How to Control our Anger?

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angerNone of us is free from the vice of anger but the true test is that can we control it or not?! As the world around us has become more chaotic and frustrating, anger has also increased. The tiniest of things make us angry…be it on the road, talking to an annoying/irritating person, in the market, at the office and even at home. Let’s look at what Islam has to say about it.

Holy Quran says:… (The believers) are hard against the unbelievers and merciful among themselves… (48:29)

The Messenger of Allah [s] also said in response to  a man’s request for advice: “Do not be angry”. The man repeated the same question and (the Prophet) again said: “Do not be angry,” and continued: “He is not strong and powerful who throws people down but he is strong who withholds himself from anger.”

Imam Ali also said: “Protect yourself from anger for its beginning is insanity and its end is remorse.”

Now the question arises what to do when one gets angry. Let’s look at some traditions and recommendations:

  1. Say ` Aozo Billah-e-Menash Shaitanir Rajim;
  2. Change your position or place when you become angry and excited by sitting if you are standing, standing if you are sitting;
  3. Leave the place for another open place and breath as deeply as possible while raising and lowering the hands slowly;
  4. Do ‘Wazu’ and wash your hands and face;
  5. Drink water and eat a little dried grapes;
  6. If you are angry with any relative, touch your his body. This will pacify your anger;
  7.  Think of the greatness of Allah and His ability to punish criminals and of His patience and forgiveness if they repent and do good;
  8. If you can drive out your anger from yourself through a shout or some tears shed in private, it would be better for you;
  9. Look forward to the reward of Allah and think of the good end that Allah has promised the patient;
  10. Impartially study the problem that has caused you to become angry, and even if the cause isn’t yours, confess your mistake and turn back to your reason.

How to Have concentration in  the Prayer (20 Recommendations)

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The Muslim community in the French  Describing  the faithful persons (Mo’menin ), Allah (st) says in Holy Quran they are those whose hearts are present in  their Salah. Our prophet also says Allah (st) would not accept the prayer of the man whose heart  is not present in his prayer. But how can we have a present heart in our Salah? There are 20 practical points that might be helpful:

  1. Setting the Prayer Scene and Burning Incense

The place you say your Prayer should be special. Every item that can distract you from your Prayer should be taken care of. The room should be the one that you don’t use regularly, and should be neat and clean, a comfortable temperature, and dark. With comfortable temperature, you do not have to worry or entertain thoughts that may distract you when the room is hot or cold. Human skin is filled with thermal receptors that will constantly remind you of any discomfort to your body.

  1. Wudhu as a Way to Increase Your Attention

 Wudhu (formal/minor ablution) is one of the most effective ways to prepare the scene for your daily Prayer. It has powers to re-organize your thoughts before Prayer and assist you in offering your Prayer with confidence and not to be swerved by Satan, The Accursed.

  1. Understanding and Appreciating Allah (SWT)’s Presence

 It is always to your benefit if you were to ponder the Existence of Allah (SWT) and His Power, Signs and Decisions related to this world and the next. Appreciating His presence is one way of bringing humility into your heart and humbling yourself in Prayer, performed with attention and concentration. It is only He Who looks at you Mercifully during your Prayer, and you ought to keep this in mind every time you say your Prayer.

  1. Reminding Yourself Of Allah

One of the reasons why Adhan and Iqamah have been much emphasized before Prayer is to establish a strong link between the worshipper and his Creator, before he ventures into this sacred journey of Prayer and be in direct communication with The Almighty. This way, you start reminding and convincing yourself of the presence of Allah (SWT) before you begin Prayer.

  1. A Relaxed and Alert State of Mind

 An alert state of mind is one of the many vital ingredients of Prayer. If you are tired and exhausted, it is better to rest and do some deep breathing and relaxation exercises before you make the commitment to stand in front of your Lord.

  1. Understanding What You Recite

It is clear that if you don’t strive to learn and appreciate the meanings of the verses and glorification you proclaim in your Prayer, you stand very little chance of developing and maintaining the concentration you need to focus in Prayer. Focusing on the meanings of what you recite would generally keep your mind busy and involved in Prayer.

