The Birth of Our Master
Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, the leader of the Hanbali sect says, "The caliphate was not an ornament for Ali, but rather he was the ornament of the caliphate."
A Letter from a Father to a Son
From: A father who is getting old To: A son who is subject to passage of time ... O My son! Subjugate your nature with the vision of death; make it see the mortality of life and of all that it holds dear. Force it to realize the actuality of misfortunes [...]
A Letter from a Father to a Son
From: A father who is getting old To: A son who is subject to passage of time ... O My son! Subjugate your nature with the vision of death; make it see the mortality of life and of all that it holds dear. Force it to realize the actuality of misfortunes [...]
A Fascinating Role Model
The life of Amir al-Mu’menin (PBUH) is so appealing that it brings about feelings of either utmost infatuation or utmost envy in both friend and foe. The Prophet of Allah (PBUH&HP) has said regarding Ali, “Two groups, regarding you, will be annihilated: extremist friends and extremist foes.”1 Ali’s foes have gone [...]
A Different Motivation
Amir al-Muminin (PBUH) began his economic activities from point zero. It was so extreme that he didn’t have enough to eat in the first few years of the Hijrah. But holding steadfastly to the power of faith, thought and effort, Amir al-Muminin (PBUH) attained great successes in a somewhat short period, [...]
A Different Motivation
Amir al-Muminin (PBUH) began his economic activities from point zero. It was so extreme that he didn’t have enough to eat in the first few years of the Hijrah. But holding steadfastly to the power of faith, thought and effort, Amir al-Muminin (PBUH) attained great successes in a somewhat short period, [...]
Ladder to Proximity
One of the foundational teachings of all prophets has been to worship Allah (SWT), to the extent that none of their teachings were void of an act of worship. However, people’s perception of worship are not necessarily the same. Some view it as a kind of transaction, compensation, and exchange of [...]
A Mysterious Attraction
The words and logic of Imam Ali’s (PBUH) Nahj al-Balaghah, like its main source the Holy Quran, remains fresh and vibrant for the current world despite the passage of various political and moral ideologies. One thing that has been widely discussed among those studying the Nahjul Balagha – including Shia, Sunni, [...]
A Mysterious Attraction
The words and logic of Imam Ali’s (PBUH) Nahj al-Balaghah, like its main source the Holy Quran, remains fresh and vibrant for the current world despite the passage of various political and moral ideologies. One thing that has been widely discussed among those studying the Nahjul Balagha – including Shia, Sunni, [...]
The Gate to the City of Knowledge (1)
One day a group of Jewish scholars went to the second Caliph, Umar ibn Khattab, and said,” O Umar! You are the Caliph after Muhammad. We have a few questions for you. If you can answer them, it reveals that the religion of Islam is true and that Muhammad was a [...]
The Spirit of Justice in Practice
The person who is familiar with Islamic teachings and the records of Imam Ali (PBUH) knows how he was trained by the Great Prophet (PBUH&HP); and for this person the conduct and the special sensitivity of Imam Ali (PBUH) regarding justice and its importance is not surprising. Yes, isn’t it mentioned [...]
“The Embodiment of Justice”
"O Allah! Send your blessings to the purified spirit and the holy body that is placed in grave; the one with whom justice and righteousness was also buried; the one who was united with truth by oath, and did not breach his oath at any price; he always accompanied truth and [...]
Building a Good Hereafter from this World
The old man, tired from a long journey, in hope of visiting Amir al-Mu'minin (PBUH) had reached the army of the Imam. The hardship of his journey was recognizable on his face. When he asked for visiting Imam, the companions of Imam guided him. After greeting, the old man said, "O [...]
A Letter from a Father to a Son
From: A father who is getting old To: A son who is subject to passage of time ... O My son! Subjugate your nature with the vision of death; make it see the mortality of life and of all that it holds dear. Force it to realize the actuality of misfortunes [...]
A Letter from a Father to a Son
From: A father who is getting old To: A son who is subject to passage of time ... O My son! Subjugate your nature with the vision of death; make it see the mortality of life and of all that it holds dear. Force it to realize the actuality of misfortunes [...]
Ali, a Different View?
He has been hard, shattering, roaring like thunder during woe nights. The fountain is a fountain, day and night are not considered in its run? These are the words of the Christian George Jordac as he describes Ali. Jordac is the famous Christian writer and literary man, who has extracted and [...]
The Describers of the Beloved
Amir al-Mu'minin (PBUH): "Don't be the slave of others; Allah has created you free..." (1) The best introduction about a person or a thing can be given by the best introducer; and certainly the best introducer for Imam Ali (PBUH) is the Holy Quran and the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT). The Holy [...]
The Alawi Wisdom
Moosa ibn Ja'far narrated from his great father from their great grandfather Ali ibn Hussain from his great father (PBUT) that: One day Amir al-Mu?minin (PBUH) was sitting in the mosque with some of his companions. Meanwhile Zaid ibn Suhaan ?Abdi asked Imam Ali (PBUH): O Amir al-Mu?minin! Which king is [...]
The View of Imam Ali (PBUH) towards Worshipping Allah (SWT)
One of the basic foundational teachings of the prophets is monotheism. Furthermore, all teachings of the prophets included the act of worshipping. But people treat worshipping differently. Some people think that worshipping is a kind of transaction, compensation, and exchanging work with reward. This view of worship is similar in that [...]