First of all, we thank God the Almighty for granting us the blessed opportunity to undertake such a rewarding task. Understanding Islamic teachings to a great extent depends upon the availability of authentic documents expressed in words that are easy to comprehend. After the Holy Quran that is the BOOK OF REVELATION, and the master reference for all Muslims, traditions which are- in short- the sayings of the Prophet of God (may God bless him and his household) and the Immaculate Imams (May God Bless) are considered to be the next reference for Muslims. Many of the verses of the Quran and the concepts of Islam can be understood better using authentic traditions. The book The Lamp Niche for the Best Traditions is a translation into English of the book Mishkat ul-Anwar Fi Ghurar il-Akhbar authored by Hassan ibn Fazl ibn Hassan Tabarsi in the 12th century A.D. This book, which has been based on many authentic documents, is an authentic document on traditions. It is organized into several chapters and sections.
The present research and translation is based on a recent publication of this book by the Dar ul-Seqlayn Publishers in Qum, Iran. The book has been translated by Mr. Abdullah Muhammadi and Mr. Mehdi Hooshmand, and presents the original traditions in Arabic along with their translation into Farsi. The translators of the Farsi-Arabic version have made an extensive effort to provide exact references and notes for researchers who may be interested in details. May God the Almighty reward them for their efforts. For those respectable readers who may be more interested, for research purposes perhaps, or to gain more in-depth knowledge, we refer you to the Arabic-Farsi version of this book.
The project that we have undertaken has a different goal. We intend to offer the average interested English speaking reader an
THE HOLY QURAN:Text, Translation, Commentary and Notes Large Size (1 Volume); Abdullah Yusuf Ali (English & Arabic)
You can obtain a copy of this translation of the Holy Quran from the following sources:
THE ISLAMIC CENTER,2551 Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C. 20008
We have also used various dictionaries including the Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, the Lane Arabic-English Lexicon, the "Al-Mawarid Al-Qareb by Darel-ilm lil-Malayen among others, and are partly indebted to their authors- may God reward them.
Undertaking such a tremendous task requires a lot of effort, God's Favor and Support, and the readers' forgiveness for any mistakes. Unfortunately there are several places in the Farsi translation where the traditions are not properly translated. So we had to refer to the original Arabic text of the traditions for a more precise translation. This is where the research effort started. The problem we ran into when referring to the original Arabic text of the traditions is that the language used is that of many centuries ago, and in addition to being very eloquent, it is quite different from modern Arabic. There are many words and expressions that are no longer in use. Thus we had to do a lot of research to understand many of the traditions.
It is very possible to make errors in trying to understand the original traditions in Arabic, their translated form in Farsi which were not free of errors, and then trying to convert them into a form which an average English speaking interested reader could possibly comprehend. You must also note the vast difference between the spiritual content of the traditions, and the present mostly materialistic-oriented context of the English language and Western culture. This great gap is also another reason for some difficulty in making the real meaning of the traditions understood.
There are many valuable things we can learn from reading this book, among which we can mention is an understanding of the Unseen, the relationship between the life of this world and the Hereafter, and a great deal of ethics. We have to admit that by God's Grace we have vastly benefited ourselves from the spiritual contents of this work, and have been somewhat transformed through receiving some of the rays of light radiating from this Lamp Niche. We have also added some words in parentheses or in the footnotes to help better relay the meaning of the original tradition as Yusuf Ali has done in his translation of the Holy Quran. We have also added some translators' notes to clarify some fine points. There may also be typing errors that are almost unavoidable in any publication effort, no matter how hard you try, as only God is perfect. We apologize for anyTalat June Peiravi
1- In Al-Mahasin it is narrated that Soleiman ibn Khalid narrated that Imam Sadiq (a.s) stated: "God said: "That to thy Lord is the final Goal" [The Holy Quran: Najm 53:42]
Therefore you better stop any further inquiry whenever a speech ends with talk of God's essence."
2- In Al-Tawhid it is narrated that Ahmad ibn Abdullah al-Joybary narrated that during the trip to Marv, Imam Reza (a.s) reported on the authority of his father (a.s) on the authority of their fathers (a.s) on the authority of Imam Ali (a.s) that the Prophet of God (a.s) stated: "The reward for the one upon whom God has bestowed the blessing of Unity as a recompense is nothing other than Heaven."
