Message of Thaqalayn
Volume:15 Issue: 1, Spring 2014

What are the indicators of piety? And how can we guarantee that we are heading in the right direction in our spiritual journey? This series elucidates the merits and consequences of piety as seen in the Qur’an, hadith, and the lives of the Ahlul Bayt, and introduces indicators by which one can examine one’s own piety or, if needed, others’ piety. Piety, or taqwa, is one of the highest qualities a person can achieve; the pious believe in the hidden as well the revelations of Prophet Muhammad and the prophets before him, establish prayer, and give alms. Those who have it are to be grateful, and those who do not must endeavour to attain it as it pleases God, earns His support, and results in the acceptance of one’s deeds.

A look at historical narrations and biographies show that Lady Fatimah is the representation of a perfect individual in the Islamic school of thought. An exemplar mother who with her actions and words raised the best of children acknowledged by both friends and enemies, Lady Fatimah was a role model for her children and all Muslim women and men during her short lifespan. However, because narrations regarding the Lady and her family’s virtues and character have been subject to change due to events throughout history, with the use of reports and narrations from the Infallibles about Lady Fatimah, this article brings to light the role she played in the upbringing of her family.

The Commentary of Light (Tafsir Nur) by Shaykh Muhsin Qara’ati is a written compilation of lectures over three decades of teaching. This commentary offers concise lessons from each verse of the Qur’an, featuring explanatory points and lessons; the explanatory points are brief itemized notes to help the readers attain a glossary understanding of the aforementioned verses, while the lessons delve deeper into the verse to illustrate a more thorough hermeneutic analysis of the concept. The verses chosen for this article are from the Chapter al-An’am - its theme about protesting against polytheism and inviting people towards monotheism. The following is an exegesis of verses 162 to 165 of this chapter.

For those who strive to perfect themselves, good nature, or husne khulq, tends to be at the top of their list during the spiritual journey. Indeed, good-naturedness has been emphasized in the Qur’an and hadiths, as God’s prophets possessed the highest level of it as they touched everyone’s hearts with their warm-heartedness, mercy, and kindness. The present article offers a glimpse into the concept of goodnaturedness as defined and emphasized in the Qur’an, hadiths, and as practiced by believers. Furthermore, the methods of behaving towards wrongdoers and reinforcing good nature, as well as the signs of good nature on a personal and social level are also described.

The former articles in this series explored the historical origins of the main religious seminaries in the Shi‘a world, and its role in bring about a unique culture in the scientific, social, and political spheres. The seminaries created well-educated and pious Shi‘a scholars who pursued ijtihad with the use of the Qur’an, Sunnah, and reason to respond to the needs of the Muslim community. The previous article delved into the history of the Islamic seminaries of Qum. Using Islamic traditions and historical records, the significance of Qum according to the Ahlul Bayt was explained, along with its link to Lady Ma‘sumah’s arrival to the city and its impact on the future of the seminaries’ success. This article continues with the seminaries of Qum after the Islamic Revolution, including an explanation of the core courses offered in philosophy, exegesis, theology, and jurisprudence.

God has created man in the way that what he eats and drinks influences his mind, body, and soul. Hence, God declared certain edible materials prohibited (haram) and others permissible (halal). This paper lists the foods that are impermissible as mentioned in the Qur’anic Chapters al-Baqarah and al-Ma’idah. In these chapters, twelve impermissible foods are listed, some of which are carrion, blood, pork, and wine, in addition to the meat of animals that have been strangled, gored to death, and not slaughtered based on Islamic rules. Moreover, brief reasons as to why they are forbidden are also presented.

What is the Islamic view of hardship? Do we suffer because it is a sign of being good or immoral, or does it depend on other factors? This article explores the answers to these questions by describing Satan’s role in the origin of mankind’s hardship, and clarifies the concept of suffering, tragic events, and calamities people tend to face as viewed in the Qur’an and hadith from the Ahlul Bayt. It is sometimes wrongly assumed that a person experiences hardship due to his or her own immorality or irresponsibility. Indeed, suffering is a tool for the forgiveness of our sins, and might be a sign of God’s love for a person.