Is Zoroastrianism a divine faith?

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Theory: “Zoroastrianism is a divine faith”
Reasons:
1- The essence of the its teachings
2- Quranic approval of its divinity
The essence of the teachings of Zoroastrianism:
a) The core and essence of Zoroastrianism
Considering what the Gathas say[1], the Zoroastrian faith is 100% divine. After doing research on what the Gathas say, most experts in the field of Zoroastrianism concluded that Zoroaster spoke of pure monotheism. Polytheistic myths in Avesta’s teachings appeared in the later Avesta and in the Mani sect.

As a matter of fact, the monotheism Zoroaster propagated was changed by his followers to a polytheistic faith, similar to what happened in Christianity.

We can conclude that the religion of Zoroaster was a divine one at birth, but the current book of Zoroastrians, Avesta, implies polytheism[2]. It is because of this that when we refer to Zoroastrianism, we say it is a distorted faith far from its original teachings.

b) Ideological teachings of Zoroastrianism
God in Zoroastrianism: The Gathas teach that God is one and unique. He is the Creator of the world. A creator who is not affiliated to a certain place, time or tribe. They introduce God as is the absolute knowledge who is the Creator of all phenomena and who is the greatest, merciful, just and powerful. Clearly, such a belief leaves no room for idols or a second hand God[3]. It is interesting that the Gathas see Zoroaster as a Prophet of God and true monotheist bearing, calling Him at the highest levels of monotheism, saying:

“O granter of existence! I humbly have a question to ask you. How is one who is in love with you supposed to worship you? Oh great beloved one! My heart is full of your love, may it be that we are aided by you under in line with correctness and truth and that our hearts are enlightened by your pure light.”[4]

The world in Zoroastrianism: The world is the creation of God and He is its protector and guardian. The world is totally depended on God in a sense that nothing can happen without His will. Ahura Mazda (God) has created the world for ethical purposes[5].

Man in Zoroastrianism: Man has a high status in Zoroastrianism. Unlike Christianity, it believes in the purity and sinlessness of people at birth. Zoroastrianism says that humans have free will and that it is he who has to choose between good or evil[6].

Life after death in Zoroastrianism: Just like in other faiths, it says that the soul of man doesn’t die as a result of physical death. Man will go to heaven or hell based on his actions[7]. In the Gathas, there are teachings that differ from those in Avesta. One of the principles of its teachings which are referred to as “the first Zoroastrianism” is that after death, man crosses the bridge of “Cheenood” meaning selection[8]. It’s a bridge that the sinners cannot pass. The fate of the bad will be hellfire, and the fate of the good will be paradise[9]. Occasionally, the Gathas speak of a world after death[10]. Anyhow, crossing the bridge of “Cheenood” perhaps relates the issue of resurrection in Zoroastrianism.

A contemporary Zoroastrian writer believes that man’s eternity after death is the reward of his good deeds, and also believes resurrection to be one of the fundamentals of Zoroastrianism.

Anyway, the bridge of Cheenood can be a reason to attribute believing in a hereafter to Zoroastrianism.

Quranic approval of Zoroastrianism’s divinity:
The holy Quran calls the followers of Zoroaster the “Majus”[11]. Hadiths from the infallibles introduce the Majus as people with a prophet and book[12]. These traditions tell us that the fundamentals of this religion were altered by Zoroaster’s followers. Therefore, if one wants to make the right conclusion from these hadiths, he will have to say that they assert that Zoroastrianism has undergone alteration, but don’t determine what type.
Related question of this website: Materialistic resurrection according to the People of the Book, Question 1916 (website: 1917).

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[1] The Gathas are a collection of hymns that were written 3500 years ago that have illustrated the right way of life through poetry. See: Jalaluddin Ashtiyani, Zartosht, vol. 6.

[2] See: Din Shenasiye Tatbiqi,pg. 107. Despite this fact, Zoroastrian thinkers try to somehow interpret implicative Zoroastrian teachings with a philosophical and gnostic perspective in order to justify them and prove that their religion is a pure monotheistic one.
[3] Zartosht (Zoroaster), pg. 122; Din Shenasiye Tatbiqi, pp. 107-108.
[4] See: Zartosht, pg. 133.
[5] Din Shenasiye Tatbiqi, pp. 109-110.
[6] Din Shenasiye Tatbiqi, pg. 110.
[7] Ibid, pg. 112.
[8] These teachings have been mentioned in six principles, and this point has been mentioned in the sixth.
[9] Adyan Asiayi, pp. 42-43; quoted by Abdul-Rahim Sulaymani Ardestani, Seyri dar Adyane Zendeye Jahan, pg. 112.
[10] Tarikhe Tamaddun, pg. 246; See: Din Shenasiye Tatbiqi, pg. 112.
[11] Hajj:17 “إِنَّ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا وَ الَّذِینَ هادُوا وَ الصَّابِئِینَ وَ النَّصارى‏ وَ الْمَجُوسَ وَ الَّذِینَ أَشْرَکُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ یَفْصِلُ بَیْنَهُمْ یَوْمَ الْقِیامَةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلى‏ کُلِّ شَیْ‏ءٍ شَهِید”.
[12] Abd Ali Al-Arusi Huwayzi, Nurul-Thaqalain, vol. 3, pg. 475; Hasan Hurr Al-Ameli, Wasa’ilul-Shia, pg. 96; Naser Makarem Shirazi, Tafsir Nemouneh, vol. 14, pg. 46.

What are the reliable sources of religious thought in Islam?

islam

Needless to say religious thought, like other forms of thought, must have reliable sources from which the raw material of its thought originates and upon which it depends. Similarly, the process of reasoning necessary for the solution of mathematical problems must have a series of established mathematical facts and principles.

The single source upon which the divinely revealed religion of Islam depends and upon which it is based, inasmuch as it is based on a revelation of celestial origin is none other than the Holy Quran. It is the Quran which is the definitive treatment of the universal and ever-living prophet hood of the Prophet and it is the content of the Quran that bears the substance of the Islamic call.

Of course the facts that the Quran is alone the source of Islamic religious thought dose not eliminate other sources and origins of correct thinking, as will be explained later.

What is the meaning of being infallible?

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Allamah Tabatabai states: “Infallibility” means the presence of a quality in the infallible person that protects him or her from doing what is not permissible (e.g. sin or error)”.[1] It should be noted that from his viewpoint God’s prophets (and all of the imams and specially guided people) possess the absolute infallibility which covers many instances.[2] According to him, “infallibility” is the result of the infallible person’s knowledge of the consequences of the sin, that is to say that the infallible person’s knowledge and awareness of the sin’s consequences is such that he/she is never conquered and overwhelmed by the rest of the faculties he/she possesses, but has dominance over them.[3]
Concerning “Infallibility”, there is another theory that says: “As a result of the infallible’s high levels of knowledge towards God almighty and owing to their affection for God’s beauty and perfection, they do not allow themselves to take even a step against His will, and their love and affection for the Deity and the perception of His beauty and glory and their awareness of His endless blessings upon them, brings to their soul such humility and modesty that never allows them to even think of sin let alone committing it”.[4]
These two theories both admit that a certain quality develops in the infallible person which constantly drives away disobedience, insubordination and wrongdoing and protects against sin and mistake.
There are two kinds of infallibility; infallibility in knowledge and practical infallibility. The infallibility that the prophets possess comprises both. In other words, both their actions are righteous and according with the truth, and their knowledge is in accordance with reality, originating from a source that accepts no mistake, fault or forgetfulness. That is because one who is infallible has reached a certain level of incorporeal intellect, pure intuition, true vision and spiritual unveiling (In other words, the infallible individual not only knows the truth, he/she sees and witnesses it).

In this stage, all mental and spiritual faculties such as one’s imagination and conjectural faculty follow the mind, and satanic temptations here are helpless. The reason behind such a matter is that ignorance, satanic temptations, false illusions and the like, are all a result of one’s imaginative or illusive faculty in which both are connected to the materialistic world, but such isn’t the case with the mind and intellect.

