Message of Thaqalayn
Volume:17 Issue: 4, Winter 2016

This paper is based on a lecture given in the city of Mashhad, during the gathering with representatives of the WhoIsHussain global campaign, which aims to educate and inspire humanity on Imam Husayn, the third Imam, and the values he stood for; as well as bringing positive changes at the grassroots level from helping the homeless, to feeding the hungry, to donating blood. In this lecture, Huj. Sh. Mohammad Ali Shomali praises the group for their efforts, and acknowledges this project as an exceptional one, due to the importance of reaching out and making Imam Husayn known and beneficial to humanity. He also gave gentle and thought-provoking ideas and reminders to the group regarding the importance of being far-sighted in our approaches, being genuine in our love for people, being sincere and disinterested in power and position, uniting the Ummah rather using our institutions to divide it, increasing in our humbleness when we witness success, and focusing on moving towards the truth and serving it rather than egotistically bringing it to our side. In this way, we uphold Imam Husayn’s pri nciples, which is ever more needed as we approach the time of Imam Mahdi (aj).

  For decades, orientalists have carried out studies on Islam with various motivations. However, western academic and systematic research on Shi‘ism is not older than a century. In recent decades, western Shi‘a studies have increased significantly, but their studies on the Imams are stagnant and are limited to few encyclopaedic articles and books on the history of Shi‘ism that discuss the Imams when the occasion arose. The purpose of this paper is to investigate three works, namely: “Imam al-Kazim” by Etan Kohlberg from the Encyclopaedia of Islam, the section on Imam al-Kazim in Shi‘a Denomination by Dwight Donaldson, and Shi‘ism by Heinz Halm. These three works are fairly comprehensive ones revolving around the Imam’s life time—from his birth to his martyrdom. The issue of Imam al-Kazim’s successor— that is, the disagreement among the Shi‘as over who succeeded the Imam and the formation of various sects, the social and political problems in his time, the Imam’s encounter with the caliphs and the his repeated imprisonment, the investigation of various reports of the Imam’s martyrdom and its consequences,  and the investigation of the emergence of the Waqifites after  the Imam’s martyrdom – these are among the positive points  mentioned in these western studies. On the other hand, the  Imam’s interaction with other sects, his stance on uprisings of  the Alawites, his socio-political positions, particularly with the  caliphs, and the Shi‘as’ communication with the Imam,  especially regarding scientific and cultural issues, are among  the topics not addressed by the abovementioned orientalists.

It was not unusual for laypeople to approach the Prophet Muhammad and the infallible Imams for advice during life’s ups and downs, and on their journey to God. Receiving good advice helps us learn much about life and how to wisely approach any bumps on the road and to avoid mistakes. It also motivates people to put these thoughts and ideas into action. This paper is a brief explanation of one narration by the ninth imam, Imam al-Jawad (a), wherein a man asks him for advice, and the Imam advises him to five things: to rely on patience, welcome poverty, abandon desires and whims, and to have God-wariness.

Although the Shi‘a Imams attained the rank of Imamate at different ages, they guided the Shi‘a as best as their time requirements necessitated because their knowledge was God-given, and they were infallibles. This article offers a brief biography of the young and brilliant Imam al-Jawad and addresses his role in guiding the Shi‘a community. It also touches upon the Imam’s God -given knowledge, extraordinary acts, wise political measures taken against opposition, and educational training of scholars.

Anxiety, depression, mental disorders, and worries are among the predicaments of human society in the present century. In recent decades, the factors contributing to, preventing, and curing these illnesses have been addressed from different angles. The resulting achievements are various cognitive, behavioural, psychological, psychodynamic, and biological theories that, of course, led to valuable outcomes. The previous paper addressed this issue from two perspectives: the psychological perspective and that of the Qur’an and hadith. This paper delves into some of the general symptoms of mental illness, symptoms mentioned in the Qur’an and hadith, and the stages of mental illness according to the Qur’an.

Salman al-Farsi was the first Persian to convert to Islam. He was raised as a Zoroastrian, then converted to Christianity, and then after meeting the Prophet Muhammad, he converted to Islam, and played a fundamental role in promoting Muslim unity. After becoming Muslim, Salman grew under the guidance of the Prophet and Imam Ali until he reached the peak of faith and was the best of the Ahlul Bayt’s companions. This article delves into the personality, character, and faith of Salman as seen in the traditions of the Ahlul Bayt, as well as several Sunni sources.

Having a shared identity working towards a joint cause is vital for a healthy community. In doing so, a community must share specific qualities to be successful. This series of papers offers a glimpse into the importance of community-building and Pro phet Muhammad’s efforts to implement it. Character traits such as truthfulness, trustworthiness, justice, unity, moderation, humbleness, enjoining good and forbidding wrong, and maintaining a healthy balance in working for this world to eventually lead to a blissful hereafter were illustrated. Another important quality of a successful community is their implementation of justice, also one of the principles of Shi‘i Islam. The previous articles touched upon God’s justice in the Qur’an, the necessity for establishing social justice, and having just leaders, as well as the status of rationality, knowledge and experience in an Islamic community. This article expands on the depth of our relationship with God, love for God’s creation, acting as a channel for God’ s mercy in our daily lives in doing charitable work, being hospitable, and caring for the ill in the Islamic community.