3- Abuzar stated: "One night I left the house and suddenly saw the Prophet of God (a.s) walking all alone. I thought maybe he did not want anyone to walk with him, so in the moonlight I started walking very slowly behind him. The Prophet (a.s) became aware that I was behind him and inquired: "Who is it?" I answered him as so "May I be your devoted servant. I am Abuzar." The Prophet (a.s) said: "O' Abuzar! Come along with me." So I walked with him for one hour. Then the Prophet (a.s) remarked:
1. من كتاب المحاسن: عن سليمان بن خالد قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: إنّ الله يقول: [وَأَنَّ إِلَى رَبِّكَ الْمُنْتَهَى] فإذا
2. من كتاب التوحيد: عن أحمد بن عبد [الله] الجويباري في سفر الرضا عليّ بن موسى عن أبيه عن آبائه عن عليّ عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم ما جزاءُ مَن أنعَمَ الله سبحانه وتعالي عليه بالتوحيد إلا الجنّة.
3. عن أبي ذرّ؛ قال: خرجتُ ليلةً من الليالي فإذا رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم يمشي وحْدَه وليس معه إنسانٌ، فظننتُ أنّه يكره أن يمشي معه أحدٌ، قال: فجعلتُ
4- Imam Sadiq (a.s) narrated on the authority of his father (a.s), on the authority of their fathers (a.s), on the authority of Imam Ali (a.s) on the authority of God's Prophet (a.s): "Whoever leaves this world and has not associated any partners with God will enter Heaven whether he has done some good deeds or some evil ones."
5- Ray'yan ibn al-Solt narrated that Imam Reza (a.s) quoted on the authority of his father (a.s), on the authority of their fathers (a.s) on the authority of Imam Ali (a.s) as having narrated that the Prophet of God (a.s) stated that God the Almighty said: "Whoever interprets My Words according to his own viewpoint has no faith in Me. And whoever considers Me to be similar to My creatures does not recognize Me. And whoever makes comparisons in my religion does not believe in My religion."
4. عن جعفر بن محمّد عن أبيه عن آبائه عن عليّ: قال: قال رسول الله: من ماتَ لا يُشرك بالله شيئاً أحسنَ أو أساءَ دخل الجنّة.
5. عن ريّان بن الصلت عن عليّ بن موسى الرضا عن أبيه عن آبائه عن أمير المؤمنين: قال: قال رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم : قال الله جلّ جلاله: ما آمَنَ بي مَن فَسَّرَ برأيه كلامي، وما عَرَفَني من شَبّهني بخلقي، وما على ديني مَن يستعمل القياس في ديني.
6- Davood ibn al-Qasim narrated that he heard Imam Reza (a.s) say: "Whoever compares God to His creatures is a polytheist. And whoever supposes that God is in a given place is an unbeliever. Whoever associates with God what He has admonished against is a liar." Then Imam Reza (a.s) recited this verse: "It is those who believe not in the Signs of God that forge falsehood: It is they who lie." [The Holy Quran: the Bee 16:105]
7- Abi Hashim al-Ja'fari said that he asked Imam Javad (a.s): "What does unity of God mean?" He replied: "Unity refers to what people with all different languages agree on."
8- A man asked a question from Imam Sadiq (a.s). In his reply the Imam (a.s) said: "In fact unity and justice are the foundations of religion. The amount of religious knowledge is extensive, and every sane person must acquire it. Therefore remember what will make it easier for you to attain this knowledge, and prepares you to retain it." Then the Imam (a.s) added: "Unity implies that you do not deem permissible with God what you deem permissible with yourself. And justice implies that you do not associate with God what He has reproached you for."
9- Abdul Aziz ibn al-Muhtadi said that when he asked Imam Reza (a.s) about Unity he replied: "Whoever recites: "Say: He is God, the One, and Only" [The Holy Quran: Ikhlas 112:2]and believes in it has recognized the concept of the Unity of God." He then asked the Imam (a.s): "How should one recite this verse." The Imam (a.s) said: "Recite it as other people do", and added: "plus saying "This is Allah, my Lord" three times."
10- Ibn-i-Abbas narrated that an Arab asked God's Prophet (a.s): "O' Prophet of God! Please teach me the fine points of science." The Prophet (a.s) asked: "What do you know of the main parts of science which allows you to ask me about its fine points?" The Arab asked: "O' Prophet of God! What is the main part of science?" The Prophet (a.s) replied: "It is recognition of God as He deserves to be recognized." The Arab asked: "How can one really recognize God?" The Prophet (a.s) replied:
6. عن داود بن القاسم قال: سمعت عليّ بن موسى الرضا عليه السلام يقول: من شَبَّهَ الله بخَلقه فهو مشرك، ومن وصفه بالمكان فهو كافرٌ، ومن نَسب إليه
[ ما نهى عنه فهو كاذبٌ، ثمّ تلا هذه الآية [إِنَّما يَفْتَري الْكَذِبَ الَّذِينَ لا يؤمنون بِآياتِ الله وَأُولئِكَ هُمُ الْكاذِبُون.
