novum opus hominum

When i first moved in with my Irani roommate…

…he supported the Green Movement and even made fun of Ayatollah Khamenai. He used to perform the wajibs of Islam without understanding much in detail. His saving grace was simply his interest in learning more about and trying to understand philosophy.

Many discussions, arguments, readings, videos, and naggings later…

He now understands the reality of Islam better, he understands the goals of the Islamic revolution and the government more, he does not support the green movement anymore either.

When i first met him, my politics was “sound” but my faith was low. I had trouble committing to the wajibs of Islam and realizing how close to God they brought me. 

Now, i am much stronger than faith than before. I perform wajibs better and i love to do Du’a because i feel a good connection with God through it.

Misconceptions surrounding the Shia view of the Companions

theillspirit:

Shia hate all of the companions who were close to the Prophet

Shia Muslims do not hate the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) as a collective group. Our opinion towards them is the opinion of the Qur’an, that there were good, righteous, god fearing and sincere Muslims among the prophets companions.

Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah ; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers - so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward. 48/29

However, there were also others who did not join Islam for Allah but did so because they felt there would be some form of a worldly benefit involved.

And of the people are some who say, “We believe in Allah and the Last Day,” but they are not believers. They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not. In their hearts is disease, so Allah has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie. 2/8-10.

The problem with a lot of the views surrounding the companions is that there is extremism towards their status. There were excellent companions, good companions, lazy companions, not so good companions as well as pure evil companions. It’s the same with any group of people in the world. There are varying degrees of piety in each and every community. It is insane to believe that every single last 1 of the 150,000 companions is going to the highest levels of heaven.

But Allah praised all of the companions in verse 9/100

And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment 9/100

Again, it is unreasonable to believe that every single last Muhajir [migrant] and Ansar [helper] had pure intentions.

This verse clearly says that from among the migrants and helpers - they are pleased with Allah and Allah is pleased with them - not all of them.

Furthermore, the problem with taking verses like this in isolation is it gives you a very skewed picture of the reality of what Allah is trying to tell us. If we only read even the very next verse we’ll see it clears up the false idea of the infallibility of the companions some people hold.

And among those around you of the bedouins are hypocrites, and [also] from the people of Madinah. They have become accustomed to hypocrisy. You, [O Muhammad], do not know them, [but] We know them. We will punish them twice [in this world]; then they will be returned to a great punishment. 9/101

This verse clearly says that among the Bedouin Arabs and the people of Medinah, who were so called Muslims’ there are among them, hypocrites. And Allah promises them with double the punishment for trying to deceive the Muslims by pretending to be part of Islam.

Even if we ignore the verse directly after it, history itself tells us that this verse is not referring to every single last migrant and helper. The example of Abdullah ibn Ubayy is the most famous. He was the leader of the tribe of Khazraj and was known as the chief of the hypocrites for his lack of sincerity in his conversion to Islam.

Yet again still if we ignore history, the Qur’an still condemns those who use it as a pinhole. You cannot look at one area of Islam, such as the companions of the prophet, through a tiny little lens, the subject must be analysed holistically and with the entire Qur’an, not select verses.

But Allah was pleased with the companions when they pledged allegiance under the tree in 48/18

This is true, a small group of companions around 1,500 in number pledged allegiance to the Prophet under the tree and Allah praised them for this.

But again, this does not prove that every single last companion is of an equal, near infallible level as portrayed by most views of history.

The key word here is that Allah was pleased with the believers under the tree, not the Muslims, but believers, which is a higher station in the eyes of Allah. Not like that of a hypocrite, who can still be classified as Muslim. Allah is not referring to every single last one under the tree.

Allah’s word in this verse is not everlasting. He was pleased with them when they gave their allegiance. It does not mean he will forever remain pleased with every single allegiance giver. They have to fulfill other criterion of being a Muslim too, such as enjoining the good and forbidding the evil.

The proof for this is history itself. Among those who were under the tree and pledged allegiance, were later involved in the plot to assassinate the third Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan who ironically, was not under the tree and did not give allegiance.

The very same companions who killed other companions like ‘Ammar ibn Yasser at the battle of Nahrawan, were also under the tree.

