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,0 IM,AM, i--_ .~

CA,NI YOU TELL,

U S'~' H" 'O-'IW' FA'-'" "R" t 5"-"

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MIEAVEN?

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40" S·~'··'ur-R IC"~ 'om "~''''C' ls lice n se 'd" under C re '·'B··,t-';'710' IC"~ 'om tm . ons &'1'1·

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Mohammed A,fit Vakil & Mohammed Ali Vakil'

License type,: Attributum-Nolrerins 3:~O Unp'oTted License:

Y O'U ,are' free to' share, ,copy" distribute and transmit the work, under the following conditions:

Attribution '=' Y OiU must attribute the work to the author/s,

No Derivative 'Works - You :ma,y not alter, transform.orbuild upon this work,

ht'-t1p"""/-'-V,: a~ 11'~l'"']- ,·o· .. ·····r·'g(C,~/·'~4:" 0' , .... sufi .... ,jf'ti'o· .. ···-·'m .. r r]'"',·C:"S-'·

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First Editiore january 2,[0111 ISB'N .... ,13:: 978~,1,4564612,70 ISB,N~'lO,: 14564,6,1273,

Table of Contents

'Ethics

justifying W'r,ong Actions - 7' Good Manners melt a hard heart ,~ 9

P ,",~ Thi k'" 11'

ositive ' .; nk mg ,,,", " ,

I." .'

The F,orgivin"g Commander _' 13, Childish Behaviour _' 15, Teaching Beautifully- 17'

Th , T! ,.,,ii,.l-. ib .,,f,. L~:' I '9'-"

,,',f' , fUU,l,a,,'out: ,les .... , ,~-

Follow Principles _' ,21.

Cood Intentions and Hard work - ,23 The Stranger ~, 25,

The Prayer of jesua- ,27 Mother _' ,29'

How far is Heaven _. 31

S ~ it Iity

_ pllrl rua -l"~=".'

Pood for thought - 3,5

The piety of Abu Dhar Al-Ghaffari ' ... 37' The worship' of free merr- 3'9 How to' Pray to' Cod - 41

The Recipe for curing all sins - 43 Secrets of Prayer ,~ ,451

Preparing to' meet Cod ,~ ,47

A, Slave's slave - 49

The Power of Prayers - 51 Real W,e'alth ~, 53,

Stabilize the Inner State ,~ 55

2-

,

Where does Wisdom come from? ,_ 57' W,h.ere is Cod 1'S Treasure? ~ 5,9 Al~,H"a'md'u~lillah,~, 61

The meaing of LIQv'[e' - 6[3

The Blind Astronomer - 6,7

Is the World an evil place? _' 691 Free 'Wil' or Pre-destination ~ 71

Answering 3, questions 'with 1 brick - 73, Dividing 17 camels between 3, people _' 75, ,A Visit to Hell - 7'7

Key to Knowledge ~, 791

No Problem ~, 81

Exlstcncc o',f God

- ~-" . . -~~~ . - . ~

C- -::" c, I' !,~, -,'1 -,' 'G'_ od = I,g: '.'1'1" an - see ,,·- .. ,,0[-·· ,:~ ~ ,/

References for Traditions - '9[3

3'

~ I. :.

In' tr o -du 'C" t io -n

. " - .--_. I'· • . • _ ~ •• ' I

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During :my childhood &, teenage y,e'ars I attended a Madressa (Islamic 5'0010011) where we we're taught beautiful stories from history & sacred

tra .. ditions, Our teachers were very gifte,d,~ They would narrate the stories in such an engaging way that time stood still, and, I felt as though a movie were playing in m'y head, These stories of faith, wit, love, sacrifice and. adventure have stayed 'with me and influenced m,y life.

[OYler the last W[D years, I have been learning the art of drawing comics & and have used .~ t to express some of these stories, As I completed each comic" Arif and I would publish it on our blog (htt:p':llwww .. vakil.org). Though the feedback for the online version was tremendous, a great ffi,an,y still requested to see the compendium of this work :mn printed form,

A] id h .. I h ~'1 d d f- ~·L. 'H- - ] Q....~' d

ongsic e eacr corruc, ' ave incluc ec verses rromtne . ,10 ,y [,:ur an anc

the Tra .. ditions from the' Prophet & the Ahlul Bayt that are pertinent to the' respective comic's topic, For some comics, I further included my own reflections as I drew t:h.le comics,

YiO'U may wonder why some [of fh[e' characters don't h,a,'v€ their faces drawn, Traditionally, Islamic art does not depict the faces of Holy personalities, and I have respected this tradition in these comics, I truly hope Y"Oll enjoy

di 40' 5' r'_';· C' ". ,

rea ]ng , ......•. ··.· ... U}~l ..•• onncsi

I W .. ould like "to" than" k A·" bd ulba sier azi> Urn a Satish an rd Z' ·:)e··e··na··t·' M'" Ierch rant S': Y' al

_c-c ,lLJL :_'~_. X 1J. 1,1' .·oCC ,c .. I_'·c_,JL:_ '. L...J'£;'f- · .. ··:.I_·J .~_·~l Ic, i:_':_" :~' ;"e Ie I'~l I; ), ,:~' ..

possible. My sin .. oere gratitude to those who have been the source of spiritual ,guidanc,e' in. :m,y life: Sheikh Arif Abdulhussain, Al-Haj Hassanain Rajabali &.S,h[eikh, Khalil [affer, M,al1,Y 10£ the stories in 40Si'ufi. [Comics, I have learnt from them ..

4

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This book is dedicated to our Grandmother,

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JUSTF.NG

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A MAN _ TEAiL-.·~,· TWO ISREA,DS A,~D 2: FRU!IT,$ FRO[M

A S-HIOP

Q -S . S

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i.MAM JAFAR _,UE'"TII'O'IN',' HI'M ,ABOUT HI~5 ACT~IONJS ..

IBE]N6 'TH1~ 'IMAM"

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'DONI~T 'lOU KNiOW'

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HIA'VE YOU N!O'TICEO' I'IN ME'?'

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-'.·6-0-'0' HA:S, SAt'O' 'INI THIE····.

QUR-'A-' N- ~'W, ~-D--·_'EV~'E'R:-"

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BRmNGS A, ,GOOD DEEO'~ [I HE SHAt.t., HAV-E, TE,N tl.1'KIE ~T',. WIHIOEVE'R, IB,R]NGS AN 'S,VI'l D;S,ED; HE SHAJLL. BE RE,COMPe,NSE'D' ON!ll,Y [WI'T[H THIE

il,~IK'E OF ~T,rj'

IO~ THIS, BASI!S_

A 'PI'TY THAT 'YOUI HA',Vie

i"~IO-"·· 1o""N- -O'W' LE' D'-tf! O'F

,I~[:_' ..... 1' .. _. · r ···I-_:'~~,' ,

r HAVE STot'E,N TWO F'RU~T':S AN'D' 2 IBREA'D'S." I HA'vE FlOUR

SNii;.'iS' I"iii.~] iJIi...Ai'V A rc--o-~ U-I'N' -T- iIO'IU-IT- iii U A,'-.tr: ~II~~ '. I _IV'l!l, !-.".:~ t ,~~. ~ ',:, ~ .", ] 'j, rD' ~ ] ~I 1IFlF\ Vl~

I t&:IVENI I'T III~ THE [WAY' Of' 60'O[~ sc I EA'R,IN'E'O' ~O GO-O['D 'O:EEDS~ 'nE~-UC··I-'IIi.-~'- 'eI"'}O-' M fin 'I' '5' 'TtL~1

I~I . v··', Ili"'fi;;;f r',"" ._,'-.....v~ :', , ~II- ....

[HAVE, :3~' ,GOO[)

'O'.:.'E' c'O-'··S-·-:, '1111.·11 M-_v_-".- A" [~··"C··O·-··_'-·U· lid. 'T-]

,.' _-lii;.__ 1-''''1 .s , ,1j,..I_~_ 1-"""1 ,~

BUT' HA,VE 'YOUI N\OT [HEARD 'TH'E, VlERSE OF THE IHIOIl.Y lQURAN ""Ail I A.IH- 0- i.'~L.V A' '("""CE'nT-'S 'F-R- 0- 'M T-'uO'- SE i,Ji'~HO- L..UA·R- 'D ('A' LA'I"~ST-' E!i;·tiliL')''_ ,..,.1;",111.." ·.'-T~II} .·.·,\.#.i· :,,..'1 :.''--- :'-'1_ ". 'I [n-'·,i· :"'\111'-' ~'M.:> ••.. _-:,~'M' I,~I~ 'I i' :VII , ...••

('5' '2"7;) ''i;;}O''~ III HAV-r rA'r:I!,k_~:e'1ii""I; FOUR 5-~iIIoI5- i',)'i;;} S-'T'~Ail~iIIolr..:.. 'TH' -O's-'e 'FO'~ ~['D

_:Z:, ..... '.~ .'1 •.... : ill.;l! _ :_' .'.~ i~~Ir\]~~I~v' 1',11 - 1_ .' -_:111",_< i~i '-~, _ ~I..-~I"'~ _ :~,~ .- ill.;l! r,;,

I'T-'E"M-',e A···Iii.'ID· ~O""UR-' M--""'R-'E" '5-"1 .. 11'5-' F-""'R-"__:_~V"'I"!I"":_ T-HEM- 'T-"'" 'S-""'M-'--:!:"O--'''!IE'' 'E"llS=-'E'

I II.~~I. ·_,;.j,i : .... J'\e~ .. 1 'rl"'_:.I.I._"'::" ""]lv!::··II __ . ~_'., r"'l~_·.· _·jU11:> ~l~":': r"'l[~ 1.1 _- ..... lUI ,··~···.UI ···I~Ii;r. .. ·..:.:.:',"III~_. I~-.~_"_.>I.~~

1~.,II'T-·llLJi("'\~ I~T T-ur:" 'Pr:"R-::-·[M:·'IS:-S·tO"N-·- ['C"-':';'F= TUr:" iO'W--li;.;i-~R'-'S··;: '5''-''0', 'VO'~III dl uA····'!i;I~'

V\M'_ IF'lVU[ [ ] IIFlII:i.. _ 1l:i..1._ . _ ~I_. '.' -' ] 1IFl1l:i... __ ~~~:.. ".. f,'U n '. ,v c;,

,COLILECTE:O' 'EJ6-HIT S'IN'S ISUIT ~O'T A S-1'~6-L.E 6000 oeeo'~

WITHI SUCHI ~I~TE,RPR,ETA,T~O~:S AI~D' JUIS-'TFF~CA'flONS N10T Q,NILY DO THEY M'ISILEAD THle[M5EILVES~ IB,UT' O'TH'E,RS ,AS WELL

7

(It is) a blessed Book that We have sent down to 'yOi'U'1 S() that

they :m.a'y contemplate its signs, and that those who p,os8es intellect may take admonishment, (38,:2:9)

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th ~, 'Q''"-''',,,, ~,!j1 ~ ~, ~ ~, ~ ,,~,' ~"~ ~ '" 'ed t - ~ ~n ~,~ id ~'I'R' ,~, zit ~ it ,-[' ~ -, ~:m" d ,~, ,~ - t di - ,-, ~,' ~ ~,

, " I ," 1- '-'I 1-1-1 :,," II I 'j - I ':,': I ,,". " .. -' ',',,"1 I" 'I i'l I '; -,' . ' ,:,',

,e:u,[ an m a rneasureu tone sall'J,ecm.1 e 1, c.ear,y, ,,0 nOI "llsperse

'" lb,li"'::""" > '~~".' ';' ",,~ ',::,/', '~lib 'lik'" :-' 'I'"'' ",,~ ',:,,:,." "', r' I o 'r ,:(" " -tr ":' :S"'·"t~(" ,," wh I'" ";1 '," ", ," t 1111'" ," tior .• ",'

III prosaicauy, nor rave III ce ra,vrn,g poet y. 'C_ ~ op W, I ere u ment ,OOS

d d 'h h ' .~ 'h .~ , d d tlel l

wo:n ers, an, move the nearts WIt ,I, It, an, I' ,0' not ,[ et your orr 'y

concern be (to finish) the end of tbe chapter."

Imam Ali. said, "Verily there is no good :mn recitation that does not have contemplation in it, Verily, there is no g"Dlod in worship that does not ba ve understanding. n

A' o'TIS······T"S"" N"[O"'~""'T"E-'S"':'cj' 'TUtt=' ·V· .·eR"s--:'es- '0" "F~ 'TIU~ ""'1' ··R' A···· .. .I if'"'A·NNnT' lOt=' ,UII.'·'f"t='·R"'S-T'O""·,',o,, "0" l'IF~ THlre 'Dt='A'·'f"t='·R"

, ".<, ,_' l_ .. "[ I__: ,_,.~, .1 n!1!; : ~I,"~~ ., ..•... t!l1~ '~I, /rii '~_, _,'Ii",t t I;I!,~,'NV'~,., .. ~. t,·" " l~ f"i;"~-,V'~,,

AP:PRiO'ACIHESIT BY il[M'PO~$~IING H11~S ~ID'EA$ ON ~T .. , RA'THE,R I'T SIHOiULD IBE ,APPROACHE,'D WITH ,AN' iOP'E,N &. :SU4CERE H'EAR.'T TO LJN'OE'RSTAN'D 'IT~S OLJTE'R ,AN'D I'INNIER IMEANU·~IGS.. T~E iQuRAN CAIN HIAVE AI~ E,M'P,OW'E,R~llr\l6 EFFECT IO~ THE READE'R.. 'I'Tj'S A BOOK 'THA,T ,CHAt.L'E,N6E'S:;, DEIBATE'S:;, CRI'TI~SI~2'E,S AN'D G-~'VlE$ H10PE 'T,O TIME ReAOER., AT 'T~',ME5 aNIE MAY FEEil, TIM AT' TIMEr ,ARE I~O'T READ~IING TH1E QUI'RAN,. IB.'UT' THE QURAN 'IS 'R:EAO'IN'.(i THEM ..

8~

,

,61001'0 MANNER,S ,MIEIL',_ A

- A,R,D H"E'A,'RT

~-6. C.~es

+4' f ~I!

I AM, N,O'T' ,A BA,QAR.A, M,Y NAME IS, BAQtR

YES, TIHAT' WAS, HIER :P'RO'FESS'I,ON TH'ERE ~s NiO' :S-HIAME ~N rr

'WH1AT'EVER YOUR NAM'E, 'IS~ ~'VE J-iIE.AR,O VOuR, M.'O'fli-lE'R, W,AS ,JU:S'T A, COOl(

YOUR

_,-- 1- '<.

IF' 'TH- '-'E' "'lII"'Hj'NI~S', - _,~ l~ I __ ~II __ ~-~:

Y'iOU SA,Y' A'BOU'T MY ,MiO'liHER, ARE 'TR,UIE:;, THENI ,MAY' ,AL.ilAHI FIO'R,G~VE IHE'R,. 'IF TiHEY A:R'E, FALS,E 'THIE'~ MA'," ,ALL~H FO'R,G~Ve. 'lOUI"

,MO'TIHE'R, WAS I'M:rJ'U D.'E, N'T ,AND RUDeJ

() 'IMAM~ FOR,GI~VE ,ME FO'R, ,MY I'NIS-O,lEN'Ce AN'D' ACC.EPT M,e, AS, O~IE OF 'YOU'R FiOLIl"OWERS

I ,AM AMAZED B,Y)f,OUR

CAJLM AND' rPOt..I'TE BEHA,Vl~iOUI'R

9

Repel (evil) 'with what is best, and, ].,0:[ He between whom and you was enmity would be as if he were a warm friend (41::34)

And the servants of the Most Merciful arc those who walk up!o:n the

,-, -, 'th - ,- sil , ,-" - d vh - -, th -, ;!;--- - -, - -" - t .- dd -,-, - - th -" --- [h- .-, '-'-h--t-, 'L th -, ,.-.- "

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ear, easuy, an .wnen me Jl.gnoran. aucress mern "a,fS,I,Y, _",ey sa,y

IW10rds 01,£] peace (25·:,63)

I '-h- 'T' ~,' d'·- ...

-:," ,~ -.::: ' ,~'-":".>::""'."::-- ,". _..,-: .

, n me ,'- ra~~,'tlons

"Tlh' .'.- "P"'" mh et . aid "G"'-'-'-' .... ' d ch, .. ract -'.", '-,:' elts .. ,.0;: .' ,'--"." th .:' '[~'- nelts ~ ... ,.-

~ ne ~,.ro,p~.Je sal, ~ 1_00' c~~a"r,ace.r ,meLS S,lns a,s~.Je su,n m"el S lee,

and bad character spoils an action just ,as vinegar spoils honey."

A, man came to the, Prophet saying ~!'O Prophet of God, which people have the most perfect faith?" "Those of them 'who have the, best character", hie, replied,

"1'-·:,·, '.- '".-'. A'--']~ said "IC-··--'h· eerfulr .. : .... ' ~" t'-''II.;. basis ofl ..... ~'---::, tolera ',,' '-,'.:- the

~mam ~,__:~l Sial.·. ~ .. ·.:,J~,eer.1u,,~ness IS .·lEe , .. as,IS 0.1 love~_o,~eran,ce .·~.Je

,ARTI,ST'S NI'O,'TES:: I 'R,'E.CALil, T1H~$ A,N'ECDO'T'E 'WHIE"N'£VER SOMEOI~E I~S iRUIOE~, T'HIE I,MAiM~'S APP'R"O'A,CIH 1'$ B,EAUTI'FUL .. , '~A'THE,R THIANI 'D'I'SA&iREE,ING' WlTH HI'M" WIH~CHI w',OULD HA'VE A.6G'f(AVATEO TH'e, S~T"LJIAm'TONl HE HA,O HOPE I~N TIHE MANI~S GOOOINIESS ,ANID IJSED' I~'T AS AN Ic}prPO'R,TUI~lTY 'T'O 'EXPR,E'SS HI'S, :S,UI3M'ISSIIO!NI 'T'O! 60'11)' & 13ElLJE,'F liN l!-lIIS 'FO'R,61IVE"~'E,Ss-'~

'1'--0--"

--

PO'S - v,I\,ITI"'E

N N·

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"H. KL<G

II iiiiiiiiiiiiii

O'friJ THE COf!JTAAR'Y~ IMAM ,MADE H',5 P,Ri50N A M os rlu t, AND ,~'~S lO,N,ElJNES,S, OF' 'THE J,IAU .. ~ A p,t. E~S'ANT ,PLACE FtL,LED W~TH 'THE' sail/i'iT RE'MEMiJRAfiJCE OF' ALtA,~.,

e7

. "'. . .

