naʿūdhubillāh) No! Are they Allāh’s partners in the skies/heavens? No! Have they been given a book containing evidence that you can call upon them? No! This is how the āyah can be applied to our current belief. The istighāthā defendant replies: “But the Prophet ﷺ was given a book. In fact, it is the very book you are quoting from, Allāh’s last and best book, the Qur’ān! So we can call upon him, right?” This is illogical. Yes, the Prophet ﷺ has been given a book, but is there any “evidence from it” that he ﷺ can answer your supplication? Do not take one part of the verse and ignore the other. In fact, Allāh says to His Rasūl ﷺ: Say: I have no power to harm or benefit myself, except as God wills [10:49] Say, “I have no control over any benefit or harm to myself, except as God wills. Had I known the future, I would have acquired much good, and no harm would have touched me. I am only a warner, and a herald of good news to a people who believe.” [7:188] If God touches you with adversity, none can remove it except He. And if He touches you with good—He is Capable of everything. [6:17] Do you not know that to Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth? And besides Allah, you do not have any guardian or helper. [2:107] Allāh strengthens whomever He wishes with His help. There is indeed a moral in that for those who have insight. [3:13] Indeed, Allāh is your Master, and He is the best of helpers [3:150] If Allāh helps you, no one can overcome you, but if He forsakes you, who will help you after Him? So in Allāh let all the faithful put their trust. [3:160] A similar argument is also found in Sūrah al-Aḥqāf: Say, ‘Tell me about those you invoke besides Allah. Show me what [part] of the earth have they created. Do they have any share in the heavens? Bring me a scripture [revealed] before this, or some vestige of [divine] knowledge, if you are truthful.’ (4) Who is more astray than him who invokes besides Allah such [entities] as would not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection, and who are oblivious of their invocation? [46:4-5] And your Lord says, “Call upon me, I will respond to you.” Indeed those who disdain my worship will enter Hell contemptible. [40:60] Allāh uses the word “ادعوني”, which means “call upon me”. But then, He (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) moves on to say “عبادتي”—what does this mean? Clearly, invocation or supplication is, in fact, prayer. The root word of ادعوني is دعا, which carries the meaning of calling, supplicating, praying, and invoking. Those who refrain from calling Allāh are disdainful of his worship, and will be forced to enter Hell, in a disgraceful, shameful state. That is what Allāh is saying. O’ mankind! Will you still call His servants instead of Him?! And when my servant asks about me, then indeed I am near. I answer the call of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to me and believe in me so that they may be rightly guided. [2:186] And We are nearer to him (man) than his jugular vein. [50:16] After all this exhortation from Allāh to his servants to call upon Him, would you still shy away from invoking him? Under the tafsīr of verse 2:186, ʿAllāmah Ṭabāṭabā’ī has quoted the following ḥadīth: Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq narrates from the Prophet ﷺ: “Allāh informed one of his prophets in a revelation: ‘By My Power and dignity! Verily, I shall change into despair the hope of everyone who hoped from other than Me, and I shall dress him with the clothing of disgrace before people, and I shall remove him from My relief and bounty. Does my servant put his hope in other than Me in hardships, while hardships are in My hand? And does he expect anything from other than Me, while I am the Self-sufficient, the Munificent? In My hand are the keys of the doors, while they are closed; and My door is open for the one who calls on Me.’” The Prophet ﷺ also said: “Allah said: “No creature seeks refuge in another creature, leaving Me, but that I cut off all the means in the heavens and the earth for him. Then if he asks from Me, I do not give him ; and if he calls on Me, I do not answer him. And no creature seeks refuge in Me, leaving My creatures, but that I make the heaven and the earth responsible for his sustenance; then if he calls on Me, I answer him and, if he seeks pardon from Me, I forgive!”” [Source: Al-Mīzān fī Tafsīr al-Qur’ān, where the author quotes from ʿUddatud Dāʿī] ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Despite these clear-cut verses from the Book of Allāh, people still try to argue in favor of istighāthā by quoting Nādi ʿAlī or Duʿā Tawassul. Nādi ʿAlī is not a duʿā, it is a poem. It is not from the A’immah (عليه السلام) of Ahlulbayt. It was never in the primary ḥadīth sources, only somehow appeared in later works. Duʿā Tawassul is also not from any of the Imāms, it was only found by ʿAllāmah Majlisī in an old manuscript that he thought was from Shaykh aṣ-Ṣadūq (who lived 700 years before Majlisī) and it was written on the paper that it was from the Imāms but did not even mention which of the Imāms. It does not have a sanad or “chain of transmission”. Hence, it is considered ḍaʿīf or weak. For verification of this claim, refer to this article published by Shia Reformist. These were likely the fabrications of the exaggerators (ghulāt). Imām ar-Riḍā (عليه السلام). in Rijāl al-Kashī has cursed the exaggerators (i.e., those who did ghuluww; esp. those that used to fabricate narrations and attribute them to the Imāms). In the same narration, he ((عليه السلام).) also said that whatever contradicts the Qur’ān can not be from the Ahlulbayt. Same is corroborated by many narrations in Uṣūl Al-Kāfī, from Imām Jaʿfar aṣ-Ṣādiq (عليه السلام). Authored by: Muḥammad Qā’im Ḥusayn

I came across this video on youtube and I was actually impressed how well and precise it was. Very Convincing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MfXAdiF0tM

