فصلنامه مشکوه
پیاپی 102 (بهار 1388)

The supreme leader of the revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei, announced in a message the current year (1388/2009) as the year of Revision to Pattern of Consumption. This sublime message is adopted from the verses of the Quran and the traditions of the Infallible Imams (A.S.). In this article, the writer touches upon and gives a brief explanation about this issue with reference to the Revelation and the words of the Infallible Imams (A.S.), stressing that observance of justice and moderation in consumption is the moral and social corollary of this matter, as the scholars of ethics have always advised people in this crucial respect; and in the present time, i.e., the age of mechanized way of life, the government's macro-management plays an essential role in its realization.

Despite abundant discussions concerning the interpretation of the disconnected letters (al-ḥurūf al-muqaṭṭa‘a), there are still controversies in this respect. Although it is hardly possible to present a new viewpoint, some new elucidations may be brought up. According to the writer of the present article, none of the viewpoints put forward by the interpreters can independently clarify these letters; synthetically, however, they may work out. Following a critical review of the interpreters, a new analysis of the synthetic theory in interpretation of the disconnected letters is given.

After Mu‘āwiya's death and the rise of Yazīd to power, the Islamic community encountered a more evident challenge in relation to the legitimacy of ḥukūma (government). The most important feature of these challenges was the refusal to pledge allegiance with Mu‘āwiya's son by two well-known figures, i.e., Imam Ḥusayn (A.S.) son of Imam ‘Alī (A.S.) and ‘Abd Allāh b. Zubayr son of one of the Apostle of Allah (S.W.A.)'s companions. In this article, the writer emphasizes that the uprisings of these two figures were quite contradictory in methodology and purpose, namely, Imam Ḥusayn (A.S.)'s overt and decisive stance against Yazid vs. precautious and hypocritical behavior of ‘Abd Allāh b. Zubayr.

The study of the debates of the Imams (A.S.) with the advocates of other religions is one of the most important ways of better understanding Shī‘ism. In this article, the writer has selected and analyzed one of the most popular debates of Imam al-Riḍā (A.S.). His overall view concerns the procedures and methods that the Imam (A.S.) used to follow in his debates.

In this article Ms. Ann Lambton, the renowned British Persianist, addresses the history of endowment in Iran. Her study concerns the period up to the end of Qajar dynasty, including the endowed properties donated under the Sunnī as well as the Shī‘a rules. The endower's purpose, the uses of endowed property, and durability or alterations in endowed property are among the issues researched by the writer.

Literature and painting are both from among the finest and most beautiful products of human mind and there are many similarities in their creativity and progressiveness. In the present writing, two paintings, i.e., ‘Aṣr-i ‘Āshūrā created by the skilful master Maḥmūd Farshchiyān as well as Muḥammad Naqqāsh's Sultān, as two exquisite works preserved in the Astan Quds Razavi Museum, are analyzed and introduced by the writer.

Although no independent style can be identified for the Persian historiographers (during the Islamic era up to the fifth /twelfth century), two significant remarks may be made here: 1. the manifestation of territorial attachments in the created works by the Persians; and 2. their attempts in uplifting the Islamic historiography level and detaching it from the hollow framework of the historiography of the paganism. These two entities have been adopted from the rich intellectual backing of the Persian civilization. The writer of the article presents a general profile of the Islamic historiography, while examining the works of several Persian historians who have been influential up to the fifth/twelfth century and enjoyed significant features in historiographical style and intuition.

A glance at the extant historical reports indicates that writing about the virtues and excellences of Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) has not been much common during the early decades of Islamic history due to certain socio-political problems and barriers. However, with the passage of time and change of circumstances, the writing of books and treatises have thrived significantly in this field, although many of them have been lost in the course of time and only a few number of these writings have remained to date. While pointing out some of the overall characteristics of this period's writings, the writer of this article proceeds to introduce the related works up to the 3rd/9th century.