7. عن أبي هاشم الجعفري قال: سألتُ أبا جعفر محمّد بن عليّ الثاني عليه السلام ما معنى الواحد؟ فقال: الُمجتَمَعُ عليه بجميع الألسُن بالوحدانيّة
8. عن الصادق عليه السلام أنّهُ سأله رجلٌ، فقال له: إنّ أساس الدين التوحيد والعدل، وعلمه كثيرٌ، ولابُدَّ للعاقل منه، فاذكر ما يسهل الوقوف عليه ويتهيّأ حفظه، فقال عليه السلام: أمّا التوحيد فأن لا تجوِّز على ربّك ما جاز عليك، وأمّا العدل فأن لا تَنْسِبَ إلى خالقك ما لامَكَ عليه.
9. عن عبد العزيز بن المهتدي قال: سألتُ الرضا عليه السلام عن التوحيد، فقال كلّ مَنْ قَرَأ ]قُلْ هُوَ الله أَحَدٌ[ وآمَنَ بها فقد عرف التوحيد، قلتُ: كيف يَقرأها؟ قال: كما يَقرأ الناس، وزاد فيه "كذلك الله ربّي" ثلاثاً.
10. عن ابن عبّاس قال: جاء أعرابي إلى النبيّ صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم فقال: يا رسول الله! عَلِّمْني من غرائب العلم، قال: ما صنعتَ في رأس العلم حتّى تسأل عن
رائبه؟ قال الأعرابي: وما رأس العلم يا رسول الله؟ قال:
11- In Al-Mahasin it is narrated that Fazl ibn-i-Yahya said that he asked Imam Kazim (a.s) about Unity. He said: "Do not transgress beyond what is stated in the Quran, where God the Almighty said:
"If there were in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides God, there would have been confusion in both!" [The Holy Quran: Anbiyaa 21:22]
12- In Al-Irshad it is narrated that Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "God the Almighty is not similar to anything, and nothing is similar to Him. He is different from whatever we can imagine."
11. أيضا من كتاب المحاسن: عن فضل بن يحيى قال: سألتُ أبا الحسن عليه السلام عن شيءٍ من الصفة، فقال: لا تُجاوز ما في القرآن، قال الله تعالى: ]لَوْ كانَ فِيهِما آلِهَةٌ إلا الله لَفَسَدَتا[.
12. من كتاب الإرشاد: عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: إنّ الله [تعالى] لا يُشبه شيئاً ولا يُشبهه شيءٌ، وكُلَّما وقع فهو بخلافه
13- In Al-Mahasin it is narrated that Imam Sadiq (a.s) described God's statement "true in faith" [The Holy Quran: Al-i-Imran 3:67] as being really sincere, and refers to one who considers only God in his affairs."
14- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "Everything is humble to a believer even the pests and the beasts of prey on the Earth, and the birds in the sky."
15- In Rauzat al-Vaezeen it is narrated that the Noble Prophet (a.s) said: "There is a fact related to every good attribute. When considering sincerity, the fact is that no true servant of God can be truly sincere unless he dislikes to be admired for what he does to please God."
16- In Rauzat al-Vaezeen it is narrated that Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "God the Almighty said: "I am the best partner. I do not accept any act in which you take partners besides Me. I only accept deeds which are sincerely done for Me."
17- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said on the authority of God's Prophet (a.s):"Whoever wants to know his status near God should ponder over how close God is to him."
13. من المحاسن: عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام في قول الله] I حَنِيفاً مُسْلِماً[ قال خالصاً مُخلصاً لا يشوبه شيءٌ.
14. عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: إنّ المؤمن يَخشَعُ له كلُّ شيءٍ حتّى هَوام الأرض وسِباعُها وطير السَّماء.
15. من كتاب روضة الواعظين: قال النبيّ صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم : إنّ لِكلّ حقٍّ حقيقةٌ، وما بلغ عبدٌ حقَّ حقيقةِ الإخلاصِ حتّى لا يحبُّ أن يُحْمَدَ على شيءٍ من عمل الله.
16. ومن كتاب روضة الواعظين: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: قال الله سبحانه و تعالي : أنَا خَيرُ شريك مَن أشرك معي في عملٍ عمله، لا أقبله إلا ما كان لي خالصاً.
17. وقال: قال رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم : مَن أحبّ أن يعلم ما له عند الله فَلْيَعلم ما لله عنده.