Sermon of Recognition of Noor (light) (Khutba-e-Marefat-e-Nooraniya) ١ ـ أقول : ذكر والدي رحمه‌الله أنه رأى في كتاب عتيق جمعه بعض محدثي أصحابنا في فضائل أمير المؤمنين عليه‌السلام بهذا الخبر ، ووجدته أيظا في كتاب عتيق مشتمل على أخبار كثيرة. قال : روي عن محمد بن صدقة أنه قال : سأل أبوذر الغفاري سلمان الفارسي رض‌الله‌عنهما يا أباعبدالله ما معرفة الامام أمير المؤمنين عليه‌السلام بالنورانية؟ قال : يا جندب فامض بنا حتى نسأله عن ذلك ، قال : فأتيناه فلم نجده. قال : فانتظرناه حتى جاء قال صلوات الله عليه : ما جاء بكما؟ قالا جئناك يا أمير المؤمنين نسألك عن معرفتك بالنورانية قال صلوات الله عليه : مرحبا بكما من وليين متعاهدين لدينه لستما بمقصرين ، لعمري أن ذلك الواجب على كل مؤمن ومؤمنة ، ثم قال صلوات الله عليه : ياسلمان ويا جندب قالا : لبيك يا أمير المؤمنين ، قال عليه‌السلام : إنه لا يستكمل أحد الايمان حتى يعرفني كنه معرفتي بالنورانية فاذا عرفني بهذه المعرفة فقد امتحن الله قلبه للايمان وشرح صدره للاسلام وصار عارفا مستبصرا ، ومن قصر عن معرفة ذلك فهو شاك ومرتاب ، ياسلمان ويا جندب قالا : لبيك يا أمير المؤمنين ، قال عليه‌السلام : معرفتي بالنورانية معرفة الله عزوجل ومعرفة الله عزوجل معرفتي بالنورانية وهو الدين الخالص الذي قال الله « وما امروا إلا ليعبدوا الله مخلصين له حنفاء ويقيموا الصلاة ويؤتوا الزكاة(١) وذلك دين القيمة ». يقول : ما امروا إلا بنبوة محمد صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وآله‌وسلم وهو الدين الحنيفية المحمدية السمحة ، وقوله : « يقيمون الصلاة » فمن أقام ولايتي فقد أقام الصلاة وإقامة ولايتي صعب مستصعب لا يحتمله إلا ملك مقرب أو نبي مرسل أو عبد مؤمن امتحن الله قلبه للايمان. فالملك إذا لم يكن مقربا لم يحتمله ، والنبي إذا لم يكن مرسلا لم يحتمله والمؤمن إذا لم يكن ممتحنا لم يحتمله ، قلت : يا أمير المؤمنين من المؤمن وما نهايته وما حده حتى أعرفه؟ قال عليه‌السلام : يابا عبد الله قلت : لبيك يا أخا رسول الله ، قال : المؤمن الممتحن هو الذي لا يرد من أمرنا إليه بشئ إلا شرح صدره لقبوله ولم يشك ولم يرتب(٢). اعلم يا باذر أنا عبدالله عزوجل وخليفته على عباده لا تجعلونا أربابا وقولوا في فضلنا ما شئتم فانكم لا تبلغون كنه ما فينا ولا نهايته ، فان الله عزوجل قد أعطانا أكبر وأعظم مما يصفه واصفكم أو يخطر على قلب أحدكم فاذا عرفتمونا هكذا فأنتم المؤمنون. قال سلمان : قلت : يا أخا رسول الله ومن أقام الصلاة أقام ولايتك؟ قال : نعم يا سلمان تصديق ذلك قوله تعالى في الكتاب العزيز : « واستعينوا بالصبر والصلاة وإنها لكبيرة إلا على الخاشعين » (٣) فالصبر رسول الله صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وآله‌وسلم والصلاة إقامة ولايتي ، فمنها قال الله « وإنها لكبيرة » ولم يقل : وإنهما لكبيرة لان الولاية كبيرة حملها إلا على الخاشعين ، والخاشعون هم الشيعة المستبصرون ، وذلك لان __________________ (١) البينة : ٥. (٢) في نسخة : ولم يرتد. (٣) البقرة : ٤٥. أهل الاقاويل من المرجئة والقدرية والخوارج وغيرهم من الناصبية يقرون لمحمد(١) صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وآله ليس بينهم خلاف وهم مختلفون في ولايتي منكرون لذلك جاحدون بها إلا القليل. وهم الذين وصفهم الله في كتابه العزيز فقال : « إنها لكبيرة إلا علي الخاشعين » وقال الله تعالى في موضع آخر في كتابه العزيز في نبوة محمد صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وآله‌وسلم وفي ولايتي فقال عزوجل : « وبئر معطلة وقصر مشيد » (٢) فالقصر محمد والبئر المعطلة ولايتي عطلوها وجحدوها ، ومن لم يقر بولايتي لم ينفعه الاقرار بنبوة محمد صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وآله‌وسلم ألا إنهما مقرونان. وذلك أن النبي صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وآله‌وسلم نبي مرسل وهو إمام الخلق ، وعلي من بعده إمام الخلق ووصي محمد صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وآله ، كما قال له النبي (ص) : « أنت مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى إلا أنه لا نبي بعدي » وأولنا محمد وأوسطنا محمد وآخرنا محمد ، فمن استكمل معرفتي فهو على الدين القيم كما قال الله « وذلك دين القيمة » (٣) وسابين ذلك بعون الله وتوفيقه. يا سلمان ويا جندب قالا : لبيك يا أمير المؤمنين صلوات الله عليك. قال : كنت أنا ومحمد نورا واحدا من نور الله عزوجل ، فأمر الله تبارك وتعالى ذلك النور أن يشق فقال للنصف : كن محمدا وقال للنصف : كن عليا ، فمنها قال رسول الله صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وآله‌وسلم : « علي مني وأنا من علي ولا يؤدي عني إلا علي » وقد وجه أبا بكرببراءة إلى مكة فنزل جبرئيل عليه‌السلام فقال : يا محمد قال : لبيك ، قال : إن الله يأمرك أن تؤديها أنت أو رجل عنك ، فوجهني في استرداد أبي بكر فرددته فوجد في نفسه وقال : يا رسول الله أنزل في القرآن؟ قال : لا ولكن لا يؤدي إلا أنا أو علي. يا سلمان ويا جندب قالا : لبيك يا أخا رسول الله ، قال عليه‌السلام : من لا يصلح لحمل __________________ (١) في نسخة : بمحمد. (٢) الحج : ١٥. (٣) البينة : ٥. صحيفة يؤديهاعن رسول الله صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وآله‌وسلم كيف يصلح للامامة؟ياسلمان ويا جندب فأنا ورسول الله (ص) كنا نورا واحدا صار رسول الله (ص) محمد المصطفى ، وصرت أنا وصيه المرتضى ، وصار محمد الناطق ، وصرت أنا الصامت ، وإنه لا بد في كل عصر من الاعصار أن يكون فيه ناطق وصامت ، يا سلمان صار محمد المنذر وصرت أنا الهادي ، وذلك قوله : عزوجل : « إنما أنت منذر ولكل قوم هاد » (١) فرسول الله صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وآله‌وسلم المنذر وأنا الهادي. « الله يعلم ما تحمل كل انثى وما تغيض الارحام وما تزداد وكل شئ عنده بمقدار عالم الغيب والشهادة الكبير المتعال سواء منكم من أسر القول ومن جهر به و من هو مستخف بالليل وسارب بالنهار له معقبات من بين يديه ومن خلفه يحفظونه من أمر الله » (٢). قال : فضرب عليه‌السلام بيده على الاخرى وقال : صار محمد صاحب الجمع وصرت أنا صاحب النشر ، وصار محمد صاحب الجنة وصرت أنا صاحب النار ، أقول لها : خذي هذا وذري هذا ، وصار محمد صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وآله‌وسلم صاحب الرجفة وصرت أنا صاحب الهدة(٣) أناصاحب اللوح المحفوظ ألهمني الله عزوجل علم ما فيه. نعم يا سلمان ويا جندب وصار محمد يس والقرآن الحكيم ، (٤) وصار محمد ن والقلم ، (٥) وصار محمد طه ما أنزلنا عليك القرآن لتشقى ، (٦) وصار محمد صاحب الدلالات ، وصرت أنا صاحب المعجزات والآيات ، وصار محمد خاتم النبيين وصرت __________________ (١) الرعد : ٧. (٢) الرعد : ٨ ـ ١١. (٣) الهدة : صوت وقع الحائط ونحوه وفى الخبر : « اعوذ بك من الهد والهدة » وفسر الهد بالهدم والهدة بالخسف ، والهد : صوت ما يقع من السماء. (٤) يس : ١ و ٢. (٥) القلم : ١. (٦) طه : ١ و ٢. أنا خاتم الوصيين ، وأنا الصراط المستقيم(١) وأنا النبأ العظيم الذي هم فيه مختلفون(٢) ولا أحد اختلف إلا في ولايتي ، وصارمحمد صاحب الدعوة وصرت أنا صاحب السيف ، وصار محمد نبيا مرسلا وصرت أنا صاحب أمر النبي صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وآله‌وسلم قال الله عزوجل : « يلقي الروح من أمره على من يشاء من عباده » (٣) وهو روح الله لا يعطيه ولا يلقي هذا الروح إلا على ملك مقرب أو نبي مرسل أو وصي منتجب ، فمن أعطاه الله هذا الروح فقد أبانه من الناس وفوض إليه القدرة وأحيى الموتى وعلم بما كان وما يكون وسار من المشرق إلى المغرب ومن المغرب إلى المشرق في لحظة عين ، وعلم ما في الضمائر والقلوب وعلم ما في السموات والارض. يا سلمان ويا جندب وصار محمد الذكر الذي قال الله عزوجل : « قد أنزل الله إليكم ذكرا رسولا يتلو عليكم آيات الله » (٤) إني اعطيت علم المنايا والبلايا وفصل الخطاب ، واستودعت علم القرآن وما هو كائن إلى يوم القيامة ، ومحمد صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وآله‌وسلم أقام الحجة حجة للناس ، وصرت أنا حجة الله عزوجل ، جعل الله لي ما لم يجعل لاحد من الاولين والآخرين لا لنبي مرسل ولا لملك مقرب. يا سلمان ويا جندب قالا : لبيك يا أمير المؤمنين ، قال عليه‌السلام : أنا الذي حملت نوحا في السفينة بأمر ربي ، وأنا الذي أخرجت يونس من بطن الحوت باذن ربي وأنا الذي جاوزت بموسى بن عمران البحر بأمر ربي ، وأنا الذي أخرجت إبراهيم من النار باذن ربي ، وأنا الذي أجريت أنهارها وفجرت عيونها وغرست أشجارها باذن ربي. وأنا عذاب يوم الظلة ، وأنا المنادي من مكان قريب قد سمعه الثقلان : الجن والانس وفهمه قوم. __________________ (١) الفاتحة : ٦. (٢) النبأ : ٢ و ٣. (٣) المؤمن : ١٥. (٤) الطلاق : ١٠ و ١١. إني لاسمع كل قوم(١) الجبارين والمنافقين بلغاتهم وأنا الخضر عالم موسى وأنا معلم سليمان بن داود وأنا ذو القرنين وأنا قدرة الله عزوجل. يا سلمان ويا جندب أنا محمد ومحمد أنا وأنا من محمد ومحمد مني ، قال الله تعالى : « مرج البحرين يلتقيان بينهما برزخ لا يبغيان » (٢). يا سلمان ويا جندب قالا : لبيك يا أمير المؤمنين ، قال : إن ميتنا لم يمت وغائبنا لم يغب وإن قتلانا لن يقتلوا. يا سلمان ويا جندب قالا : لبيك صلوات الله عليك ، قال : عليه‌السلام : أنا أمير كل مؤمن ومؤمنة ممن مضى وممن بقي ، وايدت بروح العظمة ، وإنما أنا عبد من عبيد الله لا تسمونا أربابا وقولوا في فضلنا ما شئتم فإنكم لن تبلغوا من فضلنا كنه ما جعله الله لنا ، ولا معشار العشر. لانا آيات الله ودلائله ، وحجج الله وخلفاؤه وامناؤه وأئمته ، ووجه الله وعين الله ولسان الله ، بنا يعذب الله عباده وبنا يثيب ومن بين خلقه طهرنا واختارنا واصطفانا ، ولو قال قائل : لم وكيف وفيم؟ لكفر وأشرك ، لانه لا يسأل عما يفعل وهم يسألون. يا سلمان ويا جندب قالا : لبيك يا أمير المؤمنين صلوات الله عليك ، قال عليه‌السلام : من آمن بما قلت وصدق بما بينت وفسرت وشرحت وأوضحت ونورت وبرهنت فهو مؤمن ممتحن امتحن الله قلبه للايمان وشرح صدره للاسلام وهو عارف مستبصر قد انتهى وبلغ وكمل ، ومن شك وعند وجحد ووقف وتحير وارتاب فهو مقصر وناصب. يا سلمان ويا جندب ، قالا : لبيك يا أمير المؤمنين صلوات الله عليك ، قال عليه‌السلام : أنا احيي واميت باذن ربي ، أنا انبئكم بما تأكلون وما تدخرون في بيوتكم باذن ربي ، وأنا عالم بضمائر قلوبكم والائمة من أولادي عليهم‌السلام يعلمون ويفعلون هذا إذا أحبوا وأرادوا لانا كلنا واحد ، أولنا محمد وآخرنا محمد وأوسطنا محمد وكلنا محمد __________________ (١) في نسخة : كل يوم. (٢) الرحمن : ١٩ و ٢٠. فلا تفرقوا بيننا ، ونحن إذا شئنا شاء الله وإذا كرهنا كره الله ، الويل كل الويل لمن أنكر فضلنا وخصوصيتنا ، وما أعطانا الله ربنا لان من أنكر شيئا مما أعطانا الله فقد أنكر قدرة الله عزوجل ومشيته فينا. يا سلمان ويا جندب ، قالا : لبيك يا أمير المؤمنين صلوات الله عليك ، قال عليه‌السلام : لقد أعطانا الله ربنا ما هو أجل وأعظم وأعلى وأكبر من هذا كله قلنا : يا أمير المؤمنين ما الذي أعطاكم ما هو أعظم وأجل من هذا كله؟ قال : قد أعطانا ربنا عزوجل علمنا للاسم الاعظم الذي لو شئنا خرقت السماوات والارض والجنة والنار ونعرج به إلى السماء ونهبط به الارض ونغرب ونشرق وننتهي به إلى العرش فنجلس(١) عليه بين يدي الله عزوجل ويطيعنا كل شئ حتى السموات والارض والشمس والقمروالنجوم والجبال والشجر والدواب والبحار والجنة والنار ، أعطانا الله ذلك كله بالاسم الاعظم الذي علمنا وخصنا به ، ومع هذا كله نأكل ونشرب ونمشي في الاسواق ونعمل هذه الاشياء بأمر ربنا ونحن عباد الله المكرمون الذين لا يسبقونه بالقول وهم بأمره يعملون. وجعلنا معصومين مطهرين وفضلنا على كثير من عباده المؤمنين ، فنحن نقول : الحمد لله الذي هدانا لهذا وما كنا لنهتدي لولا أن هدانا الله وحقت كلمة العذاب على الكافرين ، أعني الجاحدين بكل ما أعطانا الله من الفضل والاحسان ، ياسلمان ويا جندب فهذا معرفتي بالنورانية فتمسك بها راشدا فانه لا يبلغ أحد من شيعتنا حد الاستبصار حتى يعرفني بالنورانية فاذا عرفني بها كان مستبصرا بالغا كاملا قد خاض بحرا من العلم ، وارتقى درجه من الفضل ، واطلع على سر من سر الله ، ومكنون خزائنه.(٢) بيان : قوله : أنا الذى حملت نوحا ، أقول : لو صح صدور الخبر عنه عليه‌السلام __________________ (١) هذا كناية عن شدة قربهم وعظم منزلتهم عند الله ، أو كناية عن احاطتهم العلمية بامور السماوات والارضين بافاضة الله تعالى اياهم أو قدرتهم بها ومطاعيتهم عندها. (٢) لم نجد هذا الكتاب. لاحتمل أن يكون المراد به وبأمثاله أن الانبياء عليهم‌السلام بالاستشفاع بنا والتوسل بأنوارنا رفعت(١) عنهم المكاره والفتن كما دلت عليه الاخبار الصحيحة. Janabe Salman and Janabe Abu Zarr asked Ameerul Momineen ((عليه السلام)) about the true nature of the Noor (light) of Imam Ali ((عليه السلام)). Imam Ali ((عليه السلام)) replied: “RasoolAllah (P.B.U.H) has said, “Recognition of Ali ibn Abi Talib ((عليه السلام)) as Noor is in fact the recognition of Allah (P.B.U.H). Recognition of Allah (P.B.U.H) in terms of His Noor is the pure religion (deen).” Then Imam Ali ((عليه السلام)) said: “He who has only outward belief in My Wilayat while inwardly having animosity will obtain no benefit from any of His deeds.” “O Salman! Only when one recognizes me with My Noor only then will he be able to attain faith (iman). Only those who recognize me with My Noor are the true believers. He is the one whose heart has been tested by Allah with true iman (faith). He is the one in whose heart the true Islam is amplified. Thus he shall become an “Arif” (Gnostic) and “Mastabser” (clairvoyant). The one who does not recognize me with My Noor falls into ambiguity and becomes of those who are followers of satan (shaitan). O Salman! O Jondab! Verily Recognizing Me as Noor is the recognition of Allah. My Recognition is Allah’s Recognition. Recognition of Allah is Recognition of Me. This is the true religion. Allah did not place upon mankind any order other than to accept Tauheed of Allah (98:5) (Oneness of Allah). Testifying to the prophet hood of Holy Prophet is the true religion. Whenever Allah orders to “establish prayer” it refers to the belief in My Wilayat. One who pledges his allegiance and submits himself completely unto me has truly established “salat” (prayer). Yet this matter is difficult, exceedingly difficult! Zakat (poor rate) is the acknowledgment of the greatness of the attributes of Aimmah ((عليه السلام)). All of this is the true religion. As attested to in the Holy Quran, true faith (iman) is the recognition of oneness (tauheed) and the testimony of nabuwat and wilayat. One who acts upon these beliefs achieves religion (deen). O Salman! O Jondab! One who after being tested by Allah instantly accepts Our Amr (authority) and does not reject any matter which pertains to us is a Momin (Faithful) and Allah will open his heart to the acceptance of Our Amr (authority/command). He will not display even an element of doubt or suspicion. However he who objects with “why and how” becomes a kafir (disbeliever). Therefore be submissive to the Amr of Allah. Verily we are the Amr of Allah (Command of Allah). O Salman! O Jondab! Verily Allah has made me as His Trustee upon the creation and His Vicegerent upon His earth, in His territories, and over His servants. Allah has blessed me with such attributes that even those people who have true understanding regarding the merits of such blessings and those who have knowledge regarding all matters will still not be able to truly comprehend the status which Allah has blessed me with. A true momin (Faithful) is one who recognizes Me in this manner. O Salman! Allah said, “Do not seek the help of Allah except through patience and prayer”. Patience is Muhammad and Prayer is My Wilayat. This is why Allah has declared it to be difficult to understand such attributes. In truth My Wilayat is exceedingly difficult except for those whose souls are submissive. Thus My Wilayat has been made easier by Allah upon those whose souls have submitted. O Salman! We are those Secrets of Allah which shall not be hidden. We are His Noor that can never be extinguished. And we are those blessings which can never be matched. Our first is Muhammad, Our middle is Muhammad, and our last is Muhammad. One who recognizes us in this way is a follower of the true religion. O Salman! O Jondab! Muhammad and I are one Noor. And before all other creations had been created we were already reciting the praises of Allah. We were the cause of the creation of the entire universe. Then Allah divided this Noor into two parts; first was His prophet Mustafa (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and His Successor Murtaza. Then Allah said