Categoreis

Compound ignorance is, as explained before, the kind of ignorance in which one does not know and is, moreover, unaware of the fact that he doesn't. This is a fatal disease the cure of which is extremely difficult. This is because the compound ignoran...

Compound ignorance is, as explained before, the ki...

Knowledge and Wisdom: This condition is situated between the two extremes of slyness' and simple ignorance'. Undoubtedly, knowledge and wisdom are two of the sublimest qualities that man can possess, just as they are the most important and noblest of...

Knowledge and Wisdom: This condition is situated b...

Simple Ignorance: This disease is caused by a deficiency of the Power of Intellect in the individual, and is said to exist when the individual lacks knowledge and learning, but is aware of his ignorance. This is in contrast to compound ignorance'-a s...

Simple Ignorance: This disease is caused by a defi...

Slyness: It is one of the vices of the Power of Intellect in its condition of excess or extremity. When afflicted with this disease, the human intellect is so immersed in meticulous examination and analysis that it loses temperance. In other words, t...

Slyness: It is one of the vices of the Power of In...

At the end of this section, the conclusion that we draw is that justice means the complete mastery of the intellect overall other faculties and powers of the human soul, so that all are employed towards the ultimate goal of human perfection and the e...

At the end of this section, the conclusion that we...

Justice is of three kinds: 1. The justice between the human being and God; that is, the penalties and rewards which God bestows on man in relation to his acts and deeds. In other words, for whatever acts he commits, whether good or evil, an appropria...

Justice is of three kinds: 1. The justice between ...

Now that we have recounted all the virtues and vices, it is necessary to gain an understanding of the true significance of the quality of justice, since all ethical virtues originate from this quality just as all vices emanate from injustice, which i...

Now that we have recounted all the virtues and vic...

Compound ignorance: being ignorant, and being unaware of one's ignorance. Perplexity and doubt: the opposite of which are certainty and conviction. Carnal temptations: in opposition to which is contemplation of the beauty of Divine creation. Deceit a...

Compound ignorance: being ignorant, and being unaw...

We have already said that deviation from moderation and the mean causes vice. This deviation towards either of the two extremes on each side of the mean has infinite degrees. Here we will mention only the two extremes for every moral virtue. Deficien...

We have already said that deviation from moderatio...

Every one of the four ethical virtues is to be practised to a certain degree and within definite limits, transgression of which would transform a virtue into a vice. If every virtue is thought of as the center of a circle, any movement away from the ...

Every one of the four ethical virtues is to be pra...

In our last discussion, we stated that the human soul possesses four distinct powers. They are: Intellect, Anger, Passion, and the Power of Imagination (al-quwwah al-wahmiyyah or al-amilah) 1. The thing we should notice now is that the purification a...

In our last discussion, we stated that the human s...

Pleasure is a condition experienced by the soul when it perceives something harmonious with its own nature. Pain and suffering is occasioned when the soul comes into contact with things which are in disharmony with its nature. Since the powers of the...

Pleasure is a condition experienced by the soul wh...

The soul (nafs) is that heavenly essence which employs the body and uses its various organs to attain its goals and purposes. The soul has also other names as spirit (ruh), intelligence (aql), and heart (qalb) although these terms have other usages a...

The soul (nafs) is that heavenly essence which emp...

At the time of its creation, the soul of man is like a clean tablet, devoid of all faculties (traits), whether good or evil. As one progresses through life, he develops faculties which are directly related to the way he lives, thinks, and acts. The s...

At the time of its creation, the soul of man is li...

Moral virtues in man gain him eternal happiness, while moral corruption leads him to everlasting wretchedness. It is therefore necessary for man to purge and purify himself of all evil traits of character and adorn his soul with all forms of ethical ...

Moral virtues in man gain him eternal happiness, w...

The word akhlaq is the plural for the word khulq which means disposition. "Disposition" is that faculty (malakah) of the soul which is the source of all those activities that man performs spontaneously without thinking about them. Malakah is a proper...

The word akhlaq is the plural for the word khulq w...

Salutations to Hazrat Ali Alaihis Salaam - 1 Before making the visit to the Shrine, according to Imam Jafar-as-Sadiq, the pilgrim should first bathe and put on clean clothing and afterwards anoint himself with perfume. The formal prayer of salutation...

Salutations to Hazrat Ali Alaihis Salaam - 1 Befor...

To his sons Ali spoke thus : "Remain steadfast in piety and resign yourself to the will of God. Never aspire to anything which is beyond your reach. Always be truthful and merciful towards the orphans. Help the poor and needy, and try to live in the ...

To his sons Ali spoke thus : "Remain steadfast in ...

His blood-drenched lips parted into a thanksgiving prayer and he said, "Lord! I thank Thee for rewarding me with martyrdom; how kind art thou and how gracious. May thy mercy further lead me to the realm of Thy grace and benevolence." The murderer was...

His blood-drenched lips parted into a thanksgiving...

The Holy Prophet recognised the superiority of Ali in many of his sayings. The most important of them are : 1. "Ali would appear to the dwellers of paradise as a morning star." (Sawai'q Muhari'qa) 2. Addressing his daughter, Fatima, the Holy Prophet...

The Holy Prophet recognised the superiority of Ali...

(From Tarikh-al-Khulafa of Jalaluddin-as-Suyuti- as translated from the orignal Arabic by Major H. S. Jarret, Culcutta edition, 1881) 1. The Imam Ahmad b. Hanbal says : There hath not come down to us regarding the merits of any one of the Companions ...

(From Tarikh-al-Khulafa of Jalaluddin-as-Suyuti- a...