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'I HIAVE h~!;-1:P'RI'SO'~'E'D' ~I,MAM IMUS,A AiL""" KAOH'IM FO'R YEARSj 1iHE ST'A,TE THAT ~'Ve KEPT HIIIM, 'WI'iL"L IS'R.'EA,If( HI':$. W'ILIl" A,IJ\Ul) IMA~jE u - - -l IU - P - II - S'Sf n'IM fEEI_ [nO', E';_'E,,-,',~

, 0 ALLAH I yOIJ II(~,O{W I THAT ~ HAD 'ra:EEI~1 A~S,KI NG

I ¥OU TO FREE IM,E FROM 1~""'1'

;-I ANY OSlo hiAT ION 'E)('C'EPT' ~ WORSHIPPING, VOU" INOW J "tOU IHAVE lL)ON'E THAT"

~ :SO~, 'PRAI~:S'E GE, TO YOLJI,~

(

.

.

A' R~'TIS·,,·"'T"S"" N"IO'_-_"'-T"E~'S·""I' 'HL-1i!::1;.11 I R,'f!!!'I""'Al' L.' 'TH' '-'5- S--:'TO""Rv ~'T' LIV:Ii!:"S--:' "Ii!:: HIO""f!!!' 'Tu - "IIi" iIi.·!O· "A:"TT'E"R" HIO' '1&1'

, , .... _ ,~., ,_'I I, '. "1_ I_: '_"!Ii' W,I _1I;.~,'ii.I ,L" II!;. !I;;.oo , .', " ,L,~ , 1'.,'" ,,~ ~I L CJ'~,~, ,MII;.,I!""'II!;. nA ~I ~,'ii.I", ,M-, L L !;.',VV

'P'A"I""!IC'UL M'o,,} CIR-'CU"M' -ST- AIIc!lcee A" R- E I" uA· II. ttJ::' A' CLllIO'~[C'E LlII0'1&~' T-'O" 'DEA" C'T-' T-'O- rt 'I-io.'ST-EA' O' 0" 'F- IlO" O-li:.;i'iliio.l;""':'

_" I, ..... ,~_ '1_ ' 1'_ '_, __ : - I ,RI, ..... '_ i>,;;l : ~ ':',i; ~I . "-',VI~ .. ' .,"~g <, "~v-., - .'~' ",~_,-. -I~, ~ -I~, : _ I~_: - I i_ '-.' '~''- _~ ,'~/~ I~J~ I'\I~

A'T' TH~ S'[UAD-'O'- W 1- C-··A~·~I ~o-· C-'U--S' M' V AT-T~'iii.~IT-IO- "'i O"N HIO-h~' ;:u:!H ..... '[U'T~· T--Iu~' S'! Ih .. 'i ~S' S·'[U~ .. 'iIN/' '"iIi"IU~'

,;1 I, ~~IFlM.I_'-; ,~_-M~~' ir: __ ''_- _,,'t,~ ·~Iv~, II~i:_I"\!Il_, I -'_" ~1~Jp~lFl. 1 nlcV1i"\!ll 1I~:IF1~III"\!Il'_, I,~, .. ~[nlc

C~IRUM.sTA~CE's 'OU'TSil'OE OUR IL~re ,AR,E NIEUIT'RAJL~ 'WHA,T M,AKi'ES, 1iHEM t&OOD ,Q!R BA'D 'IS OUR, REA'CTI~IO,N TO T'HIOS'E CrR,c.UM,ST'A~CE.s"

I n the Q'UT' an

C .. ··.· . a 11 on 'Y·. our Lord .. '1 hum 1-Ty·. a .. nd secretly ('.'7'·5·'5' ",)"1

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bless 'M··· .. ··,: 'U'I h [' am '. m '. a dl'· an .d his 'HI ,'O:'U'" ·s ... ·'e' -ho Id

.. ··.<10_ ,",._ 'C" ····:e,"()l"'- "10, "._.~,_". __ ~ ,e1

tempt me not 'with what Thou hast given toThy creatures and tempt them not 'with what Thou hast withheld from me.

Lest I e'nvy' T,hy' creatures and despise' 'hy decision!

o cea

bless Muhammad and his Household, delight :my' soul through 'Thy decree,

expand my breast through the instances 'of Thy decision, glve to, :me a trust through which I fi,ay' admit

that Thy decree runs only tOI the best, and let my' gratitude to Thee

for what Thou hast taken a,w,ay' from me 'be m"o:f'!€ abundant than my ,gr,atitlld[€, tOI Thee fo .: ·.r~ wh at T'h·'!Q .: ·.UI-· h a' st ' ,C·::·'!Q .• ·.nr' f"'e' :'r'''~r':''e' -d upo r: m m e'.;'

.. , ~ 1_, _ .' ~ '_' .. "" .'_ ~ _'. ~ '. ' .'. ~ 1_ . .~' .....' _ . ' . ~ 1_ ~ 1_. .•

I

Prese ·r'~v,'·::'e.~'· m ,~. e f ~··r~o, -!m~ ',~'. im a g···~:~]~n~ 1 1"': n g~~' a n y: m e an .ness

. ."" '" . ~ "I ."., I, ' . '.' .. ,U . ',' I, . u

. ::' . ::' .

in someone whois destitute

or imagining ,any superiority

in S"Q .. · ..•• .m eone who possesses w ...... -ealt h

~~ - . . _ - . ,_.. - ~ - . . .. . - . . .. ~. ~ -,

for th ~ .~. '-, oble ~,,~, h .~. who ,-'.'. obedi ~,".-, ""_'-, to 'Th" ~ .~,,~. h ,~'.-, .. -. ,-~ .. , ~ obled

or I . .e no ne IS . .e W I om one renee ,0 "lee nas ennor ,e

and the exalted is hie whom worship of Thee has exalted] Excerpt of Supplication In Satisfaction with the Decree of God by Imam ,Za/rrat Abideen

'1'-' 2:-:"

.......

TI:E F'ORGIV'liNIG' COIMMA,INID'E'R

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'13

"Take to forgiveness and enjoin good and turn astde from the : .. gnoiranf" (7:11919)

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•• ", • .' J _ • : _ •••

n, rne .' 'r,a'~l·tlonS'

"When a man asked the Prophet to, explain nobility of character to him, he replied, "11 means that Y',ou should forgive him who has wronged YO'O, re-establish tie'S with. him who has broken them off, ,giv',e' tohim who has dl.enie'd. you something, and tell the truth evert if it is a .. g.ainst your

O n in terests n , w- 111"'.'1',,,.

'14

CHILDISH BEHA.VIOUR

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l'VE: NIE'VE'R;. ,S;,eS:N MY' MAST'E.R :I,M.AM A,LII 'G,EI.AN'G'R:'f. TO'O.Al':I W'I'Ll 'GEl'" 'H·'IM····'·, ·A··"'·N:'·G.'·-' R. .... 'Y

, •. , I ." '.1.' ',' '. :, ., •

SA'""10' 0"-"0" C·- .. O···· -,

'J' .:::,'._' _:_-' :_:. I.:, _:'ME

H'ERE

'WHY' A,R.E YOU 'NOT .A'NSW'I:R~NIG 10' MI:

SA"ID'?,

SOR'RY MASTE:'R, 'I, WA'N;ll!.D T'O ~ 'NiC~TE . A'N,G'E,R IN rou BY 'D'~ISOIBEY'ING YOU

I,

'15

SA·r ~I 0 WUir;:! R'E- .1\ 'n, e_--' vo 'U'

_,. . , . n,Ij;.., ... ' M.~. '. > "

SAnDI,

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SA-"IO-'"

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'DE:A,'R SA'!'IDJ :I, OONIJ'T G,E.r A'NGR.l· AI $,UC'H

CH' 'ILD" "I<"H BlcH A~ro[un

'1","_' _o;),"'L= - M,l.'~'.~.

And those who restrain (their] anger and pardon men: and Allah

~ ~ ~ ,~ ~ , " . ~ ~ ~ "~ - - '", ,~~, ': ,- ~,: ;' ~ ,- "~ I ' ,- "~ ~ ~ ~- ~, ~~! ,- ~ ,~- ~-, ~~ ~

-' -

loves the virtuous (Quran 3,: 134)

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. • • , • • ~ : ..... ,I ,~ . _ .• : '_" - .. ': . '.:' • :, '. ,", •

, n me ,', ra~:.,'tlons

from among' yOIU?'I' They replied, "Yes Messenger of Allah, do tell US'I! so the' Prophet said "The strongest and toughest of you Is he who, when he is happy, his happiness does not lead him to committing

a sin, or anything 'wro,n,~ and, when he gets an,gry, his ,anger does not prevent him from speaking the truth, and when he is empowered

~ h d ...... 1.... h ]d' f-' th h"" h ~ lawf ]'~ hi n

rn ,any w,ay, 1.1,e ooes not take oic 0,- that W·1.IICil 18 not iawtu [Y' 'S~

Imam Ali said, "There are six things 'by' which people's intellects may' be tested: clemency at the, time of ange'r! patience at the, time of fear, calculation when faced with a, desire, Godwariness at all times, amicableness, and minimal engagement in disputation,"

,ARTI,ST'S NI'O:TES:: WIHEINi I WAS ~IIN M'l 'EA,RL'Y TE'ENS I RE,MEMIB:e,R BE~N,(; ~IIN'FIl,UENlce'D' IB,'/ :PIEO':PllE 'WH10 TH10U,G,HT E')(lP1RE,S5-I'NG' AJNlCi'EiR AT PE,!O'P'l,E IBEIl}OW lriHEM W,AS ,A S~iGIN 'O'F 5-TRENiG::TH1" I WOUl.D' iCO'PY 'TH1EM,~, 'THlI!NK,I'INIG' 1i~A'T WAS 1i~E fUGIHT WA',Y TO BE~AVE~ TH1EIN ,A 'D'AY CAME 'WH1EIN I 'R'cAD' TI~IS, STORY liN INAHJUI... 'B"AL..A6HIA~ IT IN'AS A TUIRNI'N!6 :POIIN'T FOR, ME I~N IUI~D:E,RST'A!N!OIIN6 'THA,T SIHOIWI'I~!6

AI.·'I·~~'R" I~'S-- iii. ~O' T' A-' '5- '-I~I.·'I '0" .~ 's~ 'TR' :t='1.'1·~'Tb:ii '111 bi~ '5- T'O"" "'R','\J' '-I"~IF- i I~ nl:t='I.'IC- eD" iioAif:':" '0'·1 [-H-'O- '~iL,1 'I R"e'5- 'n,O···· .. ~ID:t="1ir"Ii TO'- , ,INu-II;;", f~: 1,'1', _.' .. ~. 'I3"'N'1Ir" < 1_ 'I~INU' n~, . nil;;, .. ~. l~ .' .',,',f 1,'1 , ..... Il.;!!I~IN-,I;.,·, 1-1,[1;;, ',",,, ,"'n' . .'!I;.,~ 'r'"" n _I~V' I., •.

'1"-'6-

... '.

.~ ",,Ii 'IU!DS·""N···' r "'F- ""U-' E' n"" nU'!I:"r '~J'" I'.ul A, A\it U AI rs··~ N' 'I .. H"iI! iJ!'t"'C"".A j',UI .f!" )Ii -W·' AI N' J""'Ii"I' D' "1 ~'n·~~'ll,_,:-,,>.:V,_·· ,~. IV~' ,.-i.-·,._· ... r!n.ivr-- _ .. ~:. - l-l' .~:j ,~' I'''._''i.-. n.Ml~.·;·:~_.· .. '.' '_'~"'W·~~H;'~' .. ri ,~,M.": ,H_',: V''-I~.·

H·I;.·~ S·~ 'D' 0: ":"!I'N" .r!...

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HillS WUD'HU .~'''''!''.iii"I .. L ~N'C,CRR.ECfIL.~·.

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HUR:lI'NG HIS F!.E.UN6,S·P

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CCJ __ -------'-------~-/----------~I

.SIIR,~, M.Y BRIO'TIFIER. AN'D I '0 ~ SAG,RE E WHO

P!RFOR;.MS 'WUDU: THe II:.S·'" 'WOULD 'YOU WATCH A NrD' JUDIGE!: WHI'O 'IS THIIE se S,T ?

'17

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11'1' A'L.lAH~ Z. 'D~D 'NOT KN,O'W' H'OW TO IPERIfO'R.M W'LU)U~. YO'U 'H.AYE l'AUGHT IM.e HOW TO, DO rr CIO'R,RE,CtlY;o ., ..... . .~,

[0 you who believe! let not (one) people laugh at (another) people perchance they m,a'y b'e better than they, nor let women (laugh) at (oth ier) worn en" P erchan re they rn ay be better' than' they- and do not

1"-" I,,' III!' "[;(J[,l I IlL, . Til ." .•.. 111,: I',' I','---!' -- ,:,' '-, '.:,'" -~ ,'-'.' [' 111-

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find fault with your own people nor call one another 'by nicknames: evil is [a bad name after faith, and whoever does not turn, these' it is

that c·C '--''--_ t'hc"-, 1 I---,'I:'I'--t' (.'4···~9··,,~'·1- '1-')':'" , .. all ,are. -e unJus.~, '-.-, '"'-/

I '-h- 'T- ~,' d'·- ...

-:," ,~ -.::: ' ,~'-":".>::""'."::-- ,". _..,-: .

, n me ,'- ra~_,'tlons

d - .- .. - -- - t h .-- -- -" .- -" .- -Id -. -:m- , ~ - ,- - t ,-. - .-. - f _:/'1'

-, : .'- ," [ -, .' ," [ I " [I I' , ill.' ',' -.' I' - 1 Ii ' I . - '-,' " I 1 ',_

oes no nonour our e,,-er.,y IS not one 0 us."

When the Prophet was asked 'Wh,ID were the most beloved of Allah, he replied, "Those who help others the most,"

Imam [afar said, "Husayn (younger) would never walk in front of Hasan (elder) nor would he begin the conversation when they met!' ou t of respect for him."

'18

'TRUTH ABO·······-'UT· L-/~~:~'

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'""Y'DO'" YOU'

SA Y' ,A ,liE'

-.IMI iI\iP"'I" ,,",J'i!II'~J::

J,~ ,I" U"'I~ .. '

II.

"iII"'i:Ji',AI'ftC"' ~W_'C"-fii V'- U,,",dl' Z' ,E'E:lIi'T ,lIlln""··'~! I~~I.··.I"&:"'" ,nV'-'" I' I] rl~~lll!·

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'19

I n the Q'UT' an

[0 you who believe! avoid most of suspicion, for surely' suspicion in some cases is a sin, and do not sp'y nor let some of y'lou backbite others, Does one of you like tOI eat the flesh 0'£' his dead brother? But you abhor it; and be [careful [of (your duty to) Allah, surely Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), Merciful, (49:1,2)

Imam Al-Baqir said, "Wh[e'n my' father Ali ibn al-Husayn was close to deatr he drew me to his chest saying, 1'0 son ,giv',e' yo[u the same advice as my father g,a've me" just as his father had given him the same advice: bear the truth patiently, even if it is bitter,"

,ARTI,ST'S NI'O,'TES: WIHENI I H'EA,R'D' TIH~:$. STORY~, I~T CHIANIG:£'D' TIHE W[AY r LOO'I(ED A,T' SlN1S.,., 'I

R- t:"A··l.'I'''?EO· cs "DT-'A"" ud A.'; 'C" 'T-'5~ A .... ·R~··E ·S'::.'UdS'::.' B-::LE'C"'A'[U-'5"~'E-' 'T-uO"-':"S":E A:···C·-·T-·I'·O-··~J:S-' 'DE' ·S'::.'T- D'IC'T- O'-'['UR-' -S'::.'ji1'·UR-'IT-'[U-A."· L i"':...R-'·'·O-· .. i'T-u 'I-c'

1Ii;.. ... ,t:;;,. _ -_ .•. !rj",;,I,_ - ...... , 11~1"ii,I .'. I '_ ' .. '.' . _ -_)~I'ii,I_:.I_' .·.M,.,_.;I,_ - no: _ '_ - .'.,' .' - ........ 0_ ...... ,_ ,_:. I ...... , '. I [.- ..•.•• " _:.ifr"'I~ !~II ' ..... _, '!;gl < -Viii f"i!J" ,r

[WE ARE AI3,LE TO REFL'6,CT 'THIE O,AMAG:6, 1iHA'T S~[NS 'OiO' TO iOUR SOUL), STA',tINI,G' ,AW'AY 'FRO'IM 1iHEIM 'Wlt.,L ISE ,AS ~,A'TURAL. ,AS S.TAY1~G A,W,A'Y FR,OM, SOMET1H~[~6 'THIA'T I'S, D'IS6UST"INI,6'~

20

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HIA,R,Q 'YOU

N&V2R' IB"fIS~ ___ ~'. ,A 118:tJ.II'

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H2' ,HAS.I

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WO'· "'=U'l")D' ,"-XE

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- - - - - -

TO B2 ~OUI

iC"~'ihill' ,ilIO' - . ~'.nl ,iFv •• L~I",·5'ft

[0 y" ou who believe! be maintainers of justice, bearers of witness of

. ~,~ ~ , , ~~ , , , '" , , ~ ~ ~ ,~~- - .. ~~~ ~ ~ " ,~ .~ J... - ~ ~ . ~ ,~.~ ~ ... . ~

Alla .h's sak e th ~ IO-iug·,,'·-:-h'·'" it m ,a',y,':' be a g:c a inst y,,'·'IO."'UI r 'O"W,·", .... · n se lves or ,(:"y'.:,,: our)

.. ill. "I. .u. t '."..... ,., .. IL,'" .... ' "." . .-- ,.,.,,' .' .... " ,

parents or near relatives: if he 'be rich or poor, Allah is nearer to' them both in compassion: therefore do not follow (your) low desires, lest you deviate; and if you swerve or turn aside, then surely Allah is awa:re [of what you (10~, (4:135)

Imam [afar said, 1/ A, Muslim is he' whose hand and tongue people feel safe from, whilst a believer is he whom people trust 'with their belongings and their lives,"

,ARTIST'S N'O:TES: :SO[M,ET~M,ES OILJR.l,O'VlE F,a[R PERSO[NAll.l'TI~E5 'SlJ'N'D' IUS FR.OM TIHE T'RU'TH~

THIE N!AME'$, iO"F' ,GrOD REFLECT 'D'IV~IIN'E, PRJNiCIPLE,S" AN'D' OilJR, ilJlll.TI'MATE JOURNEY' 'IS TOW'ARDS ~I'M~ THIEREJ~'iO'RE iO·UR 60'Al SHOUll'O' 13,S, 'TiO' F:OLliOW D~\lIN'E PR~NC~:P;,l,ES~ DOI~NG so), W~ll.t. HELP IUS TO S·S.s'

T'H'IE~ h '0'" 'RIII '0-' W' 'I'TH'O' I~ ~IT- n:B'E~' J""UD'~' 'IrE~' '5" &" T- .A.Vr D~' rc'" 1'"51''0''' N' 'IS l.ililli~T'H·1 "'0" 1Iii.~1~1·'D'~' E~ a. 'iC' ~

. ,," I· '",,",'I. <:&." .. ' ', ..••. 'u _I 1!'""'1r\,1 ,_' ]' '~I' '.:' I ""'N~'I~·,.' ..,,, vlil~ . ,," '~:II'iI!!llr'IIN "~~

2- 2'-"

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... ''I''''ftIA·l D .. ,IA 1E'.iIIIRI 'V"llil'.'-'~ " ," ," ~_ .... I m "",-=;;"11'111 " r V1II!I!i'" .. '~

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.AIN· D- I '¥~!~I~I ~'AlI···· '~'U:J!flH-'-

ft. I l.... ,j LfM' "lIil~:M _.'1 ,.M~ .. ~.