In the realm of the mind and intellect, Satan is helpless. Therefore, if one is able to surpass the stages of this materialistic world and somehow overcome the abovementioned faculties and reach the origin of all truths and realities, he/she will have become infallible and as a result of his/her strengthened existence, will be equal to the angels or maybe even higher.[5]
Conclusion: The infallible individual is one who is free of any sin, mistake and forgetfulness throughout his/her life when it comes to comprehending, conveying, and carrying out divine revelation (wahy).

Of course, one should note that infallibility is divided into voluntary and involuntary infallibility. The infallible individual is one who voluntarily doesn’t commit sin. At the same time, in order for it to be absolutely and totally obligatory for us to follow their traditions (actions, sayings, and verifications) without any questioning, and to be able to completely depend on them, an infallibility is granted to them by Allah (s.w.t.) which has nothing to do with their own will and choice and is much higher than the infallibility that they have obtained by themselves. Of course, they are granted it because they deserve it as a result of their voluntary efforts in Allah’s way.[6]

For more information, see Index:
1- The concept of infallibility and the possibility of individuals being infallible,
question 249.
2- The mother of Imam Zaman (a.s.) and infallibility, question 178 (site: 1395).

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[1] S. Mohammad Husein Tabatabai, Al-Mizan fi Tafsir-al-Quran, v.2, pg.134 (The infallibility of the imams)
[2] Ibid, v.2, pg. 134-136, v.5, pg. 75-77, Javadi Amoli, Tafsir Mozoo’I Quran Karim, v.3, pg. 197-292.
[3] Ibid, v.5, pg. 78.
[4] Jafar Sobhani, Manshoor-e-Javid, v.5, pg.14.
[5] These points are from Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, Tafsir Mozoo’I Quran Karim, v.3, pg. 199-202.
[6] See: Seyyed Mohsen Kharrazi, Bidayat-ul-Ma’arif, pg. 254.

Is Islam a religion of peace and brotherhood, or a religion of war and violence?

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Salm and Salam are the root words for the “Islam” which mean peace and tranquility.[1] The importance of peace and tranquility has been pointed to in the Quran numerous times.[2] For instance, as a verification of Islam being a religion of peace and tranquility, it says:
“یا ایها الذین آمنوا ادخلوا فی السلم کافة و لا تتبعوا خطوات الشیطان انه لکم عدو مبین” “Oh ye who believe! Enter into peace and tranquility altogether and follow not the footsteps of Satan; for he is to you a clear enemy”[3].
From the Quran’s point of view, endless and universal peace and the tranquility of societies are only reachable under the shadow of faith in God, and what connects different societies with all their differences in language, race, wealth and poverty and geographical locations, can only be the belief in God. The belief of Muslims that during the reign of Imam Mahdi (a.s.) there will be universal peace and social justice, is good evidence for such a claim.
The Quran even says: “But if the enemy shows a tendency to peace, do thou (also) show a tendency to peace…”[4]
Of course, all people are born with freedom of choice; some choose to be oppressors and tyrants, causing corruption, therefore it is necessary for a complete religion to have a solution and specific instructions and guidelines for confronting these obstacles that are preventing the guidance of humanity.
Sometimes, oppression and aggression reaches the point that the only thing left to do is self-defense and the usage of force, and that is why Islam has legislated jihad.
In other words, the Quran teaches us to be tough and aggressive with those who don’t follow logic and purposely prevent the prophet’s words from spreading and don’t allow others to be guided because of their enmity towards the truth. The Quran says: “Oh Prophet! Fight hard against the Unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be harsh with them…”[5]. “The Muslim nation and Muslims must cause fear and intimidation in the hearts of their enemies, so that they don’t even think about invasion, treachery, and harming the Muslims.”[6]
Of course, Islam’s instructions on military alertness and the protection of the country’s borders[7] (which is another form of Islam’s emphasis on keeping peace and friendship and settlement) and its call on jihad for the sake of Allah (which in reality is one of the most important forms of Islamic worship and is the manifestation of true love to God and human fellowship, and is the opposition of corruption and impurity) completely differ from bloodshed, tyranny, panic, war and violence.
Concerning the importance of jihad, Allah (s.w.t.) says: “And do Jihad in (the way of) Allah, (such) a Jihad as is due to him…” [8]
Since jihad hasn’t been legislated for conquest and the expansion of one’s power, one can easily conclude that jihad is a way of freedom and self-defense and not a way of violence. Therefore, if the objectives of jihad are reachable in a peaceful manner, using force and military methods are forbidden. This is also the reason behind why it is wajib to invite the disbelievers to Islam before going to battle with them if a battle ever wants to begin (this shows that what is important for Islam is for the truth to be heard, not fighting and violence, or else, such a thing wouldn’t be wajib).
Therefore, Allah has made jihad wajib for the defeating of tyrants, the freedom of the oppressed and helpless, and in order to get the grounds ready for those who have been kept in ignorance and unawareness regarding divine teachings and how to prosper in this world and the next, to be able to learn about these things and become familiar with them.[9]
Allamah Tabataba’i says in rejection of Islam being pro-war and after violence, and pertaining to the reality and the reasoning behind jihad: “The whole purpose of jihad is the establishment of Islam and for the word of Allah to rise, therefore jihad is a type of worship that needs to be done with the intention of seeking nearness to Allah (because one of the conditions of something being worship is for it to be done with the intention of seeking nearness to Allah). Jihad hasn’t become wajib in order to take over others’ property and households , it has become wajib for the defending of human rights. Originally, defense has limits, while transgression is breaking the limits. Because of this, the end of the verse says: “لا تعتدوا ان الله لا یحب المعتدین[10]; Do not exceed the limits, for verily Allah does not like the transgressors.”[11]
Therefore, not only isn’t true Islam a religion of transgression, dispute, war and violence, but its instructions and rulings (in which one of them is jihad) have all been legislated for the purpose of helping mankind and for spreading peace and security as a result of godly ruling and the rejection of the ruling of taghut (Evil) and fighting against oppression and injustice. In short, jihad is a fair and holy war for reaching high godly goals.[12]
Thus, maintaining peace with enemies and those thinking of kufr, depends on them keeping the respect of the believers and also depends on the believers not losing their strength and might due to keeping peace with them. When sending Malek-al-Ashtar to Egypt to be in charge and run it, Imam Ali (a.s.) says: “If your enemy invites you to a Peace Treaty that will be agreeable to Allah, then never refuse to accept such an offer because peace will bring rest and comfort to your armies, will relieve you of anxieties and worries, and will bring prosperity and affluence to your people. But even after such treaties be very careful of the enemies and do not place too much confidence in their promises because they often resort to peace treaties to deceive and delude you and take advantage of your negligence, carelessness and trust [13].” [14]
On the other hand, the Quran says among believers, peace is the only way, and Islam calls upon brotherhood and reconciliation by asking the believers to have forgiveness, kindness and affection.[15]
Of course, the Quran scolds peace that is a result of fear, weakness and feebleness in which results in retreating from Islamic values and has warned those with weak faith who choose peace in order not to go to jihad and stay away from the hardships that accompany it in the warzone and says: “فلا تهنوا و تدعوا الی السلم و انتم الاعلون و الله معکم” “Be not weary and faint-hearted, crying for peace, when ye are the uppermost: for Allah is with you…” [16]
Therefore, according to what has been said till now, one can easily conclude that true Islam isn’t the main factor behind violence and terror in the world today, and Islam’s logic and teachings will never confirm such a concept. We accept the fact that Islam has been recognized as a complete religion with high godly goals, awakening and guiding Muslim and non-Muslim nations to stand up against oppression and tyranny.[17] It is clear that oppressors and tyrants and those after force, materialistic desires, and treachery especially Istikbar, consider true Islam[18] as the main barrier between them and the accomplishment of their wicked goals and will do anything to poison, abolish and paint a harsh and violent portrait of it and blame it for all the wars, violence and terrorist acts in the world, while they are the true ones who must be blamed, not the Muslims who are merely defending themselves.
Meanwhile, the believers must follow the teachings of the Ahlul-Bayt and show the real face of Islam and strive to neutralize the plots and conspiracies that have been made in order to abolish it, and show the world that true Islam differs from the harsh, violent and illogical terrorist groups out there, who in reality have been established and supported by Istikbar itself.

