There are many times in which we long\nfor the opportunity to set time aside and ponder, an act we hardly have time to\napproach in this day and age. Thinking gives us a broader view, and usually\nwhen we find a view toward something, we follow it. Delving further into the\nmatter helps us to become knowledgeable about it, and if we become satisfied we\nbecome a believer.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Has it ever occurred to you to ask\nwhat extent the beliefs and views you hold are valid? Can you really rely on\nthem? What should you do if you become doubtful? And in general how can you\nbecome certain about your beliefs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the ways we Muslims can become\nsure about the validity of our beliefs and their congruity with revelation,\nQuran, and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) and those of his\nprogeny is to double check them with trusted and knowledgeable religious\nscholars. The issue of gaining reassurance in this matter has been a topic of\ndiscussion since the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) and his progeny.\nPeople of those times were able to receive direct feedback and answers from the\nAhl al-Bayt (PBUT) and or from religious scholars of the time. (1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following is an example of how\nthis matter took place:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sayyid Abd al-Azim Hasani (2), a\ncompanion of Imam Hadi (PBUH), narrates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018I entered upon\nmy Imam, Imam Hadi (PBUH). When his gaze fell upon me he said, \u201cPraise be upon\nyou for indeed you are our true companion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I said, \u201cO grandson of the Messenger\nof Allah (PBUH&HP) I want to utter my beliefs for you to make sure they are\ncorrect to hold on to until the day I meet my Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Imam accepted my request, and I\nbegan talking about my belief in Allah (SWT) and His oneness. I then expressed\nmy belief in the Prophet of Islam (PBUH&HP) and in his successors Amir\nal-Mu\u2019minin Ali (PBUH) and his Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT), of which I named them one by\none until I reached Imam Hadi (PBUH). I referred to him as my Imam and leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this point the Imam said: \u201cAfter me\nmy son Hassan will be the Imam and successor. Are you aware of how the people\nwill be during my son\u2019s successor?\u201d Upon\nthe question the Imam gave a short explanation about the occultation of the\ntwelfth Imam. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I then said, \u201cI confess that one who\nbefriends you is Allah\u2019s friend, and your enemy is Allah\u2019s enemy. I confess in\nthe Day of Judgment and in the obligatory acts after Wilayat (Mastership),\nwhich are Salat (daily prayers), Zakat (Alms), fasting, Hajj, Jihad (holy\nbattle), enjoining good, and forbidding evil. (3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once I was through expressing my\nbeliefs, the Imam confirmed my beliefs and commanded me to stay faithful to\nthem. The Imam then prayed that I remain steadfast in my religion.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The question for us however still\nremains on whether we too have the opportunity to confirm our beliefs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a matter of fact in this day and\nage the need to confirm our beliefs in a similar fashion is more than ever.\nJust as the supplication of Ale Yasin teaches us this matter, if we want to\nprotect our beliefs from the many different alterations and commentaries, we\nmust refer to religious scholars who study religion based on the Quran and the\nSayings of the Prophet and his Progeny (PBUH&HP).(4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Selection taken\nfrom Ayatullah Safi Golpayegani\u2019s \u201cCommentary on the Hadith of Expressing\nBeliefs\u201d, with minor changes)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We congratulate you dear friend on the\n15th of Dhi al-Hijjah, the birth anniversary of the tenth Hujjat of Allah, Imam\nAli ibn Muhammad al-Hadi (PBUH).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. The issue of\nconfirming your faith is so important that it has been mentioned in several of\nthe supplications given to us by the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT). For example the supplication of Ale Yasin\nlocated in Mafatih al-Jinan is a supplication by Imam Mahdi (May Allah Hasten\nhis Reappearance).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. He is of the\ngrandchildren of Imam Hassan Mujtaba (PBUH) who is now buried in the city of\nRay near Tehran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. These are the\nbranches of religion<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There are many times in which we long for the opportunity to set time aside and ponder, an act we hardly have time to approach in this day and age. Thinking gives us a broader view, and usually when we find a view toward something, we follow it. Delving further into the matter helps us […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248],"tags":[23018,17745,23019,23006,20800,22,18418,18003,19269,23017],"class_list":["post-4617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-2007-01-05","tag-beliefs","tag-follow","tag-imam-hadi","tag-knowledgeable","tag-muslims","tag-occasion-letters","tag-son","tag-think","tag-this-is-my-belief"],"yoast_head":"\n