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fili:AAJI £ P"" idl"ilrr-' r~t~I!;;; l ... ·u' ,f'lU'~.·

'liN· \IIIIU'U' TiU <iii r· 'F A ,01 Ai

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NEEP7' ,A,NP

Dlil\~I"QIII!?~r~f!!Iil ~U,~'_ . 1~11I!"~l~~~:" ....,,~~

.......... - .. ~

'THE NeXT' ,DAY •••

23

Allah will not call Y'ou to account for thoughtlessness in your oaths, but for the intention in yOlur hearts: and He '~.s Oft-forgiving,

Most Forbearing. (2:2,25)

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, n te "ra __ mons

The Prophet said, "Do not insult the world for it is the best mount for the believer, because by means of it he attains good and through it he is saved from, evil,"

2_4,

"

- S 'I N~~Il:'

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ANDI glPtHA NSlJ ,111 CQ,U£D1N'f .stIB"

'FHA" NUSHl~ ... i,

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,F,I'E IN 'THE

1"'iltC~1 ,ft, Il;AI ~~ W"'I""II' l~;.~"

".AISlE TN.',NEAr I(JF' ''THE FlU.. tr ,IS ,FO" JH.OSE MIlO ,fAIL, ,IN '~~"~I~~II;~ ~D:~':

_ n,JII;".rn, iI;i!I''H'if ,III' ...

I.t~iln~li.~ Ai N··D· ..• R·'~~n~. _ e- _.

OIPHAiNJ'

,'" 'U1n.liIlA-ili!lil ~ .~IIlP1~. ,_ ~"!!I!

IT IS rHl

CAfJ(IH ALI

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,,,,1 'rOUI'

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,"0.1 Z HA IE FA IL!iD' ;1\1 v' g-:: .. ·U- -." ~D:-: "':4·.-IIlI.D-::I~

lifFI ,: . ., ill' "I~ . ..-~.,.. . :.ill

- - - - - - - -- _. -

!W:-",.~ .f. ~·I"IN.

And serve Cod and do not associate any thing' with Him and be good to the parents and to the near of kin, and the' orphans and the needy' and

th Ie' neighbor of (you r) kin a··~· nd the alien n eigh ibor. and th Ie' cornp · .. anion

ee "'C,'. Ie _ _",,, _ '_'" .... I e ",e ',' "C ,e'c Ie '" 'C,_ ,lJUi.,Il,,_ ee _,_. ",t-UllLll,_, I

...... ..... ,",' ,

in, a journey and the wayfarer and those whom your right' hands,

,p,ossess; surely Allah does not love him who is proud, boastful: (4':36)

'Let it be known to, YOIU, Maalik, that I am sending Y'ou as a ,gov'e:rno'lr to a country which has seen man'y , "e,gitm,es before this, Some of them 'were be n u g .. '·'n· ,s··,:,y·,:, ... m P ia th , c' e"· ",t"-I'":C,···' an d g. "'0· :'".0,': xl w vhi "~ le 0'· ith . er s we "rl e'" tyr a '1111' r .ica 1 '0,': "'pr ·.:pr ire S>,9]'~V'''':''le',''

ee . ,':' I _',' .. eel", ,c c e ,:,'_'_ c" , 1,","" I > ,_" c c_"' oCl I ,I!i.,." f-~' ~,e,_Ii;;l, ~.

and cruel, People 'will judge your regime as critically as you have studied the activities of other regimes and, they will criticize you in. the same w'a'y as Y',ou have censured or approved other rulers,

Maalikl Y"OU must create in, your mind, kindness, compassion and love for your subjects Do not behave towards them as if y .. ':'QU are a, voracious

, ,~ ." " ,~~ " ~, " , + ~ ~ ~ , " , ,- - ,~,,' ,~~~'" - - ~~ ~ ,~ ~~." ,~,~ , ,~ , ,~, ~ ~ ,~

- . :." .~.

ell b d ~f" )'"' in d ~" h

~ ~. . -. - , - -.. - . - . -. . -. - - - . -.. - - - - I _ , . - . • - - . - . - - - - . -. - ., -. - - , . - . . -" -. . - _ I _ -. . -. - -.

'l ,-' .. ':." .,',' , , .',' I " '." ", 'l" ':.' - c',' , , ' , ·c . ',' I .. ," "",,' ".' " '" ,-'. ",' ·c . " I .. ,- ' " , 1 -' " ,',' ", '

an ravenous beast an as 1 y,our success lies In ' .. , eVlouring t 1 em,

Remember, Maalik, that amongst your subjects there are two kinds of people: those 'who have the same religion as you have: they arie brothers to, yOlO! and those who have religions other than that of YOlursj they are human beings like you. Men of either category suffer from, the sarne weaknesses and disabilities that human 'beings are inclined to, they commit sins, Indulge in vices either intentionally or foolishly' and unintentionally without realizing the enormity of their deeds, Let yOlur mercy' and compassion come to their rescue' and help in, the same w,a'y and to the same extent that you expect Allah, to show mercy and forgiveness to, yOlu~

2""'6'

..... >.' .•••• "

'TH! PRAY!R OF' JESUS (IA)

"'D'O'~ niL!l E-=-'T' J- 'E:' e'U-le~ FE-=-IL'''III'''''

\ ~:~~;; IBY ~I;_' . ~ "

l IB£HIA:vtOUIIR, ,Of ·Y1HE.

O ILO- RI. ••. 0' '.' If

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FORGIVE THEMj~. 'FOR. THE'Y KNOW' IMO'T IIJ'HA.T· T1HEY' 00

O J'ES-'US-''; ·S-'III..:IO· U-LA

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~OlUJ INO'T' B':~~. A.·,fJl£,~~

.f!__ _ ._. .!~ I _ ~~'I'

I S!~ENID OfilL")!' oirr IOF WI~fA'.T ~ HA:Ve. _NIIM'Y' ·p,·:·U.I·I").'S····E

_I " • Ir'-. _,' I

A' ·R-··TI S':T"S, ". 'N" 1'0"-" "'T"E~ '5' "'. 'T'H'1il:!" M·· .. '0" :R':E I TIiUI·;a.~11V A" o'O'''UT' '~I'-T T'HI:E M'" 0'" · .. ·R·E' 'I DE' J.ii.·L' 1~"2"E' THA':' T' '"!r"UIil:!" 'W' · .. ·O"D.il ,~ A'~" 'R' '0" "Uiri.!IO·

, ." ". ,,~, ._' ," [ I": ,_' .... II .I~,I.I~ ,- In ~"'!!lr:-o...1I;Ji '. '), I~ ,I .' ...,~, c r..~,~,t;;.~ 1,1 ... ".... l~ Inl~:.' !!l" .... v· ,~ ,I .... "., .• '.., .....

us 1'5"-: A"" DE' '~-l:l:"C·· ·T-·'IO·i;.' A~ ,O·~ lilR-: '11II;~11IIi;~I:I:'''D 'S·····El'r:::' N'·'·O··"·T-'HI'~i;."_:_ 1'5-: ~'O''''O''''D' AD 'B'~'A'" D'" O""'UT-'S=-'~'D";E "O":"'I~" u:s-· [B::"~ I~T-' -W' "E' -·,'A'·' vE'

_ c_> ~I,_i ..• '. r;,,_,r,-I_IIi;.,_ I ',,~I'!;,I V'l"'" ,.~.!I,,;!!, .,""I.,""Ilm;.r"io,_'_';_ !'~'.k', .I~I'!;,IU ~I,_i i~~,,~ _/ V'r;,,-_ ',~_. ,_:.l~_/_. !'-,!_ c.) '!I,,;!!' I >_1_' M-'I"""t,

I'T SO THRiO,UGH THE 'F'll T'S.R iO:F lOUR WiO'RLD 'VmEW.; THII~S ~S A'VEJlY O'IFFERENIT W'AY O'F' LOOK~'NG AT 'THIE WORl.,'[)~ A~D MEA,N1S- 'IF W'E, WA~T 'T'O C.HI,AN',6"E, 1iHE W',ORL.D':;. WE $'TAR'T BY CHAN!GUfrJG W[HA'T~S

I~ .. ,II'THL-I';a.~ OURS-'Ei 'V'ES-' 'I'F we' WAIIIi;!'IT TO'" 'R-If) T'UIE' WOR'~ 'D" O"F nO'li'e:DTY' I~ .. ,IE iIi.'EED 'TO C:'TA' 'R'T 13- y"

'!tV I! _ ~~ ,I' .) '_ ,~;_' " .. , c ,-. I _,~ <r;;" , I": , .. ' . . iii I -'I.III:" -, .' .: 1-, .... ' "v I~ r.". ") '!tV -~ '" -~ 1:-- I ,I :.;i,) '~! ,

R- :I:"M-' ·O·-"·VIlii.lL T-'HIE' Ip··OV· .. ·· "ED'T-I;Y O·~ iO"1l tEo 1r.~1 '0': U'R- [IUE'A' R-"T-I S·_··

1Ii;..: •. ~II~~U , ,1_: ,,/. _.I~/·IP- I!l".'.-'V_, '.,,,- 1' , F!:_.I .•. ·._'~,

2_7",

"

, ,

'Behold] the angels said}, 'Oh 'Mary!' GOld gives you glad tidings

of a W',ot,d from Him, His name w~11 be Christ Jesus! the son of 'MarYI held in honour in this world and the Hereafter, and in (the co,mpa'ny of) those nearest tOI Cod. He sh .. all speak to the people in childhood and in maturity, He shall be (in the company) of the righteous ...

And Cod will teach him the' Book and W:isidomj the Law and

the Cospel" (3:,,451~48)~,

And the' servants of the' Beneficent Allah are they who walk on, the earth in humbleness, and when the' ignorar-t address them, they

Prophet Jesus said, "M'Y servant is m'y own two hands; my' ridin,g beast is :m,y two feet, m'y 'bled is the earth, my' pillow is a rock, my warmth :in the winter its the' east of the earth, I sleep and I do not possess anything, and I wake up and I do not :P'OSS€Ss anything, but there is no one on the' face of this earth richer than me,"

The Prophet said 'I~IO Urn Aymanl Did you not know that my brother Jesus never kept dinner for breakfast or breakfast for dinner?

He would eat from the leaves of trees, drink, from rainwater, 'wear hair-cloth, sleep whereever he was, and he would s.ay! 'Every day'

· h il 'I n

. .. . .. " I I.. "I .. . .... ... ' .. , ... ,. . .

comes WIt I its own sustenance,

28

WIHY' DO YO:U 611V£, liHIE. _ .• ~.' O'TMIER , L-'~'E if:II'-£IIbIITc 'TO>' TH RE:;, -' l~_ un 1 -ii' I ' ... r

THE 'fAllHE.'I'S, ,O'NE?

10,=: ~'R,,!f"!ULJIE-;T ILl '_liIII--lIA"', ~IMA'D

. >' r I"' ~I~ 1Ft, 1("11 U II'!!!".._

II,,., ~H- lA, lb!IA.'~ 6F*'e~:A"Te R

~I. ! W 1FiI~~1 ._.lI~._"-1 .' -e-

'. - .. -, 161 T O' /ij,/iE~' M-"- E"j7l

AJl'ti n _ ' .. :' -. riill .. ~ 1_' - I' .• ;

, .. ,-.', .. ' :-:, -lH' - "£I '0:-: Ini 'F--=A'·\ T1HI'E"n9

\ MY HefT_ JE r", "Iii" ,_ -",_ _I~,n. ,i, .....

IH'E' 'R'E'P'LIE'D::

YOIUR MIOT -JER

-

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.

..,. ~ND' THEN!] '·VOUR MIOITIH'ER AN'O' TiH1eJN 'y,OIlJ1R 'FA T1H1E:JR1"

TH'E PR;OPHET' (l,EP,LIED;'

'''''0-': WIR.'· -M.'''O-: .'·;T'UIE,·R-·· r"A,·c·R-.'·IE,D YOU 'FOR

~"'" .. ' ' .... -', I," '_ I ... I n -', ¥. ",In.]", _. '.. ..1

INlI·INIE. IMO'NTJ..I'S~ ANIO ,GA'VE [!I~R'TH

TO····· vo·-u

~ .. '_: ';,: .. _.> ",

--,U ' ,....nnI!.oi."E'D-· 'F:A'IO' 'WlnJUI

F}O· i!:I!, ~il:"A:i!:I!'S~..: S-In~' ,~r'. ' ._.' -U'rr.l!'·'Ul-_l:--.·R ilj~R._. " __ ~, __ ... _ "_

'F:-£:'YD- 'U\O-- u A···,Iii.·IID--·" '5'-E'''R~'ViED' 'Y:O'LJI 'FOOD

_ ~,_-- I' ,_., __ ---" , ~Ir..,. ,_-- ,- ~ --_, _ c' -_ - _ '- __ '_ _ - __

WI- 'JEI_ YtOU ~~JERE, ,~, SiO~ 60, SJH'E,

S:T~LI!.., FOlll!OWEO' '''IOUlIR, PROGRESS'W~TH INTlER!EST

S-H'-E ~A.'V':E:' U. 'n

~. _I ._~ U'I ..... .' "_' .~.

uER Sl' 'EiI!::'P- I

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ER
-_ ~ .. ,~ OOUllD I, REP'A'Y W'E,R FOA AIL,l TH,AcT SH'!"S 'DONIE FiOP.. M,E?

H'ED, AIiii.JI M- '~I I~lii;·~" _, _ ~,R v~ ,I _Il ~lI""!i,I!!;.;;.p.;.,

'F:-O:-: I'm!! '~F'I!ii"m!! (:,~

_ :....:.. R "I~"~~l~~

,C:' u'n"o·,--· '5- ~ I~ ·C···A 'n n'!!!Ji! ~,I.I""'"""" c- -_:~ !I "c ",~,~",

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'~NIO"T EVEN ONE' mours DUE'"

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C.L,IEAN IUP' 'FOR HliE,R

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-:- - '~'D":-: U,I~ Uf'·~-' D:-:~Tl H £oR L,OOKJE'D

"< '/ _.·I~I Ir~-II! ... ' _~. I '. . _ __

IFOR, ~'OU '1'0' ILIIVE~ 'WHll~ ,E "DU ,ARIE W'AIT1IN\S, 'PO"R

I _II,. Tel 'D'IIE~~~'

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And that 'ye' be kind, to your parents, Say not t,o them, (so much as) I',' 'ie' nor chide them, but speak to them a ,gienero,u.s word. (17':2,3)

In the, Tradtttons

OG' d

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fill m eo' w -ith aw ',-, -e of m'c',-"Y'" P aren ts

JILl! _ ,-- ,',","" ,-' , ",' ' -11,,[ ',-,''. -'< ,],:Of

the awe one has toward a tyrannical sovereign,

, nd 'tl' t- - " ib - d' __ t- d t th '

: .. ' _" -l .,'."' .. (~. '(~' -. ·,···,·:·"········1 '~'I J • [~J' ,"

an, ,e[- m,e _-_,,-,12 ",_ ,eVQ[-€ _0 [- I em"

with the devotion [of a compassionate mother!

_ " '_", _' -' ',_' _ '~' _ " ", , ~", '_' -' , ' _ " ~ , " ' ~ ~ ~ I -~, --- " '~ , , ~ ~ -~", '- '_' ~ " , ~ [~ , ~!I-

M sk -, , ,-,,' '- __ - b ed ,'"",-,,, ~ __ ,c, -, "c, , _-, d d"-, -, , 'otior t -, th __ - ,-c'_-'

axe ,m,y o oec , ence anc '" revo' ron 0 ,- .tem

'm] tore glad d: erun ~r]g:' r to m 'y":' e' ";y""e' "'S-'-'

, ,1_', [:__:,! •• '. 'C I ,,;[_'<~, "_-,-'-

than sleep to the drowsy and, more refreshing to my breast than drink to the thirsty,

so, that I may prefer their inclination to m,y inclination,

set their satisfaction

before m'y satisfaction,

make much 01.£ their devotion to me,

though it be little,

and, make little of my devotion to them though it b,e great,

Excerpt .of sUP'P[li'cati:Cn1.for his Parents by Imam Zatnut Abideen

3'0'"

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.... .

HO····:· · .. ··W···: F.~~A R

. .'.~ r :,:. ,' .. ' .' 'Ml~ ,

.IS HEAVEN?

-

. ·THt~:. FmRST' ST'EP 1$ Ol~ _YOUR

. - .. ' '. - . - SE'-lF- I !I:·.'..:..../"iir)·'

IN.AfS Cl.iOWE.R_:I_'1 .. / I~!V> _

!

-

..,.....

- _j - ._

.~-. 0 IMAM .At~, " CAN' Y,OU T'E.Lll . I LJS HOW FAR 'IS

H- r::·A.-V·-·····-c·N· -?'

I ~F\ liPl .. I!!I

.: TH~ NEX'T

.- l_,_~ _

I S til.·~

STep ts ~II~~

H"E'A-"V:E- -N'"

---"- .-' .. ,---- .. ~-- -: -~."-

I

---

,· .. ~·_·-··.'·1 frc -~I'I (following) desi '---~'-"""~'- his ref ·(c, ~,- will .'1: .td eed be

sou. - rrom t ,o.w.-o,w]ng.:.esmresl .15 reu,ge WIl mueeone

paradise. (79.:40,41.)

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. n te " ra __ mons

The Prophet said, "The most c'our-.ageo,us of people is he who overcomes his desires,"

Th- 'p" h - id "/A~' -. ;, - h

"eJr,opet sal t··, strong person is not one ·W·.I,O overcomes

people, 'but a strong :p,erson. is one who; overcomes his own self,"

Imam Ali said" "Prohibiting one' S self from desire is the gr,e'at!er Jih.ad,~."