For more information, see the following sources:
1- Allamah Tabataba’i, Tafsir al-Mizan, v.10.
2- Morteza Motahari, Jihad va Mavarede Mashroo’iyyate an dar Quran.
3- Mohammad Taqi Mesbah Yazdi, Porseshha va Pasokhha Darbareye Nezame Siyasiye Islam (Questions and Answers on the Political Structure of Islam, pg. 226-239.
4- Allameh Tabataba’i, Amoozeshe Din, pg. 259-264.

Also, see the following indexes:
1- Faith and enjoining good and…and Initial Jihad, Question 196.
2- Initial Jihad, Question 113.
3- Religion and Force, Question 293.

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[1] Kitab Al-Ain, v.7, pg.267. Also, see indexes:
– The concept of Islam in verse 19 of surah Ale-Imran, Question 956.
– The Quran and the meaning of Islam and Muslims, Question 829.
[2] Naml: 32-44.
[3] Baqarah: 208.
[4] Anfal: 61.
[5] Tahrim: 9.
[6] Mohammad Taqi Mesbah Yazdi, Porseshha va Pasokhha Darbareye Nezame Siyasiye Islam (Questions and Answers on the Political Structure of Islam), pg. 233.
[7] واعدوا لهم ما استطعتم من قوة … Anfal: 60
[8] Hajj: 78.
[9] ”Ma’refat” Magazine, no. 102, article “Goals and Wind in Islam”, Hamza Ali and Hadifesh.
[10] Baqarah: 190.
[11] Allamah Mohammad Hussein Tabataba’i, Al-Mizan, Al-A’lami Press, Beirut, v.10, pg. 63.
[12] For further information, see: Morteza Motahhari, Jihad va Mavarede Mashroo’iyyate an dar Quran.
[13] Nahjul-Balagha, letter 53.
[14] Hossein Eskandari, Ayehaye Zendegi (The Signs of Life), v.1, pg.300.
[15] Hujurat: 9-10.
[16] Muhammad: 35.
[17] The occurrence of the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the spreading of Imam Khomeini’s high goals and slogans, have played a major role in this issue.
[18] What is meant by Islam here, is the true Islam that Prophet Muhammad brought and invited to, and in other words, the school and teachings of the Ahlul-Bayt, which can never stay calm and quiet regarding the oppression of tyrants.

How does Islam solve the collision between religion and science?

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The collision of science and religion was first set forth after the Middle Ages, when modern sciences first began contradicting the portrait that the church had painted of scientific concepts and the Bible had, according to the church’s interpretation, and as a result, the church was slowly put aside in order for modern sciences to grow.[1] To solve the problem, some said that the language of religion differs from and has nothing to do with the mind and intellect and is above all of them. Individuals such as Kirkegor believe that anything discovered by the mind has nothing to do with religion and faith.[2]

The issue of the collision between religion and science which mainly belonged to Christianity and its look at religion[3], was brought into the teachings of Islam by some who didn’t take into consideration its delicacy in Islamic beliefs.

In order to answer this question, two subjects need to be spoken about; one being religious assertions, and the other being scientific discoveries.

Religious Doctrines and Assertions
Here, a few points must be noted:
1- When referring to Islamic sources (The Quran and tradition), one is required to consider the terms and conditions of a certain ruling (that might be mentioned in other texts and sources, not necessarily in the same text that the ruling has been mentioned in) and cannot be certain about a ruling being absolute and unconditional in the first look without searching for and making sure that there aren’t any context clues or anything else in religious texts that might be of help in reaching the true meaning of a statement and the conditions of a ruling.

In order for this issue to clear up further, we will give a small example from a religious text. In the Quran, honey has been named as a cure for people.[4] Now, if one perceives that honey is a cure for all sicknesses, but on the other hand science proves that it is dangerous for a certain disease, he/she will conclude that here science and religion have collided, while in reality, the Quran hasn’t claimed that honey is a cure for all diseases, all it has said is that it is a cure.

Under this verse, Fakhr Razi mentions this same question and says: “In this verse, Allah (swt) isn’t saying that honey is a cure for all people, all diseases and in any condition, but what He is saying is that in some cases, it is a cure.[5]
This point needs to be considered when dealing with religious assertions, and one mustn’t quickly conclude that an assertion is absolute and unconditional without such an observation.

2- In contrast to theories belonging to some Westerners, Islam has high respect for the mind and logical reasoning to the extent that it has coined the name “Inner Messenger” for it, and considers the worship of the wise individual higher than that of others, and of more virtue.[6]
Because of this, just like how some narrations serve as terms and conditions for other narrations, sometimes intellectual assertions also act as terms and conditions for narrative ones. This fact has been pointed to in the science of Usulul-Fiqh or the science of principles of jurisprudence. For instance, assuming their validity, it has been stated in some traditions that diseases aren’t transmitted from one person to the other.[7] Meanwhile, science has proven that some diseases are in fact transmitted.

Nevertheless, there is no collision here between science and religion. Here, these scientific laws that have been experimented and proven by science and are for sure, work as context clues, meaning that they show that this tradition is talking about diseases that aren’t transmitted, not all diseases.
Therefore, one can say that sometimes there is collision between intellectual religious reasoning and narrative religious reasoning, not between intellect and religion, because we believe that our religion is made up of both intellectual and narrative assertions.

3- Sometimes traditions express the spiritual causes of an event, not the materialistic ones. This can sometimes result in one mixing the two up and concluding that religion and science have collided in that particular issue. (Spiritual causes of an event are prior to materialistic ones, meaning that an event’s spiritual causes must first come, then the materialistic ones in order for it to take place.)
For instance, some traditions state that earthquakes are a result of our sins. On the other hand, science has proven that earthquakes occur because of a series of natural changes that take place in the earth’s crust. It is wrong to believe that these scientific assertions contradict what Islamic traditions are saying regarding the cause of earthquakes. That is because the traditions are expressing the spiritual reasons for such an incident, and that doesn’t violate the fact that in order for an earthquake to take place, it is necessary for some changes to take place in the earth’s crust. So, one must distinguish between material and spiritual causes of different phenomena.

Scientific Discoveries
Some points must be noted:
1- When dealing with scientific subjects, one must distinguish between theories and hypotheses that need proving, and scientific laws that are certain. Before it becoming a scientific law and in other words, one hundred percent proven, a scientific theory cannot be considered as one that is in conflict with any religious doctrine or assertion, because it is still only a theory or hypothesis and there are chances in the future that it will turn out to be an incorrect one. Sometimes, a theory has been proven correct in some instances, but its application in all of the instances that a certain tradition is speaking of is yet to be proven. In such cases, a tradition can’t be considered as one contradicting science. Of course, if such theories that are in contradiction are ever proven, then one needs to find a way to solve the conflict.

2- Another point which needs to be noted about science, is that in epistemology (the study of the philosophy of knowledge), some believe that scientific theories have nothing to do with the physical world and their base is rather the mind and they are merely ideas, but since they benefit us in analyzing and explaining different phenomena that take place in the physical world, they are acceptable. For instance, Darwin’s theory of evolution doesn’t say that man was really born from monkeys, all it says is that if it is assumed that this theory is correct, some of the questions we have on the life of man will be answered. This theory (that says that man can never have absolute knowledge of the physical world), which is well-known in epistemology today, is referred to as “sense perception”.[8] On this basis, some claim that there is no collision between religion and science because what religion says is the truth and actuality, while what science says is merely an idea pertaining to the mind and thought that we make use of in the physical world, being of no reality.