  1. Proper Pronunciation

Arabic language is considered one of the sweetest of all the languages. So, reciting Prayer with proper Makhaarij (proper pronunciation) and Tajweed (following the rules of the Arabic Language) and learning the rules of reciting The Qur’an, would make your efforts in maintaining attention a lot easier.

  1. Alternating Recitations

Next, you need to alternate recitations by reciting different chapters of The Qur’an, different supplications and different forms of glorification in your Prayer. This is vital because your brain will not become accustomed and habituated to what is being recited daily and switch off attention to something else.

  1. Continued Cleanliness

An important and attractive aspect of Islamic teaching is related to cleanliness. It means to be ritually pure at all times by performing ablution (wudhu) and ghusl (major ablution) whenever necessary.

  1. Seeking Forgiveness and Accepting Limitations

After every Prayer you should seek forgiveness, as this will indirectly increase your attention and concentration during Prayer and bring you nearer to Him. While reciting this invocation, you should sincerely repent to Allah (SWT) that the Prayer you just finished was not up to the required standards and pray to be forgiven for it by The Merciful Lord. Then, you return to Him promising that the next Prayer will be a better one. This process in itself is a motivation to perform better next time you stand before the Almighty. Accepting faults will create in you desire to perform even better.

  1. Stress Management

Of the important cordial disciplines of worship, especially the invoking worship, one is tranquility. The person who prays should perform his worship with quietude of the heart and a tranquility of the mind.

  1. Moderation In Eating

Eating and drinking is also one of those matters with regard to which people go to extremes and, of course, mostly towards excess. No doubt, you need food to live and it is necessary that food should reach the cells of your body to maintain life. However, the important question is how much food your body needs and whether excessive food is good or harmful.

  1. Checking And Inspection

Keep track of the level of your attention and concentration in Prayer. If it is the right level, give thanks; if wrong, ask for forgiveness.

  1. Putting Thoughts in Writing

Unfortunately, in any relaxed state and in particular the Prayer, it is only human to have numerous creative thoughts, as well as recollections of things you forgot or need to do. These thoughts may haunt your continued meditation if you don’t write them down.

  1. Removing Obstacles

Also, before the Prayer, all obstacles in attaining heart’s presence must be removed. As such, you should relieve yourself before starting Prayer, and you should satisfy your hunger or thirst as well. Also, since over-eating creates a lack of attention and concentration, you should observe moderation if you have to eat before Prayer.

  1. Grief-Stricken, Submission and Sadness

No doubt, sadness brings to your soul many benefits, one of which is a revolution of the soul. It is the time when you are sad and grief-stricken, that you are able to fully organize and empower yourself to be most attentive in Prayer. It is widely accepted that a sad mind is more attuned towards an objective (Allah (SWT), in this case) and more capable of maintaining a high level of attention and concentration.

  1. Patience, Accepting Fault, and Addressing The Problem To Allah (SWT)

You should be patient with your practice of attention. You do not perform masterfully the first time in any given circumstance. It is the continued practice of meditation, relaxation and attention that reaps benefits. You should not expect specific benefits in a short period of time. Invoking Allah (SWT) and addressing your problem of inattention is a good practice, as He would definitely assist you in this matter.

  1. Arresting Thoughts

Because any individual’s mind is filled with thoughts at all times, he is supposed to arrest them, and put a stop on them during Prayer. When a thought comes, a command stop is used subconsciously to arrest and halt that thought and the person does not dwell on it. If this strategy is used on all incoming thoughts, then one will assume command and control over his incoming thoughts during Prayer.

  1. Remembrance Of Death

Great Scholars have advised you to keep busy reminding yourself of death as a way to fear Allah (SWT) and maintain vigilance in your daily Prayer and communication with Allah (SWT). The idea is to develop piety and fear in you and to convince your soul the importance of Prayer.