P .-.~-- ~ h ~ t 'S··-·- .~ ." - .~. ~.- .~. ~. ~.~ id -s .~--.~.- ~ .. ~. ~ .. ~. . h - . -. ~ ~ --~ u ~ - . ~ .-- h '".~ d'· .. ~-~:. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

." .'. . -. " I' ." . -. .". -. - - -. .', . . ~. ,,, " --" . -. -. -. .'-. - . - .. ' , -- - - . - .. " - -, ". ,,"'" _.. - -- .".". " -- .. "" I"

lr,op~~e,. ooiomon sal 'I eomeone w. 10, p!rev,alLS over 11S '.'-' esires lLS

S'tr- .onger than he' who c··-·a--~.pr· .• tu ires a city b ··Y··_ himself,"

~'~ ~. " .'. _'.. .- [.c.1 . c' . -- --.'_'-- '." c . :' ._ c .~' ~ ,c --c- -- ~,,," c ,." . -- -- ·1_·_- ~'. .iI·

3~ 2-'

.....

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·····l-r·-'· _"u'-"-a' _

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J_ _. _ _ _ _ • . ," '.. _ • _ _I ." _ _I _ _ _ _

34

ij!.t'_niD~:: uA"'~ C··~ R-~'A·:T~'D~···.

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,~==r:: .

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- 'lFiO·-:D' 'E-::_vE-::_n,v LIvING

~-HI J .' A "_."_ "_.l~ I. .. _ .

C- R' ,',I!:' A,T'-U- D'E::' _

"'-~ _"'~~!!!!I!II!!!I

~'

IU~,~~l~.II,~,~ 'Ii .'.AI .... ~l t"ii~ii'!:. ¥v.:~'"'~·V:'Mp..;~~1 _~Yl~~l

35

--

',.~,~

......, '. .', .' '., .' ,iii, .11· '. . .'. "f •. ' -'. :-l~ - .. -A"iII' " {fA. '\

- A ,S'AYI,~\G' O,F 1M, ,MI.MI..~ •... ,M.!

Say (as for) the death from which you flee. that will surely overtake y,ou" then y"ou shall be sent back to! the Knower of the unseen and the seen (62:8)

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, n te "ra __ mons

The Holy Prophet said, "Remember the destroyer of pleasures' \tVhen asked what that was, he replied, "Death .. Wh,lene'ver one of Alla h's se -rv an tIS"\ rernernbe -rs thi ·,"s·\ w vh ten he is wealthy, to-hi' - "s·\ W'-""·,"'O· .·r' Id

. JIl. e I I L;J! _ 'C ,e _ _ : ' : ' ~"C I __ - _ I _ ,,' I ;__ , , .. _ I __ - " ;__ e I '_ ' >, l : I _ __ ~

is constricted for him. W:h,e'n,ever he remembers it in hardship, it 1"'S e- P anded fo r him ~'.

1 is ','-'xr'-:___~-,:'~ :". t' ,_._~jL 1",

1'_,," . ,'-', A:'" 'li~ said ~I'IW' t - . ·'h' th -', de -, d - 'I" dv- ., h ,",' -, . ·,t- '-,' :~ll b . - .. ,,' ... .',,' ·,d··1 'f~'-" m,aIll ",,' sale:: aSI, 1,_ I, I,e lelea_ ane, yo,ur, I,ear~ W] .I_'e' move_ t' .. or

surely an empty body is a profound lesson"

(),~C.E. HIE $PENrT ·T-ulr.' h. ~HO': lE'

. ri!1~ WI •.• ~ .. :~ .

C.,·ic..'s

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o A,aU OHAR vQ-· .. · U 'D' R-' "U'Ibi'U'1

,~>_ Ir-. 1._I!I"\'io. .

'. 'WAS SO LONI,G'

o AL.lAIH.~ I~T' WAS, THIE Nii~iG~T TIHAT W.AS :SO, SHIOR.T

ART'IST'S NOTES: SOMET"IMES 'WHIE'~ I HA,ve TO 60 FO·R. P:RA·Y·E.R~ I. FEEll~T\P:$ LI~KE A, C[HO'RE~ TIHEN'

I THli~NI< T'O M·~tSEIl:F~ OOES· WO'R:S;H'IP~'NG IGrOiD [HAVE. T'O BE .14. BUiROE'N1 CANI I'T NIOiT BE A PjL.EASi~JRA'B'lE ACTI'VmTY 1iHA'T ONE liOOKS FOR,W,AR,D T,O'?' ~IO'W 'IS ~'T 1iHA'T SO'M,e PEOPl'E Il,~IK'E AI8U' DHAR CA,'N Spe'~D' ,A 'WHIOL.'E, '~hSIHT U~J! PRA'YER? 'flHEN! I R,EAlJZE 'TH'E, P'RO'BLE,M 'IS I!N 1iHE IIJ'A.Y 1:-r~/l LOOI<J'N!G A,T PRAYE'R~ HOW CA,I~ ON'IE N10'T' !l,OOI( FO'RW'ARD T'ID' P:RAY'E.R~ 'WHle,~ 60[) 11INV~T'E5 YOIU 'T,O' [H~$ 'O,Q-,MA:IN' I'NI THIE D,AiRK,IO;'F THE NI'(i'HIT 'T,C; [HAVE. A PiRilVATE COiNVE'R:SATI'ONi?

37

And keep, up :pra'yer in the two parts of the day and, in the first

h. -, ,-~, of the ' --'"' {- h t ,('-'1-1' ~'1-1' .-4- ,)"1 OUTS 0 - " I-e ,nl,g '. '.' ~,- - .. _

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, n te "ra __ mons

The Prophet said, "The most noble of my community are those who carry the Qur'an in their hearts, and those who stand in p,ray'ler at night,'

The Prophet said, 'Surely Allah will place light, in the heart of the slave who retires with his Master in the deepest darkness of the night, conversing with Him in p'ray'er; and if he s,a,ys, 'ITO Lord" then Allah,

W-,·-,·: ]:"'11 call (D'U'l t to him S-·'·, ,a' yin rig.. "A ".,""- ,t y>o: ur se -rv -1L~ c 'e' ", m 'Y,i' sla 'V''" e: 'W--·,,·: h a tie' ":V,:" -e' -'r' y'o: IU

.' .1 I!i,-.': _. ~ ' __ c> ' ~ , __ :_ ",:\' " 'C -__: 'C .- 10""" '>'_, .. _ iJI.ID.::I ,- .: •. - ·_·c ,Ii,. .. ,,-_ .. _,~ "c

ask of Me, I will surely' give you, and, if you rely on Me then I will 'be en ou gh, for YOIUi'·'. Then 'Hie' 'will say' to, the angles, "My angelalook

at My slave ~, " ,',Ie retires alone with Me in the deepest darkness of the night while, the misguided are playing and the negligent are sleeping, Bear witness that I have fo rg iven him,"

3"8"-'

I: ::

~ .. ' ....

THE WORS,I·.·.IP 'OF FREE MEN

~.'

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~41

.. '

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I' DO' INOT W'O'RSIH~:P' '_:_O-"O 'pD'O'- M- -PT-~'D' B--v U-,_ ~'I~'- ..•. ,-- 111;._' ~,

'T~IE FEAR, ,O'F IB:En'~IG' THI'R,OWN ~11~TO H'El.Jl, r.)~'CA-· Uls-'e '5'- Ulrl-H' I'S-' g<!~-- .'. -~'~ -~: -\;;.- ,. -~'