3- Some say that since each of religion and science have two different subjects, there is no collision between the two, because in order for two things to collide, they need to have the same subjects while each relate a rule to the subject which contradicts what the other relates. In this case, one can say that these two have collided, or else, there will no longer be any collision between the two.
Ian Barbour says that analysts usually see science as an instrument, meaning that they know scientific theories as “beneficial” rather than “realistic” and believe that what science does is help us predict and control earthly events, while religion’s main responsibility is to prescribe and legislate a way of life and to help us submit to a series of moral principles.[9]

This viewpoint has some positive points, yet its major problem is that it hasn’t taken into consideration one of the dimensions of religion, which is the fact that in addition to the above mentioned tasks, religion also sometimes expresses laws of nature. It cannot be denied that in all divine books, including the Quran, different natural events such as wind and rain have been spoken of. Therefore, emphasizing on some dimensions of religion while disregarding the others isn’t the correct way of solving the claimed paradox between science and religion. On the contrary, this problem needs to be solved between science and religion in its entirety. True, religion is for expressing one’s submission to God or is there to show us a way of life, but all it has spoken of isn’t limited to this. It has also spoken of this world in a way that sometimes gives the feeling that it is colliding with science, so we have to find an answer.[10]

In the end, one point that needs to be pointed to is that not only isn’t the Quran in collision with science, but scientific miracles can also be found in it. What is meant is that the Quran has pointed to different scientific subjects and facts that science has recently discovered after centuries. For instance, in the 125th verse of surah Ma’idah, concerning those who have gone astray, it has been stated that they are like the one who ascends into the sky and reaches the top layers of the atmosphere and as a result, can no longer breathe correctly and begins to feel pressure on the chest, while till a few centuries ago, scientists believed that air has no weight and pressure. It was in the year 1643 that Evengelisgta Toricelli invented the barometer and discovered atmospheric pressure. So today, after centuries and the scientific discovery of atmospheric pressure on earth and that this pressure corresponds with man’s blood pressure while changing as he goes up into the atmosphere, it has eventually cleared up what is meant by the verse.[11]

Conclusion: Considering what was said till now and the development of science and technology, one can conclude that the certain and concrete assertions of Islam in no way collide with scientific laws which have been proven to be for sure; these scientific phenomena are Allah’s proof and signs that have no conflict with what the Quran or the infallibles have asserted.[12]

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[1] Hadavi Tehrani, Mabaniye Kalamiye Ejtehad (The theological principles of jurisprudence), pg. 313.
[2] Ibid, pg. 315.
[3] Ibid, pg. 315.
[4] “شفاء للناس” Nahl:69
[5] Tafsir Kabir, under the relevant verse, Safinatul-Bihar, vol. 3, pg.483.
[6] Safinatul-Bihar, vol. 3, pg. 541.
[7] Ali Akbar Ghaffari, Talkhis Miqbasul-Hidayah, pg. 48.
[8] Muhsin Javadi and Alireza Amini, Ma’arefe Eslami (Islamic teachings), vol. 2, pg. 40.
[9] Ian Barbour, Science and Religion, pg. 153-155, quoted by Ma’arefe Eslami, vol. 2, pg. 43.
[10] Alireza Amini and Muhsin Javadi, Ma’arefe Eslami, vol. 2, pg. 43.
[11] Muhammad Hadi Ma’refat, ‘Ulume Qur’ani (Quranic Studies), pg. 425.
[12] Obtained from the discussion of science and religion by Ayatullah Javadi Amoli on 12/1/1384 (solar) in his Excellency’s tafsir class.

What is the purpose of creating mankind and the world?

purpose

In order to find the answer to this question, a few things need to be cleared up:
1) Allah’s reason for creating the universe:
Paying attention to some points helps us in finding out what His motives are:
Because of Allah (swt) being of necessary existence and independent in it, He is of no limitation, and possesses all perfection.
2- One of the high virtues that His Excellency possesses is His never-ending grace and generosity. In the holy Quran, Allah (swt) says: “…and the bounty of your Lord is not confined.”[1]. Allah (swt) has no limitations on His behalf when it comes to granting and giving, thus if He ever doesn’t grant anything, that means that the person or object that was supposed to receive from Him wasn’t of the required capacity to receive what His Excellency wished to grant. So it is the one to receive who has limitations, not the one who wants to grant.
3- All goodness and virtues arise from existence (wujud), and all imperfections come from nonexistence (‘adam). For instance, knowledge is something that exists, while ignorance is the lack of knowledge. The same goes for strength and weakness.
4- Taken into consideration the third introduction, one can conclude that God’s grace and generosity manifests in Him creating, therefore being the All-Graceful necessitates creation.
In other words, if something ever deserves to be created yet God refuses to create it, it means that God has refused a good thing, because as was said before, all goodnesses and virtues somehow are related to creation. This means that God is being miserly while it is impossible for God to be miserly. Here we conclude that if anyone asks why Allah (swt) created, the answer is that God’s being the All-Graceful is the main cause.
5- God’s qualities and virtues aren’t things added to His essence (there is an argument about God’s qualities and virtues and if they are part of His essence or not; the Shia say that they are part of His essence, yet not causing multiplicity in it unlike some of the Sunnis [Mu’tazilah] who say that they are part of His essence but cause multiplicity, and unlike other Sunnis [‘Asha’irah] who say that they aren’t part of His essence at all but at the same time these virtues are eternal and pre-existent like Allah Himself), while in other objects, they aren’t part of their essence. For instance, the apple has an essence, and it also has some characteristics such as redness and sweetness. Redness and sweetness are all out of the apple’s essence because it can also be green and sour and still be an apple (have the essence of an apple).
The argument of God’s virtues being part of His essence or not is a deep theistic one which can be read about in the chapter on the oneness of God’s virtues and essence in theistic books.
What is important here is that being All-Graceful, is part of His essence (the more accurate way of putting it is to say that this and other qualities and virtues of God are all exactly His essence, not part of His essence, because it isn’t that God’s essence is made up of different parts in which one of them is His being All-Graceful), not outside of His essence. So if it is asked why God created, the answer is that because God is God. So the true reason for Him creating is Himself.
What is important is that although Allah (swt) doesn’t create in order to fulfill His own needs or to make up for His deficiencies because of His self-sufficience and has no deficiencies and is perfect, but His actions surely have a reason behind them because He is the All-wise and the wise one never does vain acts. The system of creation is a system that follows the high goals of Allah (swt) and no signs of disorder can be found in it.
According to Quranic verses, the creator of all things didn’t create them in vain nor for amusement, His creation is on the basis of the truth, and even the smallest particles in this world follow high goals and none of them have been created in vain.
Of course, one mustn’t forget that the final goal for creating the universe was for man to come into existence and in other words, Allah (swt) created the universe in order to create man because he is the highest of all creatures as his creator is the highest of all creators that the universe has never seen. It has been reported that Allah (swt) has said: “Oh son of Adam (pbuh), I have created everything for you, and have created you for myself.”[2]
2) God’s purpose for creation:
What was said till now was all about creation itself, but regarding the creation of man, one must say that the specific virtue that God wanted to achieve by creating man, is the goal of creating man.
The inevitable result of God being All-Graceful, is to create all possible virtues (meaning that His grace calls for Him to create all virtues that can be created). Before the creation of man, He had created other creatures called the angels who possessed all virtues that was possible for them from the beginning of their creation instead of acquiring them like man. Hence, they aren’t capable of achieving any new virtues and they don’t perfect any further. Allah quotes them saying: “For every one of us there is a determined place and position; And verily, we are all ranged in ranks to carry out Allah’s commands; And verily, we are those who perpetually celebrate Allah’s attributes”.[3]
Now that we have spoken of these two issues, it is time to start the main discussion. No matter what the purpose of creation is, its benefit is for man himself because Allah (swt) is of no need and self-sufficient and it is man who is in true need. Allah (swt) says in the Quran: “O mankind! You are the ones who stand in need of Allah, and Allah He is the All-sufficient, the All-laudable.”[4] Prophet Musa (pbuh) says to Bani-Israel: “Should you be faithless you and everyone on the earth all together [it doesn’t make a difference because] indeed Allah is all-sufficient, all-laudable”.[5]
In the famous sermon known as “the sermon of Hamam”, Imam Ali states regarding this matter: “Allah (swt) created mankind while being in no need of their obedience and servitude towards Him, and (also) being safe from their disobedience because the disobedience of sinners does Him no harm and the obedience of His servants has no benefit for Him (the only reason He has demanded His servants to obey Him and prohibited them from disobedience, is for their own prosperity).[6]
The purpose for creating man has been spoken of in different ways in the Quran. In reality, each of these explanations is pointing to one of the dimensions of the purpose of his creation. Some of those verses are as follows: “I did not create the jinn and the humans except that they may obey Me”[7], “He, who created death and life that He may test you (to see) which of you is better in their deeds”[8], “Had your Lord wished, He would have made mankind one community; but they continue to differ, except those on whom your Lord has mercy and that is why He created them (receiving mercy and reaching perfection as a result)”[9]. As you can see, all of these different assertions are in reality following one goal, and that is the development, perfection and guidance of man. As a result, we can conclude that the main and final goal for creating man is for him to reach perfection and eternal prosperity and the highest virtues and human values, and all of these goals can be accomplished through the obedience and servitude of Allah (swt).
Imam Sadiq (as) says that Imam Husein (as) came before his companions saying: “Allah (swt) has created His servants solely for them to know Him, when they know Him, they worship Him, and when they worship Him, they no longer have any need to worship other than Him.”[10]

———————————————————————–
[1] Isra:20.

