Why do we Read Qur’an?

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An old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Qur’an. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa! I try to read the Qur’an just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur’an do?”

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, ”Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”
The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, ”You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, ”I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water.

You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.
At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would Leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, ”See Grandpa, it’s useless!”

”So you think it is useless?” The old man said, ”Look at the basket.”
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

”Son, that’s what happens when you read the Qur’an. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Allah in our lives.”

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says: ”The one who guides to good will be rewarded equally.”

Source: islamiclife.com

Increase in Life and Livelihood

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Increase in Life and Livelihood

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

“One who desires a long life and an increase in livelihood should exhibit goodness towards his parents and establish bonds of kinship (with his relatives).”‌
Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 16, Page 475

When a person stands up for prayers

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Imam Ali (A.S) said: “When a person stands up for prayers, Iblis approaches him and looks at him with envy and jealousy, as he sees the Mercy of Allah encompassing the person.”‌

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 207

Pray for Those who Misbehave out of Ignorance

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It is narrated that when in the War of Ohud, the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) lost 4 of his teeth as well as injuring his face, the companions told him:

Why don’t you curse those who caused your injuries? The Prophet replied: I have not come for cursing and damning, I have been sent to pray and ask for mercy;

then he prayed for those who caused injuries to him by saying: Please Allah (SWT), guide these people out of their ignorance.

Taken from: Beharul Anwaar, Vol. 21, Page 20.

Worshipping the world

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Man-worshipping-via-Shutterstock

Regarding the relation between some people and the world, the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) said: They are the slaves and worshippers of money [1].

Imam Hussein (A.S) in his first sermon in Karbala said: The people are the slaves of the world and worship it [2].

These words indicate that how far the relation between human being and the material things can go. Perhaps some people may say: Not all people are like this, meaning there are people who are not slaves of the world.
It is narrated that Imam Sadiq (A.S) told Ishaq ibn Qaleb: O, Eshaq; how many people do you think will be included in the description of Ayah 58 of Surah Al-Tawbah? The Ayah said:

If you give them money and the world, they will be satisfied with you but if you do not do that, they will be your enemies and will stay away from you. In another words if you chant the slogan of the world, they will follow you otherwise they will be your enemies. Eshaq said: I did not say anything and remained silent.

Imam Sadiq (A.S) said: More than two thirds of the people are those whose hearts are filled with the love of the world [3].
Explanations by: Ayatollah Sheikh Mojtaba Tehrani
Source: shafaqna.com

The rewards for making a believer happy

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The following narrations have been selected from the book of “Thawabul Aamaal wa Eqabul Aamaal” by “Sheikh Sadooq”. Abu Hamzah narrated from Imam Sadiq (A.S): Whoever makes a believer happy, God will make that person happy on the Day of Judgment and he/she will be told: Request whatever you like because you liked to make happy the friends of Allah (SWT) and then God will grant more than it is requested, beyond any imagination.

It is narrated from Imam Sadiq (A.S): A person who resolves the problem of a believer, on the Day of Judgment, God will resolve his/her problems and will raise that person from the grave with happiness.

Sadeer Sairafi narrated a long narration (Hadith) from Imam Sadiq (A.S) who said: When a believer is raised from the grave, a companion will also will be raised with him/her and lead in front, whenever that believer faces a difficulty on the Day of Judgment, the companion will say:

Do not worry, I give you the glad tidings from God. This will continue till that person attends before the Almighty where God will make it easy for him/her and orders that person be taken to paradise whilst the companion will be in front and the believer will say: Mercy of God be on you, you were a good companion and companied me all this way, now tell me who are you?

The companion will reply: I am that happiness you brought for your brother in religion, God created me from that happiness to make you happy.
Source: shafaqna.com

The Tale of a Seeker of the World

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Bin Babawiyah quotes through a reliable source that Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S) has told about a person who lived in the olden days. The man sought to find livelihood through fair means. He failed. He tried illegitimate means and even then he didn’t succeed. Satan came to him and told him that he would suggest a stratagem to the man to succeed in his efforts. The person agreed. Satan suggested to him to float a new religion. Encourage people to join its ranks. The man acted on the suggestion and soon became very rich.

One day the man thought that he had committed the foulest of deeds. He felt that he had led lots of people astray. He realized that any amount of penitence would not get him a pardon unless he corrected the people who had left the right path because of him. He started telling people that the faith propagated by him was a farce and they should abandon it.