THIE WOiRS-HII~'P OF A SLAVE

M,Y EAG:EJaNIESS T,O! EJ~~iTE'R, HEAV-e,N BeCAUI$.E SUICIH I'S. 'THIE WORSHII~'P~ OF

~~~~

A MAN W'HO ~S

'WIO'RKI'NIGr FOR, 'WA,GES

I' w',a'R5IH~:P' &0,10, OU'T 10F M'Y l,IO'ViE F'O'R HI~M,) A,IN'D' THIE KNiOW't.'-E,'D\6E T~A,T' ~E Al,ONE 1'5, WO'R,TiHY iO'F THA,T DE;V:O'TI'ONI A}ND' OI8EO'IENCE, WIH~CHI ~ ,61IV-E, IHII,M;o T1H~$ 1'5- T1He 1jJ',ORSIHIIP OF FR,'E,E P~)~D' NIO'BLiE M'l~!,N~,

ART'IST'S NOTES: 'THll$ S,AY~N,G ,OF I,MAiM Al'l i(A$) HAS. BEENI AN 'EYE ,OPENIE];!;, FOR M,E~ AFTER READIIIN& I'T" I REAll,12,ED 'THAT H'EAVEIN & HE,Ll, A'R,E, J'[j:$,'T 1'tJ.CE,NTIVES, F'OiR; US TO IDO' GlOOD AN'D' ST,AY A'INAY FROIM EV1IL;; TH'e: REAL ,GO,All~S ,GOD HII~M,S-E,LF~,

39

And those who patiently :p,e'rsev'ereJ' seeking the pleasure of their Lord, and keep up pra'yer and spend (benevolently) out of wh .. at W,e' have ,giv'le'n, them secretly and openly and repel evil with good: as for those, they shall,hav!€ the (happy) issu!€ of the abo,d,€ (13':'22)

Th P h ld "M ~ ith 'h he l 'W""h I

, ,i~ !r,O.· .• pi '" et ',s'.,a···l .' '" ,a,· .• 'n, 1"S:':,'" wit '" 'W .. :,0 .. ,· •• :m''',·.· '" e.', IIO .. ·, ••• v,'ie··"s, ",.".' .• ,"1,0 •..• e··· ··v,_.· 'e,'-C'r o,.··"v'.'·,' ~S', a·"

- -~ ~ 1 ~ ~ ., , ~-, ,~, _. ,- - • ~ ,~~ , - - - ~ ~ ~ , ~ + ~ ~ ,~~ . ,~: ,~

bondsman in Allah, loves Allah, N 01 one loves Allah except he'

W' hom A"" Ila h ]0" 'V" e' 's" n

'. '.~' .. ' ... ' .. \~.~:I .... ,;.,..'. j_ "~" Ll ,I·:_." ..... !. :~: .... ~., 'III

M'y"Glo,d,

'we're' it not incumbent to, accept 'Thy command,

I would declare Thee far too' exalted for ID'e' to rem em . "b'ar" Th"'OQ;

, ,1'Ii;;. '1Ii;;., , '\;;, ,!!!o;;, '\;;, J'

for I remember Thee in my measure,

not in Thy measure,

an" d rn 'Y' C'C'O'" p"e" can hi ardly re ach th e" P oin .. ·t-'

,,1,1,.:: .. ,:;' 0':_' __ ',< I:.,~' I,ll,' ,:.,,_;''- !:.:« :.:.: :.":_, ... ,

where I :ma,y 'bl€ a :['OCUS for calling Thee holy! Among Thy greatest favours to us

is the running of Thy remembrance across our tongues and Th .. ··y,' permission 'to" U'IL"

'~I I .' ' .. . .. ,,::, I .. d' ~ '. 1 :.'.':. d

to supplicate Thee, declare Thee exal ted, ,and call Thee • '.Io]y·:f

Excerpt of the Whisp,flred' Prayer of the Rememberers by imam Zalnu'I,Abideen

40'-"

..

- .

.

U"W"'''''~ DO'A'y'" nc» ... I V .r",,,.·

ro B~'O~':D-'

. .. ' " .. " .

.... ,', :"<", -:' : :.:. ':.' .'.

- . . .. .

) )

.

FOil.LOW'M.E Itll.L SIHO!I/J Y'iOU HIOW' GOD 'WI'lL ANSWiER Y',QUR

~RAYEJ~~;S

Grot) NEVER ANSWERS M,Y PRAYE'R$,'

£~

.

. . ,' .

. ··11 " " !Ii

. .-. I I'

'" CdllUC.S

.~~~ t ~i

~~I, .

'F'IRST 'YOU HIAVE, TO, 'WAllK ~N'TO' THIS· CAVE,

O M·'·'.-.-·· .. y·.-·.-,··,' 6,-0·"'···'·9-'·,'

... '.. ·.1 I' ' .

. ',', ',' '.-":./.'

"ftff"!

FIRS.T T'E.Ll. ,ME, 'WHIEIN 'YOUI ASKiED' !~OD, - 'FO'Ci; ~C' lP-:,

g' ~ . . ~...... II:;.~, ~

WH"rJ '0 It O· '. .11!

YOU ,SEN'D ".',

M'E-' IN

. - ,

THE'R:E"?

01'0' y'IOU HAve A,I~YTHII~NG Eil.SE ON' y,OUR M,~IND1'

I 'COUI:..'DN~

, THli~fJIK OF ANYTiH~IIN&

I ' .. , . .. .

'C'LS--C' 0'- 'T-u E~:D' T--'H iii. iii. ~I ~. . '. ~._ I n--Ir." . - I MIIi'i!l,

ASKI'N!G 60,0, TO idI'Ei_P'-' M"" ~

n., '~I_I .l~

liN THE S,AME W,AY P;RA'Y TO ,GOD 'WI'TH

A 'CLEAR MIIND ,AN'D AN ,A,TTEN'TIIIVE HEART,~ y'iOUR :PRAY'ERS W'ILIl, BE ,ANSW'EREO E~'THIER W'ITH 'YOUR, R.EQIUE$'T ,O'R S'OMETIHING BE'TT'E'R

IIAI~'D 'WHENI MY S'ERVANITS ASK y,OIUI CONCERNIIIN6 ME, T'HI'E,NI :$U'R,'E,l'l I AM 'VERY' NEAR;, I. ANIS'WE'R, 'TH'E P'RAYER, OiF 'THE SIUI'PPl,I~'CAII\JT WHEI~ HE CAL-t.,S, ,OIN IM·E.'"

#Ii Q, U-. '-I """A'-.·. N·,··-' C·.·. 2.>~.~ B· ..•..•. L).'--.,

. . - " .. . ". ..1' . g,

W'Oie to, those who pray but who are unmindful of their :pra'yers (107:4~,5)

D"-,,, tot b ~ ·'1' ,~,~, --i' ,~- '>'.-,jI-' 'thl' :I-'~' ~ wh '-'1 .--:"~' ~,' -1":1 -,~--,', "': ad f ] ("7-"'~2~:'iO"'15-:')':"

o not oe amo,n.,gsIL nose wno are unmmcmu ~':~'

1·- - - .,,~ h· -- . 'T- -'.. -"~d' '!Ii .-.- '. - -" .

I ,',,',c' ,-' :<,' '. I", .,' .•.. '

, n te ,ra __ ItlOns

The Prophet said, "Know that Allah does not answer supplication from a heedless artd di stracted heart,"

The Pr o phet said "Sei .. ze the opportu tnity '+0' supplicate d .urin -g'"

!~ ,1,"_., I,' "._1, ,.:"'_1. ,'., 1 [.:.",, __ ,1 z!~ _,!~ "_,,,1._., I. 11_'.'.' Il,.;'-. ' ..... -._ " " ,1_, 1_;:---- , ._ I , ,I",_:::

t . - d - . ,. . (-,:. - f h - - t) fc -. ,- "'] ~ ~ "I' - -. H

ein,, __ ,e'mess '".OL __ e'ar ,_.'.1 , o,r 'verl_y' n IS a :m.'e-rcy'.

The Prophet said, ~I'IWh,ole'ver pr,a'ys two cycles of :p'ra,y!er" and does not allow his mind to wander tOI the affairs of this world" 'will Die forgiven for the wr,ong action he 'has commttted earlier"

Imam Ali said" "Cajole your soul tactfully to worship, and 'be gentle with, it and ,d,o not force it Make allowances for both its weariness and its activity, except for the daily obligations that are incumbent u:p,on it, for it must fulfil them and undertake them at their

... .. ibed "'.. n

prescrrnec times.

42'-"

, ,

.......

JMA,M AoLI !ONC! SA, hI' A 01;(; ""FI EO' O,OCTOR: SU'R.Jil!OUN,r:JIED ,BY ,PE'O,PL,,5~ D/SPENS,'NG C'uR'ES ,O,F "L,L,S FOR' THfJ~~·;t

"'E' 'C····~···IP···'·'E· '

" ': . ':' ., . ,'.': .

, 1 ... '

'. ' - '. . ..'. [ . -

~ - _'.. .~-

F·', ,'O',"'~"""R'--:" c ~'U'R'-'''''',' 'N'·,·C"G'" .~.

,.' . _:1 [/ 1-.: ~ I~, . ,'.' ", .. ,~ .,' ~ '." I

A 51 '5'

I ." ," .:. ,"'" ... ' " .. '

'_ . _" , '- ..

, L" ,~ , ' ,'" i~ ".,

- - ...

~"'. -'/..---:' ' ........

.... ;:::..----- ..........-:-:.. /

YE$ HIERE I'T !':S,~ iGO TO, T~E iG,AiROEIN

iO'F IIIMAIN (lFAJTIH &. TRUISI.) AI~D' E)(TRACT 'FRO',M rr.

THIE 'R,OO'TS OF 'INiTEJNJITI~ON~, 'T- H'E,~R~:A·,··IiIN:S···"',, ,O'F' il?IE· ",P,,·IE,N'T-A,IN'":,E·

._ ~ ., ~I. ~ _.1 C'!!;;, ~_ ,M,. ¥_,

TH'E, Il,EAVES OF REFLEC'TI'ONI 'THIE FR,UIII'T Of' UN'DERS.'TAI~D'INI,G':;i;' TIME 8'RAiNICE,S ,OF CER'TAI'~TY~, '"!I!"u'E vER-'" ~iE ~l S' 0'··, F- ,e II Ii. 'IC" "E'D""TY- '.'.

~I n _ ...... _ -11~"ir,jj,1 ~ 'I '_- ~. ,;.,), I~~, _ -1r.,lu , ,':II

'THIE IBA,R,Ii( OF D'ILU;:E.NCE~,

THIE 'ROO'TS OF T·RUSTFUL. De:piE,N'D'ENlce~, TIME C~At..YX OF 'TAK:I'NI($. IMEE'O'

'THE, :S;TEP' ,Oi'F 'R,E,TURNI~IING

~.'

_ . ,':i!1

, "

'_' -', I

- . .:.,-

~~I

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_~',

C'iii

I _ .~e,'s

I'MAM AL.'I A:$KED HU~ A :$,ECOIND 'TII,ME) A,IN'O' THENI A THrR,O' Ti~M,E" 'TH'E, OOCTO'R;, 'R,'E,'PLi~ED

, - ;,~

...:::.::::

~'

I

'MA'Y ,ALilAHI BlE,S5- vo llt DO YOU KNiQW OF 'TH'E, C.URE FO'R

$~I~:S''?

'WHA'T 1'$ Y'OUR C.URE FO'R :$llIN BECAUI5-E 'PE,Q;'PLE ~A,VE DE'SPAI'R,E'D' ,0" fmIN01NI,G' T~AT C'IJR~

T,AKE ALl. TIHES,E, REM'EJ[:HE$ 'WI'TH A KN10IWL.E'06-EABil,E, HEA,RT AND FI'NiG'EiR5- OF !CiOiN'F'IRMAT~ON ,ANID 'PALM ,OiF SUCCESS;; 1iHM PUT 'THIE,M ALL ~IN ,A BLOW ,0" 'F'{'EAJl,~2,AT~OINI ,ANJD 'WASH THEM AL.l, WITH THE 'WATE,R O'F'TEARS ..

NiEXT :PlACE 'TH'E.r~, I'Ni 'TH'E, POT ,O'F HO'PIE, A~iD S'E.T IT iON THE

'F'IR!E OF YEARNI~ING UN'TI'l yiCU SEE TH's' CREAM ,OiF W~SDOM FLOA'T ,UP;;

THENI POUT' THE CO'NT'ENiTS ON-TO' P'lAT'ES OF CJO,NT!,NT'M,ENIT" A,IND' COOL THEM W~TiH THIE fAN OF SEE,KI'NG' F'ORGdVENiE'SS ..

'THIER! ~lOU W'IL.IL. HIAVE A PIER'FE,CT '()R~lt~M( ,AS ,A 'PER,FEeT 61!FT' FROM ALlAJH) (iil,IO'RY BE 'T,O' IH~,M~ WIH!IC.HI 1/J'!'II.,l,

iREIMOVE ,At-Il, y,O;UR Si~NS~

43

Surely Allah loves those who turn much to Him (in. repentance), and He loves those who purify themselves (2:222)

But if they repent and keep up :p'ra.yie:r and p,ay' the poor-rate, they are Y'lour brethren in. faith (9':11)

H,: .. · ~.' the ~ h ~ ~. ~ . ~.'.~ ~. f ids h '" ~ rid '" ~ .. ~- b ~ .. ~ ~ t - .. ~ d . ~ ~ .. ~ - '" -. ~ ~ sft ~ ,

'I'~'I . ,,,., ' -.'(." 'I ~I"'I'"'' ~ . ~ ',', -. I"" • " I" I"'~, '., ,'''' ··"1 ~ -'. 1" : .' . 'II-I"" "1' '(!'

]m I .... ,an. w.en. a m,an ... [n,····.S .. IS r ... [n.,g- ,e,as an .... p.rOV1Slons a er

th h d ~ dark ~ h n

, ley nave ,gOlne astray c .ur.m,g a cane n'lg t~

. .' ... ~ .... .th - . h .e ~ .. t .. ,' ,~. to H' .~:. ,~,' I'T

.... ,' .. ' I I .... : ... :. ,.... '. '. I" .

you , .. w [,0 I Ul.rns .. 0,. ,1m

Imam Ali said, HAll good is contained in 3 things: your looking, Y'IQur silence; and your speech. Lookin .. g without reflection is negligence, silence without meditation is unmindfulness, and speech without remembrance is idle' talk, H .. appiness will be theirs whose looking is a lesson, whose silence is meditation, whose speech is:"':" remembranc ~" who w .. ··e.·:,·e.·:,p·:1 becau .s·.,e.·:,· of thetr

~ ~ .. ~: [. ~ ~ . - - - ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . OL ~.~., ,. ~ ~.. ..[. . . .. _ .. ~ ~ ~~:

~ ~

mistakes and by whose hand people a.re' safe from evil,"

44'"

..

S,E'CRE:TS OF' PR.AY'E,R 'TAU,G,H,T' B,'Y 'IMAM JAF'A'R ,SAD'IG (A,S)

i£-<I~, C",Q' I(fc ~ ~ ,I r ~ .,: l.~t l i'f

.. ~ ~~ ,t ~

'W,HS,N' VQ'U' f,AClE 'r,HS !m~BiL.AH', YOU

'S,H',OUlD De'SPAIR OF' 'T.H~S 'lA$IO.RlD, iWHA'T ~'T C!O,NTAJNS OF eRE·A.Tr,ON AND W.HAT· OTHEJ<:'$ ARE OCCUP~E.D

iW rTH' " ,15,M,PTY 'YOUR HeAR'i' OF S-V,ERY PRie'O'CCUpi.AT.r,ON 'W.H~CH l~\JHra.HT ,Df'S,T'R'ACT YOU FiROM AlLAH ~ '$,E'E THE' J'MMENS~'TV Q'F .ALl.A.H 'W~'T,H

:Y···· ".UD ,I'N' N'~iltliilIO" 'S·'-'T- a~'N~ AN" 'I'"'!!

. j' v.I. fi ~: :'" I.' ~~iIlVI, .. .. .I:__..... U.~UI . ." .. ~ ,I ,Hl ··· .. l....,l

,~E,M.E.MBER 'TJi.fAT' ''IOU 'W~LL STAN.!:) ,B,I5F'OR'E HJ.M,., r<:N',O'W THA,T A"L!.AH DO',ES NO'l' HE.e,,,' YOUR SEf:l'VrC.e .. HE

I!S l!iI!i.l!iIl""III!::P-:1:: N'R""IIC N' T O' "F 'VO' "IJ' 'V'OUD

~: _~;., ~:I:··~I~'I~;:· ~ .: ~~I ... :. - ': .. · .. 1.: - I .~ .. ! .... : .. !_ l' .".j .: '. I. i",

'W'O,II'S,H~,P AND '''(lOUR SU.pp.LrCA:T~ON~

PR·'·Q········,·S······T'"A·:·· .J' 1.0" "::i'N" IN:·,' P"R·'A:···Y··:-·'E, -R"

.. ' .•. "_". ," I. I~ I. .' _ .. _. . _ I .. 1 '. I.' .• ' . I. . ," .

,A.LLA.H .M.AID'E P,ROS'TiR'A~ fJ'IO.N TH!' O'CCA's,rON ro ,DR'A.W .N,EAR ToO HJ'M rN IO.N.E'S HE'ART J) J'N',NI!:R, .... ,MOS'T BiErNS AN'D' 'S·piJR.rr ~ '~Hoe'VeRi ,DR'A.W'S N'EA.IQ 'TO ,H~M, rs

F',AR F.ROM, Au... TH'A;r fS

0 .. "TH"' "'ER T'H i'N"'" H"'" :'M'-

[_> .. ,_. , .. ~. I I ,A .. ··. '. II ',': lti

IB,OWINGN PRAY'ER

'TH,S S"ONDS,iMAN ()of .ALlA.H "0: es N' "0' "T T'I~U L' -y" D'O' ····NA~ ,',"NI

~·i ... ~", . .'J _"'"_ .. ". "'I .. _ I I;_: I~'" l,-, 1,,[. l_ -'0,

RUKU:I) ,BUT 'THAT .AL!.A.H AD'ORiN'! HlM 'W~'TH THe' ,LJ'G"H'T

OF H'r'S ,I<: AD~.A,NCE· T SH,AD'ES HJ'M ~N THie, SH.A.DE' OF .H~S GREAT'NS'SS, A.ND CLOTHE'S HJ'M ~N rna S,A,RM,ENT 'OJ~ srs

P·· U"' - ~ I T'Y'" iO A ~\A~ "N"" "F.! r's F-':! I!":II,S,·' 'T

I "1 _ ~;~, . ~Ii ,g V 1'-11 ".·.· .. ~l I ,::.J ~IK: .... l .

AN'D' PRosr,RAT'JO'Ni ($U,~'UD':) ~s S,EC(lN'cD': THE,RE rs COUR'T'E'SV' IN' Bdo'wrNS" AND ~N P'ROS'TcRAT'JO'IN' IN'E'ARNES,S, 'TIO .A.LLAH., "·Ho'e'v.e,R rs .N'or eOO'D IN' !'HE couarasv J'S

NOT iFIT .F-IO,R ,N,eAf2NES'S" .

. SA'L,A"M ('PE.ACE)

THe' M,S'AN~Ne O'F THS' 1,ASiLJM (S~E.ET.r,N'S 'o,~ PEACE) AT' 'TH,E SIN'D' Q'f THE· P'';:,olV'ER M.E,ol,N'S, '$:·,EC'U·o.fTV - THlt'T' fS······."AN'YO·:·:' .N·: ·,E· .

. _ "!Il'IOi. ":,""M _ ,,"" __ ... "

ii-\I\HO CAR'R'.I'C'$ OUT' 'TH,15 C,O.MM,,A,N[) iO,~ All AH AN.D THE $,U,N,NAH O'F H~S ,PiRO,PHEf 'OU'T ,OF HU.M~,LJ"·V TO' H'fM

AND S,H'OW~NS FE'A~I HAS 's,eCUR.fTY ,~RiOI.M T,H'E T'I(:J'SU-' LA'r~ONS OF iH,II$, W'QRLO' ,A,N,D F'RE.Ie,DO.M ,FR'OIM THE P'UNJS,H"-

MeN: 'T- 0";' ;··F~' 'r- He. N:· 'c'''T- ~IJljII'Q''"' elL"

I _ ~. ." . I I J:i; . ,~.I\, .r '" < ... ~ ..,. Ii!

) e~"-"O

.001 Y'O'U NilOT SEe TH'A:r ~N JTS OUT'WA~'D AP,PE·A.~A,N'C:E' THE S,T'.A1E OF P'f('OiS,T'R.Al,I'ON·S rs ,N'or COI.M.Plf:T'E .eXCEPT· BY .DrSAP,PJ;:,A,RJ·NS·

F- DOM A I I 'r- H'i!Nt::!!C' A- N""" SIC I'N" "'.t.:!!: Hen CD F- iOOM' A'"

.. -I~:::·: .. '" A~ ·.,.:~:'···6~ .: ..... : .. ~' .. ·~i.:.' .. ~1 ··r~~JI~~l~ .... "-~;:::~" ",'j .'.-'.~

TH'A,T THE E'VE'S See,? T'NUS D'O.e'$. ALLAH WA,N'T THE· JINW'AIQD iB,E~NS 'T,O BE .. I.F SOME:O',NE"g, ,HeA,RT ~S AT'TA.CHE.D TO SO'M,eTH.r,N'si O'THJ;:R THA.N A.LLA,H IN' P'A.AVER" ,H,E rs iNc:A.R 'T,O 'TH'A:T TH1N'Sj A,ND ,F.A,R' F'R'OM THE R'EAL,rTV O.~ W'HA,T ,A,L.LAH ,DE'SIRE'S !N HlS, P'R'.AV'ER·~

- ._.. -"" ('P - A - .). - - - - ... T -" - .. - " "S - -

• 1 • . 1 • •. . 1" ..•. j I'", , .•.•.•.•• ' ..•.•. I I" I -'r .',",' ,"' i

A,L,,-SAL..AM_.,·E·.CE/ ~S ,ONE ,Q,F HE NAME:. O'F

,A,L.lAH1 WH',fC.H .He E'NT'RU5T.!O' T'O HJ'S CR'EA1J'O,N S,O' T'HA.'T T'HE'Y WO'ULD ,MAK,S U'S,E' O'F ~'T ~N 'TH,EJA D'eH' 'AIIiJ'IO"~ lif') T·,~ue'T'S A"NJ D" 0:"0· N"'Tf'lAC'· rrs I'N' 'C" "0' :'N'"

IP. ,, __ ~··"~~I·.·Wi"'·J "'.".1;';', _", ,:,',_', t .• :.~ .•. ~ .. · .. ,,,'_~""'[ ~l;' ~J_"._ _ _.~

F-,I:C,a."II!N· ,t!, 'T'UCi!D ,("i'O··-··M···· le'AN" -i"E-':S- AN' n A'"'S'~C:'E" M"·"DL.J':C.C' ..

~~JW~I ", g I ,n,l:ii;~:~ v·"> -,": ,iJ".M,,-,~; ,::.' 14: ,'_ ..,. ... -'"" ... ~[_ ;,," ·: .. ~l ',~~,;

AND FO'R THE SOUNDNES'S, OIF· T,Her,R $OC~AL,

45

When my servants ask you about Me, (tell them that) I am indeed most near, I answer the' supplicant's call when he calls Me, So let them, respond t'OI Me', and let them have faith in Me, so' that they m.ay fare :rightly~ (2::1,86)

I '~h- 'T~ -,' d'li- ...

. .... ". " ~ .. ' - ....... "., ,~ _.- .. : ... ::-". ": = , '". :' . ' ~. . . ," _", .

, ' Ie,,, r- - , ' '".' :,' __ .' "/ ',' - ,_.', I ',,-

, n te ,- ra_~ Itlons

:M'y' 'G'Q,d,

the uninterrupted flow of Thy gra,cio!usness

hast distracted me from thanking Thee!

The flood of Thv bounty has rend ° re d , m a In c apab de

, ,~, ','-' ",", ' ,,-, , " "y _ ," "'_ ," ',' , ,~ " ~'~"" , ,~ i"".~

of counting Thy praises!

The succession of 'Thy' kind acts has diverted me from mentioning Thee' in Iaudationl