[2] یابن آدم خلقت الاشیاء لأجلک و خلقتک لأجلی al-Manhajul-Qawiyy, vol. 5, pg. 516, ‘Ilmul-Yaqin, vol. 1, pg. 381.
[3] Saffat:164 and 166.
[4] یا ایها الناس انتم الفقراء الی الله و الله هو الغنی الحمید (Fatir:15).
[5] و قال موسی ان تکفروا انتم و من فی الارض جمیعاً فإن الله لغنی حمید (Ibrahim:8).
[6] اما بعد ، فإن الله سبحانه و تعالی خلق الخلق حین خلقهم غنیاً عن طاعتهم ، آمناً من معصیتهم ، لأنه لاتضره معصیة من عصاه ، و لاتنفعه طاعة من أطاعه (Nahjul-Balaghah of Faydh, pg. 11, the sermon of Hammam.
[7] و ما خلقت الجن و الانس الا لیعبدون (Dhariyat:56).
[8] الذی خلق الموت و الحیاة لیبلوکم ایکم احسن عملاً (Mulk:2).
[9] و لایزالون مختلفین الا من رحم ربک ولذالک خلقهم (Hud:118-119).
[10] ان الله عزوجل ما خلق العباد الا لیعرفوه، فإذا عرفوه عبدوه، فإذا عبدوه استغنوا بعبادته عن عبادة من سواه (‘Ilalul-Shara’i’ of Saduq, according to what al-Mizan has quoted.

Why aren’t the imams able to protect their shrines from terrorist attacks?

shrine

In addition to Wilayah Tashri’i (the authority to legislate Islamic laws), Allah (swt) has granted the Prophet (pbuh) and the imams (as) Wilayah Takwini (which means that they have the power and authority to make any changes they desire in our material world). Imam Baqir (as) has said: “The Great Name is made up of seventy-three letters, Asef ibn Barkhia possessed one of these letters, and this gave him the power to be able to summon the throne of Bil-Qeys (the ruler and queen of the land of Saba’; this story has been pointed to in the surah of Nahl:38-40) in an instant. We the imams possess seventy-two of these words.”[1]

This noble hadith shows the degree of the power and might of our imams. There is no difference between the life and death of these sacred beings (meaning that they are capable of doing the same things before and after their deaths and their martyrdoms in no way causes them to lose any of their powers). Despite this fact, the imams would live normal lives using their own knowledge and power instead of depending on their extraordinary knowledge and powers. It was only in exceptional conditions and situations and with the permission of Allah (swt) that they would do miracles. These specific cases were cases in which the guidance of the people depended on a miracle taking place.
Just like how Allah (swt), who is the most powerful of all and of never-ending might, doesn’t always make use of His power. Throughout history, there have been various attacks on the Ka’bah by tyrant groups, ending in its partial destruction, yet Allah (swt) has refused to prevent any of them from taking place. The only exception is the raid of Abrahah, in which had made a firm decision to completely destroy the Ka’bah. Allah (swt) miraculously abolished Abrahah so that all would know that Allah (swt) is the Almighty and that if He wishes, He can punish and abolish all of the disbelievers and sinners, yet it is His never-ending grace and kindness that prevents Him from doing so, so that those who are going astray as a result of not knowing the truth and their ignorance have a final chance, losing all excuses that they might claim on the Day of Judgement. This is also the basis of why the prophets and imams (as) go by the normal conditions of life–in order for guidance to be possible for all individuals. Also, there are some cases in which the imams have indeed protected themselves, their followers and shrines using their given powers, and these cases have been recorded in history, but for the same reasons mentioned above, these cases are special cases and aren’t very common.
Respecting the shrines of the imams is the way of prosperity and guidance, and disrespecting them is a way of going astray and loss. One of the traditions and courses of action of Allah (swt) throughout time has been to leave people to their own choice and decisions. Therefore, there is a great contradiction between the imams using their extraordinary powers and knowledge when facing their enemies (which in fact are Allah’s enemies as well) and destroying them in the shortest time possible, and the continuous and never-changing course of action that Allah (swt) has regarding His enemies. If they do so, the goal and purpose of creation which is for man to perfect through passing different tests will not be accomplished.
Unfortunately today, many Muslims are seen who attack other poor and defenseless Muslims. In reality, these individuals have been deceived by the sinister powers in the world, and are making these mistakes in the name of Islam! These groups’ actions remind us of the Khawarij of the battle of Nahrawan, who in the name of obtaining thawab and rewards from Allah (swt), struck Imam Ali (as) on one of the holy nights of the holy month of Ramadhan, martyring him in the masjid of Kufa. They also remind us of the army of Yazid who fought with Imam Husein (as) for Allah’s sake, because they falsely claimed that his Excellency had turned from his grandfather’s religion, just like how the Khawarij considered Imam Ali (as) a kafir. Nevertheless, these kind imams never made use of their powers to destroy their evil enemies.
At closing, this point must be made that although the imams didn’t make use of their powers in destroying their enemies, yet they taught their followers the natural way of confronting and destroying them. In other words, if they had made use of their extraordinary powers, they could no longer be role models for us because we don’t possess the same powers they do. As a result, we would no longer know what our responsibilities were if we were to be in situations similar to the one that Imam Husein (as) was in (while Imam Husein (as) showed us what to do in situations similar to his). This is why they hardly make use of their true abilities anywhere.

[1] Muhammad ibn Ya’qub Kuleini, Usulul-Kafi, vol. 1, pg. 230, hadith 1.

Social Necessities and Obligations

Social Necessities and Obligations

The purpose of “social obligation” is that the condition of human living reaches a level in which he feels the necessity of a matter and accepts that as an “obligation”.

We also know that at the beginning every human is in the way that wants to be completely free and wants to have no restriction, but gradually understands that this freedom deprives him/her from many social life advantages and harms his/her genuine desires; and if he/she doesn’t accept some restrictions called “the Law” then the society in which he/she lives will move to chaos and will be destroyed.

Here, accepts the regulations, principles and laws.

By the advancement of societies, restrictions are being increased day by day and still we accept them as “necessities”.

We express a simple example for this issue:

About traffic laws, when a person has a high speed vehicle wants to go anywhere he/she wants freely, parks in anywhere he/she wants, drives with any speed, passes the crossroads without stopping, but soon he/she understands that if he/she performs these acts then there is no reason also for others not to perform, and the result is chaos and various kinds of dangers.

Therefore, today any child knows that it is not a correct act. Regulations should exit, although it takes hours to reach the destination; penalties and string discipline (but fair and wise) should be available, otherwise everyday hundreds of people lose their lives or their vehicle in this way.

We call this social “necessity” or “obligation”.

But it is important that a “real need” of the society appears in the way that the necessity of its existence could be accepted by everyone or at least thinkers and leaders of the society; and firstly it needs the improvement of social awareness and rationality of people of the society, and then relation with the appearance of unfavorable results of the current conditions of the society and impossibility of continuing the way.

Accordingly, (for example) we see that cries against the pollution of the environment have no results, and nobody listens to accepts the regulations of cleaning the environment; but when people see that for instance, air of a city like Tehran has become so much polluted that continuous illnesses threatens its people, breathing has become hard, eyes are irritated, and according to statisticians each day ten persons become blind, saliva becomes dark, by spending some hours in the city, the signs of skin diseases and gradually the signs of cardiovascular and breath diseases have appeared, here people accept severe regulations and are happy of destroying the factories, which have been build with enormous amounts of money, removing thousands of smoker vehicles and abstaining from many of profitable economical activities which cause air pollution.