to each half “Be Muhammad!” “Be Ali!” This is the reason RasoolAllah said, “I am from Ali and Ali is from me. None other than me and Ali are able to convey the Divine Message of Allah.” In Quran where Allah says “انفسنا و انفسکم (3:61)” (ourselves and yourselves) is a reference to our being One Essence in worlds of spirits and noor (Alam e Arwah and Anwar). And where Allah says “If He has died or is slain (3:144)” “died” is a reference to the death of Prophet and “slain” is in reference to the martyrdom of His Successor. As we are One Essence and One Noor. We are one in purpose and attributes. However we are different in our bodies and names, but in Alam e Arwah We are One Noor. As RasoolAllah (P.B.U.H) said, “O Ali, You are My Soul which is inside of me. In this world of creation RasoolAllah (P.B.U.H) said, “You are from me and I am from you. You are my inheritor and I am your inheritor. You are the Soul of My body.” Allah says, “Sallu illay wa salamu tasleema”. “Sallu illay” (sending blessings on Him) is reference to Muhammad and “salamu tasleema” (acknowledge Him) is reference to Me (Ali). Allah joined me with Muhammad in One Noor and then split that Noor into two beings based upon Their Names and Attributes. Then Allah ordered His creation to send blessings upon Muhammad and salam upon His successor Ali. RasoolAllah (P.B.U.H) said, “One shall not gain any benefit or reward from sending blessings unto me until he submits to the Wilayat e Ali.” O Salman! O Jondab! During His time Muhammad was “speaking” (natiq) and I was “silent” (samit). During every era both “natiq” and “samit” are present. Remember, Muhammad is the Master of those who shall gather on the Day of Judgment and I am the Master of Resurrection. Muhammad is the Warner and I am the one who guides. Muhammad is the Lord of Jannah and I am the Lord of Return (Rajat). Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is the Lord of Hawz e Kausar (divine spring) and I am standard bearer (Sahib E Lawa) of the flag which will be raised on the Day of Judgment. Muhammad is the Lord of the Keys to the Gates of Jannah and I am the Lord of paradise and hell (Jannah and Jahannum). Muhammad is the Lord of Revelation and I am the Lord of Inspiration. Muhammad is the Lord of Signs and I am the Lord of Miracles. Muhammad is the Seal of all Prophets and I am the Seal of all Successors. Muhammad is the Master who invites the creation towards the religion of Allah and I am the Protector of the Religion. Muhammad is the most generous prophet and I am true path (Sirat ul Mustaqeem). Muhammad is “raoof o raheem” (most kind and merciful) and I am Aliulazeem (most high most great). O Salman! Allah says “He causes the Spirit to descend upon those whom He chooses” (40:15). This Spirit then descends unto the one entrusted with the Command and the Decree. I (Ali) give life to the dead and possess full knowledge of all things in the heavens and upon the earth. I am Undeniable Book (Kitab ul Mubeen). O Salman! Muhammad is the one who establishes the Hujjat (proof) and I am Hujjatullah (proof of Allah) upon the creation. And the Spirit ascended with Him unto the heavens. I am the one who enabled Nuh to sail His Ark. I was present with Yunis in the belly of the whale. I parted the sea for Musa to allow Him a safe passage through it. I am the one who destroyed the enemies of Allah. I possess all of the knowledge of the prophets and their successors and I am Fazl al Khatab (a blessed speech). The prophet hood of Rasool Allah was completed through My Wilayat. I cause the rivers and oceans to flow and cause the mountains to rise up from the surface of the earth. I am likened unto the Father of the Earth. I am the wrath of the Day of Judgment. I am that Khizr who taught Musa. I taught Dawood and Solomon. I am Zul Qarnan. I am the one who removes sufferings by the command of Allah. I am the one who spread the earth. I am the one who shall send wrath on the Day of Judgment. I am the one who shall summon all unto Allah on the Day of Judgment. I am Dabba tul Arz (sign of Allah regarding the coming of the Day of Judgment). Rasool Allah said, “O Ali You are Zul Qarnan and its both ends. You were in existence before the beginning of the creation and will remain until its end.” O Salman! If one dies from amongst Us, He is not dead and if someone is slain from amongst Us, He is not slain. One from amongst Us who is in occultation performs His duties as we do. We are not born in this world the way humans are born in this world. You cannot compare us with mankind. I was the voice of Isa when He spoke from the cradle. I am the helper of Nuh and Ibrahim. I am the one who will send the wrath of Allah. I shall also bring about the trembling and shall cause the final quake. I am the Lohay Mahfooz (Protected Tablet) and all of the knowledge within it originates from me. I can appear in any form by the wish of Allah. Whoever has observed these appearances has seen me and whoever has seen Me as observed the Signs of Allah. We Masoomeen are the Noor of Allah which can never be rejected or changed. O Salman! Every prophet is honored because of us. You can praise us with whatever titles or attributes within your imagination however do not ascribe God ship (rabuyiat) to us. People find salvation through us and reach their destruction due to us. O Salman! He who firmly believes in all that I have explained is that momin whose heart has been tested by Allah with iman (true faith) and he has recognized our true status. One who doubts or hesitates is a nasibi (enemy of Allah) even if he claims to believe in our wilayat he is a liar. O Salman! I and the Divine Guides from My Family, Imams ((عليه السلام)), are the hidden mystery of Allah and Most Beloved by Him. We are all One. Our Amr (authority) is one. Our mystery is one. Thus do not try to find differences amongst us or you will be killed (go astray). We shall appear in every age by the will of Allah. Afflictions shall be upon the one who denies us. Only those whose hearts, eyes, and ears have been sealed will deny us. O Salman! I am the Father of every believer. O Salman! I am the most courageous. I shall be coming soon. I will overwhelm all and make their hearts shudder and make them become deaf. I am the “Supreme Test” which shall be revealed unto all. We are the Signs of Allah, His Proofs, and His Veil. We are the Face of Allah. After My Name was written on the Throne of the Sky, it attained its importance. When it was written on the heavens, they became established. When it was written on the earth, it became stable. When My Name was written on the mountains, they became upraised. When it was written on the wind, it began to blow. When it was written on the lightning, it began to flash. When it was written on the raindrops, they began to provide nourishment. When it was written on the Noor, it became radiant. When it was written on the clouds, the rain began to flow from them. When it was written on the thunder, it became quieted. When it was written on the night, it caused the night to become dark. When it was written on the day, it made it luminous and radiant. English: Taken from: Marefate AhleBait ((عليه السلام)).com https://en.shafaqna.com/48648/sermon-of-recognition-of-noor-light-khutba-e-marefat-e-nooraniya/ Arabic: Bihar Ul-Anwar, Vol 26, Pg. 1 https://books.rafed.net/view.php?type=c_fbook&b_id=899