Th,i€ continuous rush, of Thy benefits has thwarted me from spreading the news of Thy gentle favours!

This is the station 10£ him who

confesses to the' lavishness of favours, meets them with, shortcomings,

and witnesses to his own disregard and, negligence. 'Thy favours are man'y ~,

my' understanding falls short of grasping them, notto speak o,f' exhausting theml

So how can I achieve thanksgiving?

For m'y thanking 'Thee requires thanksgiving, W,h,e'n,ev!er I say, IT,o Th!ee belongs praise!',

it becomes thereby incumbent upo:n me to say, 'T 0; Thee belongs praise'!

Excerpt o] the Whisper!ed Prayer of the Thankful by' Imam ,Zairrul Abideen

416··~·"·

... '.

'T-'--HE-' 'p·····O········W· .-'. :"E-'-- -'R·······

I . . "/ . ,.' "., '".', ! ',' ,"

_. 'I, " ,'.J __ ,.' "._

OF 'P"R" A' vE' 'R" S" .

I 1_'" ' .•.• r . ' ..... , , ...•• ""jl' ' ..• ~ _, , , ..•. r ,'. "." '.

~~ C6~C~

t, ; J",'I~ ~1> 7 ~

THE' M,ER,C'HA'INr SA"D~~~

o .s,HEnCH!' I F'EE:~L, GRIE::F BE,CAUSE MY' DA.IL~GHTER HAS FAllEN ,SER.'Il,QU.stY iu. WOULD y:OU 'PILe AS1!, R,:eC,~Te SO,Me PRAy'eR,S, 'FOR IHe,'R~

HA:···· -Hi A", W'H A,'I' N'···. -'OJ -·:'N'··,.··' 'C:'~ N' 'C:: II:: ,I'

.. ..". ' . _ _" .r\ _ .',... I~ ~ . ~ I;. ~

- N - no n -'W1TH .sIC~E" T'IF'I'C P'p,(_,'>Gp,(_,E,SS

,OF HE,Al'ING TH'E.sc: O'lD -'AS-'H-ON- eo

F~,. ! I ~ < 1;,.'1

W"Iii,'YC' A:'··R;··'E

__ F\'~~ , . -:.-

'HO·····L'DIN' G'

" I .. ·· ':'" :._. ; ",:.,--:,1

BA,C'I(, P:ROGR'e,SS'i

HOW 'O'ARE 'Y;OIU, CALL ME S,UCH, 'NIAME,S J'1f.

Y'O··I'!i 'D: 0: :. 'N' If'E--'vm W·'· :'H' 1 A'·r·' 'D.O.······

-.:_:./~ ·.··:_:..· r : _"I-I-!I, _ _I_I"III ",.:_.:..-

YOU K'NOW A,S,OIUI THic PO'W'e.'R, 'O'F P'RAY:cRS~'

PL'EASE FOR,GlVE M,E:~, ,BU'T IIF THE W'O'R,D DONKEY CA,N 'TUR,NI 'YOUR FA,ICE R,E:'D" DlllAJE Y:OUR, BLOO'D 'VE:S.s,E:LS~ ,MAK1~ YO'UR HE,ART I'EAT FA,S:JeR, ANOI B'OOST YOUR ,A,DIR,e,N,A'LINE le:VeL~ ,S,IU'R:ElY 'tHeNI ~T·S NOT NION,SE'NSe TiD BEL'IEVE: 'lH,AT THE: N,A,M'E Of' OUR CRE,AT'O'R 'CAN HAVE, ,A HEA,LlNIG 'EFFEC,T~

47

Say: call 'U,o;P"', on Allah or call upon the' Beneficent: whichever Y' 'IOU

, ~,~':' i ,~~ _ , , ,~. ~ ~ ~ ~~ ,_ ~ ,~ ~ '~,~, ~ ~ ,~~ ,~ ~ ~ ,~~, , ~ ~ I ~ ~ ~ ~ , ,,~

call 'up,o,nf. He has t:h.le best names, (17:110)

I h' T d

,~, '- - 'Ii,'"

. .... '.', l' ,-;:-- ....... ·.1 ,~ ._ •• : •.. >:: .... , ,"::-- ,'-':'.- :." ... " ,",.

"I, '" r=: , ' '".',', ,.'" ',' ' "." I ",'

, n te "ra_~ mons

T'h'" -', PI ',,':,' ; - oh ': t '.: tid: HA: s f ',', ,'",' ;',,:- ~ it ~.; '.: th ': ,,: "'-, ',,: ',',,', ',,:, ,,£'" ',' , '._ ~,'- hi ' n

'~' _,e '_ r,op~~e'l sam: ~,"',S ror ,prayer, III ]8 .ne essense or worsi IIp'!

gives to a servant

who asks from Him, takes him to his. wish

when he expectantly hopes for what is with, Him" brings him near and close

when he a pproac hes H:' tm r "

-~,~_~~, ,~l,l,~v,~,~~ - -~4

when he shows it openly, ,ClD!d satisfies and suffices him

when he has confidence in Him!'

Bxcerptcf The 'Whis:pere,d Prayer of the Thankful by tmam Zainut Abideen

48"~'"

"

',R;······· E" -·'A·:··::······ L WE" .. ' - :" -'A/ I JH

.' _!,_.. . - .......11.. .;

II -

:i2 (I,

>-

III

. .

" ~

II

, II .. r ,.1

"-

NIOW Y:OU:'VE IBE'C'O'ME POO'RJI

0·' . 'N"" T'H' E-' C~ '0' : 'N'" T-n'A" ",V'I'

i.:- .. -'.1 I _. _-. :.·:_:.I.::._:_~"·_··I I~~·'·'i'~ ';1' ~

I A-· M- 'NO' 'W'- -

, :, .: .. .' ,'1 ••.•...•... _, •••. _ ~'

'WEA:LTH,'II'EJt THAN

~Vil!:R':'

~', I;. ',_',.,

C'O NOT CONSIDER TRAOINIG MY W'EALTH FO'R GO'D~,S R,E'WA'RDS, AN,D PL,E,ASU'RE A,S,

IB,E:II'N,G P'OOR.

ART'IST'S NOTES: 'PHI'l,O':$.Q'PHIERS DE'BATE ON' 'WHA'T I'S, TIHE FUN'DAIMENiTAL N'AT'URE ,QiF 'R,'EAIlJT'l .. , IF W'E, [3,El'IE\IE 'THAT 'TH'E, IMA,TE,R~IAl, WO'RILD I'S. All,L 'THAT E>CIST':S" THIE'N OUR VAILUE S'tSTE,M 'IS [BAS-ED iON MA,TERI',AL OIBJECTS,j J:F' 'WE 'THII~NI( D;E,EPLY~ W'E,'t,L SEE THA,T THE, IMATE,R~Al WO'Rll,O IS, ONllY A SHADOW ,OF THE REAL WORjl,'[)~ 'IN 1iHE R,EAl, WOF~JL.D 'WHIA'T REAllL.Y M,A'TTE'RS ARE '()I'V~I~'E, V:AL,U'E,S SUICIH A;$. T'RU'TH~, il,O've~, peACE AND G'RIOWTI~t 6REAT L.EA:D:e,RS ~N IH~i:S'T'ORY UN'DE'R;S;TOO.'D' THI'S) A~D HIAVE USED' ~T T'C'J DiR~VE, POSI'TiIVE, :SOiCIIAL, CHIAN'.(iE, 'IN' SP[~TE iO.'F' MA'TER:IAL FO'RCE:5- Ati:'A:IN'ST' THEM~

49

Those of you who have faith and spend (in Allah's way) there is a great reward for them (5,7::7)

Y10U will never attain piety' until yo,u spend out of what 'yo'u, hold dea r an d whe tever you m····ay' spend of anythi ing A""11-1... ind eed

_ ,:,'~ ": 1,I,i,_:: ', .• ,.,'" .. -~ ,,',-':,' _i,l, "'_ _ ,~- I,~,: ... ,_ ·_.-~I [_, .. :" -.' "dJ,(, ... , "._::

knows it, (3,:,9,2)

I h- T d

' [ - ,!t_ oj.

. .... ".',!' ,-:-- .. ::~·.I ,~ ._ .. : .... ".::-., :"::- ,'....:'.- :," ... " _', .

. ' I, ." " , . . .J - ..... ,.. '- r ,I .. ,-

, n te ,- ra_, mons

Imam Ali in, his will to his son said, "You have in your world that

ith h ich f (. 1-")" b d d ", h f ll

",."._"L 0 ,':', ," ... - 0 ";".'· .. ·1 ",c,,-.c,, c· .-_-_' ... , - .. -, '-,:, c· . '_'''-''j' .- -'-_'''', - ... - -:- ,-·,-.c, ' -_c_ ,""·-· .. ·:·'·"1 ',' """-' ... '-,"_' ~,.-. ,,". -'. - .c" c, c_ -'-I ,_"

W11-I I W ,1,_ . I y'ou can re 'orm YOIUlr (eterna ,.,' a xxie, so spen' . rIg _] tt u .y

--' ' "d·, d (" .' ... I :··,t b"'" ", . , .: ,·t··· .... c",,'," " -. . ... Is .... -"-., .. fc . - I' th .. -,,-' 'I., ,(-"d·· I '," s) n

an, ,_ 0 not oe a storage p .. ace ror 0,·- .ersu ues ... ,

50

.I'M PRep~IINS; '0 STAND ,BeFORE A GLORIOUS AND D"nNE'

c'n D.I:'lIl'Innl liill\I:UO'1 ~"fl """~"~II~ ~"·")I··.·

""'" ClltiA 1&D' rHE' UN,'ERS,fi',

~'.

. .

',~MI 'l&&J""'lt'"E~' .0.A J D .. "'~ .. ,',". 1~J.'11 "in~~' ~n:,.. ,'.. 1!f.J1

'THe 12WAID ,AIND! I);UNlSHItIENr ,OF e 'f't~O,'_ ~ ~

ii'M'Ui' AI r· .t'"' S·J""IIiI :Q'R":. ~I .... :.~

,t""JI:I'Dftnl.\~,\lllUl.!: l~MKrlf.l:~"I~.l~

'H,I.A J' ~"l¥' ~II!I II , I _"I;" "., ':,,1"

CON'D.ir'ON' ,f;$' ,SUCH' DUI'

TO' HIS' FEAI'

'/ I

//

/

,ARTI,ST'S N'O:TES: 'THE 'WU'iOHIUI (ABl'UT"I,ON) I'S, OFTEN DO'NE A:$, A, M'IN[)l'E,SS, 'EXE'R.c.I'S,E,., 'SUIT W'H'E,N I RECAl,L 'TH'IS 5-TO'RY I'T IB'R:IN',G:S, BACK M,Y ATTENrTIION 'T,O TiME ,ACT iO'F' PER,F'ORM'IN',G THE 'WU'D'HILt THIE IPR,OPH'E,'T IHAS SAm'D T1HA'T ONIE OF T1HE S·S.cRJETS 'TO, 'B:E, A,TTEINTIVE I'NI PRAYER~ 'IS TO 'PER,F'"ORM 'THIE ,A8Il,U'TI'ON' 'WI'TH A,W,AR,Elt\I'E'sS, REMI~N'DHfr~G OtlRSEll,V-ES 'AI'HOM WE ,AR,! P:R'E,'PAFU~G TO A'PPR'OAC.HI~

And keep up pra'yer and pay' tbe poor-rate and bow sown 'with

those w :,·.'·,'h-IO, -j bow ,.,."::.,, d Q'-'W' vn ... An Id-:I se e a ssist ance through patience and

" . . . . ", .... IlL)' .' .' . '~!n, " -'. . -. -. . ..• . I.'\..,: ,.1.,... '. " ,,-. ..1..

I. ,'._

Pray'er and most surely this is most difficult except for the

, .. c· 1_ .'. ' ". l c .. " c ' _ I _'.' c, I _'.' c - , ~', ." _'" _'.' _ ' _ I _'.' c, '. c:: ' '. " ' c ", _ ~.. " _ _. c c, .. _ . _ ' .. c'

hu '[ m .. rble ones (:2"':"':""'"413',-4'" ,5'~')1

, ". ..,1 1 ~~, .....~ '> ,_ .'.

My Cod.

'W"",IQ is the' one who has come before Thee

seeking hospitality,

and whom Thou hast not received hospitably? 'Wh[Q is the one 'who 'has dismounted at Thy door hoping for magnanimity,

and to whom Thou hast not shown it?

Is it good that I come back from T'h'Y door, turned away in, disappointment,

while I know of no patron qualified by beneficence but Thee?' How should I have hopein other than Thee,

when thi€ good ,_ all of it - is in Thyhand?

How should I expect from [others,

when Thine are the creation and the command?

Should I' cu t off m····y>: hop ['e"', for The 'e' ",

_ ... , ... ~.:." " . "··c· '_ '_ '._' .. ', . .' ...... ~.:. c" "~' , ,,"~' .. . ... ' ... ~ .. ' ... ~ . .,

when Thou hast shown rne 0'£' Thy bounty that for which I have not asked?

'WoiUlIidst Thou make me have need for my like?

But I hold fast tOI Thy cord! a He through whose mercy

the' strivers reach felicity

Excerpt of the Whisp.e'lye'd' pray:er ~f the Hopeful ~y Imam Zainu! A.bideen'

52'-"

, ,

.......

!A 5UL,TAN WAS RJIIDII'IN6' 1iHAOUGH THIE C:OUINTIRY',~ E,VEIR,'IJOD"

0,," iI 110, IU1!;'1f!!!iI1 ,Ai£', '-TU'~' ~·UIIII ~,AIN-I l~iA~'i£'i!"D" ~~'~~~ £'O·····.'R 0'·· 1L11i!!" lULA.··.'IDVrwl~I!!;;I!! ",~ "~;;J.' ....... III ", r_. ....'~.;I!!,~~ _ iI'n, ~,ftl~~I'- II !IF", '!r!I!! ~ I~'!I"._

'I M,A'DE, T'H'E,M

Mv' 5~·I~-A··.'V~,S·.::-, A··'INDi.

,'- ~- I~ - :;. __

B'EICAME, FREiE

'W:':IHV DI :"0- NI ~ -

.'. __ , ' ' f. II

v'O:.'~ U' - aO--1IW-·-··

I··.~·.· "_', " Ig ... ···· .. ",

DIO·-:·I'W····,.'·.'IN·:: 'TIO'-' H:/ Ei'91

. -.... _ '--, 11~;iii

,A IF'R'E'E MAN .

:SHIOUlll'D' NOT

8;0': "'w- 'T-'O' .", A'

•• I" ,",

", - . . .'. _' .'

SLA'V.'·E

.. :.' n I.

, __ I

53

Successful :indiee,d are tbe believers who are humble in their ·pra·yers. (23::1~2)

I h- T d

,~. ,~ - ·Ii _ ...

. .... '.', l' ,-;:-- ....... ·.1 ,~ ._ •• : •.. >:: .... , ,"::-- ,'-':'.- :." ... " ,",.

" I· '" r- - , ' . ,',' -', ''''. ',' - '-," I .,.-

. n te " ra __ mons

IOIG,o,d,

bless Muhammad and his Household, delight my sou] through 'Thy decree,

expand my' breast through the instances 'of Thy decision, give to, me a trust through which I may admtt

that Thy decree runs only tOI the best, and 'let my' gratitude to Thee

for what 'hou hast taken a.w,ay· from me 'be more abundant than my gratitude to' Thee for what 'hou hast conferred upon mel Preserve me from imagining any meanness

in someone who, is destitute

or imagining ,an.y· superiority

in someone who possesses wealth

. [ d_ u ',_ . 'e: ... ',.,'.' •... ·'.1~' :1 e"I~' ~\)~' ~';_:.:i~' ~\:": ; [f

for the noble is he

whom obedience to Thee has. ennobled and the exalted is he

whom worship of Thee hag, exalted!

Excerpt of SUplplUcQ'ltlrn1 In Satisfaction 'w'lth the Decree by Imam Zafnu'l Abideen

54

,_Ih .~'

r.t

Q-

.'

...J

it ,<t'

,:'

S 3 3:

S"TA"BILIZE THE' INNER S"TAI TE

0' WI~SE M'E,I\! OF M,Y

, ...... 1'lii.~I,~;D-li'l;,I~,f CR~,'~ATe f:OR

~_IU~,~. ",' V~'~"I~ _. "_!~ , .. _ _

M,E A :5AY~[~6 'THIA'T

W'~lill. $TA,BI'lJ2·E M'Y INN'E'R, ,ST'A'TE

£~.'

. ' <,~ C.-.!C.S

II ~.'.

- ,'.,

, , ~l_:

I' '_-,

, , .... 'IT' W'I l,ll BRi~NG ME JOY

\

I ) _"".,

I 1 ' ~ 'I<E,M EM[aa~:.R..., rr

I / I - t CA~iINOT BE TOO

I· N·. ·'0" ·.·"W··',,"·,',·,· GO,·· ••. ·· •••

... . ~ .. ~

THiE ,WISii! M,E,(v C'O,NTE:,MIPLA T:EP

DE'IEPL Y ,G,N ThI'6.' KJNG',S'

C;Q, · .. ·M'·· "ILiII~lIch"'!,-- ND',: FINALL,'';I'

.' .,"·"'!""I~,NV' ~ _ _ ~ _ .

R:E·T,U'R.'N,ED P:RE,S',EtvlJ/'4G

A s -. "'A'" L~' so -:\,;i" ,'_M.·.! .... D·A,, __

I

en .. ~T.' A .til. ",it i'L A' R:.tN~ !Hili vr", ,_: "","'~Vd!'''l~' ~. -, _ ....• '_ ',_ '!L:T

WI'TH THE lAl5C'R'IP170N'

5',,5"

~. ", '~. ",

1·-·· ···-h·-- . 'T- _ '. --'d' .1;._._ '. - _ ...

I ,',,-,c' ,-- :<.' -. I'·, ....•...

. n te . ra __ ItlOns

Imam Ali said, "1' searched for wealth and I did not find it other than through contentment, Adhere tOI contentment and yOlu will

b·· me rich," _ elcorne f].'C-"

Imam Al-Hadi said, "The thankful persoln proS-piers more as a result of his thanks than as a result of the bounty which incited the thanks, because bounties are sources of delight (in this world), whereas to thank, 'brings bounties in this world and the hereafter,"

II,A1UE'- ~'R-,E·~ - D/,O,'ES

rrnl. _. _ '. _ '. . _

/"

~

_ DOES INOT ,is'ROW ONI A IHARD R:O'CIK,Y' Pll-AlCe:

.~ ,'"

" .

/."" .

'FO'R. ,A,L.LAJH HIAS MA'DE HIIUM'ILfTY ,A T'OOl. FOR THIE ~INT'E.LlEC"f

#@t*

..... '~·r:77~,M ~~.to~~,

AN'[) [MAD"E, A'R.RO&ANCE A 'T[OiOL 'FO'R,

T-'IILJr:- I',r Ii;. 'nD A'IIi;.'iTiIFI ~ _ ~il~~~t~~~

A SA,Y1NG OF

iMAM M[USA AIL-KADl--ii'lM '(A,S)

57

Ind .. · eed, tho ...•. s-,e.·~·-- who o a r-:·.·e.·~·-- n'e.·-· .. a,lr- y·:.- .... o n ul~-r L1o· .. rd a:r-'iO no .• -·-···tl' prevented by

~ ~ ~~~ -/ . ~ ~ ... - - .. ~ .. ~ ~ • ~ ._.:. ..~ - ... ~ - ~ ~ ~ .. __I_ ~ ~.. ~ ~~~ -

arro!gance from His worship, and they exalt Him, and to! Him they prostrate, (7.~206)

I h- T d

. _ .. _:_ ...- -. - _.. - .11; ... _ ,t. _ ..

. ... " , l',' ... : ... ,I ,~ ,._ •• :,"/- . ": • '.:' • ;', . ," ,", •

. ' ~ . .' . _'. ',' . .

. n t,e ,'. ra~_·'tlvns

The Pro ...• phet said t '0 .• some of his c ompanions W.·.-·····.··-··h·y·.· ..• is·. I it'. tha t I do o not

- - -~ - ~ I - - .. . -~ .. - .• -~ ~~ - - -- . .. ~- -I .. -- -- .. - - , . . ~ - - -.. - - .-. - .- - - ...

- ~-

The Prophet said, "Cood fortune is theirs who are humble .- but not through poverty, who spend of their wealth which they have g·ain,e,d.la·w·fuI].y,. who have :mercy Gin the abased and poor and who keep company with thi€ scholars of law and th.€ wise,"

58·'

....

mrA'Mr~ I ~~~~ . .. i \\ ,,~~c. .... ..7/71 Iff n I

M,Y' T'R,E,A,,5URE I~S THE IHEAR'T ,OF TIH'E [BEL~E,VERI

~"~V T' "R' "";EA-" 'S"-'U't]"E H - '-, 1- ,-~- ",

M ,r ,I: .. " '" '_' I", .. " ,A,S FOUR 'DOO'R:S::

i I

t I

59

':M' st '1" tho -. '.' ~. d .. ~. this f hirr h h h rt -

r ... ,. [OSI' surety , J Jere ]S [a, remln,~[er U1. ~L,JS ~,!or ~JLm wno ~~as [a, ,_,_,e,arl ' ,or

listens while he is present (5iO::317)

T,h,ie, Pr[o., .• phet (··':A,:S····'.,)r.::, s"· .. :',a·,:. id ., "~Al1~h., mn[s:'· .: ·"t', H: 'ig[:h has .: ·,' r···'e· .. ceptacles Qin·· .. , t he

_ - ~ ~ ~ ~ .. _ ... . . ~~ -I _ ~ ~~ OL ~I ~~ ~ V . - ~'_ ,~4 ~ ~ - ~ ,,~. ~ ,- . _ -

earth, and verily they are the hearts, The most beloved of hearts to Allah are the softest ones, the purest ones, and the firmest ones; those' that are the softest to their brothers, those that are the most pur[e' from sins, and those that are the firmest in, the path of Allah,

Imam Ali said" "Tears only dry 'u:p' (i.e, fail to flow) as a, result of hardness [of the heart, and. the hearts only harden as a result of frequent sinning.