By considering this example we return to the main discussion:

Maybe in the 17th and 18th century, people imagined a paradise in the 20th century by observing eye-catcher industrial advancements, they thought that with this fast development of industries there will be a day that:

Underground resources will be discovered one after another;

The hands of science will finally control the power of “atom” which is the most important and the biggest energy resource;

Humans will realize the dream of flying to skies;

By hitting a button, the house will be cleaned, the food will be ready, the clothes and dished will be washed, the rooms will be warm in winters and cool in summers; by hitting a button, the land will be plowed, seeds will be sown and finally equipped machineries will collect, clean and pack the crop and make it ready for being used…

And in that time, the man sits and enjoys this much of peace and comfort!

But they didn’t believe that industrial and mechanical human won’t have more welfare in life, but by the advancement of technology, new disorders and the giant of new problems appear; ifrit of “the World Wars” will dominate the centers of industry by its terrible shadow, and demolish that in a short time in the way that it might not be seen even in dreams!

Now, understands that how much their life has become dangerous!

If in the past they talk about wars in which some thousands of people were died, now the discussion is about the war, which its result is the destruction of human civilization on the earth and returning to the Stone Age!

Gradually, they understand that previous regulations are not enough for keeping the current conditions and great victories in industry and civilization, and should accept new regulations.

Gradually, the time will come that the “existence of a united universal government” will be felt as a “necessity” and “an unavoidable reality” for ending the hard armament competition, for ending the increasing conflicts of big powers and for taking the world away from the chasm of war, that finally this factitious and troublesome borders should be removed and all the people of the world live under one flag and with one law!

The time will come that social rationality will reach a level in the world that people see that the unfair distribution of wealth in its current form – that in one side of the world and even sometimes in one side of the city, there are so much wealthy people whose dogs and cats also have hospitals, physicians and dentists and luxurious bedrooms, but on the other side, people are falling on the ground like yellow leaves of fall because of hunger – will have a terrible future; and without a fair system of distribution of wealth, the world won’t see peace; but wealthy and poor, backward and developed countries both will be in discomfort.

When these issues become a “necessity” because of the appearance of unfavorable reactions of the current conditions and improvement of general rationality then revolution and change will be certain; as it was the same in the past.

Therefore, “social obligation” is another effective factor that moves the people of the world toward a life mixed with peace and justice by its powerful functionality, and places the pillars of a universal government according to a new plan.

It was being discussed that according to evidences, whether the future of the world is peace and justice or destruction and degeneration?

Hitherto, we’ve found clear evidences for the first possibility through four ways, but it may be said against this expression that if it is in this way then there is no sign of going toward such destination in current conditions of the world, but contrarily, the current conditions are more disappointing than promising!

We also accept that the first look confirms this opinion; but more consideration shows that today’s mankind has taken stapes and are also taking toward that great goal and there are signs of self-awareness in his thoughts and life.

Although, these steps are not so much great, and even some of them are not serious, but whatever it is, there are considerable steps for intellectual preparation of the environment.

Some examples of these evidences will be mentioned as follows:

A) Establishing Universal Councils and Adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights
We know that the First and the Second World War, which was similar to bipolar disorder in the world of humanity, left awakening effects against its deadly results.

Following the First World War, “League of Nations” was founded; but after a while the roars of cannons of the Second World War destroyed its remains.

But, that short time experience caused a comparably stronger foundation of a world center and source called “United Nations” to be placed and an interesting charter called “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” to be adopted.

We don’t deny that some of its articles are similar to our famous story of “bell” and “the cat”, and it is not possible to find a person in order to place the bell on the cat’s neck in present conditions; and it is not deniable that this step, with its all deficiencies, is an important step which have been made, and at least all the people of the world believe in this thinking way, although, they limp in execution of that!

Consider well; aren’t the following articles, which are quoted from “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, the same issues which we were searching for in previous discussion?!

Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6: Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7: All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law…

Article 26: Everyone has the right to education … Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms…

Article 29: Everyone has “duties” to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

And finally the last article of this Universal Declaration blocks the way of all exploiters:

Article 30: Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Again, we remind that we are not dupe to believe these beautiful mottoes, which are like a “sweet dream” and has lots of work to become practical, as performed issues in current disordered conditions of the world, or ignore the incapability and weakness of big universal councils in solving lots of problems.

But we should ignore its existence, which is the reason of entering humanity to a new era, like pessimistic people.

We know that in fact, “United Nations” is considered as a “mother organization” and it has branches which one of them is “Security Council”.

The difference of this “child” with that “mother” is that the “mother” doesn’t have executing power and its resolutions are series of official advices to the countries of the world.

Accordingly, sometimes pessimistic people name this universal council “tribune”, “universal speed hall” or “without-government parliament” and like that; but whatever it is, it has this benefit that all countries of the world participate in voting based of “equality”, and its resolutions have considerable spiritual and mental effects on public opinion of the people of the world.

But its child “security council” has enough executing power and capability! And if it wants then it can execute its resolutions, but unfortunately, it doesn’t have enough voting power; because each of the five powers (United States, USSR, China, France and United Kingdom) which are permanent and forever members of the council! can solely nullify any decision by their negative vote and this “veto” right, which is the memento of the age of imperialism on the forehead of this important universal center, usually cripple it in important decisions!

Therefore, one of them has executing power but doesn’t legislate and the other one legislates but doesn’t have the power to execute!

But, by having these problems, this “half-complete center” of United Nations and its achievement, this noisy and few-effective center, if we want to be fair, has been able to perform some works, although small; and regardless of its work, its feature is the reason for a new thinking way to be created in the world which has been started from “semi-serious” and even joking levels and is moving toward more serious levels; because all countries of the world, by having all differences and disagreement of schools and method, feel that they need its existence and consider its nonexistence very bad.

B) Talking about General Disarmament
Although this expression has not gone beyond talking, commissions and bureaucracy yet; and still what is going on outside the commissions of universal disarmament is an evidence for “the advancement of armament competition”, but general acceptance of this opinion by the people of the world shows that a kind of self-awareness has appeared in the universal conscience; and at least all of big and small government are satisfied that they spend a large part of their wealth for destructive scrap metals which has specified the most powerful brains of scientists for their advancement and development, while these “assets” and “brains” are highly needed in “construction issues”; and everyone is scrambling to save himself/herself from this big and dangerous trap, and may the day come when great economical and human assets are being attracted to fundamental issues and the centers of needs and pains.

One of universal centers announced statistics about the costs of keeping military soldiers from each of the big governments, soldiers who are the youngest and the most living members of the society, and in other words, the costs of destroying this great power every year.

And this center expressed large figures like astronomical figures that showed there are also new thinking ways beside these false plans, the thinking way which says this plan is not continual and should be revised.

And this is considered as another great step toward that goal.

C) The Attack of Peace!
In today’s world, everyone is talking about peace, even certain militants! Because hatred of war has become prevalent, and frightening destructions of the World Wars has not been forgotten and never will be!

Although, enthusiasm for peace, still like many of human desires, has not gone beyond a dream, and everywhere is being used as a motto, and even fire-starters of the wars carry it with themselves; but anyhow, this conditions show that a “general thirst” has occurred to everyone for “panacea of peace”, and indeed the people of the world demand that as the main basis for the development of all plans.

Especially, by considering that today’s wars are so much costly that it is possible for a country to move backward tens of years in economy and civilization adding to bearing billions of financial damages and thousands of casualties in only some days in the war.

This public desire should never be underestimated; because sprouts of any change and revolution firstly grow in the depths of minds as a “desire”, an “unsupported demand” or a “pleasant motto”; then converts to a “necessity” and an “unavoidable reality” and gradually changes the pillars of the society.

Armistice of previous wars of Vietnam and the United States has been ignored five hundred thousand times, according to press! But finally, we saw that it reached the serious level and necessity, which had to be realized, had been realized by the victory of Vietnam.