As we recently had a lot of exchanges on this. I am myself deeply interested in understood the exact meaning of Tawassul. Because literally many shias do dua to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) at places like mazaars and dargah by touching the Zareeh (outer boundary of grave) of a great person (not necessarily ahlulbayt (AS)). So, I personally don't doubt tawassul but rather it's limits. @Sabrejet @313_Waiter @Muhammad Al-Hurr @AStruggler Let's have a deeper discussion on it.

I‘ve wondered if they could heal us (Wilayat Takwiniyyah?).I often hear of people being healed during a Ziyarah.

Come on Sunnis...How much more clear does it get? The 1st book is written by a Hanafi, the 2nd by a Shaf'i

There is a very popular and modern Mufti called Abu Layth who has many videos on Youtube. He argues that Sunni sources do not confirm the 2nd coming of Jesus in the end times and this idea has been inserted by Christians. Besides, the majority of Christians are not religious at all. Christianity is gonna decline even more. So it does not make sense for Jesus to come to these people. Isnt Rasool (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) the final prophet, why is another coming after him ? Why isnt Moses coming back forl the jews? Why are the Christians the only one who are gonna be rectified? And isnt the Mahdi enough to deal with Dajjal?

I have tried to put all important dates and events on one page so that readers can see the reference between birth and an event, age of a particular individual at the time of revelation, comparing ages etc. It is printable version on A3 page! Due to the limit and restrictions I am unable to attach files with .xls or .pub extension and in case anyone needs editable format please let me know and I will be happy to share! I have taken all possible precautions to be as accurate as possible but since it is a mix of books and internet so I suggest readers to check the dates and in case of any mistakes, kindly inform me! Important Names & Events in Early Islam - Timeline Format1.pdf

Can someone elaborate on these two wilayat concepts Also on a video by sayed ammar, I head that both shia and sunni literature suggest that Imam Ali(عليه السلام) was able to place back the fingers of a thief after already cutting them. Can I please see sources

Bismillah Al-rahman Al-rahim. Is there any hadith from the twelve Imams (عليه السلام) or the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) that describes how to perform the Salat Al-Istighfar? I've googled but people tend to say different things like do 2 Rak'ats or 4 Rak'ats and honestly I don't know if there's any difference between Shia or Sunni opinion on how to perform this salaat. I would appreciate if someone could guide me in full detail. Wa-asalam.

Salam I am reading about Imamate and it is very interesting intellectually but here are some questions I have: If we have a divinely appointed imam to guide us on the way of the Prophet (s.a.w.) why only stop after 12? Why not continue with one imam after another till Imam Mahdi? I would like you to answer this without referring to the Sunni hadith books about the hadith of 12 caliphs or similar narrations in your own books but only using intellect and logic. See, I am almost convinced that the idea of a divinely appointed ruler for the Muslim Ummah, who is protected from sin is a good one and it makes sense to my intellect but since we do not know when the Day of Judgement will be and when the world will end, shouldn't there be a continuous line of imams, one after the other, until the last one (whom we can call Imam Mahdi (a.s.) ? I am a Sunni Muslim and a member of a Sufi tariqah but have recently been reading about Shi'ism as well and this question came to me.

I hope another thread about this doesn't exist, so my apologies if I didn't find one in the search. I saw some time ago when looking into the Ahlul Bayt that most of the Imams were poisoned. I know that poisoning was probably quite a popular way to get rid of powerful figures back in the day, without physically touching them, but I find it quite shocking that so many were killed that way. I don't understand, did they know this would happen? Did they definitely die from poisoning or is that an assumption? Did they not start to become suspicious after so many of their family before them died that way? I mean no disrespect to them, it's just something I've wondered for a while.