  1. Fixing Your Gaze

The Prophet (S) has said: “While a person is in the standing position during Prayer, he must be looking down fixing his gaze to the point where he places his forehead while in prostration; while in Ruku’ (bending position) the gaze should be between his two feet; while in Qunoot (when he raises his hands reciting the invocation) he should fix the gaze on the palms of his hands, placing them in front of his face; during Sajdah (prostration) his eyes looking at his nose; and while in the final sitting position the gaze to be towards his armpits.”

 

 

 

 

How to Read Holy Quran?

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LearningReadingQuranThe Holy Quran is a book containing the words of Allah (swt). It should be treated with the respect it deserves. This respect should also extend to any book, such as this manual, wherein there are verses of the Holy Quran.

  1. The words of the Holy Quran should only be touched after doing Wudhu. Allah (swt) says: “None should touch it except the purified.” (al-Waqi’ah, 56:79)
  1. However, you may recite the words at any time, even without Wudhu. Allah (swt) says: “Those who remember Allah (swt) (recite Quran), standing, sitting and reclining, and think and wonder about the creation of the heavens and the earth…” (Ali Imran, 3:191)
  1. Always begin the recitation with Ta’awwudh. Allah (swt) says: “When you recite the Quran, seek refuge in Allah (swt) from Shaitan, the accursed.” (an-Nahl, 16:98) Ta’awwudh means to recite, “A’udhu Billahi minash Shaytaanir Rajeem“, which means “I seek refuge in Allah (swt) from Shaitan the accursed.
  1. After Ta’awwudh, recite “Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim“, which means, “I begin in the name of Allah (swt), the Beneficent, the Merciful”.
  1. Even if you know the verses by heart, it is better to recite while looking at the words, as this increases the rewards many times.
  1. It is Sunnat to recite the Holy Quran with your head covered and while facing the Qiblah.
  1. While reciting the Holy Qur’an, we should think as if Allah (swt) is directly addressing Himself to us. But it should not be so for memorizing it or quoting it in our speeches to arouse passion.
  1. We should recite the Holy Qur’an in a way as it ought to be recited that is with clear pronunciation of words, in distinct manner, in good voice, with proper care of pauses and not in a hurriedly and unintelligible manner. As the Holy Qur’an says: “Recite the Qur’an distinctly.” (Surah Muzzammil, 73: 4) 
  1. After reciting the Holy Qur’an one should ponder over the meaning also as the Holy Qur’an has objected to those who recite it as a formality just by hurriedly moving their lips without knowing the meaning. The Holy Qur’an says: “Do they not ponder over the Qur’an?” (Surah an-Nisa, 4:82)
  1. While reciting the Holy Qur’an, we should bear in mind the narrations of our infallible Imams about relevant verses of the Holy Qur’an as well as the background of the revelation of those particular verses as to the specific occasions so that we are not distracted from its true meaning and we do not deviate from our basic faith. We should not derive the incorrect meaning of the verse howsoever conservative or progressive it may be in outlook .
  1. When the Quran is being recited, listen attentively and do not eat or talk. Allah (swt) says: “And when the Quran is recited, listen to it with (full) attention, so that you may be blessed with mercy.” (al-A’raf, 7:204)
  1. Do not leave the Holy Quran open and unattended or in a place where it may be disrespected. Recite from it regularly and do not leave it unread on the shelf. Allah (swt) says: “And the Prophet (s.a.w.) shall say, “O my Lord! Verily my people abandoned this Quran.” (al-Furqan, 25:30)
  1. Worn-out pages of the Holy Quran or paper with verses of the Holy Quran must not be thrown in the bin. Instead they should be recycled or buried.

What is the philosophy behind Hijab in Islam?

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hijabOne of the obligations in Islam is Hijab; Hijab in Arabic dictionaries is defined as “covering”, and the reason that this word is used in Islamic ruling, is because in Islam man and women are ordered to have Hijab, but of course for the reasons that will be mentioned soon, this covering by the woman is wider than that of man.

The women in Islam are ordered to have Hijab from the men who are not among their Maharim like their fathers, brothers, uncles etc. and about the amount of this covering; it must cover their bodies except their faces and their hands till their wrists.