D) The Plan of Islamic Government
[Note: It should be considered that this book has been written before the Islamic Revolution of Iran]

Albeit, undoubtedly the taste of today’s world are not ready for accepting such government; because still in a so-called developed society like United States, the matter of black and white races has not been solved yet and black people suffer from painful discrimination inside this society.

Still, racist government of South Africa is being confirmed by big powers; and the distance of three groups of “backward”, “developing” and “developed” does still exit, and even distances are becoming vaster.

But, however, as we said before, development of these thoughts and their acceptance by many groups of the world, even if standing in a faraway horizon, it is considered a living reason for spiritual, cultural and social preparations for achieving “universal peace and justice”.

Except what we have said before, there are also other signs in the sides of universal congregations, like “common markets” and “great universal unions” and any kind of desire to common life and inclination to unity, which totally show that the world is going toward the destination which we said in a long way; and promising the achievement of such goal.

This plan, which has recently found several adherents and is being discussed in different places, and even some people consider the plan of international language “Esperanto” which is expanding effectively as the introduction of that great plan, is another effective step toward that final goal.

Albeit, undoubtedly the taste of today’s world are not ready for accepting such government; because still in a so-called developed society like United States, the matter of black and white races has not been solved yet and black people suffer from painful discrimination inside this society.

Still, racist government of South Africa is being confirmed by big powers; and the distance of three groups of “backward”, “developing” and “developed” does still exit, and even distances are becoming vaster.

But, however, as we said before, development of these thoughts and their acceptance by many groups of the world, even if standing in a faraway horizon, it is considered a living reason for spiritual, cultural and social preparations for achieving “universal peace and justice”.

Except what we have said before, there are also other signs in the sides of universal congregations, like “common markets” and “great universal unions” and any kind of desire to common life and inclination to unity, which totally show that the world is going toward the destination which we said in a long way; and promising the achievement of such goal.

5) Human Nature and “Peace and Universal Justice”

Any issue is able to be discussed and to be studied in two ways, through “reason and wisdom” and through “feelings and human nature”.

Human nature is the innate intuition, which doesn’t need a reason, it means that the person accepts and believes that without reasoning and proof.

The waves of this kind of innate intuitions are sometimes more powerful and more genuine than judgments of the wisdom, that these are innate natural intuitions and those are acquired knowledge.

This kind of innate intuitions are usually called “instinct” in animals; and instincts have a wide range and important role in animals, and it is possible to say that the main role in their lives is upon these instincts.

Sometimes, the reflection of the instincts is so much surprising that force the human to confess to his inability by having all advanced industrial tools and electronic accurate equipments.

For example, there are lots of animals and insects, which forecast the weather conditions, maybe for one day and sometimes for one month, and even I saw in a magazine that there is a type of grasshopper that forecasts the weather conditions from one year ahead.

And this is certainly wonderful that the human in space age, with all accurate equipment that has invented for the weather forecast, and by having all weather stations in all sensitive points and collecting atmosphere conditions information from these points through communication, and forming “weather plans” and by performing all these costly efforts, can forecast the weather conditions for 6 hours and with ambiguous expressions!:

• Partly cloudy

• Sometimes cloudy

• Possibility of sudden rain shower

• And maybe heavy rain

• And maybe clear and sunny!

But that weather-wise insect, without contacting other insects, forecasts for 6 months, which means in the middle of the summer forecasts the conditions of the winter and prepare itself for that.

Perhaps, the reason for the matter that innate knowledge of the human is limited than other living creatures is that his big share of wisdom covers his deficiencies in all fields; but anyhow, humans also use innate intuition in emergency needs and essential issues of the life and this beam can guide us through the way which we have to go.

Is it possible for innate intuitions to help us in the discussed issues, which are end of the world by war and bloodshed and oppression and injustice, or the domination of peace and justice and security, or not?

The answer to this question is positive; because there are two considerable signs, which can guide us toward the truth:

A) Love of Peace and Justice
Love of Peace and Justice is inside the soul of any person; everyone enjoys peace and justice, and demands a world full of these two all by the heart.

By the existence of all differences among the nations in thinking ways, traditions and rites, affections and interests, desires and schools, everyone strongly interested in these two without an exception, and I assume that no more reason is needed for proving their innateness, as the generality of desires are the reason for their innateness in everywhere.

Is this a false thirst?

Or a real need that innate intuition has helped the wisdom in order to affirm that necessity more? (Attention!)

Isn’t always our thirst the reason for the existence of water in the nature and if water has no existence then is it possible for us to have its affection inside?

We rise, we cry, we shout and demand peace and justice and this is the sign for this desire be finally realized.

Essentially, false human nature has no meaning; because we know that creation and the world of nature is a united thing and is never made of a group of separated and discrete creatures.

All of them are like a great tree which its expanded branches have covered the universe; maybe there are millions of light-years distance between its branches and even the particles of one cluster, but this vast distance is not the reason for their discreteness, but it is one of the characteristics of its greatness and vastness.

In this great unit, each particle is a sign of the whole and each part is related to the other parts, and their reactions are related to each other, any of them are the symmetry of another’s existence and all of them are being fed from one root.

Accordingly, “any genuine and innate affection is the reason for the existence of a love outside and its attraction”.

“A love” which its loved one does only exist in dreams is a “false love”; and there is no false thing available in the world of nature. It is only deviating from the way of creation that replaces a false creature with a genuine reality. (Attention!)

Anyway, human nature explicitly calls that finally peace and justice will cover the world and oppression will be removed, because it is general desire of humans.

B) General Waiting for a Great Peacemaker
Almost every person who study this matter agree that all nations of the world are waiting for a great revolution leader that each of them call him with one name, but all of them agree in his general characteristics and principles of his revolution plans.

Therefore, against the thing which some people may think, the issue of believing the advent of a great savior, for healing the deadly injuries of humanity, is not only among Muslims and is not even exclusive to eastern religions, but available “evidences” show that this is a general and old belief, among all religions of the East and the West, although some religions like Islam has affirmed that more than the others.

And this is another reason for the innateness of this matter.

Here we mention a “completely compact” part of the reflection of this belief among different nations for two purposes:

First, for considering the generality of the issue and second for considering common principles that are available among all of them about the plan of that great peacemaker.