Surely, these companions are not included in this verse, despite the fact they gave allegiance under the tree.

Allah praised all the companions in 48/29

The verse quoted in the beginning is indeed in praise of the companions but as stated in all the above examples, it is not everlasting for each and every single last companion. The companions who fought countless civil wars, are not all going to be on the same level.

The key word in this verse is near the end. Reward and forgiveness is promised to those ‘among’ them. Among them meaning not all of them, for there are hypocrites in every corner of each community.

The Shia claim some of the greatest companions apostatised and left Islam after the Prophet died which is unimaginable

It is not ridiculous at all, Allah warned the companions, many, many times about a wave of corruption that would flood Islam from within the ummah.

Muhammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [to unbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allah at all; but Allah will reward the grateful. 3/144

In this verse, Allah speaks directly to the companions and asks them, when the messenger dies, will you turn back on your heels [meaning to apostatise and leave Islam]? If so, it matters not, he is not going to harm Allah.

Here you are - those invited to spend in the cause of Allah - but among you are those who withhold [out of greed]. And whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself; and Allah is the Free of need, while you are the needy. And if you turn away, He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you. 47/38

Here we see companions being threatened to be replaced because of their greed and stinginess in spending their wealth for the sake of Allah. Bu again, the clear point here is that Allah is saying that if they turn away, they will be replaced.

The same warning is repeated in the following verse

O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his religion - Allah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him [who are] humble toward the believers, powerful against the disbelievers; they strive in the cause of Allah and do not fear the blame of a critic. That is the favor of Allah ; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. 5/54

And again

On the Day [some] faces will turn white and [some] faces will turn black. As for those whose faces turn black, [to them it will be said], “Did you disbelieve after your belief? Then taste the punishment for what you used to reject.” 3/106

And again

Indeed, those who have believed then disbelieved, then believed, then disbelieved, and then increased in disbelief - never will Allah forgive them, nor will He guide them to a way. 4/137

And again

And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever - for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire, they will abide therein eternally. 2/217

And again

Indeed, those who reject the message after their belief and then increase in disbelief - never will their [claimed] repentance be accepted, and they are the ones astray. 3/90

And from the hadith there are countless examples of the punishment for the apostates

Narrated Ibn Al-Musaiyab:

The companions of the Prophet said, “Some men from my companions will come to my Lake-Fount and they will be driven away from it, and I will say, ‘O Lord, my companions!’ It will be said, ‘You have no knowledge of what they innovated after you left: they turned apostate as renegades (reverted from Islam)

Sahih al Bukhari

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, “While I was sleeping, a group (of my followers were brought close to me), and when I recognized them, a man (an angel) came out from amongst (us) me and them, he said (to them), ‘Come along.’ I asked, ‘Where?’ He said, ‘To the (Hell) Fire, by Allah’ I asked, ‘what is wrong with them’ He said, ‘They turned apostate as renegades after you left.’ Then behold! (Another) group (of my followers) were brought close to me, and when I recognized them, a man (an angel) came out from (me and them) he said (to them); Come along.’ I asked, “Where?’ He said, ‘To the (Hell) Fire, by Allah.’ I asked, What is wrong with them?’ He said, ‘They turned apostate as renegades after you left. So I did not see anyone of them escaping except a few who were like camels without a shepherd.”

Sahih al Bukhari

These are the companions of the Prophet, the Qur’an is filled with praise of them!

It is true that the Qur’an has verses filled with praise of many companions but there are also many verses which are vehemently against some of the companions for their hypocrisy and defiance too.

Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient. 57/16

Have you not seen those who claim to have believed in what was revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you? They wish to refer legislation to Taghut, while they were commanded to reject it; and Satan wishes to lead them far astray. 4/60

The bedouins are stronger in disbelief and hypocrisy and more likely not to know the limits of what [laws] Allah has revealed to His Messenger. And Allah is Knowing and Wise. 9/97

So He penalized them with hypocrisy in their hearts until the Day they will meet Him - because they failed Allah in what they promised Him and because they [habitually] used to lie. 9/77

They swear by Allah that they did not say [anything against the Prophet] while they had said the word of disbelief and disbelieved after their [pretense of] Islam and planned that which they were not to attain. And they were not resentful except [for the fact] that Allah and His Messenger had enriched them of His bounty. So if they repent, it is better for them; but if they turn away, Allah will punish them with a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And there will not be for them on earth any protector or helper. 9/74

So either the Qur’an contradicts itself or we should finally accept the reality that the companions are just like any other group of people in the world. Filled with righteousness and evil and everything in between.

