Miscellaneous Articles

'Ilm ar-Rijal (Science of Narrators)'Ilm ar-Rijal is, literally, "The Science of People". Any tradition (hadith) is usually made up of two parts: a header (called isnad or sanad) and the main text or narration itself (called matn). The header lists t...

'Ilm ar-Rijal (Science of Narrators)'Ilm ar-Rijal ...

'Ilm al-Hadith (The Study of Traditions)'Ilm al-Hadith (or the Science of Hadith) is not about the narrations or traditions themselves; rather it discusses the history of traditions, their compilation and classification, their collection and preserva...

'Ilm al-Hadith (The Study of Traditions)'Ilm al-Ha...

'Ulum al-Qur'an (Qur'an Sciences)Unlike Tafsir al-Qur'an which explains and discusses the 6000+ verses of the Qur'an themselves, this science studies the Qur'an holistically. For example, the Qur'an's history, how it was revealed, the reasons that pr...

'Ulum al-Qur'an (Qur'an Sciences)Unlike Tafsir al-...

Tafsir al-Qur'an (Qur'an Exegesis)'Ilm al-Tafsir, or "the science of Qur'an exegesis" is usually a systematic (either sequential or thematic) exegetical study of the Qur'an's verses. This subject is widely studied by all Hawza students and one who ch...

Tafsir al-Qur'an (Qur'an Exegesis)'Ilm al-Tafsir, ...

Fiqh (Jurisprudence)Fiqh (Jurisprudence) is a major (if not 'the major') science around which most of the other subjects revolve. The study of the practical laws of Islam and how to derive them is divided by areas of jurisprudence such as purificatio...

Fiqh (Jurisprudence)Fiqh (Jurisprudence) is a majo...

Usul al-Fiqh (Principles of Jurisprudence)In the early days of Islam, scholars only relied on the Qur'an and hadith to understand the practical laws of Islam. They grouped all the traditions at their disposal based on jurisprudence issues. It has the...

Usul al-Fiqh (Principles of Jurisprudence)In the e...

Mantiq (Logic)Mantiq or Islamic Logic is a similar science to what is called Traditional Logic at Western universities (as opposed to Modern Logic that is taught as a field of Mathematics).In the past, the text used at hawzas for mantiq was the Sharh...

Mantiq (Logic)Mantiq or Islamic Logic is a similar...

Although many meetings have been held and many attempts made to combat terrorism, they have generally failed because of the following reasons: - They were not based on international human considerations but were aimed primarily at achieving narrow in...

Although many meetings have been held and many att...

In the light of the above, we can arrive at a comprehensive definition of terrorist acts, a definition which is unanimously acceptable and on which we can base our positions. Yet before putting forth our suggested definition, we may recall that we sh...

In the light of the above, we can arrive at a comp...

We may focus, in any act or conduct, on two determining factors: 1. The motives of the perpetrator. 2. The human acceptability of the act itself. These are not inseparable aspects. The personal motives of the perpetrator may look humane to him but no...

We may focus, in any act or conduct, on two determ...

If we consider the meaning of the word "terrorism" on the one hand, and its fallout and traces left on human life on the other, we note that terrorism may be carried out on different levels. There is a terrorism which threatens security, honour, prop...

If we consider the meaning of the word "terrorism"...

It goes without saying that every international bloc, every State or indeed every community has enemies and opponents that seek to eliminate it, and, as the conflict becomes violent, each party tries to undermine the reputation of the other by attrib...

It goes without saying that every international bl...

* Terrorism is a term that has been much bandied about in recent times in the world media. This paper was presented by the author, who is Director of the International Relations Department of the I.P.O., at the International Conference on Terrorism c...

* Terrorism is a term that has been much bandied a...

Today's Christian theologians are much more interested in postmodernist thought than the work- of Christian philosophers trained in the analytic tradition. Postmodernism is a movement which has emerged from the ideas of certain contemporary French wr...

Today's Christian theologians are much more intere...

No discussion of the way religious narratives can contribute to our understanding of who we are and where we are headed would be complete without some attention to the issue of religious language, and this brings us to another area in which the philo...

No discussion of the way religious narratives can ...

The focus on religious experience has led some philosophers, such as William Proudfoot, [9] Steven Katz [10] and Nelson Pike, [11] to an epistemological examination of the reports of the mystics. They ask such questions as whether a meaningful distin...

The focus on religious experience has led some phi...

With these points in mind, we can turn to some examples of the sorts of questions raised by the philosophy of religion for the theologian. One of the deepest areas to be surveyed is that of epistemology. This is also an area to which medieval thinker...

With these points in mind, we can turn to some exa...

When I was a student at a Catholic high school in Queens, New York, I was taught that although philosophy is the mother of the sciences, she is also the handmaid of theology. Sometimes the dialogue between philosophy and theology may have seemed to h...

When I was a student at a Catholic high school in ...

Soon after a person dies, it is recommended to do the following things: Close the eye-lids of the dead person Close the mouth of the dead person Tie the two jaws so that the mouth does not open Straighten his/her arms and place them on the two sides ...

Soon after a person dies, it is recommended to do ...

When death approaches you, it is wajib on you to lie down on your back in such a way that the soles of your feet face the qiblah (direction of Mecca). Or you may turn your bed in such a way that your soles will face the qiblah. If you cannot do so yo...

When death approaches you, it is wajib on you to l...

Before death, try your best to fulfil the obligations, which are upon you in regard to the creatures as well as the Creator. Return to the owners whatever has been given to you as a trust or write it down in your will so that the executor of your wil...

Before death, try your best to fulfil the obligati...