Social Reactions

Social Reactions

It is not only in the discussions of physics that we face a law called “the Law of Reaction” that for instance, if an objects hits a wall with a specific force then it will be moved in the opposite direction with the same force, but we found this law more sensible in social issues. Historical experiences show us that changes and expanded revolutions have always been the direct reaction to the previous pressures; and maybe no expanded revolution has happened in the world unless there was a severe pressure in the opposite direction. In other words, radicalism has always been the source of changes, for example: 1) Scientific Revolution of Europe (renaissance) – which was a reaction against one thousand years of ignorance and backwardness of the Middle Ages, and the pressures which have been made by superstitious custodians of church for keeping people backward, and suddenly they remove the factors of ignorance and fired the torch of science and fluttered the flag of knowledge everywhere. 2) The Great French Revolution in 1789 – which was an extraordinary political and social lunge against autocracy, class imperialism and oppression of governing regimes, and entered the French society and then other European societies to a new era of their history and replace the oppression and autocracy with the government of law, albeit somehow. 3) Revolution against Slavery in 1848 – which first started in England and was the result of extremely harsh and antihuman behavior of slaveholders with slaves that in one side started the fire of revolution in slaves themselves and on the other side in the impassioned feelings of societies for the slaves, and destroyed the slavery system, although another form of slavery which was more mysterious and expanded than that took its place and the school of “imperialism” was founded under the title of “helping the improvement of backward countries”! Slavery system had to be finished anyway, but behavior of slaveholders with slaves speeded up the process. 4) Revolution against Imperialism – that in our time, was the direct reaction to antihuman behavior of imperialists in colonies and still is; and has become the cause of the growth of wisdom in colonized people and started the opposition against imperialistic powers, although mostly was not resulted in complete economical, social, political and intellectual independence, but the conditions become very different from the past. 5) Communist Revolution in 1917 – which was the reaction to the oppressions of capitalists and their uncounted violations of rights of laborious and enchained people. However, as I have said in its place, this revolution was not ended in the freedom of oppressed classes either, and another autocratic system took its place called “Dictatorship of the Proletariat” which was in fact the dictatorship of some few leaders of the party. 6) Revolution against Racial Discrimination – which is currently in progress in the world, is the reaction to severe pressures of whites on blacks and their extraordinary deprivation of social rights. If we turn the pages of the history and go back to the past then we face the examples of the law of reaction everywhere. History of prophets is full of series of changes, which their backgrounds were ready before, because of severe social pressures, and prophets led and grew these revolutions with divine teachings and advanced them in the right way. Not only we find many examples for this law among real events of nations of the world in contemporary and previous history, but also the reflection of this law can clearly be seen in the myths and the legends of the nations. It is mentioned in the story of “Zahhak” and “Kave the Blacksmith” that the snakes; which had appeared on the shoulders of Zahhak had to be fed by human brain and everyday they had to take brains off the skulls and feed the snakes with them in order that they remain peaceful! The truth is that brains should feed the colorful and poisonous snake of “imperialism”; and intellectual imperialism is the root and the base of all imperialisms! Then we see that among these deprived society, which was under the strikes of Zahhak, a blacksmith, who had seen the pressure of fire and his powerful arms had the ability of striking the hammer of revolution, rose and made the flag of revolution out of the same apron which had resisted many times against the sparks of fire, and destroyed the system of Zahhak and the final reaction happened! There is also a discussion in today’s “psychoanalysis” and “psychology” which is another reflection of this law. This discussion tells us: If human desires are not satisfied in a proper way then these repressed desires retreat from the stage of “consciousness” to “unconsciousness” and forms a “complex” in that stage, but according to some other, unconsciousness is nothing except these repressed desires! They don’t stay calm inside the human self and continuously try to express themselves; reactions of these complexes are the very difference in people but it is possible to say that they usually express themselves in one of the following forms: 1) Through making mental disorder and disordering the consciousness 2) Through escaping from the society and isolation and pessimism 3) Through unaware revenge from the society which has made him/her this 4) Through satisfactions in imaginative and imitative forms 5) Through “sublimation” and flying to more superior levels For example, assume that a boy falls in love with a girl and again assume that he couldn’t have married her because of her parents strong disagreement; this firing love will be drove from the consciousness to unconsciousness and not only it won’t be destroyed but it will soon express strong reactions. Maybe it makes him mad; or puts him in isolation forever; or makes him a revengeful and dangerous criminal; or diverts him to poetry and literature, and brings him to his love in the world of poetic dreams. But sometimes, maybe this material love changes to a deep divine love, and disengages himself from other than God and flies like an enlightened pious man of God; albeit, these differences are because of other mental differences and preparations and various spiritual backgrounds of people. Therefore, we see that mental pressures always face the revolutions and strong reactions, which is another feature of the law of reaction. Conclusion: This law tells us that the current condition of the world is ready for a revolution. Pressure of wars, pressure of oppressions and tyrannies, pressure of discriminations and partialities, accompanied by failures and hopelessness of humans from current laws for removing or decreasing these pressures, will finally show its strong reaction. Finally, these repressed human desires form a massive social complex, under the light of advancing knowledge of nations that exits from the inner self of societies and shows itself by a hyper speed movement and disorders the current system of human societies, and make a new plan. A plan in which there is neither the signs of unstopped nuclear competition nor the signs of this much of tiresome conflicts and bloody fights, imperialism, autocracy, oppression, injustice and suffocation. And this is another sparkle of hope for the bright future, which a universal society expects.

Evolution of Societies

Evolution of Societies

There is no doubt that at the first look, evidences show that the world is moving toward a “disaster”; the disaster which is the result of “leaving the affections”, “increment of the distance between rich and poor societies”, “intensification of conflicts between big and small governments”, “fast growth of crimes”, “moral, spiritual and intellectual disorders”, “unfavorable and unpredicted products of mechanical life”, etc.

A disaster which its feature will be described by comparing today’s conditions with the past and is considered as an effective factor for the growth of sprouts of pessimism in the depths of the minds of the most optimistic people.

International known people say:

The amount of atomic bombs stored at the arsenals of big governments is enough for completely demolishing the entire population of the world, not only once but seven times!

They didn’t have built these armaments with those tremendous costs, which can be expressed by astronomical figures, without purpose, they are not plaything, they have been built for a frightening war; and finding an excuse for beginning that war is not a hard task in this world with this much of border conflicts and mutual violation of interests and detonable regions.

Also, we can find enough “feeling of ambition” and “madness of power” in major rulers of today’s world, for beginning such war!

Therefore, it is predictable that in a not so far future “the big disaster” happens and humanity vanishes in a widespread nuclear war, or because of economical poverty as the result of monopolization of the big powers, or the end of energy resources or inhabitability of the environment!

But against this much of elementary factors for pessimism, deeper studies show that bright future is coming:

These dark clouds with frightening thunders will finally disappear.

This pitch-black night will be followed by a bright hopeful dawn.

This coldness of the winter of ignorance, corruption, oppression and injustice will be followed by the glowing spring of justice.

This lethal sadness, this fatal storm and this destructive flood finally ends, and if we see clearly there are signs of the coast of rescue in faraway horizons!

The first logical reason for this matter is the law of evolution of societies:

From the day in which humans have found themselves, didn’t have an invariable life, but they have tried to move themselves and their society forward by the inspiration of inner motive, and maybe unconsciously.

About housing, someday humans were living in caves and now they have built skyscrapers; which can hold the population of a small city by having all living tools and necessary facilities of people of a city!

About clothing, someday humans made their clothes from leaves, but today they have thousands of types of clothes with thousands of designs and forms and still seeking more colors, designs and materials.

Someday the food was so simple and limited, but today it has become so expanded that only mentioning the names of the foods need a big book.

Someday feet were the only vehicle, but today humans get in spacecrafts and move through the skies and visit other planets.

About science and knowledge, someday a piece of paper could include the entire human knowledge, although it has not been invented yet, but today even millions of books cannot express the human knowledge.

That day, discovering the fire and inventing a round object like the “wheel” and a sharp tool like a “dagger” was a great discovery and invention, and he was very happy of passing a river by building a bridge over it when he has put a tree on that, but today heavy industries and astonishing inventions confuse any observer, and complicated system of electronic brains moves him into a world of imagination and dreams.

And it is wonderful that humans are satisfied with none of them and still tries to reach a higher level, a pursuing and unstopped endeavor.

We conclude from the whole discussion that love of perfection is an everlasting fire inside the human soul, and in fact one of great advantages of human; which separates him from animals and other living creatures, which are not progressing for millions of years and seemingly have an invariable life, is this.

And again finely it can be concluded that, this great organization won’t be stopped and still moving humanity in the way of perfections and uses its forces for overcoming problems, disorders and disharmonies of present life.

It takes toward a society in which “moral perfections” and “material perfections” are in company.

Toward a society in which there is no effect of destructive and anti-perfection wars and bloodsheds.

Toward a society in which only “peace and justice” rule the destiny of humans, and in which aggression and imperialism, which are the most important obstacles of his “material and spiritual perfection”, are dead.

Maybe some people say that all previous perfections were in material aspects and there is no reason for evolution to include spiritualities.

But, the answer of this question is clear, because:

Firstly, it is also possible to find lots of principles of spirituality and humanity in previous perfections; for example, there are no few immaterial sciences among human sciences which have advanced greatly toward perfection; and for instance, the belief of primitive humans about “god”, which was in the form of worshiping stones, wood and even idols made of dates, is not comparable with the understanding of a clear-minded God-believing scholar or a spiritual wise man living today about this issue.

Secondly, perfection is perfection in anywhere, and the love; which we find inside our souls about that have no limit and we are searching for that in all aspects and moving toward that.

Furthermore, material and spiritual principles are not separated; and for instance, the spirit of aggression and dominance is as destructive for material life of humans as a powerful atomic bomb! Even the second one won’t be used without the first one!

And from this point, we understand that perfection will be continues in all aspects.

This is the time when the first sparkle of hope for reaching the bright future and the world full of peace and kindness, brotherhood and equality appears under “the law of evolution of societies”.