As'salaamu Alaikum, I am a "Sunni" Muslim and am interested in authentic narrations on the Mahdi narrated by the Shia Imams such as Muhammad al-Baqir, Jaafar as-Sadiq etc. Are there any reliable sources I could find ? And if so, where ? I appreciate any help.

The hadith of the prophet saw states that there will be 73 sects in his ummah and only one will be in paradise. Every sect believes in it and try to make a claim that they are that one sect. A. Sunni Hadith: Another Hadith is there in Hadith book Tirmdhi Hadith no 171 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: There will befall my Ummah exactly (all those) evils which befell the people of Isra'il, so much so that if there was one amongst them who openly committed fornication with his mother there will be among my Ummah one who will do that, and if the people of Isra'il were fragmented into seventy-two sects my Ummah will be fragmented into seventy-three sects. All of them will be in Hell Fire except one sect. They (the Companions) said: Allah's Messenger, which is that? Whereupon he said: It is one to which I and my companions belong. (Tirmidhi Hadith No. 171) B- Shia Hadith: مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي خَالِدٍ الْكَابُلِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ «ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَجُلًا فِيهِ شُرَكاءُ مُتَشاكِسُونَ وَ رَجُلًا سَلَماً لِرَجُلٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيانِ مَثَلًا» (الزمر -: 29 -) قَالَ أَمَّا الَّذِي فِيهِ شُرَكَاءُ مُتَشَاكِسُونَ فَلِأَنَّ الْأَوَّلَ يَجْمَعُ الْمُتَفَرِّقُونَ وَلَايَتَهُ وَ هُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ يَلْعَنُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً وَ يَبْرَأُ بَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ فَأَمَّا رَجُلٌ سَلَمُ رَجُلٍ فَإِنَّهُ الْأَوَّلُ حَقّاً وَ شِيعَتُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الْيَهُودَ تَفَرَّقُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ مُوسَى ع عَلَى إِحْدَى وَ سَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً مِنْهَا فِرْقَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَ سَبْعُونَ فِرْقَةً فِي النَّارِ وَ تَفَرَّقَتِ النَّصَارَى بَعْدَ عِيسَى ع عَلَى اثْنَتَيْنِ وَ سَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً فِرْقَةٌ مِنْهَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَ إِحْدَى وَ سَبْعُونَ فِي النَّارِ وَ تَفَرَّقَتْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةُ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا ص عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَ سَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً اثْنَتَانِ وَ سَبْعُونَ فِرْقَةً فِي النَّارِ وَ فِرْقَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَ مِنَ الثَّلَاثِ وَ سَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ فِرْقَةً تَنْتَحِلُ وَلَايَتَنَا وَ مَوَدَّتَنَا اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ فِرْقَةً مِنْهَا فِي النَّارِ وَ فِرْقَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَ سِتُّونَ فِرْقَةً مِنْ سَائِرِ النَّاسِ فِي النَّارِ From Aboo Khaalid Al-Kaabulee (Kankar) from Abee Ja`far (عليه السلام): He said: (asked about the words) «God tells a parable in which there is a company of quarrelsome people and only one of them is well disciplined. Can they be considered as equal? » (39:39). He (عليه السلام) said: «The quarrelsome ones» are because the first ones gather the different ones in his leadership and they did la`nah (curse) and did bara’a (disassociate) from each other. «The well disciplined man» is the first in the matters of his right as well as his Shee`ahs (followers). Then He (عليه السلام) said: “The Jews after Moosa (عليه السلام) separated into 71 sects of which one is in Jannah (i.e. Heaven) and the (remaining) 70 sects are in the fire (i.e. Hell). And the Christians after `Eesa (عليه السلام) separated into 72 sects of which one sect is in Jannah and the (remaining) 71 (sects) are in the fire. And this Ummah after the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) separated into 73 sects and 72 sects are in the fire and one sect is in Jannah and from the 73 sects, 13 of the sects plagiarize/impersonate friendship and wilayah of us (the Imaams), and 12 sects from it are in the fire, and one sect is in Jannah, and the (remaining) 60 sects from the rest of the people are in the fire” Source: 1. Al-Kulayni, Al-Kaafi, vol. 8, pg. 224, hadeeth # 283 Grading: 1. Al-Majlisi said this hadeeth is Hasan (Good) à Mir’aat Al-`Uqool, vol. 26, pg. 153 2. Al-Haadee Al-Najafee said this hadeeth has a Mu`tabar (Valid/Esteemed) Isnaad à Mawsoo`ah aHaadeeth, vol. 8, pg. 399 As per shia hadith the followers of the 12 imams from the Ahl albayt, the prophet sawww, having their wilaya will be in paradise. C- The sunni hadith about the companions if verified against the verses of Quran we get this evidence that Quran addresses the companions of the prophet in different manner and categorizes them in three groups: 1. The First group addressed by Quran as believers, and they are righteous. Quran praises them. 2. The Second Group addressed by Quran as believers and they are not sincere in their actions. Quran warns them. 3. The Third Group addressed by Quran who are hypocrites (Munafiqeen) among sahaba they may turn away from religion. Quran taunts them. The detail can be seen at the given link: http://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235015369-does-the-quran-disrespect-the-sahaba/ I like to quote here the hadith of two weighty things as per view of by shia and sunni: 1- Shia View: Two weighty things: book of Allah swt ie quran and the Ahl albayt of the prophet. 2- Sunni view: Two weighty things: book of Allah swt ie quran and the sunnah (sayings and actions) of the prophet. The first hadith has also been narrated in Sahiheen books including Sahih Muslim. The comparison of both the hadith provides the evidence that the true sunna comes through Ahl albaayt alone. D- Similarly it can be derived from the comparison of both versions of hadith mentioned for 1 out of 73 sects that the rightful companions who are followers of Ahl albayt can be considered among one saved group. But have we should try to verify this assumption based on hadith further in the light of Quran. The Quran does mention that there is everything existing in Quran so we need to think on it in a logical manner: Also the criterion of hadith is considered as Quran. The hadith does mention about 73 sects. There is only one Sura in the Quran that has 73 verses alone. The name of the Sura is Alahzab. Ahzab means the groups (or it may be taken as sects). There is need to further study to get if we can get truth by this Sura. E- As the quran mentions in many verses to follow the prophet saaw, so I try to get the word Rasool ie prophet saw from this Sura. This word has been repeated 14 times in 12 verses. These are mentioned below: ٣٣_١٢ وَإِذْ يَقُولُ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌۭ مَّا وَعَدَنَا ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ إِلَّا غُرُورًۭا ٣٣_٢١ لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌۭ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْءَاخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا ٣٣_٢٢ وَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلْأَحْزَابَ قَالُوا۟ هَٰذَا مَا وَعَدَنَا ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَصَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ ۚ وَمَا زَادَهُمْ إِلَّآ إِيمَٰنًۭا وَتَسْلِيمًۭا ٣٣_٢٩ وَإِن كُنتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَٱلدَّارَ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْمُحْسِنَٰتِ مِنكُنَّ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا ٣٣_٣١ ۞ وَمَن يَقْنُتْ مِنكُنَّ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَتَعْمَلْ صَٰلِحًۭا نُّؤْتِهَآ أَجْرَهَا مَرَّتَيْنِ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهَا رِزْقًۭا كَرِيمًۭا ٣٣_٣٣ وَقَرْنَ فِى بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ ٱلْجَٰهِلِيَّةِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَأَقِمْنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتِينَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَطِعْنَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ ٱلرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًۭا ٣٣_٣٦ وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍۢ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ وَمَن يَعْصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَٰلًۭا مُّبِينًۭا ٣٣_٤٠ مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَآ أَحَدٍۢ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًۭا ٣٣_٥٣ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَدْخُلُوا۟ بُيُوتَ ٱلنَّبِىِّ إِلَّآ أَن يُؤْذَنَ لَكُمْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامٍ غَيْرَ نَٰظِرِينَ إِنَىٰهُ وَلَٰكِنْ إِذَا دُعِيتُمْ فَٱدْخُلُوا۟ فَإِذَا طَعِمْتُمْ فَٱنتَشِرُوا۟ وَلَا مُسْتَـْٔنِسِينَ لِحَدِيثٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ يُؤْذِى ٱلنَّبِىَّ فَيَسْتَحْىِۦ مِنكُمْ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَسْتَحْىِۦ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَٰعًۭا فَسْـَٔلُوهُنَّ مِن وَرَآءِ حِجَابٍۢ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَن تُؤْذُوا۟ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَآ أَن تَنكِحُوٓا۟ أَزْوَٰجَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦٓ أَبَدًا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَظِيمًا ٣٣_٥٧ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ لَعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْءَاخِرَةِ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًۭا مُّهِينًۭا ٣٣_٦٦ يَوْمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِى ٱلنَّارِ يَقُولُونَ يَٰلَيْتَنَآ أَطَعْنَا ٱللَّهَ وَأَطَعْنَا ٱلرَّسُولَا۠ ٣٣_٧١ يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَٰلَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا The word Rasool mentioned in Sura Ahzab, 14 times in 12 verses. F- The Arabic word used for the prophet saww is “Nabi” ٱلنَّبِىُّ that is also used for our prophet saw. It has been mentioned in the following verses of Sura Alahzab. ٣٣_١ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ وَٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًۭا ٣٣_٦ ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُۥٓ أُمَّهَٰتُهُمْ ۗ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍۢ فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُهَٰجِرِينَ إِلَّآ أَن تَفْعَلُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِكُم مَّعْرُوفًۭا ۚ كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مَسْطُورًۭا ٣٣_١٣ وَإِذْ قَالَت طَّآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ يَٰٓأَهْلَ يَثْرِبَ لَا مُقَامَ لَكُمْ فَٱرْجِعُوا۟ ۚ وَيَسْتَـْٔذِنُ فَرِيقٌۭ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ بُيُوتَنَا عَوْرَةٌۭ وَمَا هِىَ بِعَوْرَةٍ ۖ إِن يُرِيدُونَ إِلَّا فِرَارًۭا ٣٣_٢٨ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ إِن كُنتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا فَتَعَالَيْنَ أُمَتِّعْكُنَّ وَأُسَرِّحْكُنَّ سَرَاحًۭا جَمِيلًۭا ٣٣_٣٠ يَٰنِسَآءَ ٱلنَّبِىِّ مَن يَأْتِ مِنكُنَّ بِفَٰحِشَةٍۢ مُّبَيِّنَةٍۢ يُضَٰعَفْ لَهَا ٱلْعَذَابُ ضِعْفَيْنِ ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًۭا ٣٣_٣٢ يَٰنِسَآءَ ٱلنَّبِىِّ لَسْتُنَّ كَأَحَدٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۚ إِنِ ٱتَّقَيْتُنَّ فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِٱلْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ ٱلَّذِى فِى قَلْبِهِۦ مَرَضٌۭ وَقُلْنَ قَوْلًۭا مَّعْرُوفًۭا ٣٣_٣٨ مَّا كَانَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ مِنْ حَرَجٍۢ فِيمَا فَرَضَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ ۖ سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ فِى ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ قَدَرًۭا مَّقْدُورًا ٣٣_٤٥ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَٰكَ شَٰهِدًۭا وَمُبَشِّرًۭا وَنَذِيرًۭا ٣٣_٥٠ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِنَّآ أَحْلَلْنَا لَكَ أَزْوَٰجَكَ ٱلَّٰتِىٓ ءَاتَيْتَ أُجُورَهُنَّ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ مِمَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمِّكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمَّٰتِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَٰلَٰتِكَ ٱلَّٰتِى هَاجَرْنَ مَعَكَ وَٱمْرَأَةًۭ مُّؤْمِنَةً إِن وَهَبَتْ نَفْسَهَا لِلنَّبِىِّ إِنْ أَرَادَ ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَن يَسْتَنكِحَهَا خَالِصَةًۭ لَّكَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۗ قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا فَرَضْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِىٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُهُمْ لِكَيْلَا يَكُونَ عَلَيْكَ حَرَجٌۭ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًۭا رَّحِيمًۭا ٣٣_٥٣ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَدْخُلُوا۟ بُيُوتَ ٱلنَّبِىِّ إِلَّآ أَن يُؤْذَنَ لَكُمْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامٍ غَيْرَ نَٰظِرِينَ إِنَىٰهُ وَلَٰكِنْ إِذَا دُعِيتُمْ فَٱدْخُلُوا۟ فَإِذَا طَعِمْتُمْ فَٱنتَشِرُوا۟ وَلَا مُسْتَـْٔنِسِينَ لِحَدِيثٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ يُؤْذِى ٱلنَّبِىَّ فَيَسْتَحْىِۦ مِنكُمْ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَسْتَحْىِۦ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَٰعًۭا فَسْـَٔلُوهُنَّ مِن وَرَآءِ حِجَابٍۢ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَن تُؤْذُوا۟ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَآ أَن تَنكِحُوٓا۟ أَزْوَٰجَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦٓ أَبَدًا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَظِيمًا ٣٣_٥٦ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا ٣٣_٥٩ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَٰبِيبِهِنَّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًۭا رَّحِيمًۭا The word Nabi has also been repeated 14 times again in 12 verses. This shows the importance mentioned by quran associated with the prophet the number 14 and number 12. G- Importance of thinking on the verses of Quran: أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا 1. Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah , they would have found within it much contradiction. (4:82) كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ 2. [This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded. (38:29) ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ نَزَّلَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ ۗ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُوا فِي الْكِتَابِ لَفِي شِقَاقٍ بَعِيدٍ 3. That is [deserved by them] because Allah has sent down the Book in truth. And indeed, those who differ over the Book are in extreme dissension.(2:176) H- From the hadith of the prophet saaw there will be 12 imams /successors after him from his progeny ie Ahl albayt the names of those include: The first one is Imam Ali and last ie 12th one Imam Al Mahdi. Many hadith from shia and sunni sources provide this evidence. Now there is only one verse out of 73 verses where the Ah albaayt including the prophet saw has been addressed. That’s know as the verse of purification (33:33). This is the similarity that has been exhibited by the words of the prophet saw in his hadith ie 1 out of 73 sects. The hadith of thaqlayn clearly mentions about following the two weighty things ie book of Allah swt and Quran and they are not separated. The verse of purification addresses those purified Ahl albayt in this verse. I- We need to verify it further that the number 12 and 14 is related to these imams in this sura. I like to quote from the sources the names of 14 individuals including the prophet saaw mentioned by hadith given below: حدثنا احمد بن محمد بن عبید اللہ الحافظ (ر) قال: حدثنی علی بن سنان الموصلی قال : حدثنا احمد بن (محمد الخلیلی الاملی قال حدثنا) محمد بن صالح قال: حدثنی سلیمان بن اھمد قال: حدثنی زیاد بن مسلم (قال حدثنی) عبدالرحمان بن یزید بن جابر قال: حدثنی سلام عن ابی سلمی راعی رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ و آلہ قال: سمعت رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ و آلہ یقول : لیلۃ اسری بی (الی السما ٔ قال لی الجلیل جل جلالہ) (آمن الرسول بما انزل الیہ من ربہ ۔ قلت . و المومنون کل آمن باللہ و ملأکۃ و کتبہ و رسولہ قال: صدقت یا محمد من خلفت فی امتک قلت : خیر ھا۔ قال: علی بن ابیٔ طالب علیہ السلام؟ قلت : نعم یا رب۔ قال: یا محمد انی اطلعت الی الارض (اطلا عۃ) فاخترتک منھا فشققتلک اسمأ من اسمایٔ فلا اذکر فی موضع الا ذکرت معی، فانا المحمود و انت محمد ثم اطلعت الثا نیۃ فاخترت منھا علیا، فشققت لہ اسمأ من اسما یٔ فانا (العلی) الاعلی و ھو علی ۔ یامحمدانی خلقتک و (خلقت) علیا و فاطمۃ و الحسن و الحسین و الامٔۃ من ولدہ من سنخ نوری ، و عرضت و لا یتکم علی اہل السماوات و اہل الارضین فمن قبلھا کان عندی من المومنین ، و من جحد ھا کان عندی من الکا فرین۔ یا محمد ان عبدا من عبیدی عبدنی حتی ینقطع و یصیر کالشن البالی ثم اتانی جا حدا لو لایتکم ما غفرت لہ یقر بو لایتکم ۔ یا محمد ا تحب ان تراھم؟ قلت : نعم یا رب ۔ فقال لی : التفت عن یمین العرش ۔ فالتفت فاذا انأ بعلی و فاطمۃ و الحسن و الحسین و علی بن الحسین و محمد بن علی و جعفر بن محمد و موسی بن جعفر و علی بن موسی و محمد بن علی و علی بن محمد و الحسن بن علی و المھدی فی ضحضاح من نور ، قیام یصلون و ھو فی و سطھم یعنی المھدی ۔ یضی کانہ کوکب دری۔ فقال : یا محمد ھو لأ الحجج و ھو الثا ٔر من عترتک ، فو عزتی و جلالی انہ النا صر لاو لیا یٔ ، و المنتقم من اعدایٔ و لھم الحجۃ الواجبۃ و بھم یمسک اللہ السماوات ان تقع علی الارض الا باذنہ ۔ Ahmed b Muhammad b Ubaidillah Al-Hafiz narrated from Ali b Sinan Al-Mousili from Ahmad b Muhammad Al-Khalili Al-Amoli, from Muhammad b Saleh, from Sulaymaan b Ahmad, from Ziyad b Muslim, from Abdul Rahman b Yazid b Jabir, from Salaam from Abi Salama, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (saww) say: On the night of Meraaj, Allah asked me, “Did the messenger believe in what was revealed to him from his Lord?” I said “Yes”, And the believers believed in Allah, His angels, His books and His messengers.” Allah said “You are right”. Then Allah asked, “ Who did you choose as a successor?” I said, “The best of my nation”.Allah asked “ Do you mean Ali bin Abi Talib”? I replied, “ Yes, O Allah”. Then Allah said: O Muhammad! I looked at all of My creation and I chose you from among all of them. Then I derived a name for you from My name. Therefore, it is not permitted that anyone mention Me without you with Me. My name is Mahmoud and your name is Muhammad. Then I looked again (at all of My creation) and I chose Ali, and I derived a name for him from My name. So My name is Ali, the extremely high, and his name is Ali. O Muhammad I created you, Ali, Fatima, Hassan, Hussain and the rest of Imams from Hussain’s sons from My own light. Then I asked all of my creations in the skies and the earths to accept your Wilayat. I consider those who accept it as believers, and I consider those who refuse it as Kafirs. O Muhammad! If a slave from among My slaves worships me until he is torn and nothing is left from him, but he refuses to accept your Wilayat, Ali’s Wilayat, and the Wilayat of the Imams from his sons, I will not accept him or forgive him until he accepts your Wilayat, Ali’s Wilayat and the Wilayat of the Imams from his sons. Then Allah asked me, “O Muhammad, would you like to see them?” I replied. “Yes, O Allah”. Allah said, “Look to the right of the Throne.” Then I looked and I saw Ali, Fatima, Hassan, Hussain, Ali bin Hussain’ Mohammad bin Ali, Jaafar bin Muhammad, Musa bin Jaafar, Ali bin Musa, Muhammad bin Ali, Ali bin Muhammad, Hassan bin Ali, and the Mahdi. They were surrounded by light and they were standing and praying to Allah. Mahdi was in the center and he was shining like a brilliant star. Then Allah said: O Muhammad, they are My decisive proofs, and Mahdi will take revenge on My behalf. I swear by My Magnificence, he supports My friends and takes Revenge on My enemies. Following them and accepting their Wilayat is WAJIB (obligatory) on everyone. With My permission they prevent the skies from Falling on the earth. Reference: 100 Virtues of Imam Ali AS and his sons by Ibne Shazan - Bihar ul Anwar, V27 p199 h27 and others. J- Thus 14 names as mentioned in the hadith can be written as : 1. The prophet Muhammad saaw 2. Fatima SA 3. Imam Ali AS 4. Imam Hassan AS 5. Imam Hussain AS 6. Imam Ali bin Hussain AS 7. Imam Muhammad bin Ali bin Hussain AS 8. Imam ja’far bin Muhammad AS 9. Imam Musa bin ja’far AS 10. Imam Ali bin Musa AS 11. Imam Muhammad bin Ali AS 12. Imam Ali bin Muhammad AS 13. Imam Hassan bin Muhammad AS 14. Imam Muhammad (Mahdi) bin Hassan AS K- The verses of purification that mentions the Ahl albayt can be written in Arabic text below: إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ ٱلرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًۭا {٣٣} Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification. (Last part 33:33) The aerobic text provides the evidence that the text has been structured using exactly 14 Alphabets that have dots. These are mentioned below for clarity as quoted In the above verse in red colour: ن ی ی ی ز ب ن ج ب ی ت ی ت ی The total alphabets in this verse including the 14 with dots are counted as 47. So the Ahl al bayt are connected to the number 47 as given below: ا ن م ا ی ر ی د ا ل ل ہ ل ی ز ہ ب ع ن ک م ا ل ر ج س ا ہ ل ا ل ب ی ت و ی ط ہ ر ک م ت ط ہ ی ر ا. L- If we carry on and look the Sura number 47 placed in the Quran every one with receptive mind is surprised to know that the name of this Sura is Muhammad . This is the name of the prophet saw thus confirming that the verse of purification has a central place to exhibit the 14 infallibles including the prophet chosen by Allah swt. No one else has this respect and virtues. M- The Quran mentions in its many verses for the believers to Obey Allah swt and the Prophet saaw. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّـهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَلَا تُبْطِلُوا أَعْمَالَكُمْ ﴿٣٣﴾ Does this has any numerical connection? We need to verify it before we go any further: The Quran has one Sura for explaining the specific concept of Tauheed / oneness of Allah swt. This is named as Sura Tauheed / Al Ikhlas, it is placed at number 112. It has 4 verses. The Arabic text of these 4 verses is quoted below: قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ {١} ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ {٢} لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ {٣} وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ {٤} The separate alphabets of these verses are given below: ق ل ہ و ا ل ل ہ ا ح د۔ ا ل ل ہ ا ل ص م د۔ ل م ی ل د و ل م ی و ل د ۔ و ل م ی ک ن ل ہ ک ف و ا ا ح د۔ And another astonishing truth comes here that he sum of the alphabets in these verses is exactly 47. The above provides the numerical evidence of the verses that obeying Allah swt means to obey the prophet saw and these concepts of obeying are linked with the numeral 47. The above discussion provides the evidence that obeying is linked with numeral 47: - Obeying Allah swt linked with numeral 47 - Obeying the prophet Muhammad saw likned with numeral 47 - Similarly Obeying Ahl Albayt is linked with numeral 47 (verse of purification is the evidence) N- Is there any verse that provides the Obeying three in numbers? يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَنَٰزَعْتُمْ فِى شَىْءٍۢ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا {٥٩} 004:059 O you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those vested with authority among you. And if you dispute concerning anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you have faith in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more favourable in outcome. First part of the verse is taken for research and is mentioned below: يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ The first part of the verse mentions three types who are to be obeyed: Allah swt, the Prophet Muhammad SAWW and Ulil Amr. This part of verse has 14 dots in it. This is the proof coming from the hadith of the prophet Muhamamd saaw to follow Quran and Ahl albayt. The above verse mentions the three obeying and the discussion has provided the evidences that these linked to numeral 47 alone. O- Further verses of Quran: Sura Al-Qamar, verse 17. And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition? It is stated in the Quran that: i) Sura Sad, verse 29. “This is the Blessed Book that we have revealed to you, (O Muhammad), that people with understanding may reflect over its verses and those with understanding derive a lesson” Conclusion: That’s is the true interpretation of the hadith of 1 saved group / sect out of 73 sects in the light of the verses of Quran and their analysis as conducted above. The result we can mention the saved sect follows the Ahl albayt including 14 infallibles alone. wasalam