But the idea was engrained in their minds and they told him that his faith was authentic and that he was lying to them. He could not change even a single person. In desperation he went to the forest and tied himself in a heavy chain. He resolved that unless Allah forgave him for his sin he would not free himself.

Allah sent a Revelation to the Prophet (PBUH) of the time that the person must be informed that even if his body goes to shreds repenting his sin, his penitence would not be accepted! The only way for his pardon was through reforming all the persons who had been led away from the right path by him!
Source: .imamreza.net

Description of God by Imam Hadi

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Description of God by Imam Hadi

There is no doubt that the Divine Names and attributes are special and it is necessary to know them correctly and properly. Imam Hadi (A.S) said: Truly, God cannot be described except the way the Almighty described it. How can God be described when the senses are unable to imagine or understand the Supreme Being that cannot be seen?

The Divine Being despite the complete and full presence is remote and yet is near with all the remoteness; has created circumstance and personality but has no circumstance or personality; has created the place but has no place. God has no place or circumstance, the Almighty is a single unique being, God’s magnificence is distinct and the Divine Names are absolutely pure and clean [1].

Note: [1] Beharul Anwaar, Vol.4, Page 303.
Source: shafaqna.com

Do not blame the world

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It is narrated from the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) who said: If a person tells the world: May God make your face ugly, the world will reply: God will make the face of sinners ugly [1].

In another narration, the prophet (PBUH) said: Do not insult the world! Why do you insult the world? The world is a tame mean for a believer and will benefit him/her whilst removing evil from them. For the sake of the world, the benefits are gained and harms are removed, when a human being says: Curse of God on the world! The world will reply:

Curse of God is on a person who uses me as a mean to sin! Can a person who take a knife and kill someone say, may God curse this knife? The knife also will reply: May God curse you that by using me, you killed an innocent person [2]. Therefore the world can help to solve the problems relating to the life of hereafter but due to human’s love of the world, this benefit is lost and cannot be of any use.

The heartfelt attachment to the materialistic pleasures will lead to wrongful utilization of the world and with the use of the sharp knife of materialism; the life of hereafter will be destroyed [3].

Notes:‌
[1] Beharul Anwaar, Vol.74, Page 173.
[2] As above, Page 180.
[3] Rasa’el-e-Bandegy (Farsi Edition) by Ayatollah Sheikh Mojtaba Tehrani, Page 117.

Source: shafaqna.com

How was the creation of man according to the Qur’an? (Part 3)

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creation of man

There are two scientific viewpoints on the creation of living organisms including plants.
a) Evolution or Transformism which says that organisms weren’t in the forms they are seen today, but were lifeless things that turned into single live cells in the oceans and seas because of certain circumstances.
These tiny and invisible live organisms gradually developed into different forms of animals and plants. The most developed form they evolved to is the human being, who had descended from the same single cell as apes and monkeys have.
b) The theory known as “Fixism”‌ which says every form of living organisms was there from the beginning (man being one of them), denying any type of evolution from one form to another.
What the Qur’an apparently says is that Prophet Adam (PBUH) was created from dark clay and after his body took form, life and divine spirit was breathed into him and the angels were commanded to prostrate before him; all did so except for Satan. These verses suggest that there is no gap between the creation of Adam (PBUH) from clay and the current form humans have, and that people had this form from the start.
Conclusion: Although the Qur’an hasn’t directly engaged in explaining which of the two theories is correct, yet its verses suggest that the second theory is correct (of course regarding the creation of man), although once again, these verses don’t explicitly mention it.
One good reminder before closing is that man was created from two different entities; one being very high and the other very low in value. Man’s material side, which consists of reeking dark clay, is very low, while his spiritual side is very high, because it bears the divine spirit Allah (swt) has granted him.
What is important regarding this subject is that the initial material used to create man is worthless and very low, but Allah (swt) has created such a valuable creature from it than can ascend to the highest levels of nearness to Him.
For further information, refer to:
1- Allamah Tabatabai, Al-Mizan, vol. 4 and 17
2- Tafsir Nemouneh, vol. 11, pg. 82 and on and vol. 23
3- Muhammad Taqi Mesbah, Rahnama Shenasi
4- Muhammad Ali Rezai, Pajooheshi dar I’jaze Elmiye Qur’an, vol. 2, pp. 429-564.
5- Yadollah Sobhai, Khelqate Ensan.
6- Saduq, Ilalul-Sharaye’, vol. 15, chapter 11.
Source: shafaqna.com