Ethics

The Islamic point of view about the worldly good things is not negative, rather it says that we should appreciate them as the blessings of God. And Islam is, therefore, totally opposed to monasticism and celibacy. 'Uthman bin Maz'un was a close compa...

The Islamic point of view about the worldly good t...

Imam Ghazali and other mystics have made a serious mistake in understanding the concept of 'preparing for the hereafter'. And this is what I would like to briefly clarify here. The concept of 'preparing for the hereafter' depends on one's outlook abo...

Imam Ghazali and other mystics have made a serious...

If asked that why does Islam consider love for women as a deadly enemy of civilization and a danger to the social order, Mernissi would answer that emotional investment or the focus of attention "should be devoted to Allah alone in the form of knowle...

If asked that why does Islam consider love for wom...

The Islamic sexual morality is fundamentally different from that of the Christian Church. This is because of the all-encompassing nature of the Islamic shari'ah. Bertrand Russell says, "Great religious leaders, with the exception of Muhammad -and Con...

The Islamic sexual morality is fundamentally diffe...

What you read above was a brief historical and social background of the Christian West against which the New Morality was emerging. The Church made a serious error in suppressing the most nature urge of human beings, the very means of their perpetuit...

What you read above was a brief historical and soc...

The Islamic ideology played a creative role in building the moralities of the Moslem individual; it founded those moralities on religious bases which involves good and bad reward they are not mere moral recommendations free from responsibility, on th...

The Islamic ideology played a creative role in bui...

The ideology serves as a solid foundation for morals because it creates the psychological motive in the human being to keep to high moral values in contrast with positive ideologies which keep peace with man’s lusts and grow the seeds of selfishness ...

The ideology serves as a solid foundation for mora...

The Imam besides giving instructions in Islamic law and guiding the people on the exoteric side of Islam, holds the responsibility of esoteric guidance also and has been given a special power and authority for the purpose. In an esoteric way he leads...

The Imam besides giving instructions in Islamic la...

There is no doubt that a guide is needed for the attainment and the development of spiritual life. Now let us see who is fit to undertake the task of such a guidance. Naturally this task cannot be performed by an ordinary man. The guide must be a per...

There is no doubt that a guide is needed for the a...

Like all other phenomena, the emergence of spiritual life also requires the fulfilment of certain conditions. It is the outcome of man's own behaviour and actions, but naturally his behaviour and action must be in conformity with the true Divine teac...

Like all other phenomena, the emergence of spiritu...

The life and behaviour of the Holy Prophet represent the true teachings of Islam. He was both the political leader and the social head of the Muslim ummah, and in that capacity enforced in the territory of the Islamic government the laws and the rule...

The life and behaviour of the Holy Prophet represe...

We made the winds subservient to him. They moved softly at his command in whichever direction he intended. We made the devils obey him. They included builders, divers and others bound in chains. (We said): This is Our gift. (Therefore you may bestow ...

We made the winds subservient to him. They moved s...

Dealing with the proof of Walayat and its holder, the Imam, and the fact that the world has never been without a holder of Walayat, i.e. a perfect man, Allamah Tabatabai says "'There is no doubt about the existence of a path of Walayat by treading on...

Dealing with the proof of Walayat and its holder, ...

The renowned philosopher and exegete of our age Allamah Tabatabai says "A part of the teachings of Islam constitutes social regulations which apparently are the product of social thinking. Their relation to the felicity and distress of the next world...

The renowned philosopher and exegete of our age Al...

Man inside his exoteric animal life has an esoteric life also. The esoteric life, the capability of which is hidden in every individual, emanates from the maturity and perfection of his deeds and aims. His well-being and distress are related to his e...

Man inside his exoteric animal life has an esoteri...

+Our familiarity with the popular conception of the words as we use them in our social life often misleads us. We tend to strip the Islamic terms of their real connotation and take them as if they were conveying their primary or popular meaning. We o...

+Our familiarity with the popular conception of th...

It is the highest stage of Walayat. All the other kinds of Walayat besides being due to the personal purity and sanctity of the Ahl al-Bayt are either related to their kinship to the Holy Prophet or to their own intellectual and social capability. An...

It is the highest stage of Walayat. All the other ...

It means the right of social and political leadership. Indeed a society must have a leader. The person qualified to take charge of the social affairs of the Muslims and to control their destinies is called Walyy-u Amr al-Muslimin (Administrator of th...

It means the right of social and political leaders...

Wala of Imamate" signifies religious authority, i.e. a position which makes the Imam a model for others who have to follow him and take instructions from him. Such a position automatically implies the infallibility of the Imam. It is the same positio...

Wala of Imamate" signifies religious authority, i....

Wala of love or kinship means that the Ahl al-Bayt are the kinsfolk of the Holy Prophet and the Muslims have been asked to hold them in love and esteem to a greater degree than what general Wala demands. A number of the verses of the Holy Qur'an and ...

Wala of love or kinship means that the Ahl al-Bayt...

The affection toward the Ahl al-Bayt (the Prophet's progeny) is the special form of the positive Wala. It is an incontrovertible fact that the Holy Prophet himself has urged the Muslims to have special affection toward his progeny. Even the Sunni sch...

The affection toward the Ahl al-Bayt (the Prophet'...