A question arises here, why women are ordered to observe this rule?

Some reasons and let’s say philosophies are mentioned in this regard, like:

1) Keeping the balance of tranquility in the society.

It has been proved in psychology that man can be turned on (in sexual appeals) by looking, and woman through touching.

A woman by observing Hijab, keeps herself safe from the impure looks by the impure men, but the women are not like men, for this reason, observing Hijab for men, is not that much important. For reaching to the tranquility, Islam has ordered both men and women; Islam has ordered men to ovoid from looking at the women and on the other side has ordered women to cover themselves from the men.

2) The second philosophy of Hijab is to keep the families safe from being collapsed, because if the women do not cover themselves in the public eyes or come out from their houses with make-up, it makes the men of the society to be attracted to them and after a while makes the men reluctant to their spouses and it may little by little lead to the divorce of different families.

3) The third philosophy can be that Hijab prevents the society members from committing adultery and corruption, because the man is like that if he gets turned on sexually, he might be stuck mentally in the sexual imaginations and after a while pushes him to have illegal intercourse with that women or other women and this very obscene sin, will be committed, the sin that is one of the greatest sins and disobediences of the All- Mighty Allah. And the society can be full of illegitimate babies that in a lot of these cases, the fathers of these babies do not care about them and leave their responsibilities toward them and a lot of these babies will be exposed to different dangers when they get older, and that is an important matter that is common in the west.

3) The other philosophy of Hijab can be that it prevents women from being considered as a tool for just sexual matters; you can see that when a woman has Hijab, what a greatness and majesty, it gives to her. But you see in the west that the women with no Hijab are used for advertisements of the little things like the toothbrush and other things.

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Source:

Akhlagh.porsemani.ir

 

How to Be More Generous?

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generosity01Generosity is one of the ethics of the Prophets, a pillar of faith and a ray of the light of firm faith. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w) has said: “The ‘auliya’ (friends) of Allah are, essentially and inherently, generous.” Hence, in order to acquire this attribute, a Mu’min should endeavor hard to be munificent and generous towards relatives, deserving ones and the like, for the pleasure of Allah.

It is better that a person’s generosity be associated with a thing that is dear to him – eatables, clothes, money etc. – and that no obligation is placed upon the person towards whom generosity has been exhibited; man should only view himself as a trustworthy person, whose responsibility is to pass on Allah’s things to deserving and needy individuals.

As such, he should stay away from frugality and refrain from withholding the Divine trusts; this is because it is not known whether or not they would yield any benefit, if given after his death, and whether or not his inheritors would expend them in a correct and appropriate manner?

In the following you can see some simple acts which help you cultivate this characteristics in your personality:

  1. Give from the heart. If you truly want to be generous, then you have to give just because you want to give, not because you have ulterior motives and want something in return. You should give simply because you want to give, because you’ve found something you believe in, and because you want to do good in the world. If you’re only giving to impress other people or to ingratiate yourself with someone in some way, then you’re not really being generous.
  1. Know that being generous will make you happier. Though you shouldn’t be generous for the sake of furthering your own needs, you should know that people who are generous are known to be happier than those who are not: Being generous helps people feel more compassionate towards others, gives a stronger sense of community, and to establishes a higher self-image. While you are being generous towards others, you can also be generous toward yourself as well.
  1. Notice what would make someone’s life easier. Whether you’re interacting with your neighbors or your best friend, take a look at the person you’re talking to and see how you’ll be able to help that person out. Maybe your coworker is really stressed and needs someone to look after her dog while she’s visiting her sick mother in a different town. Maybe your best friend’s car broke down and she needs a ride to school. Maybe your mother is overworked and doesn’t even realize how much help she needs until you give it. When you talk to someone, start wondering about how you could help them instead of always thinking about how they can help you.
  1. Give your time to a friend. If your friend is down and needs some company, then you should be generous with your time and should hang out with that person. Make room in your schedule to spend time with that person, whether you’re taking a walk, going to the movies, or having a long talk over a cup of tea. No matter how busy you are, there should always be room in your life for hanging out with friends.
  1. Give to a cause you believe in. You don’t have to make a fortune to donate money to a reputable charity. Even if you’re only giving ten dollars a month, you’ll be doing good in the world and will feel good about yourself. You should give this amount right when you get your paycheck, instead of at the end of the month, when you see how much money you have left. You’ll be surprised by how little you’ll miss this money. Even putting some loose change in a tip jar can be a generous act.
  1. Volunteer. Volunteering your time is a great way to be generous. If you want to be generous, then spend at least an hour or two a week volunteering at a soup kitchen, tutoring adults or children, cleaning up a community park, or doing some other good out there in the world. You can do different tasks, such as volunteering in a bookstore, or helping at a fundraising campaign for charity. Find something that gives you meaning while expanding your generosity.
  1. Share your things. If you’re with friends, share your food, your clothes, your car, your home, or any of the things that mean something to you. If you’re just sharing something you don’t care about, then it’s not as meaningful. If you have just two delicious chocolates left and give one to a friend, that means more than giving your friend one of a hundred candy bars you don’t care about.
  1. Give away something you love. Give your favorite sweater to your little sister. Give your favorite novel to a friend. Give a beautiful notebook to a friend and encourage her to start writing poetry. Giving away something you don’t care about isn’t really generous because you’re not making a sacrifice. But giving away something that means something to you, which you know will do good for others, is the height of generosity.
  1. Call a friend who’s having a hard time. If you can’t be there in person, give your friend a call to check in, to say hi, and to show that you care. If you can just spare a few minutes to show that person that you’re thinking of him or her and to be kind and sincere, then you’ll be making that person’s day better, even if he or she is still struggling. Spending time trying to cheer up a person who is in need over the phone is very generous.
  1. Donate your stuff. Don’t just let those old sweaters or clothes sit in your closet for years. Take the time to sort through them and to donate them to charity so that someone else can find a good use for them. It won’t take long to sort through them or to drive them down to where they need to go, and you’ll feel good just thinking about someone else finding a better use for your clothes.

How to Cure Backbiting?

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cure-backbitingThe Messenger of Allah (S) explains Ghiba  in the following words, “Ghiba  is remembering your brother in a way he dislikes.” (Makasib Muhrima)
Imam Sadiq (AS) says, “Ghiba  is exposing that aspect of your brother which Allah had concealed.” (Makasib, al-Kāfi Vol. 2 page 358)
Imam Mūsa Ibn Ja’far (AS) says, “If one speaks of a person in his absence about those of his traits which are actually present in him and people are also aware of it, it is not Ghiība. But if he mentions something which is present in the person but people are unaware of it, it would be Ghiība. Moreover if what he says is not present in the man, it is allegation (Bukhtān).”

If someone, God forbid, has been guilty of this ugly act, he or she must purge this vice and nourish the roots of sincerity, unity, and solidarity in his or her heart by following these steps:

  1. Meditate for a while about the effects of this sin in this world and in the Hereafter. Reflect on the fearsome, frightful forms that will beset you in the grave, in the Barzakh, and on the Day of Resurrection. Heed the words of the Holy Prophet (s) and his household (‘a) for their pearls of wisdom in this regard will overwhelm you. Then weigh a quarter of an hour’s pleasantries, gossip, and satisfaction of the imaginative lust against thousands upon thousands of years of adversity or eternal damnation in hell and everlasting painful chastisement!
  2. Consider this: even if you have enmity toward a person whom you backbite, that animosity requires that you should not resort to backbiting. It is stated in the traditions that the good deeds of the backbiter are transferred to the book of deeds of the victim of his backbiting, and the victim’s sins are transferred to the record of the backbiter.
  3. Repent and seek the forgiveness of the victim, if this is possible without any chance of vicious consequences; otherwise, you must implore God’s mercy for the victim.
  4. Gather all your strength to rid your soul of this sin at all cost, by making a covenant with yourself to abstain from this abominable for a certain time. Bring your tongue under control and be fully watchful of yourself, steadfastly vigilant, calling yourself to account. God willing, it is hoped that after some time you will find yourself reformed and free of its ill traces. Gradually the burden of the task will ease, and you will feel a natural disposition to dislike and detest it. At that point, you will come to possess spiritual peace and delight in achieving freedom from this vice.
  5. Backbiting often results from a weakness in the backbiter’s own soul, such as an inferiority complex. You should pry into your soul to discover what weakness prompted you to backbite your brother or sister; then set out to remedy the weakness.

