Islamic Articles

Special Questions & Answer Concerning Muharram Rituals Beating Chest & Zanjir Zani Question: Why do Shiites beat their chests during Muharram? What is the reason? Answer: Beating chest is one of the important expressions of lamentation and a means of...

Special Questions & Answer Concerning Muharram Rit...

Taqlid: Following a Mujtahid 1. It is necessary for a Muslim to believe in the fundamentals of faith with his own insight and understanding, and he cannot follow anyone in this respect i.e. he cannot accept the word of another who knows, simply becau...

Taqlid: Following a Mujtahid 1. It is necessary fo...

Usurpation (Ghasb) Usurpation means that a person unjustly seizes the property or right of another person. This is one of the major sins and one who commits it will be subjected to severe chastisement on the Day of Judgement. It has been reported fro...

Usurpation (Ghasb) Usurpation means that a person ...

Ghusl for touching a dead body 527. If a person touches a human dead body which has become cold and has not yet been given Ghusl (i.e. brings any part of his own body in contact with it) he should do Ghusl regardless of whether he touched it while as...

Ghusl for touching a dead body 527. If a person to...

Rules regarding will (Wasiyyat) 2703. A Will is purported to direct that after one's death, a certain task be completed, or that a portion of his property be given in ownership to someone, or that the ownership of his property be transferred to someo...

Rules regarding will (Wasiyyat) 2703. A Will is pu...

Rules of the lost Property when found 2573. Any lost property other than an animal, which does not bear any sign by means of which it may be possible to locate its owner, irrespective of whether its value is less than a dirham (12.6 chickpeas of coin...

Rules of the lost Property when found 2573. Any lo...

What is 'Impure' (Najes) in Islam? Having clean clothes and a clean body are paramount concerns when it comes to the subject of hygiene. Even some animals groom themselves or others in their group. The subject of cleanliness is taken a step further, ...

What is 'Impure' (Najes) in Islam? Having clean cl...

The Punishment for Adultery as Prescribed in Islam By : Shaheed Ayatullah Abdul Husain Dastghaib Shirazi The book "Burhan al-Qur'an" examines the punishment for adultery as prescribed in Islam keeping in mind the factors of human desires and sexual f...

The Punishment for Adultery as Prescribed in Islam...

The Difference between Hukm and Fatwa By : Hojjat al-Islam Mahdi Hadavi Tehrani Question : What do the terms "Hukm"and "Fatwa" signify? What is the difference between the two? Brief Answer A fatwa is a universally applicable religious law concerning ...

The Difference between Hukm and Fatwa By : Hojjat ...

Why does Zakat become Wajib? By: Shaheed Ayatullah Abdul Husain Dastghaib Shirazi There is hidden wisdom in making Zakat and other charities obligatory. Some of them are mentioned in traditions. For example such duties are a kind of test for wealthy ...

Why does Zakat become Wajib? By: Shaheed Ayatullah...

The Evil Effects of Drinking Liquor By : Shaheed Ayatullah Abdul Husain Dastghaib Shirazi The thirteenth among the Greater Sins is drinking liquor. Its seriousness is proved from the traditions that have been related from Imam Musa al-Kadhim (a.s.), ...

The Evil Effects of Drinking Liquor By : Shaheed A...

Tawalla and Tabarra By : Shaheed Ayatullah Abdul Husain Dastghaib Shirazi It is obligatory on us to cultivate the love of Allah (S.w.T.) and affection for those who love Allah (S.w.T.) (or whom Allah (S.w.T.) loves). At the head of this list are our ...

Tawalla and Tabarra By : Shaheed Ayatullah Abdul H...

Islam and Alcoholic Drinks By : Sayyid Mujtaba Musavi Lari Islam is a faith which appeals to reason and conscience. Since alcohol is injurious to reason and diminishes a man's intelligence, moral sense, logical powers and spiritual sensitiveness, any...

Islam and Alcoholic Drinks By : Sayyid Mujtaba Mus...

Jihad in the Way of Allah By : Shaheed Ayatullah Abdul Husain Dastghaib Shirazi Jihad is also considered a part of faith like Prayer and Fasting as clearly mentioned in traditions. Numerous ayats and traditions extol its virtues and warn about the ch...

Jihad in the Way of Allah By : Shaheed Ayatullah A...

Is temporary marriage lawful or unlawful?By: Abdul Adheem al-Muhtadi al-BahraniQuestion : Is temporary marriage lawful or unlawful? If it is lawful, then why do people dislike it? And if it is unlawful, then why is it unlawful? Would you please answe...

Is temporary marriage lawful or unlawful?By: Abdul...

Types of Zakat and its Quantity by : Shaheed Ayatullah Abdul Husain Dastghaib Shirazi Zakat is of two types, Obligatory and recommended. Obligatory Zakat is again of two types. The Zakat of wealth and the Zakat of body (Fitra). The Zakat of wealth is...

Types of Zakat and its Quantity by : Shaheed Ayatu...

The Reality of TaqwaBy : Shaheed Ayatullah Abdul Husain Dastghaib ShiraziThe word 'Taqwa' is derived from the root 'waqaya' which means 'to safeguard' or 'to abstain'. In the Islamic terminology it is defined as the action of restraining oneself from...

The Reality of TaqwaBy : Shaheed Ayatullah Abdul H...

Who is a Faqih?As it is not in our capacity to discover laws concerning physics and logics unless we are well acquainted with - the same idea can be said concerning Ijtihad and formulating Islamic laws. In order to be Faqih, one should be able to dis...

Who is a Faqih?As it is not in our capacity to dis...

Amr bil Ma'ruf and Nahy Anil MunkarBy : Shaheed Ayatullah Abdul Husain Dastghaib ShiraziAmr bil Ma'ruf denotes urging others to perform good deeds and Nahy Anil Munkar implies restraining them from sins. Like the previous obligations these are also a...

Amr bil Ma'ruf and Nahy Anil MunkarBy : Shaheed Ay...

The Rules of JihadEvery creature defends his life as well as his interests. Like others, every creature is equipped with a defensive power that enables him to combat with his enemies. With his Allah-given instinct and nature, man believes that he mus...

The Rules of JihadEvery creature defends his life ...

Tawhid and Shirk in WorshipBy: Shaheed Ayatullah Abdul Husain Dastghaib ShiraziThe Almighty Allah has invited all the creatures to pay obeisance to Him in order that His Majesty may become manifest. The people can obtain numerous blessings and unlimi...

Tawhid and Shirk in WorshipBy: Shaheed Ayatullah A...