It is sometimes said that holding mourning rites is not compatible with Islamic unity because these ceremonies include protest against and condemnation of some of the Muslim caliphs. Therefore, it is felt by some that discontinuation of such protests...

It is sometimes said that holding mourning rites i...

On his own chain of transmission, Bukhari narrates that ‘A’ishah said, “When the news of the martyrdom of Zayd ibn Harithah and Ja‘far and ‘Abd Allah ibn Rawahah was brought to the Holy Prophet (S), he entered the mosque and sat there with signs of g...

On his own chain of transmission, Bukhari narrates...

Depressive disorders are divided into three main groups: 1. Major depression. 2. Habitual depression. 3. Circumstantial depression.1 Major depression is the most intense type of depression. Some of its signs include: a. Feelings of sorrow, empti...

Depressive disorders are divided into three main g...

Mourning or crying has an exterior (outer manifestation) and an interior (inner manifestation). Its outer appearance is physiological, and is a result of psychological influences by means of external or internal stimuli, such as thought and reflectio...

Mourning or crying has an exterior (outer manifest...

The love of a person who loves another is not confined to the heart and soul only. As has already been mentioned, love requires a practical application. The practical application of love is a source of manifestation in a person’s life, and it follows...

The love of a person who loves another is not conf...

Special or particular proofs The hadiths which we have so far mentioned refer to love for the Ahl al-Bayt (as) in general. There is another group of hadiths which allude to love and affection for some of the Ahl al-Bayt (as) in particular. We will n...

Special or particular proofs The hadiths which we...

4. Love of the Ahl al-Bayt (as) is worship Allah’s Prophet (S) said, «حبُّ آلِ محمّدٍ يوماً خيرٌ من عبادةِ سنةٍ، ومن ماتَ عليهِ دخلَ الجنّةَ.» “One day of loving Muhammad’s Ahl al-Bayt is better than one year of worship. Anyone who die...

4. Love of the Ahl al-Bayt (as) is worship Allah’...

Crying and shedding tears has been mentioned in many hadiths recounted by the different sects of Islam. In the hadiths, just like in the Gracious Qur’an, love for the Ahl al-Bayt has been emphasized in a clear and explicit manner. We shall now refer...

Crying and shedding tears has been mentioned in ma...

In the Holy Qur’an, Allah, the Exalted, says, ﴿ ... قُلْ لا اَسأَلُکُمْ عَلَيْهِ اَجْراً إِلاَّ المَوَدَّةِ فِي الْقُرْبي... ﴾ “… Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love of my near relatives…”8 This Qur’anic verse is popu...

In the Holy Qur’an, Allah, the Exalted, says, ﴿ ....

When we study scholars’ books of etymology and terminology, we come to know that what is meant by term Ahl al-Bayt of the Holy Prophet (S) are certain special and distinguished people. When we refer to books of tradition [hadith], we understand that ...

When we study scholars’ books of etymology and ter...

We can deduce from logic and from evidence that has been transmitted to us in traditions that loving certain people is incumbent and binding upon man. 1. Allah Allah, the Exalted, is the first of those for whom love is intrinsically incumbent upon ...

We can deduce from logic and from evidence that ha...

One of the most effective ways to prove people’s beliefs is inciting their sentiments. Stirring up people’s feelings is an important way of explaining or justifying their political and social beliefs. Man is more liable to be influenced when he looks...

One of the most effective ways to prove people’s b...

With recourse to sound reasoning, we come to know that holding mourning ceremonies for Allah’s awliya’, especially the master and leader of all the martyrs Imam al-Husayn (as), is in accordance with logic because honoring Allah’s awliya’ through vari...

With recourse to sound reasoning, we come to know ...

Some say that entrusting the application of the shari‘ah in some instances to common sense will result in deriding and making fun [istihza’] of the shari‘ah. And because it is incumbent upon every Muslim to protect the honor of the shari‘ah, it is th...

Some say that entrusting the application of the sh...

Some people say that performing certain rites and celebrating certain signs of Allah will bring about a lot of harm for Islam and Muslims, especially holding mourning rites for Imam al-Husayn (as) the performance of which necessitates bearing a lot o...

Some people say that performing certain rites and ...

The doubters say that if those things pertaining to the laws of Islam are entrusted to people to decide, it will lead to irreverence [hatk-e hurmat] and insult to the foundations of Islam as well as the pillars of the shari‘ah. It is clear that this ...

The doubters say that if those things pertaining t...

The skeptics also ask the following questions: if holding religious ceremonies and honoring the signs of Allah has been entrusted to people to decide, what difference is there with the different topics and instances of the shari‘ah? We know that com...

The skeptics also ask the following questions: if ...

Some maintain that if creation or establishment of religious ceremonies has been entrusted to the discernment of common sense and wisdom, the result will be vain sporting with the fundamental doctrines of Islam and futile play with the fixed bounds o...

Some maintain that if creation or establishment of...

Some sceptics say that if Allah has ceded the command of holding religious ceremonies and other religious customs to common sense and wisdom, there will be mistakes in distinguishing what is unlawful [haram] as proscribed by Islamic law from the lawf...

Some sceptics say that if Allah has ceded the comm...

Some doubters say that if the Divine Lawgiver entrusts the matter of deciding when and how to hold religious rites to common parlance it follows that Allah has delegated religious lawmaking. They contend that this type of relinquishment is null and v...

Some doubters say that if the Divine Lawgiver entr...

Some sceptics of holding religious ceremonies say, “Every ceremony that is based on religion has to be devised by the Divine Lawgiver (Allah). In cases where Allah has not devised a religious ceremony, holding such ceremonies will amount to innovatio...

Some sceptics of holding religious ceremonies say,...