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History tells us that those who invented the dissension of this "sect" were chief officers of Imam Mousa ibn Ja'fer (A.S.) and keepers of the funds collected for him from his Shi'a followers. When he died, Ali ibn Abu Hamza al-Bataini had with him as...

History tells us that those who invented the disse...

There is another stance for the Imam which is not without an exciting moment involving one of the main advocates of Waqfism. His stance was like a clear warning to those who created the controversy of this "sect" and promoted it; al-Bataini states: "...

There is another stance for the Imam which is not ...

There are many narratives narrated by some advocates and inventors of Waqfism which clearly prove to us their false claims. For example, Ziyad ibn Marwan al-Qandi narrates the following: "Once I visited Abu Ibrahim and his son Ali was with him. He sa...

There are many narratives narrated by some advocat...

Immediately after the demise of his father, Imam al-Rida (A.S.) was tried by an acute calamity which deepened the tragedy of losing his father. On one hand, he was suffering from the attempts of the rulers and their supporters at his life and, on the...

Immediately after the demise of his father, Imam a...

The Imams (A.S.) did not for even one day admit any legitimacy to their contemporary governments, be it Umayyad or Abbaside, due to the fact that those governments were far away from the pristine Islamic system of government and to their deviation, i...

The Imams (A.S.) did not for even one day admit an...

The Imams (A.S.) played a significant role in the area of educating the public, setting examples in educating through the example of one's own conduct; therefore, their methods of education were not confined merely to spreading awareness through the ...

The Imams (A.S.) played a significant role in the ...

The Imam (A.S.) did not have the chance to rule for any period of time so that we may discuss his practical style of government, but we can still be acquainted with that through reviewing his statements to some of his followers who very much desired ...

The Imam (A.S.) did not have the chance to rule fo...

In a dialogue with al-Bazanti, the Imam said: "Anyone who receives a boon is in danger: He has to carry out God's commandments in its regard. By God! Whenever God blesses me with something, I continue to be in extreme apprehension till (and here he m...

In a dialogue with al-Bazanti, the Imam said: "Any...

The patience and perseverance of the Imam manifest themselves clearly when he had to face psychological and emotional crises. When he went to say his farewell at the Ka'ba, Mecca, upon being ordered by al-Mamoon to be present at his court in Khurasan...

The patience and perseverance of the Imam manifest...

Imam al-Rida (A.S.) was endowed with a readiness to respond coupled with the strength of argument and oratory to which extra-ordinary expressions freely submitted without making the over-all meaning too difficult to comprehend. His arguments with the...

Imam al-Rida (A.S.) was endowed with a readiness t...

There is no doubt that, generally speaking, the Imams (A.S.) were more distant than anyone else from the alluring wares of this vanishing world, and most distant from its ornamentations and allurements. But the concept of asceticism according to them...

There is no doubt that, generally speaking, the Im...

He inherited the knowledge of his grandfather the Messenger of God (S.A.W.), thus becoming its pioneering fountainhead that quenched the thirst of those who were thirsty for knowledge. History narrates a great deal of his scholarly stances and intell...

He inherited the knowledge of his grandfather the ...

The attitude of the then rulers towards Imam al-Rida (A.S.) and the other Imams may provide us with a clear view of the distinctions which raised their personalities to the zenith. And it is essential to explain the phenomenon of the government's att...

The attitude of the then rulers towards Imam al-Ri...

Disputes exist also regarding the number of his offspring and their names. A group of scholars say that they were five sons and one daughter, and that they were: Muhammad al-Qani', al-Hassan, Ja'fer, Ibrahim, al-Husayn, and 'Ayesha. Sabt ibn al-Jawzi...

Disputes exist also regarding the number of his of...

Historians disagree a great deal about the year of his birth and even in determining the month as well, and they also disagree about determining the year and the month of his death. Their disagreements are not confined to the limit of a short span of...

Historians disagree a great deal about the year of...

Falsafa (Islamic Philosophy)Having studied Mantiq, those who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the philosophy of Islam will study Falsafa. This typical starts with Allama Tabatabai's Bidayah al-Hikmah followed by his Nihayah al-Hikmah. The first...

Falsafa (Islamic Philosophy)Having studied Mantiq,...

'Irfan (Islamic Mysticism)'Irfan is generally divided into theoretical (nadhari) 'irfan and practical ('amali) 'irfan. Theoretical 'Irfan is the study of Islamic metaphysics and 'Transcendent Philosophy'. The latter is usually a discussion around the...

'Irfan (Islamic Mysticism)'Irfan is generally divi...

Lugha (Language Studies)Arabic is the language of the Qur'an and hadith. No amount of English translation will help you truly appreciate the Qur'an and hadith. They simply have to be read and understood in their original language, if they are to be f...

Lugha (Language Studies)Arabic is the language of ...

Aqaid (Theology)Aqaid (theology) is also called 'Ilm al-Kalam or Usul al-Din. The latter title is rarely used in Hawzas, perhaps to avoid confusing it with Usul al-Fiqh (which is at times called 'Ilm al-Usul). Shi'ah theology usually discusses issues...

Aqaid (Theology)Aqaid (theology) is also called 'I...

'Ilm ar-Rijal (Science of Narrators)'Ilm ar-Rijal is, literally, "The Science of People". Any tradition (hadith) is usually made up of two parts: a header (called isnad or sanad) and the main text or narration itself (called matn). The header lists t...

'Ilm ar-Rijal (Science of Narrators)'Ilm ar-Rijal ...

'Ilm al-Hadith (The Study of Traditions)'Ilm al-Hadith (or the Science of Hadith) is not about the narrations or traditions themselves; rather it discusses the history of traditions, their compilation and classification, their collection and preserva...

'Ilm al-Hadith (The Study of Traditions)'Ilm al-Ha...