In order to gain knowledge about a\nfaith or religion, being aware of its beliefs and practices is a must. The\nbeliefs of the Shia school of thought speak of knowledge about its origins,\nreasons, truth, the pillars, and core thoughts. However, its emphasis and\nrecommendations about manners and actions can define one\u2019s life program. There\nare many traditions in the Shia faith that specifically address moral and\npractical issues relating to one\u2019s duties and responsibilities. The Shia\nthoughts and beliefs are a guide for people to reach the reality of this school\nin discussions of followers of different Islamic sects or even followers of\ndifferent religions, however morality in the Shiite school of thought is the\npath for growth, accomplishment and self restraint, and an answer to \u201cwhat\nshould be done\u201d and \u201chow should one live\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today the Shiite society should pay\nattention to both matters, as certain problems in Shiite society derive exactly\nfrom not paying enough attention to the issues pertaining to faith and morals.\nHowever, it is important to note that the manner in which one Shia acts in\npresenting the Shiite faith to others is a very sensitive matter. Many cases\nhave shown that it is one\u2019s attitudes that create grounds for judging the\nbeliefs and moral upbringing of a family. Today it must be properly presented\nwho a true Shia is, and who can earn the high status of a Shia. Achieving true\nattributes of a Shia can lead to giant accomplishments. One who gains the\nattributes and morals of a true Shia will be able to attract others to the\nShiite faith. And this is the desire of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Muhammad\n(PBUH&HP), and what they have referred to many times. We bring an example\nfrom Imam Hassan Askari (PBUH),<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBe careful\nabout your duty about Allah, and be an adornment of us (Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT)),\nnot a cause of embarrassment for us. Attract all friendships (of people)\ntowards us, and distance bad-thinking (people) from us\u2026\u201d (1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The narration mentioned above portrays\nthat one of the most important expectations of Imam Hassan Askari (PBUH) from\nthe Shia is to exceed all others in acting morally and be exemplar in the\nsociety; and this is to the extent that others are able to pinpoint them as the\nShiite of Ali (PBUH) and the infallible Imams (PBUT). And these are those\ntrained under the school of thought of Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An interesting note is that the Imam\n(PBUH) does not limit Shiite responsibilities to having positive attitudes to\nfaithful people alone, rather he is also including actions towards the enemies\nas well. In interpreting the following Quranic phrase: \u201cSpeak well with\npeople…\u201d(2) he says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026.so (it is\nbest for all of you) to greet all pious with an open and welcoming face, and\nwith those who are against you, to act with the intention of attracting them to\nfaith with kindness and soft speech.\u201d (3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let us strive to make politeness and\ngood manners a habit, while having the intention that if one day our attitude\nmay attract others to the love of Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT), we would have given one\nof the best gifts to our Imam Mahdi (PBUH) and his ancestors (PBUT). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roshd Website offers its condolences\nto all Muslims, especially you dear friend on the 8th of Rabi\u2019 al-Awwal, the\nmartyrdom of the healing Guide, father of Imam Mahdi (PBUH), Imam Hassan Askari\n(PBUH).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Tuhaf al-Uqul,\np. 487<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. The Holy\nQuran, (2:83)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Mustadrak\nal-Wasa\u2019il, vol. 12, p. 261, Hadith # 14061<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In order to gain knowledge about a faith or religion, being aware of its beliefs and practices is a must. The beliefs of the Shia school of thought speak of knowledge about its origins, reasons, truth, the pillars, and core thoughts. However, its emphasis and recommendations about manners and actions can define one\u2019s life program. […]<\/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":[23643,17745,23642,23365,17964,17988,18418,19238,17873,23644],"class_list":["post-4701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-2010-02-23","tag-beliefs","tag-honor-or-shame","tag-imam-hasan-askari","tag-knowledge","tag-live","tag-occasion-letters","tag-school","tag-shia","tag-speak"],"yoast_head":"\n