Now you’re just questioning the Prophets wisdom in who he chose to be his companions

It is by no means an attack on Muhammad’s judgement and wisdom on who he chose to keep close. On the contrary, Shia Muslims are the only Muslims who believe in Muhammad as the embodiment of perfection. No other school in Islam believes he was infallible, sinless (33/33) and free of mistake and error (53/2). It is then strange as to why someone would claim we are going against his judgement.

There is wisdom behind the Prophet not disclosing or admonishing the hypocrites around him. It is part of the divine trial that they should remain, so as to preserve the struggle between good and evil, hypocrisy and belief, through his family after him, who would be the the ones who split faith and hypocrisy, the dividers of heaven and hell.

The story of Moses teaches us that the children of Israel were mostly defiantly disobedient yet they were his companions. In fact Moses had barely left them alone for 40 days and they began to idol worship a golden calf! The whole story of the continuous disbelief and disobedience of the companions of Moses are narrated in early part of the second chapter of the Qur’an from around verse 40.

 

(via theillspirit-deactivated2013040)

Why Do We Fear Death?

thelittlephilosopher:

The fear of death, for most of the people, is not a matter which requires any evidence because it is totally obvious and we also see that a lot of people manifest extra-ordinary sensitivity with respect to the term ‘death’ and its reality. Thus the actual matter is self-evident.  That which requires proof and an answer is the reason for this fear and alarm as to why we fear death?

 Reasons for the Fear of Death

In answer to this question, it is possible to mention some reasons, which have also appeared in our traditions, and which are as follows:

1. Not having a correct insight

 In the previous discussions, we had mentioned that a lot of people considered death to be an eternal destruction of themselves. Consequently, it is but natural that they fear death and visualize it dark and gloomy, because the love for permanence and eternity is one of the natural instincts of people and each one in his own way, tries to protect himself  from calamities and diseases and ensure his own permanence, and death, in his view,  is greater and more pain-inflicting than any disease or calamity, because it is the start of his everlasting extinction.

Nevertheless, if the alarm and fear of death is as a result of non-recognition of the reality of death, then for the removal of this fear, it is vital that its reality, which is found in the Islamic insight, be understood and with regard to it, a strong conviction be developed. If a person bases his views regarding death on correct foundations, many of his fears regarding death will cease to exist because, once he comprehends that with death, he shall enter into a world, more extensive and eternal and also that he shall be liberated from the material, natural and corporeal shackles, how then would he consider it to be abominable and hateful.

 2. A new and an unfamiliar path

One of the causes due to which man tends to fear death is that man, after death, steps onto an entirely new path and embarks upon an entirely new journey. Man, usually tends to travel on frightful paths, over which he has traveled a number of times and has not encountered any trouble, better than paths which are comparatively safer, but which are totally new.  Since, the path being new and unfamiliar, it becomes reason for hesitation and anxiety, especially since no one, who has traveled this path, has brought any news about it, for the others. 

Anyway, if the fear of death is due to the place and path being unfamiliar, then it is necessary that the reality of death be completely comprehended and one’s conviction strengthened.  In addition to this, it is necessary to obtain the necessary information by means of the Revelation and the traditions of the Infallible Imams (a.s.) and the righteous people, regarding the stages, places of danger and the other particularities of death and after it, then believe in them and prepare oneself to encounter them.  Just like a person, who during the course of a journey, finds himself lonely and unaware of his whereabouts, manages to lessen his perplexity with the help of necessary information, maps and equipment’s, we too must obtain the map of the way and the necessary information from authentic and reliable sources.