What is the philosophy behind the prohibition of drinking wine in Islam?

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drink-wineIn Islam drinking wine even a single drop of it is forbidden.

It is appropriate to mention at the beginning a verse from the holy Quran, Allah said in chapter Bagharah verse 219:

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا

“They ask you about intoxicating drink and gambling. Say: ‘there is great sin in both, although they have some benefit for people; but their sin is far greater than their benefit”.

Or in the verses 90-91 from chapter Al-Maaidah, Allah said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالأَنصَابُ وَالأَزْلاَمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاء فِي الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللّهِ وَعَنِ الصَّلاَةِ فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّنتَهُونَ

“Believers, wine and gambling, idols and divining arrows are abominations from the work of Satan. Avoid them, in order that you prosper,

Satan seeks to stir up enmity and hatred among you by means of wine and gambling, and to bar you from the remembrance of Allah and from praying. Will you not abstain from them?”

It can be understood from the above verse that it prevents the people from the remembrance of Allah and it is a cause for negligence and omission.

The harms of this liquid are so much and they have been proved by the recent scientific discoveries, and we can divide the harms of that into two categories:

1) The short period harms, likes: insomnia, increasing the heartbeat, the feeling of vomiting, the feeling of vertigo, the feeling of tiredness, the increasing of lust, losing the control of senses to the extent that he/she may do harms to others or say very bad things, losing the power of distinguishing etc.

2) The long period harms or the harms that will happen in the future, like: losing the power of memory, cancer of chest, cancer of larynx, harming to the liver and brain, reluctance in the sexual appeals, changing the personality, anemia, skin problems etc.

There are a lot of other harms mentioned in the medical websites that we do not mention them here.

All of these mentioned harms are physical, but let me talk a little about the spiritual consequences of drinking wine.

It removes the light of faith from the inside of the drinker.

It is mentioned in the Islamic Narrations that the prayer of the drinker of wine is not going to be accepted for forty days, of course it does not mean that such a person must leave performing prayer, because his/her prayer is valid but there is a difference between the validity of a kind of worship and being accepted. And his/her Islamic duty is to perform prayer.

As the last point it must be said that the drinker of wine must not get disappointed from the wide mercy of Allah, so he/she must repent and return to Him.

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Source:

Porseman.org

 

 

 

What is the philosophy behind the prohibition of Adultery in Islam?

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adultryCommitting adultery is one of the great sins in Islam.

The evilness of this very shameful sin is accepted in almost every religion, nation and group.

The holy Quran says about adultery in chapter Isra verse 32:

وَلاَ تَقْرَبُواْ الزِّنَى إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاء سَبِيلًا

“Do not draw near to fornication, for it is an indecency, and its way is evil”.

some points can be taken from this verse, the verse does not say, just do not commit this sin, but rather it says: do not also get near to it, and getting near to this sin can be done through its preliminaries like, looking at the scenes that are unlawful and make the sexual appeal to be turned on, or looking at the opposite sex with pleasure, or looking at the sexual movies or pictures or being alone with the opposite sex in a private place, or even some hardships which are created by the parents at the time of the marriage of their children can be a kind of the preliminaries of adultery.

Another point from this verse is that it is a bad path that can lead to other sins, for example the one who commits this sin, he/she usually wants to do this sin again and again with different persons and a lot of times for obtaining the situation of this sin,  might do dangerous acts, like attacking houses of people or even killing someone or if he/she cannot reach to that wanted person, he/she might commit suicide etc.

