Beliefs

In the discussion on prophecy and the Imamate, it was indicated that as a result of the law of general guidance which governs all of creation, man is of necessity endowed with the power of receiving revelation through prophecy, which directs him towa...

In the discussion on prophecy and the Imamate, it ...

The previous discussions lead us to the conclusion that in Islam, after the death of the Holy Prophet, there has continuously existed and will continue to exist within the Islamic community (ummah) an Imam (a leader chosen by God). Numerous prophetic...

The previous discussions lead us to the conclusion...

The previous argument about the reception of Divine injunctions and laws by the prophets only proves the basis of prophecy, namely the receiving of Divine injunctions. The argument does not prove the persistence and continuity of prophecy, even thoug...

The previous argument about the reception of Divin...

In the discussion of prophecy, it was mentioned that, according to the immutable and necessary law of general guidance, each created species is guided through the path of genesis and generation toward the perfection and felicity of its own kind. The ...

In the discussion of prophecy, it was mentioned th...

The Prophet invited his relatives to luncheon and after the meal told them, "I know of no one who has brought to his people better things than I have brought to You. God has commanded me to invite you to draw toward Him. Who is there who will assist ...

The Prophet invited his relatives to luncheon and ...

Zayd ibn Arqam has recounted that the Prophet said, "It seems that God has called me unto Himself and I must obey His call. But I leave two great and precious things among you: the Book of God and My Household. Be careful as to how you behave toward ...

Zayd ibn Arqam has recounted that the Prophet said...

The Prophet of Islam upon returning from the farewell pilgrimage stopped in Ghadir Khumm, assembled the Muslims and, after delivering a sermon, chose 'All as the leader and guide of Muslims. Bara' says: "I was in the company of the Prophet during the...

The Prophet of Islam upon returning from the farew...

Imam or leader is the title given to a person who takes the lead in a community in a particular social movement or political ideology or scientific or religious form of thought. Naturally, because of his relation to the people he leads, he must confo...

Imam or leader is the title given to a person who ...

Among sacred texts the Qur'an is the only one to have spoken in detail about the Day of Judgment. Although the Torah has not mentioned this Day and the Gospels have only alluded to it, the Qur'an has mentioned the Day of Judgment in hundreds of place...

Among sacred texts the Qur'an is the only one to h...

Many modern scholars who have investigated the problem of revelation and prophecy have tried to explain revelation, prophecy and questions connected with them by using the principles of social psychology. They say that the prophets of God were men of...

Many modern scholars who have investigated the pro...

What the prophets of God received through revelation and as a message from God and conveyed to mankind was religion (Din), 1 that is, a way of life and human duties which guarantee the real happiness of man. Revealed religion in general consists of t...

What the prophets of God received through revelati...

The laws which can guarantee the happiness of human society cannot be perceived by reason. Since according to the thesis of general guidance running throughout creation the existence of an awareness of these laws in the human species is necessary, th...

The laws which can guarantee the happiness of huma...

Thiqat al-Islam Muhammad ibn Ya'qub Kulayni (d. 329/940) is the first person in Shi'ism to have separated the Shi'ite hadiths from the books called Principles (WO and to have arranged and organized them according to the headings of jurisprudence and ...

Thiqat al-Islam Muhammad ibn Ya'qub Kulayni (d. 32...

In the same way that from the beginning Shi'ism played an effective role in the formation of Islamic philosophical thought, it was also a principal factor in the further development and propagation of philosophy and the Islamic sciences. Although aft...

In the same way that from the beginning Shi'ism pl...

As for theology, kalam, it is clear that from the beginning, when the Shi'ites separated from the Sunni majority, they began to debate with their opponents concerning their own particular point of view. It is true that a debate has two sides and that...

As for theology, kalam, it is clear that from the ...

It has been mentioned before that Islam has legitimized and approved rational thought, which it considers a part of religious thought. Rational thought in its Islamic sense, after continuing the prophecy of the Prophet, provides intellectual demonstr...

It has been mentioned before that Islam has legiti...

The Islamic sciences, which owe their existence to the ulamd of Islam who organized and formulated them, are divided into the two categories of intellectual ('aqli) and transmitted (naqli). The intellectual sciences include such sciences as philosoph...

The Islamic sciences, which owe their existence to...

Shi'ism, in addition to seeking to authenticate the chain of transmission of hadith, considers the correlation of the text of the hadith with the Qur'an as a necessary condition for its validity. In Shi'ite sources, there are many hadiths of the Prop...

Shi'ism, in addition to seeking to authenticate th...

The majority of Shi'ites are Twelvers. They were originally the same group of friends and supporters of 'Ali who, after the death of the Prophet, in order to defend the right of the Household of the Prophet in the question of the caliphate and religi...

The majority of Shi'ites are Twelvers. They were o...

The majority of the Shi' rtes, from whom the previously mentioned groups have branched out, are Twelve-Imam Shi'ites, also called the Imamites. As has already been mentioned, the Shi ites came into being because of criticism and protest concerning tw...

The majority of the Shi' rtes, from whom the previ...

The Nizaris. Ubaydullah al-Mahdi, who rose in North Africa in 292/904 and as an Ismaili declared his Imamate and established Fatimid rule, is the founder of the dynasty whose descendants made Cairo the center of their caliphate. For seven generations...

The Nizaris. Ubaydullah al-Mahdi, who rose in Nort...