Wh,en a, person complained to the Prophet about the hardness of his [OW,n heart, {"hie' Prophet replied "If you want your heart to soften, feed, the needy and stroke the head of orphans,'

Imam al-Iawad said, Seeking Allah with the hearts is more' effective than tiring the limbs with actions"

1'6'0'"

............

AL H..: ':A" M.~. 'U

.................. ~ ,_

"" .... '.' - ,. '1",;. " / .

LILL'AH' .

,,:' .... , ... ,.-. :.,. "

I'T~S l~iO'THI Ce.NT'URV IBAt8[HDA'D~ SIHAYKH ,A,[B,DUIl, iQAD'IR, TAKES A CI..,AS S !II~ ,A M,A'O'RAS:SA~ S'OME'ON'E E:XCLA,IM,SMi'

o SHIAYKlHf Y[OiUR $HI'P'

I CA,RRy~ING !GOO'CiS ACR,OSS SEA. HAS. SU1NK~ N10'TH'IN[,G HAS REiMAI~NED U

! J j 'j

',,~

I . I

'I~· I '.-

j

...... 'wHe.N 'I [HEARD M'Y $HII~P [HA'D $UNII(, .....

I 5-EARCHED I'Ni M'Y:SEll:F i~'F I FEl,T

r!.,'~IE','_V··.··:·'E--·D BECA[~JSE [OiF "fiHE NEW'S;; [

I ~~ ••••• ~

. 'I' 'P- iir).A -I S'E-"O- '~O' o·_· TH·A "'iIr I' I. iii iii AS ~ ~O' " 'T

t. ,~' ..•.. _,.' Oi"I':;, I [-~lll . W',".··.· Ili'!;f" "l> ...... '

. -

'WH'E,N 'I [HEAR,D 'THA,T

M·· 'Y S-'HliIi~ h'!AS-' 'S- A' 'FIi!" [I

_" ,', .~":J- l~~ vVJ_, ••• ~.'> ,_.~: ... _.:'.,-.~~

I SEAR,CHED I'N! M'~tSEl:F [ I

'.' I'f' I' [WA,·S···-, O.·.····'V····· r E<~ ,J·.O,··.·.·y, 'E--'O-··, .'

~_"' ......... ' _ .. M-. '. [.11" '.' ',. '_ ~ .'. I

WE UNDE'R;$:T,O,O'O' [WHY YOU I'RAI'SED GO"O' W[HEN YOU HIEAR,O TH'E, [GOOD INEWS~ BUT WIHA'T I~S, THIE 'R,'EA:SON

I F,OR PRA'IS'IN'ti GiO'O'

WIHEN' Y[O;U IHEAR,D

'" 'YOUR S'H'IIP' SU'NIK,'?',

. AN 0' ~ P'AA'IS'E.IO' ' ,GOD THA,T ~ [WA'$. N,O'T

\

.

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.. - 'ru~' .'~ ::.-."

.. , .

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so·-· 'THI'A'''T' Y':O'IU' M" 'A"'U' 'N'IO"-"'~T' "'=R-"'IE-'V'E- 'F'O-"R-" ·W .. ··· .r ·H'AT IH·AS·· .. ' 'E-·S·· .. 'C·~··'AP··E-D·· 'Y:'O-'U

',,:_: _ _' ,", -:.', _ '~:.:", .. ~' ~. > _ ," -', i" .' I ",I [_ IL7'·: [~', ',"_': _:' _:: :.:.... . , -':. __ ,': _' _ - .. " ' ~. ~ ~ .. :._ ," .. ,"1 .,: _: , . :'.'< .. :. :. ".: " J

[NOR 'B,E EXUIL'TAN'T A'T WIHA'T IHE H'A,S GIVEN YOU C'GURA,N' ,$'7:23)

[6-"1'"

.....

5,0' that Y' ou may "',. not grieve for what 'has escaped you, nor be

" ,~~, ~,' ~ - -, ~ ~ ~ , " I: ' ~, , ,~ ", ~ ~ ,-, ~~, ~ '" ,~l, , -,." '~J - - "

_' ... _" ~ ~.

exultant at what he has given y'lou (57':'23)

I h" T d

,~, ,~ - ,Iii" oj,

. .... '.', l' ,-;:-- ....... ·.1 ,~ '_":'".>::-" ,"::-- ,'-':'.- :." ... " ,",.

"I, '" r=: , ' '".'"', ,.'" ',' ' "." I ",'

, n te "ra_" mons

The Prophet said, "Contentment is a wealth that never dries up", and "Contentment i s an inexhaustible treasure,'

Imam, [afar said, "Be patient in what befalls YOiU., for this indeed is lone of the greatest tasks."

1'6'2."':"'"

..... , ..

ViOUI DON'~T EVEN KN10I!IJ 'TH'E MI'EANING 'O,F Il'O,VE'

"'U'~~!~A'A"AI~ I ,n/:. 1",,.M,'YIIYcP

Oll~ L',"', .O·/I'C I' ,', ',,"ll'&;

£~

,

. . ,".

. '. ··11 : .... " I~'.

'" CdllUC.S

:S,HE'S COMIING!1

O '" 'E~ LO~ "V', ':"'E~'D'" I ,~AY' "LO':' '''V:~' coo' ""'R" Y'O""U'

Ol_:, ~"':,I_:' ,", ..... !""it _",' ,,:I~ 111""1",.' r ',',,',

I H1AS CON$UM,ED ME COMPLETEILY,o;M'

'T ':S~ UIN' '0-' "Y'" 'I"N' 'r..:.. 1\ .. 1'0-" 'F-'O"""R(":E~"V:E'~:'R"'"

I I ~" ,,01_ ",\7' "1""1,' I' '1<, -,I' ,':,

\.jOUR WO'R.D$ ARE l.O'V1EtY" IS,IUT' MY' :S~I:S'TE'R I'S. CiO',MI'N!ri' DOWN' BE~I'IN'D; YOO_ :$HliE ~S fAR. MOR,E 16:eA'UT"IFUL. 'THAN 'I AM __

'DI'DNiT y,OW SAY Y,OIUR LOVe: 'FO'R, M'S.

IN.'AS ALl., CO~:SUM'IN6 AN'O' IUI~D'Yl~G? "fHIE I~NST,ANrT I. M,ENITI~O'~'E'iO' A MORE BEAU'T~iF\Ull, WOMANi" YOU TURN'ED AWfJ;/Y TO LOOK A,T HUiR,

And spond in the way of Allah and cast not yourselves to, perdition with y'our own hands, and ido good (to others); surely' Allah loves, the doers of good. (.2:195)

Im ". ,~'m-"'-' Iafar said !'W'-'-'h-'··, e'~',-'n---' love of A,:','·I"]a: h ta .. k .. ce .. - .. s- possession 0, .. ',£' the innerm "0-· st

.JL ~OL, _' ,01,- '. ~- ",~~, ~ . ~ ~"_'~' ~.. . _ ". ~ ~ ~' ~,~_, ~ ill ~~_' ,. . '.' ..'.~ .. ~ ~ .,~. ilL, ~ , JL ~~t~ '_' "".

being of Allah's bondsman, it empties him of ev'e'lY preoccupation except remembrance' 01,£ Allah. - 'he lover is the most inwardly sincere of all people for Allah, Heis [hie most truthful in his words, the most faithful in, his pledge, the most astute in his actions, the purest in,

b d h · d ~ h'" ]f '" hi n

remem ranee, ano the greatestin devoting ,CIS sell ill worship,"

Imam, Ali said "Love of AIlah is a fire which d,oes not pass by' anything without burning it 'u,p;: the light of Allah does not come over something without illuminating it.'

[6-'4""

.....

[6:····[6: .. ··

........ '.

I ~> .,_. iii,...~._, .,' ..

"_,. I ",I'

_.

.. '

,'SST!'··

TIH ERE, srrs THE. W:tSIE'$,T' MAN INI THE,lt'ITV

HUIM:

II·~'I - ~ii"

n SH;Cnjll'D'

. ~ ., M'~Eif IrlIIIM .u ~.' .. , .

,".- "_ - ,'.

.'. \ ....

. '. . "

. . .

W'A ALAI,KU,M

I .. SAJLAAM

1I"',II'lllIiil'ILlliil'_'~ .IA·~.·'KJ L .. ORG·

~Wruvvw.l'f!:V·I' .1_' I!

6·'~7··

I···.· .r .

• ..•• I

0,··':-:' th ,'.,',,'. ' ..... c·t·, rcfle t with -.~',." t'h·'c , -t ; ..... ,.:. ... :.] "'" 'Q·'·I··.-.- (":3'::',[0'''.'8'''')''1

_ 0' I ~I_,ey ,no, rle. ~ec, W] ,Jlln I ~I_,emse~v,es. ,;ur,an ',."""":

I,C"'", ertainly WC.'"·,,,,","·e·· created m an in th e'" bes .. st make "1 ('·'·9-=5'·-:,·~=,)'·

c':.." '.',. ._.c.i .. I . ',' .. '.,. ._ '.',. ',e : '.,. ',c_· ... c.1 I, e '.',. ,".',. ,'_": .'e .... 'C_·." c.' """""~':.

Imam Ali sald;

y our sickness is within, you, th ou g'h, you ,d,o not realize And your cure is 'within, yet' y'ou do not se'e

You claim that 'yOiU are nothing but a tiny ,e'ntity

Yet 'wrapped u,p inside of you is the greatest universe Y o'u are the' clear book, through whose letters

All that is secret is revealed and made known,

S'O' yOlu have no' need for anything outside of y~)U

y our consciousness is 'within YOIU, though you do not know

6- 8····-· .. ·,

I . .

~ou [MAYBE, 'DI:SHO

rrs ,A :pl.ACe, .' ,- ·C .. ··R· 'IIIIM'-'E'S""

rOrlF'i···'I_ .1---" :,1

_,IBU'T THE

W',ORLD' DOESIN'T DEC'E,IVE AINYO~iE

~;ou MAY' HA:VlE COMIM:ITTe,D ,A C:R~MI~

.... B,UT T~E,

i~.Ii.II'O' ·.·I~l~ VV1:,,:_'R_V

'D01E,5N~T' CiOIMIM~TA CR~MIE ACV'A,tNIST YOU

1- ulA' .. , .. 1I4iI A:~' ,~I ,~ .(~.~ '''III rO=ji"~T'~"~~jiE'-~~ "I·!P"II· .. ~I~'~ >-_I~~' 'I I1J !~ . ',-"I", ~'"Ul.~:VI!

II"'I!I jiL""~' lj"i;;rE' n'QA.'~e~,

....... ,...I~""""~ U IF' ~ ..... '"",' ~,"

EA Eli "III'" iU E' J!ii, 11;, I.£IE' -le' AE LAiD rr'vl~ lU In ~ "N~I~I ~ urr: Q1V'_',:i

, .... , A 'T1RADIII~ihS' PlAC'!, IFO'R. 'THE ILO\fEIRS OF' GOD

And He' 'has made subservient to you whatsoever is in the heavens , _-'. d . . 'h' -. ,'.' t -\ - .'.-'. -. '.' -', " ~-, , .. , 0 'tho, -, -, ,'.' ' ,'t<h-' ,'.' 1] fr .. - . ~ _-, 'H'· .. , _- _-, ,'.-. ' -, ]fc "_-,, '-,', - t - II' -[" ther .. - an, , W .•... atsoever IS m I, .e eartn, a .rrom nmse ,I_, mlOSI sure y , ,'ere

are signs in this for people who reflect (4:51:13)

Th 'p":" hets id lIO····:····· -' t ,,:, .. ult th -]d'-' f···· ,. it ~ . th· 'b' . t i "'" t __ ,e._ rlop~_el' sal_I ._,0 nlo'. [nsu, " '. __ ie w'or~,_ Lor 1,18 ',.Jle.!es mOi'u'n'J

for the believer, because by' means of it he attains goold and. through it he is saved from evil."

70:"

..

'IF-- 'R--""EE'-" 'W-'I'LLI O--"--"-'R-""

-I-~/:-'.~'~~I -~ /_ •....

£-0 C .. ~es .(r4: , ~II

r ~'.

II 'lET vO' I I~D '-_F. I. i.~._.~ 'U1N

R'~6HT ILEGr

\., -~.

'FREEWi~LL,

0, I~MAM~ WHI'CIH ,OF M'Y ,A.cTI~IO,N:$. A,RE BY M'Y fRE'E, W'lliL ArNO' WHICIH ARE P'R'E,"";DEST'INIED?

tlJFT Y,Q'UR l,EFT Il,EG'

THAT!), PRE'" DESTI'N,AT~ONI

And Allah h as created you ar-d what you make ·(··3·'7·~9-~··.6··'·,C.)·:·

.~ u~ .,~ ~. c..C~~'OI, I 1 ~ -e ~ '. .' • _" .(;!L. . _. ,_I.,~ , ~. _.'~ "'.' J 1[0I,.1!l,. , ". . _. ~.~. ~[OI,~ .. ~ . + '

He said: Our Lord is He Who, ga.v[e' tOI everything' its creation, then guided it (to, its go,al)~, (20;5,0)

,A pie:rso,n asked Imam Ali whether man has the p!o'wer to exercise' free will ,or not. If he has the p,o[w'ler to do things then h,QW is, it

possible to' say that there is no power nor help' 'brut from Allah? The Imam said: "Y'[OU have ability by the Will of Allah". 'w'hil!€ He has it independently. If He endows Y'[QU with it, 'that is 'His favour, If H',e takes it a'way' from yo[u, that means 'H,e is testing y'IOUi, In. any' ca se ", Y .... '0···· 'UI s···· ·ho···· 'UI Id r e' sn . e' sn . b [e" .. ;it'" th . a t W' h a te rv e "r' H'e'" b 'e' -sto "'W' '.". 's on Y .... '0···· 'UI He ",

_.~.I,_:'_:f ,_t ,__t ,c ",' 1,[,_.1 1,[ ,:_:,JL, .' [::1, .·······c J_: ,',_. ,._I_.".Q~<_ ... ",..',_1, I, ,_1_ " ._:

is still tts owner, If' He enables you to' dio a thing, that thing is still

,,. thi ,. 'H'" . . . fI

wr .J un ~lS po'wer" ,~

72:-'"

.......

: .

73

He srants wisdom to whom He pleases, and whoever is granted

l5 '_' 1._ .. "

wisdom, he indeed is g':', iven a ,g., •. treat g;.~oo(ll and none but men of

I, ,',_ I.: r .: :

understanding mind (2:26'9)1

C , .. C:':' ,'_C': , .. c: "'.': .. ,," '" [,"~.'.' ',' "~:,'

I h' T d

,~, ,~ - 'Iii,'"

. .... '.', l' ,-;:-- : ....... ' ,~ ._ .. : ... >:: .... , ,"::-- ,'-':'.- :." ... " ,""

"I, '" r=: , ' '".',', ,.'" ',' ' "." I ",'

, n te "ra_, mons

Imam Al-Kadhim in his aid vice tOI Hisham, "O Hisham, nothing 'has been bestowed u:p,on the servants better than the intellect, The sleep! of a man of intellect is better than the' night vigil of an ignorant man, Every single Prophet that Allah has .sent down has been a man of intellect, whose intellect supersedes the labour of all diligent workers, The servant is not considered as 'having fulfilled an obligatory act from "~, a-"m~~I'II,o.~··.n-~"'g~~' the acts ma de in cumbent by Allah until he .. " understa " d •. .s

, ' "" ~"', ",,'" ',,' I ~ ll, _I" '" ' ,~, ,"' '" , "",,' _, ~, , ,,_ "".. , I ", -,', _, ',' " .. , "' '.' _I" "'.",, ",' , I, '" '."" , " ,~ "I, "" "

, ,

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it !''II 1 C~'

74

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i~ IHA'VE ~17 ,CAM:EL:S- AI~OI :3 Si()~S," D!VIDE MY CAM~EJl:S I tJ SUCHI ,A WAY THA'T:

MY !Ell;D:EST SONI GET'S HAlF ;Q'F' THiE, 'irOTAJl MY Se:CONID' SON 6fTS fA TH~IRO; ,OF T1HE TiOT:Al MY Y,OUNGES.'T SCnJ 6;ETS 'ON;e:,~~lnNTH

,Iii

_ -

---- - -

OK" ~ W~L.L, ilEN10 ,O'NE OF M'Y CAM'EL.S,

. - -. -- - - .--

~r-O 'THE, T'OT,AL WHI'CIH MAKES lIT

I",a Ii;. 10" '. ~I. ~ l r:"TS' _', '0- "1"' /'1'0- C:' AS" 'PC:"R' IILJ 1"'5' h 11'1 jll

Q'~ I'!!I!:_ ''IV'_,:" ......: pV _,b F\' .' C ': 1Fl_,:,~_ ... I" '.

O!UR FA'THt~:,R HAS ,ASIf('E,'O' T'O [)!IVlI'iO'E

, 1"7 !CAMEILS IB,E,'TWEEIN 'THE, ,3: OF US ilN ,A 'WAY' THAT I~S U~'POSS-llalE

THIE EilDES-T' :$.01\11 ,GET':$. 1/2 ,QiF 1~,8, :, q

T-LlIIE'" 'S':E' c·O·'·a.!IO·· O,"~IE-~E·,'T~I-"S··~· 1'1····\":) O'c 10 .... , ~

"1_, ;_' __ .1 .. ", -:.:.,~,_.,> "_ ·r~ _-. ~I_ - ,'_', -I: ;;)' ", -:.:If'" ~u - IDJ

'THIE YOUING-EST GETS !/q' ()'F ~IS, '~, :2

I ~

li;.IO··'·W" T-HE T-"O':'-T-'A"-L li;.IUM·· 'iO'ER- A~

1'i;I~ .. '. 1.1 _' . I',' I M!_ I ....... '.' ,bl~' , V'F'

i/"".A U ~'l SC ~' i~"'" /;Q'~..r':,lI!:''"l"\,

I~--"I·'!!'".I~._ .'". ~ ~. I' I~ '"1' "Tt)1F ~

I~VE HIE' - D1i'""Ii Oil!::' ~ A' - nl~'5-

.. ' , '_~ . I ~ A'r;;,v'· .I!t ~I,M:- 1M AlII..., '.

BRi~Ll,I',ANICe:~ Hle~, TiHE ,ONL'Y MAN ~[NI ARAI3'[A W'HO ,CANI HEL.P' UIS

)

I

II

.

75

,0 'IMAM" YOU A,RE TRULY' B,R~ILl'IANTf 'I HIAVE NO'T' I3,EEJNI (;_'e.'T DOWINI

.-

.' ... )

.:':

'i

Allah commands you that when Y'!ou judge between people you judge 'with justice (4:5,8)

I h- T d

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. .... '.', l' ,-;:-- ....... ·.1 ,~ ._ •• : •.. >:: .... , ,"::-- ,'-':'.- :." ... " ,",.

"I - '" r- - , ' '"" -', "',, ',' - '-," I ',,-

, n te "ra __ mons

Im am Iafar has said "The pro of 0,':'::"£' the m an of :int',e"lle,' :'C',,·jI-' lies in two

~ - ~tlI,_ _ _,' QI, ,~ ~ ~tlI, '~'~I ~ ~ I, ~ , , , ,~ ,~~.- _ ~OL ~ ~ _ ~, _~ , ,ll --~ ~~ ~.- ,

thir '~-~H" ~,- , thf ,1 ,', -, rd ~ -,--~ d "c,'~,','~' ~,~, ,ct'- c cti '~,'- .~',-',~, -T'h~ ,~, '-.~-' ,-,c, .~' of ~,·~,.f,.~11'~' ,ct'- d ,- ,'~',,-,~, ]ngs., rrutn u wars an, correct aeons .. , ,Ie man ,0 l_ mreuect aoes

not say something which the intellect rejects, neither does he expose himself to suspicion, nor abandon the help of those who, ha ve been tested. Knowledge guides him in, his actions: gnosis is his certainty

in the paths he treads, and forbearance is his companion at all times,"

A- I'IS" -":"1 T

_ _I .. ·'i, r ···::~···./ ... _ -,.'

TO HE.LL

"':;'"

'CO,MIING IFRa'M IIIIN' TIHIIS :5TA,Te~?j

JIUI:S:T' !CAM'E B,ACK. IFR.OIM I' :'ET '_. ,~'

~.-'

- :.l.l , -

.

_. " I

- ", ...

FiR'IE- 1!i"~A:··-:· ,5' '.

I II ·,C. W"--' ,

N'EI£'D·e.D 50 :I THOuGIH'T' 'OFI~OIIN& 'TO IHE.LIL

_ TO .A:5it( IIF' 'TIHIE.Y COUiL:D :$P.'ARE A IIL.,IITTL,E.

IBUT'THIE, FElIL,OW

II!I~ ,CIHIA:A6'E, SAIID' '~HIERE~S INIIO F'IIR,'E HEIR'E,'I

I ASKED' '-S'N'~-' H II ,~, -T - -E '

A, PLAC'E O"F PI R'E '111

IlHrE S,A,IID' 'THE- R. E" FiIE-AllIL'"

. ._ ~ "F"~:'~ ~." 1- . 'J .,;;.

liS N"-'- '0':" 'F'II'R'~

, - /_ ..••... .. ,1 I' ~ I, _/ c"

O'O-"W1NI HIER'E

,I ','.',',' I":' I I,' '.,'" ' .

. . _ _ l._ I l~

B-"~r'A-I-U'sr

I~I ~"I~~_" .",.~ .•• ~.:·I~,

E',VE,R;YO'NE BIF(,INIGS, H~,S

Q'WNI FI!RE,

11,'iliIIIU E I;.J !.::IE" ~n .-1"1 FI '-,

,COME:S, ,i'

77'"

.

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. .... '.', l' ,-;:-- ....... ·.1 ,~ ._ •• : •.. >:: .... , ,"::-- ,'-':'.- :." ... " ,",.

" I - '" r- - , ' . ,',' -', ''''. ',' - ,-'-, I .,,-

. n te " ra __ mons