The bad consequences of adultery are so much, like the cutting of the generations, collapsing the foundation of the family, removing the purity and  Hayaa(modesty), being a cause for different illnesses and a way for transferring them like H.I.V, making the illegitimate children that in a lot of cases, they do not grow in a good upbringing, and in a lot of cases their  parents especially fathers leave their responsibilities towards them, the indefiniteness of the father of a child, creating the enmity and hatred among people etc.

At the end we mention a Narration from Imam Ali peace be upon him who has narrated it from the Prophet of Islam that he said:

“There are six bad consequences in the adultery,  three of them are in this world and three of them are in the hereafter, the three consequences of adultery in this world are these: it takes away the (spiritual) light of face, it cuts the aliment and sustenance, and it enhances the destruction of the human, and the three which are in the hereafter are these: it is a cause for the wrath of Allah and it is a cause for the hardship of the calculation( of the deeds on the day of judgment) and it is a cause for entering or immortality in the hellfire.”

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Source:

Hoghogh.porsemani.ir

 

What is the philosophy behind sending “Salavat” or peace and Mercy on the Prophet of Islam and his immaculate family?

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اللهم-صل-علی-محمد-و-آل-محمدOne of the very much recommended acts in Islam is sending “Salavat” or sending peace and mercy on the Prophet of Islam and his immaculate progeny.

Sending Salavat, means to say:

اللهم صل علی محمد و ال محمد””

Or something similar to these words, which mean:

O’ Allah, send peace and mercy on Prophet Mohammed and the progeny of Prophet Mohamed.

Allah said in the holy Quran chapter Ahzab verse 56:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا

“Allah and his angels praise and venerate the prophet. Believers, praise and venerate him and pronounce peace upon him in abundance”.

So from this verse we understand that Salavat is an act that is done by Allah and His angels, and we are ordered to do so.

Of course the meanings of Salavat of Allah and our Salavat are different, the first one, means that Allah sends peace and mercy, but in our Salavat, the meaning is that we ask from Allah to send peace and mercy.

At first let’s mention a question that may be posed by some people, and that is:

Do the holy Prophet of Islam and his infallible household really need our Salavat?

We answer: everyone except Allah, in not perfect to the extent that there is not any more elevation possible for him/her, of course they do not need our Salavat, but they need the mercy of Allah.

There are a lot of philosophies and benefits which are mentioned for sending Salavat in the Narrations, and we mention some of them here:

At the beginning we divide the benefits and consequences of Salavat in two major branches,

First: the benefits that happen in this world.

Second: the benefits that happens after death in the realm of Barzakh( the world after death and before hereafter) and the day of judgment.

1) The benefits that appears in this world.

-it is a cause for our Doa and wishes to be fulfilled. There is a Narration that says:

Every one that has a need, when he/she wants to ask from Allah for that need, he/she is better to send a Salavat at the beginning and then ask his/her need and then send a Salavat at the end, because Allah is more generous to accept two Doas at two sides and does not accept and fulfill a Doa and need in between, because Salavat definitely is an accepted Doa.

When we see the supplications and Doa of our infallibles, we see that there is a deep relation between the Salavat and fulfilling our Doa and needs and wishes. In a lot of Doa there is at least one Salavat at the beginning of Doa or at the middle or at the end.

-Allah asks us to bring an intercessor to Him; He said in chapter Maedah verse 35:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَابْتَغُواْ إِلَيهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ

“Believers, have fear of Allah and seek the means by which you come to him”.

And one of the intercessors to Allah is the holy Prophet of Islam and his immaculate progeny.

-The next benefit of Salavat is that through sending Salavat, we can be included in the Doa of the angels.

The holy Prophet of Islam narrated from Allah in a divine Narration that Allah said (to the holy Prophet of Islam):

“If a servant sends Salavat on you, seventy thousand angels send Salavat on that servant and the one on whom, seventy thousand angels send Salavt, he/she will be among the inhabitants of Paradise.”

-Another benefit of sending Salavt is that it is a cause for removing hypocrisy, stinginess and sorrow.