دخل علىّ بن محمّد (عليهما السلام) على مريض من اصحابه و هو يبكى و يجزع من الموت. فقال له: يا عبد الله تخاف من الموت لانّك لا تعرفه, أرأيتك اذا اتّسخت و تقذّرت و تأذّيت من كثرة القذر و الوسخ عليك و اصابك قروح و جرب و علمت انّ الغسل في حمّام يزيل ذلك كلّه أما تريدان تدخله فتغتسل ذلك عنك او ما تكره ان تدخله فيبقي ذلك عليك؟  قال: بلى يابن رسول الله.  قال: فذلك الموت هو ذلك الحمّام…

 

In a tradition from Imàm ‘Alى ibn Muĥammed (‘a), it is narrated that he (‘a) approached one of his companions who was sick and in a state of crying and grieving and complaining due to fear of death.  The Imàm (‘a) then addressed him saying: “O servant of Allàh, you fear death because you do not comprehend it”.  Then the Imàm (‘a) presented an example and said “If you had become dirty, and due to the excess of dirt and dirtiness you were in suffering and inconvenience, and you knew that the cure for all this lay in your taking a shower, would you wish to go to a bath and clean yourself or would you wish to remain in the same state of dirtiness and as a result continue to undergo the suffering.”  The sick man said, “ Yes, I would wish to take the shower “.  Then the Imam (‘a) replied “death (for you) is the very same shower…”[64]

The point to be considered in the above tradition is that, the sick person was one of the companions of the Imam (‘a) and was aware of the Islamic insight regarding death, but in spite of this, was intensely fearful of death.  And so, the Imàm (‘a) by presenting an example explained to him the states and circumstances after death and thus calmed him.

3. Lack of preparation

Some of the people have comprehended the reality of death and are also aware of the Islamic insight regarding death.  On the other hand, they have also obtained some information regarding the stations and the journey after death, however, in spite of all this, they still fear death.  This fear is not due to the two reasons previously mentioned but because they have not made available for themselves the tools and things necessary for this journey of theirs, while, on the contrary they have been paying more-than-necessary importance to their present lives; like a person who knows that he would have to spend the rest of his life in another country, but has not collected any money for his journey.  Instead, all that he has gathered is in the form of house, shop, land or other things which, presently, are neither capable of being changed, nor transferred.  In other words, he has strived and worked and collected a capital, but the capital is such that it cannot be transferred and there is also nobody who will buy it.  In short, it is not useful in any way for the objective, which he had in mind.  It was because of this that Imàm Husaىn (‘a) said:

 انّكم اخربتم آخرتكم و عمرتك دنياكم فأنتم تكرهون النقلة من العمران الى الخراب

 “You have ruined and destroyed your hereafter and instead have made habitable the present life.  So you do not like the transfer from a habitated and comfortable place to a ruined and destroyed one.” [65]

This kind of fear of death, which results from the lack of preparedness and the absence of the provisions of the journey usually occurs with the believers, which in reality is not fear of death but instead, fear of not possessing the sufficient provisions necessary for this journey.

Another point is that such a fear is usually mixed with eagerness.  Because, on the one hand, a believer is eager for the Divine meeting and also for the companionship of the Righteous people.  On the other hand, due to lack of sufficient piety and the necessary provisions, finds himself in a state of anxiety and fear, whereas the unbelievers do not possess such a fear and eagerness.  They fear the actual death, because they consider it to be a complete annihilation.  Of course, it could be said that the fear of the unbelievers could have a universal meaning, and the causes of it could be those mentioned and also those not mentioned. 

Nevertheless, death or transfer into another world is a universal law, acceptance of which or fear of which shall create no change in the law itself, and finally sooner or later, everyone shall taste the nectar or the poison of death.  That, which is more important than death, is the preparation for it, and Insha-Allàh, Allàh shall bestow such a success upon us.

Notes:

[64] Ma’anil Akhbàr, Pg. 290

[65] Ma’anil Akhbar, Pg. 289

Source

“When you have to give up on your life, when you’re essentially hopeless, then you’ll be willing to negotiate. And, you know, that’s what’ll happen with the Arabs for the Israelis.”

leftwinggifs:

First I was:

Then I was:

Then I just turned to my mother and was all:

Except this quote is false realistically. History has taught us that when you give up on your life, when you’re essentially hopeless, when you have nothing to live for, that is when you rise up against the power structure who made you that way. That is when that power structure becomes dismantled. And, you know, inshAllah, that’s what’ll happen with the Arabs for the Israelis.