Salam I have a fel questions my dear brothers and sisters. 1. I feel like Sunni Islam (abu bakr,uthman,Omar’s) have been spreading our great religion in a really bad way (by the sword) like terrorist groups. Because they attacked other contries and forced others to be muslim. They killed innocent people and I think if u spread anything with violence others won’t want to follow that religion. I’m not saying that Sunnis are bad I mean that this shows that our Imams are the rightly guided ones. Because they didn’t do stuff like this! Does anyone agree with how I’m thinking and if not how? Plz tell me. 2. The prophet Muhammad never attacked any other country and the Imams didn’t but the caliphs did so.Does this mean that Shia Islam is peaceful? (In my opinion yes) 3. Has the prophet or Imams ever attacked any contries (Not what I know, but if so why?) 4. I know that Imam Ali got the power to take over some caliphate after the 3 caliphs died. But why did he accept it? Is it because he made a nicer,kinder regime. Thank u dear brothers and sister I have been thinking of this for 1 year now.

EID UL FITR -1st Shawwal (Eid – According to Ma’sumeen a.s.) On the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, Imam Ali (as) delivered a sermon in which he said:"O people! Verily this day of yours is the day when the righteous are awarded and the wretched are losers. It is a day which is similar to the one on which you shall be standing (before your Lord). Therefore, when you come out of your homes to go to places of your prayer, remind yourselves about the day when you (your souls) shall come out of your bodies to go to your Lord. When you stand on places of your prayer, remind yourselves of your standing in the presence of your Lord (on the day of Judgment). And when you return to your homes (after prayer), remind yourselves about your returning to your homes in Paradise. O Servants of Allah! Verily the minimum reward for those men and women who fasted (during Ramadan), is an Angel, who calls out to them on the last day of the month of Ramadan (saying): ‘O SERVANTS OF Allah! REJOICE THE GLAD TIDING THAT ALL YOUR PREVIOUS SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN.’ Imam Ali (as) has defined Eid as: 'Any day that is free of rebellion (or disobedience) against Allah swt.' He is quoted as saying:"'Eid is for those whose fasts have been accepted and whose salaat are worthy of reckoning and every day when one does not commit a sin it is Eid" (Nahjul Balaghah, Maxim no. 428) Imam Ali (as) gave one further formula for us to use always:"Remember Allah and He will remember you." The Imam (as) explained that one who adheres to the commandments of Allah swt is protected by Him. Imam Al-Ridha (as) said:“Eid is a day of unity. Hence, it is a day to give thanks and reaffirm faith in His favours and praise Him. Eid day is the first day when eating and drinking is once again permitted during daylight hours. So, for the seekers of Truth, Eid Al Fitr is the first day of the year”. In the Qu’noot of the Salaatul Eid, Imam Al-Baqir (as), beseeches Allah (swt): here he sought that which Allah swt's goodly souls wished to acquire from him, as well as protection from those matters that the goodly souls wished to be protected from. Imam Al-Baqir (as) also reminded us of the sadness that accompanies the day of Eid, the sadness of the usurpation of the rights of the Ahlul Bayt (as) and the violation of human rights. The Imam of our Time, Imam Al-Asr (atfs), has captured this sadness in the Du'a Nudbah (Supplication of Lamentation), which has been recommended to recite on Eid. The message of Eid Ul-Fitr is that no Muslim remains hungry on this day. It is a day that the rich and the poor enjoy happiness of the day, as the well-off give Fitrah to the less well off. The Fitrah ensures acceptance of the fast’ Imam Al-Sadiq (as) has explained:“Fasts remain suspended between the earth and the heavens until Fitrah is executed”. The emphasis on Fitrah is so much that a family capable of giving just one person's Fitrah can rotate that self-same Fitrah among every member of that family and fulfil this obligation. Indeed, a poor man receiving charity too should pay Fitrah from the Sadaqat he receives. Thus, the rejoicing on the day of Eid is to obey Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى and serve humanity, the twin purpose of Al-Islam that The Prophet (saw) defined for humanity. http://www.duas.org/Iddduas.htm Some of the sentences from an invocation by Imam Zainul-Abedeen. He says:- "O Lord, Thou hast ordained Ramadhan to be one of the most chosen .. .. ; and Thou hast distinguished it from all other months, and chosen it out of all other seasons and periods; and given it preference to all the times of the year, by having sent the Qur'an and the light of guidance in it, and by having increased the faith, and by having enjoined the observance of fast in it, and by encouraging us to stand up for prayer at night, and by placing in it the glorious 'Night of Qadr' which is better than a thousand months. "Therefore, in accordance with Thy command, we kept fast in its days, and with Thy help, we stood up for prayers in its nights; presenting ourselves, by means of its fasts and prayers, for Thy Mercy which Thou dist offer to us. "And, verily, this month of Ramadhan stayed amongst us a welcome stay; and gave us a righteous company; bestowing upon us the most excellent benefits in the universe. Now, it departs from us at the completion of its time. "Therefore, we bid it farewell as we did good-bye to one whose departure is hard upon us and makes us sad; and whose parting away makes us feel lonely." Then he turns towards the month of Ramadhan, speaking in an endearing tone:- "How much did we long for thee yesterday; and how intense will be our eagerness for thee tomorrow. Peace be on thee and thy excellence of which we have been deprived, and thy blessings which will no longer be with us." These few words are the mirror which show the true Islamic feeling towards the month of Ramadhan and its blessings and spiritual benefits. Eid-ul -Fitr is related to such a month of blessings, because it is on this day that the strict restrictions of the preceding month are lifted. https://www.al-islam.org/fast-sayyid-saeed-akhtar-rizvi/eid-ul-fitr-unique-festival-time-joy-muslims "O" Allah! Bless us in the day of our Eid and our fast breaking and let it be the best day that has passed over us. Imam Ali Zainul Abedeen (PBUH) - Sahifa Al-Sajjadiyya Eid-ul-Fitr can be interpreted as a three-fold blessing: First it provides one more occasion for the Muslims to thank God and remember His blessings. Secondly, it affords an opportunity of spiritual stock-taking, after the month of Ramadhan. A Muslim can now ponder over the strength (or weakness) of his will power; he can see, in the mirror of Ramadhan, what were the strong (or weak) points of his character, because under the stress of fasting, the hidden qualities (or evils) of human character come to surface in such clear way which is, perhaps, not possible otherwise. Thus a man gets a chance of self-diagnosis of the traits of his character, which probably no one else may ever detect. Thirdly, it enjoins the well-to -do persons to share a portion of what they have with their poor brethren. On the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, a Muslim is obliged to give to the needy food-stuff at the rate of a prescribed weight, on behalf of himself and of every member of his family, including servants and guests who were sheltered under his roof on that night. It would certainly be pleasing to God if we did not forget these lessons after Eid-ul-Fitr. In conclusion we should pray together to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى to accept our deeds done during this Holy Month (Ramzan) and to make us continue the good work and practices attained in this blessed month. Ameen.

This is quite embarrassing, but I really need those ahadiths. I know I have seen a lot of them, but I never saved them :-/. I need as many of ahadiths that clearly states from the Prophet (pbuh & hf) that he said there will be 12 Imams (FROM SHIA SOURCES. I DONT WANT SUNNI SOURCES). And that Imam Ali (3) was appointed etc. I know I have seen a hadith where the Propbet (pbuh & hf) said all of these Imams (3) by name. And can you get the grading as well? Jazakullah alfi khair!

Asalam Alaykum everyone, It may be a childish question but please answer I'm very curious. In heaven, what do you do exactly? I know there is gardens and beautiful luxurious houses etc., but can you do things like fly, teleport, super speed, etc.? What age do you enter in? I heard we all enter in as adults, so babies like Imam Hussain's (a) son will enter heaven as an adult, and so will Mohsen ibn Ali (a) I heard we will all enter in the form of Nabi Adam (a), and the females in the form of Hawaa (eve). Is this true? If so how will we recognize prophet from prophet or imam from imam, or loved one from loved one? Also, when you go to heaven; do you still have relations with your family members? (mom,dad, children, etc.) And when you are in heaven, I know there are 7 levels/stages of heaven, does this mean if you are in any level other than 7, you cannot meet or see a prophet or imam, or holy personality? I hope this isn't the case, I really hope it isn't. That would be so terrible for me. Can you meet or request to see someone on a higher or lower level than you? SubhanAllah...

Bismillah and Salaam everyone. Hope you are all healthy and well inshAllah. I have come in need of all your prayers inshAllah. I am hoping that through your prayers as I am a sinful human, maybe Allah will help me (not saying that He does not). I have been struggling with anxiety recently and once in a while it comes down hard. I have a hard time swallowing food and at random times trouble breathing. I want you all to pray for me, my health, and my life to get better inshAllah. If you can please, keep my family, and all those who are going through any kind of pain and struggle as well. My life in terms of mental, physical, and economic health is not so well. Alhamduillah none the less. I have been not feeling the same as I once used to and it scares me. If any of you is currently visiting the kaaba, the holy prophet, or any of our imams A.S. If it is not too much to ask please do a special request prayer for me there and if you can please donate any sum of money on behalf of me to whoever or whatever you wish be it for the sake of the shrine or for the poor. God bless you all, and thank you so much for this. I will as always keep you all in my prayers as well. Wa Salaam.

Salaam, In regards to pictures of the 12 Imams I have some questions. (An example of these types of pictures is below) 1) Is there any evidence for suggesting that these pictures are an actual representation of the Imams? 2) How did these pictures come into existence? (Meaning who made them) 3) If these pictures are not based on evidence, why do we not have historical pictures/paintings anyway? Imam Ali (A.S) was alive at around 700AD. At this time it was possible for paintings to be made. Some of the Imams were around much later than Imam Ali (A.S), when things were even more developed. Ali~J

Salaam, This is somewhat of a cryptic post but do you believe our Imams to be more powerful or Shaytan (Iblees) to be more powerful? Reason for either choice?

Salaam brothers and sisters, I am a new Shia and am always asked questions by my family (who are for the most part okay with my conversion from Sunni to Shia). I was asked "Asking others to pray for you is recommended and encouraged. The issue is how can someone who is dead (eg. Rasullallah PBUH, the Imams, Wali) pray for us?". What evidence in the Quran and Sunnah of Muhammad (PBUH) and the Ahlul Bayt that one who is dead can make prayers for us? Authentic Scholarly sources are best. Thanks

Assalam-O-Alaikum My Shia brothers and Sisters in Islam. May Allah Have Mercy upon you All Aameen. First, My English is not Good, I hope you will understand my words . Can anyone please tell me what is the Dream Meaning if someone sees Imam Ali (AS) in Green Clothes? Jazaak Allah Khair !!

Shaykh Tusi says, in his book Misbah, that Imam Hassan bin Ali Al Askari (as) wrote this dua'a for Abu Muhammad who requested him to teach him the proper way of reciting salawat. Allama Majlisi has mentioned this dua'a on the authority of Ibn babawayh who confidently says that, there is no difficulty or problem that this dua'a does not solve. The merciful Allah is beseeched in the name of and for the sake of the Holy prophet and his Ahl ul Bayt. who are amongst the best human beings in status with HIM . It is also known as "quick-fulfillment-of-all-legitimate-desires" dua'a. The links are given below: http://www.duas.org/tawasul.htm