In sending Salavat, there are other benefits like, obtaining blessing, wealth, being rich and out of need, etc.

By sending Salavat, our gatherings get spiritually pure and luminous.

2) The second kind of consequences and benefits of sending Salavat, is the consequences that are related to the worlds after death, like:

-The nearness to the holy Prophet of Islam on the Day of Judgment and being included in the Shafa’ah and intercession of the Prophet of Islam.

-It is a cause for compensation of the sins and a means for getting escaped form the punishments in the grave and the fire of Hell.

-It is a way for the heaviness of the balance of our deeds on the Day of Judgment.

It is narrated form Imam Sadiq peace be upon him that he said:

“The heaviest thing that is put in the balance of deeds on the Day of Judgment is sending Salavat on the holy Prophet of Islam and his progeny.”

Of course there are a lot of other benefits for sending Salavat that we do not mention them, and for more information you can refer to the books of Narrations and Hadith.

It is interesting to mention at the end, that some of the Islamic scholars in the field of morality, when they are asked about a way for fulfilling the important needs and wishes, they recommend holding ceremonies in which the Muslims gather in a place and they send Salavat for example every one 1000 Salavts ( with Ikhlas and sincerity and with the consideration to its meaning) and they give it as the gift to the Prophet of Islam and the 12 Imams and Lady Fatimah peace be upon them all, and it is something that a lot of Muslims have found it so effective.

 

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Sources:

Salavaat.com

Maaref.porsemani.ir

How to Start Wearing Hijab?

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ZibaImam Jafar Sadiq says: Modesty is the symbol of faith and whoever has no modesty, has no religion.

One of the modesty’s manifestation is our style of clothing and the way we cover our body which is called “Hijab” in Islam . Hijab is not limited just to women however they are recommended more to observe it.

To observe proper Hijab for a woman is to dress modestly and appropriately covering all parts of body except face and hands without showing her figure or curves and without using any sort of make-up.

Hijab is one of the righteous deeds and it is a sign of honor and equality with men and stands as a shield of protection against evil man. Maybe those who converted to Islam would like to know how they can wear Hijab. There are some practical points:

  1. Check out the requirements for Hijab on the Internet, or in Muslim magazines. Many Muslim women have put up tutorials for Hijab styles, but be aware that a basic requirement of Hijab is not to draw attention. You’ll learn what Hijab styles and products are available when you go looking, and learn what to do with Hijabs that require tying, folding, wrapping or pinning.
  1. Choose your Hijab. Go to a store that sells with Muslim clothing and look at their Hijab selection. Some Hijabs consist of a single piece of fabric that may be square, oblong, or triangular. These are often wrapped and pinned or tied to hold them in place. Others consist of tubes of fabric that slip over the head, and these come in one-piece and two-piece styles. The tube style is often easier for beginners, as they don’t require pinning. Find a Hijab that matches your outfit, or in a neutral color. Avoid wearing excessively bold colors and designs that stand out. Hijabs made of natural fibers like silk, or cotton are often more comfortable, as these fabrics “breathe.”
  1. Start to wear your Hijab when you are ready. If you aren’t quite ready to wear Hijab, you might confuse or offend other Muslims if you wear it inconsistently. So it is best if you begin wearing Hijab when you feel ready for a commitment to wear it consistently, but above all wear it for the sake of Allah.
  2. Don’t feel confined. Don’t think that if you wear Hijab, people will look down on you. Your friends will still be your friends. If anybody asks you on your decision on wearing a Hijab, tell them that you want to become a good Muslim. They actually will start to respect you for what you have done. If they start to comment and criticize your decision to wear Hijab, you may have to decide whether you think your relationship can tolerate the difference, or if you need to keep your distance to avoid further conflict. Moreover, you can become a good representative of all Muslims. Show that Muslims care for their image. Some Muslim women choose to take the additional step of covering their face as part of their Hijab.
  1. Wear what you like when you are in an all-ladies party. Freedom rules when you attend one! Just be absolutely certain that there are no men in the room; put a sign on the door if needed.