Imam Ia'far was asked the meaning' of Allah's words, '{In order) that He m.a·y try yOlu ~ which of Y'Oll is best in deed,' (67:2) and he answered, 'this does not mean the greatest number of deeds, but rather the most correct deeds: truly', correctness comes from fear of Allah .. an .. d a. good and sincere intention, Perseveran .. ce in a deed 'until one finishes it is the hard est of deeds A,·-"·'·, sincere d eed is one for which Y':-"O-';UI want no

.' -.: _ - . 'Lit ~', '.' "'. .'-.:, _:' _ ,,' ,~, . ".:,' j!L!Il._~_ :-.' :' _ ._ ' ... ,.' -; ._ "'-' ... _ .' '.,. '.' .... - . I. ' .. '. '. _. '.' . J.ill. . J.

-', ,,"", . '',,-, ... : -- ~:':" b .. ·t A··",ll-1...l: + ~:. - . d·· 'I' . d: the ir t , " .. ti 1 _.. :~ :'-' b ,', . tte '-' th ,,-,-,: th I"', dl··, -" -d

,one s praIse. cU. e ,".' ",d.1(. s" Ine .eee -. I. I.e ]n ,en elo,n. ]SI.-e _. er e ,an eee .eee

itself rather th e intention is a deed,' The h e read A~- I'll ah's _- -ord

.,,---- I, :I.~',I " ,',' .',_'.' " '_---- JIl .1. j---- 1,1 . JIl. .': IU----'----'< ." .... •....•.. [~, ,..'< ..ilL·· ..: Wi. 1' __ r

ART'IST'S NOTES: HEA'VEN1,& HeLl. ,ARE NO'T ,JUST SOM'ET'HII~NG A[WAJT~IN& FO·R. us 'IN THle ,AFT'ERilJFE" I'T ~I:S SOMET1HII'NG [WE ARE CREAT~t\hS FIO'R OiUIR:$IEJl.vE.S HE.RE A "J'D' ,NOW." WE ,CR,EATE. aurR, ~EAVE.N &

HIEll,t,. .AS WE MA~E OuR. CHiOflCES BETWE'EN ACT"I[O;NS THA.T EJTHIER PAO',MO'T'E. O'R. 'R,·ESTR.-ICT [O;UR SP1~R~TUAl. 6R.OW'TH" THE CL.OS-ER. W'E MOVE T,OWA.·RDS 60iO' W'E, [M,OVIE TOW'ARDS HEAV-E,N~ AND 'TH'E, ·FU'R·T'HI~R· A- 1 .. iII.IIIAV Iii; .I~ r'u 5- 'TA- iii. IC'~' FROU ,r;_Q'D· W'~ MO··\ iir!: TOlil; ·'A· RnS- U ~L-' L-

.~[-._: _ . l~_, _'w,~·i "~W~I:"_'l'i;;,Il--~~_"·"I;"i. !O-".'I-')'~. [·· .. ·I"VI~ -In'_''w n~ I.~

78

'''''UI!:'" f":ii':O""'IP,Ut:'T'~ ·M····'U'U'AM- M-···A··~ 'D'" (_·:·--S"'·Am.ilI/'\ A~ ovset» .urS· n!·E:'O··-·:-'P·L'£.':~

f [nll~, ,..,."[v_ "Inll~l: '_ "_:_._ . """1 ," .. , .. '" :: _ :.,' ".:. ::·:··~'VV·/ ,:: _L"V'" <·.:I~:· .... nl~'~:! r~··.:~ -,' : ... _ -r;:~

~y 0

K· E-:__~'·'···-····- ~,: .. '.'

:- . _: ,,' ",-

KN-- O"'w""ED:'G' "E

: ...............•. :_ ·.-,I>,L,_ ,,1>'_, ..

v II;, ~IO- I II; U 't:"'D".'..:t= I~ S- A' r-.lIi~" .... ~,I~:'!13I~ ~-_:_'"

T'RE'ASURE ~'

THIE K!E')l T'O W'H'I,CH I'S· TiH E 'OH

QIUI E~ S-'T·[IO:····· N" I

.'.' : " _ _.i [ • ..', .. '_",

so' ASIK, A,tJ1D' ,ALLA.lH WILIL, HAVE ,M'E'R,IC'Y ON y'O'U 'F'·O·-"IR-·:' V-:>E'IR··:'I"L' 'v' 'F' ,'-O,":'IU' R: P"-'E- ·O,:-·:·_'·P··-·;L- E- A--··IR"·:'E- 'R·'Ehi·A>R'··'D····E- D····

~ ·1···.: .. ·, r ·-.1····: .. · .. --:::1 : >, ::. .. : --:::.::. -··11···.: .. ,.::. ,-. ~.w~-··.··· ::. ~ .'~,.-~

AN'D TH1E lONE THIA'T A01MI1R,E',S:

THEM!'

M,'V LORD! INCREAS'E ME, ~'N MY' 'tcJ~"OW'lED\G'E ,_' Q'U'RA,N (:2,10 : nLt)

79

Say ... Are those who know equal to those who d 0'--:-" not know? Only

'~,_~" . :Jl'" ,~~' ~:_ ,':I_I_~JL}, Jl' ,~~' ~,,' Ll~'·1L ~:. _ _,'._, ;i.LUL_

th '-'. - ". rh ~ - ~ ~--- ,"': -~-1'] ect tak ". id - - .. --'. -- iti ~ - (:3~_-'9' '"9-":';)'

nose W-IO! pOissess mreueci raxe a' •• moruuon l,_'~/,I

I h- T d

_, '- - 'Ii, oj,

. .... '.', l' ,-;:-- ....... ·.1 ,~ ._ •• : •.. >:: .... , ,"::-- ,'-':'.- :." ... " ,",.

"I, ." r=: , ' ' .... -.' ... '., '.' - '-;' I .. ,'

, n te "ra __ mons

The Prophet said "The q, :U,' est for krio .. wled .. ': ge is: incumbent U: pon ever

- - -~ - ~ I - -~ , , -~ '-I - - ~~ , - , -" ~ ~. - ~ ,. -~:~, ,~- -- - ,~-- - - , ,~ - -, ~-

- - ._ . ~,

Muslim, by virtue of it the Lord is obeyed and worshipped, consanguinal relations are maintained, and the lawful is distinguished from fh,€, prohibited .. Knowledge leads to' action ,(In,ld action follows it, The fortunate ones are inspired 'by' it whereas the wretched ones are deprived of it,"

Imam Ali said "Knowledge is better than wealth, for knowledge guards you while you guard wealth, and, wealth is reduced by ~'p--:e-' nd in --. g'c" wherea 'S'~,' kn jowleeige in crea s-,;e'--,'s~,' by ·s-'p-.:e-· nd in g'c,~ ,~~ and ·ac~·nol'y'.'·':

a ' -, - '. .. - ",' J' .' . ' .. , .' - .. , .. '-" ' . - "", -, _. . - '. . '. - , ." '. ' -, - ' "',' .'. l., . - - .. ' _. ' .•. '

g',o'od produced by wealth (respect and honour] ceases when it

-. ' _. __ , " " t -, "-'_C~ ,·t-'· U

ceases ,0, exis

_-. ,_'" ' ," ',,'. '.' _:,' '" '" " .. ,I,

Imam Ali said, The scholar is alive even when he ]S dead, whereas the ign,o,rant man is dead even though he may 'be alive,'

The Prophet said, "An hour spent by' a knowledgeable man ]ying ,on his bed thinking about his deeds is better than seventy y'e'ars spent by the worshiper performing acts 0,( worship,"

80

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..

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P.-'f<,····:-···········O·······:·B···· --L::·:··· E·::' -·M'·,

.'. '_" :' - :,: .. ' '·iI·

. . • __ l .• •

. - - . - .

W'E, THI~NK :r"RIO'B,LE,MS ARE BAD'" BU'T PRO'Bt..£.M.S CAN a,E ,A. ,GOOD THI~[NG,.

I'F' W'E CANI CHANG:'E OUR P'E'RSPECTI'VE~

PR,O'BLE[MS ,CAN' BECOM'l~:. A M,EAN'S FOR THIE .ATTRIBUTE.S 'O'F A,llLAH 'TO, 'R.·EAViEAll 'THFUJU6H us 'INIT'O TlH~IS [W10'RLD

:> ,

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[WH1E'~ 'YOUI S'E.E, POVERTY Gi~VE. C.HAiRlTY TiO' ,S:IUST.AIN 1i~E POiO'Ft

[WHIE,N SO'[ME;ONE H1AS DONE SOMETiH~'N& T[C; HIURT VOu.,.

FO'" '. inl ' . r!...1··V', E' : 'TH' 'E IIii.A

......... l"~\;r _ ".~ . I ' _.' -' 11·~·-~i~1

THE' ,

:SUSTAINER

THE FORSIVER

WHEN' Y,OU"RE FE.el.'lNIG· D'EP'R:ES,SED,. BECiO',ME APPRE[C·iIA·TIIVE· iO'F AJLL.AH'~S BOUN'TI'ES

WHEN' y,OU :SEE ~IN'·JIUSTIC'E 'IN' THli~S

[WiO'~LD-::·, ;:t~CiO'It.:U:· A·'·

. . _ I""i.. J D[tt;. _ _ ~ ~·III:"O.

FOR.CE, OF' JUS'TIICE

THE 4PPRECIA'TIVE

rHE

VS-~~'7'

.. : ,,_ .' "

.....

THIE NIE)(T' ~rlMe YOU'~iRe

F-A" C· 'E'O" Iii; fflT'[U A" n!DO-"B- '-LE'M-' .' _. ,'_: 1:_. _. v" II I~ Ii'1 .. ' .•.. I~ r\,. 11:_ '.:~

LO'O','IL/' A···T 'T-ul~ p' ··:"R-:-.O-'!?l·F·-:·[M···

, .. , ..... r". '. ._ . F1II~ r- _ _,' ~L _ Jl~ .

'FR<O-."~' [G"~' 0'" ··'D, .. 5·'::·· ..

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- ._. . .

PERSP'E'C:TIVE

U'S- IE'" 'Tu'E" 'S- E' A' 'TTR'I~ '8'-' 'U'T:e"S-'

[,.'II!; n !;. .. ~'I~ ,~> I .••. ~ .~ .. - II!;~'

A'S; ANTIIDOTE'.S 'FO'I<: THE

'P"· ~'[Oi'?LE->,M- ,?v M~DI'IT-··A'T-I·N~,

r.. _ ~ _ _."l- ~ I _ [~ _ P\. _ !.;r

O~ ~I T- IIlJi 1:'1'11"') U I:'A kmI.',LS-=· IW~I - nl'~ rw",: 'I""!I~I!I~ -I~"O_",","

II

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AN'O' AS.K W[H~CHI.oF THE ATT'RI"S!UIT'E.S [OiF .AL.ILAHI N'EEO' T[C; MIAINI'F'E',S:T' I~N 1ii--US SlTUATI'ON'

"I!IO>:__ ··S····· , E" ,-'''I.~'

r[~' ' ..... "~"':' ··:.·,,.1.··. -,,"

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,". 1 •• "·." :";: • r ::" ," . ,:. :':"'" ' ... :'", ',_ -,

[ . .' '. . . '. .

", . ~ ," . . -. .' '. - '. .' :~': - .' _.','::.' . . '. ~ .. ", ....

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. '. I . ' ".,' -.... '-. . '" . '. ' ," . .' .. -: '. . ..' "'. ('1

- ,AND THIE'N 16,'1 TAKU;J6 A:C,TI~ON~

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, n te ,- ra_~ Itlons

The Prophet said, ~'When Allah loves a servant He tests him with tribulations, and if he endures these' He selects him (for His Proximity), and if he bears them with satisfaction, He distinguishes him

(a higher status),"

,ARTI,ST'S N'O:TES: 'TH~':S- HAS TO BE M'Y fiAVO'R:I'TE S'UF11 COMI~C., HOW ooes SP'IRI~T'UAll PRACTliC-E &' OUR REl.A,TIION:SH'IP TO, 600 HE,LP' us TO 'O'EAL W'!ITiH ·PR,OiBl.E,M,s liN OurR, O,A!IILY l.-lVES'?' TiHE ,ANSWER IS, 'I NI 'TH11~S COMI~c..

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The Prophet has said: "Truly Allah resembles no i thing' and no

,I thing' resembles Him: everything which enters one's imagination

,A man asked the Prophet "O Muhammad, describe for me thy r r Lord ~'~

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The Prophet answered/Surely the Creator cannot be described except by that with which He has described Himself-and how should OITIie describe that Creator whom the senses cannot perceive, imeginations cannot attain, thoughts cannot delimit and, sight cannot encompass? Creater is He than- wh at the depicto r ,It], describe He ]'''8' d istan t in -Hl~:S'

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nearness and near in His distance, He fashions 'howness', so it is not said of Him, 'How?': He determines the 'where', so' it is not said of

H']'im(I'1 IW··········h-'·c, e re "I' HI e sund ers 'howness' a~n~' d 'wh ereness S--O'-" He is "One

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the Everlasting Refuge" (1 1.2: ,~,2)., as He has described Himself. But depictors do not attain tOI His description, IHe has not begotten, and has not been begotten, and. equal to Him is not an'Y one' (112:3-4}1'

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h ~iO d h ited pi h 'W'A

eart 'were joined together as one united pIece! thenwe parted

them? And We have made from water every living thing', Will

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they not then believe? (21::3·0)

Imam [a . 'far was asked by Mufaddal/'O my master, there is a .group! of people that claim that this (creation) is the doing of nature (itself)", the Imam said" "Ask them about this nature, does it have knowledge and power tOI carry out such actions (as creation) or not? For if they answer that it has knowledge and. p!o'we'r! then whatis preventing them from acknowledging the existence of a creator? For verily, this is His creation, If they claim that filature' does these actions without knowledge or without purpose while having witnessed the exactness and wisdom therein, it is (obviously] known that this is the work of a v,eI1r wise creator, and wh .. at they have called. "nature' is the v',e':ry system running through creation,"

Verily in the heavens and the earth are Signs for those who believe. And in yo,ur (own) creation and in what He spreads abroad of animals there are signs for a people that are sure: And (in) the variation of the night and the day, and (in) what Allah, sends down of sustenance from the clouds, then gives life thereby to the earth after its death, and (in) the changing of the winds, there are signs for a people who understand. (45= 3, ... 5)

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Imam Ali said "Wonder at man, who observes with a ball of fat (the eye), who talks with a lump 0'1' flesh (the tongue), who listens by means of a bone (the inner ,e'ar) and breathes through a hole in the flesh (the nose),"

Imam jafar sai d "Consider the universe together 'with its sun, moon, stars and Zodiac, which revolve perpetually in accordance 'with a definite decree and judgement to 'bring about numerous benefits tlo the denizens of the earth, variegated animal and 'vegetable kingdoms through the cha -" ,ges in the four seasons, the' days and ni g'hts, which have been expatiated to' you, Can an'y man, with a discerning mind think that such regulated plan and design on which depend the

order and organisation of the' universe, can come about without the Omniscient Designer? If' someone s.ays that mere chance has brought this about, why does he' not say that same thing in connection with the Persian- wheel which he se/es revolving, irrigating a garden planted

with trees and vegetation? He sees all its component parts manufactured accordingto a. definite plan, each part coupled 'with the other ,on a

pattern' to se rve the ne eds o' f"" the' gar'den' an" d ]'" ts con' tents II

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)I,QIU [HAVE, :$POKEN1 WI~SEll,Y

Say: He, Allah is One, Allah is He 'u,po,n whom all depend. He begets not! nor is He begotten, And none is like unto Him (112':1~4)

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Imam Ali 'was asked by one of 'his companions, Dhi'lib al- Yamani, 'Have Y'Oll seen yo,ur Lord?' The Imam replied, II would not worship

L' d h I h I H th k d IH di d

a ' ore wnom , ave not seen, ,Ie was t len askeo, "O;W'e h_: you

see Him ?'I' Thl€ Im,aID replied, 'The eyes cannot SI€I€ Him, according tOI

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the verities of fait-hi'

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References for Traditions:

Prophetic Traditions ill. Islam

.A collection of Traditions from. the Prophet Muhammad and the Ahlyl Bayt. The narrations ,ar,€ a rranged according 'to' topics,

Compiled by: Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri

Publisher: Muhammadi Trust

N'a'h,juI Balagha

.A collection of Sermons, Letters and Sayings 'left as a. memorial from Imam Ali (as).

Compiled by: Syed Radi

Publisher; Tahrike Tarsile Quran

Sahife Sajjadiya (Pslams of Islam)

The oldest p'r,l,y,er manual in. Islamic sources and one of the most semina] works of Islamic spirituality of the early period. It 'was composed by' the

'p.... ·'h ~1' .... t ...... d ..... 'A- 111" ibr ·'1- HI - _ .. kn: - . z· r, ,.. 'm 1'A: t...· .. d"I'·

.. r,o:!-).,e't: s gI",e.al ,gran-so'nl.~L.,. -'n a ... ' ~.usaynl . :_now:n as .... ,ayn aJ!l:...."u .. : ]'n~

Translated by: Willia'm Chittick

Publisher: Muhammadi Trust

Lantern of the Pa-th,

.A collection of savings by Imam [afar Sadiq on knowledge, behaviour remembrance, prayer and, fear of 'G,oid,~

Translated by: Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri

Publisher: Muhammadi Trust

A collection of traditions by the Prophet &. the Ahlul Bayt, covering almost 2000 topics, Co .... ec ion complied by M Muhammadi Rayshahri Translated by': N Virjee, A. Kadhim, M Bozorgi, ,Z .. Alsalami.A Virjee Publisher: Ie,AS Press

9- 3-'-

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95