⏯️ Ziyarat from a  distance | Ayatollah Javad Amoli

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Advice to Pilgrims on the Occasion of Arbaeen

توجيهات المرجعية الدينية لزوار الإمام الحسين (ع) في مناسبة الأربعين

The following question was posed to Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Sistani:

As we are a group of pilgrims leaving for Karbala for Arbaeen, we are in need of your fatherly advice in order for us to benefit from this spiritual journey, earn the reward of ziyarah, and also to find out what we don’t know.

Answer: Answer by Grand Ayatullah Sistani (may God grant him long life):

In the Name of God, the Compassionate the Merciful

Praise belongs to God, the Exalted, and peace and benedictions of God be upon our master, Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his pure progeny (peace be upon them).

God, the Exalted, selected Prophets and their noble successors (p) from amongst His servants to be divine proofs and authority over people. God has encouraged people to visit the sacred sites so that those infallible leaders (p) are continuously remembered and held in reverence. Since those nobles are the best examples of servitude to God, visiting their shrines, commemorating them and narrating their stories will remind the believers of God, the Exalted, His doctrines and injunctions.

Hence, one of the essentials of this pilgrimage is that the pilgrim, in addition to remembering Imam Hussain’s (p) sacrifices and devotion in the way of God, the Exalted, observe the teachings of Islam including those relating to prayer, hijab, self-reform, selflessness and moral etiquette etc. In this way, his/her pilgrimage may be a step toward developing and training the soul for accepting these teachings and consolidating their effects until the next pilgrimage. By doing this, attending these ceremonies will almost be the same as attending the lessons of the Imam, peace be upon him.

As we have not lived during the time of the Ahl al-Bayt (p), God, the Exalted, has preserved their conduct and persuaded us to visit them so that we may model ourselves after them. God also wants to test us as to how sincere we are in our desire to be close to them and follow their teachings. We must know that if we act as per their advice, it is hoped that we shall be resurrected along with their friends. It has been reported that Imam Ali (p) said in the Battle of Jamal:

“Today we are accompanied by those who are still in the loins of their fathers and mothers.”

Therefore, it is not difficult for each of us, who cherish the hope to act according to the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt, to obey them and benefit from their manners.

Fear God in relation to your prayers. As stated in the hadith, it is the pillar of your religion and the ascension of the believer. If it is accepted, all other acts will be accepted and if it is rejected, all other acts of worship will also be rejected.

It is befitting for believers to offer their prayers on time because God loves those who rush to prayer as soon as they hear the call for it. It is not appropriate for a believer to engage in any other acts of worship during the optimal time for prayer because prayer is the best form of obedience to God. It is has been narrated from the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, that they said:

“Our intercession (with God) will not be won or gained by that person who depreciates or undervalues the prayer”.

About Imam Hussain’s (p) special attention to prayer on the Day of Ashura, it has been reported that he told his companion who reminded him of the optimal time for prayer:

“You reminded me of prayer, may Allah include you amongst those who are conscious of (their duty to) prayer.”

Then and there he established prayer under a rain of arrows.

Fear God in sincerity as the value and barakah of one’s deeds depends how sincere one is in performing them for God’s sake, because God will not accept any deeds which are not purely for Him.

THE ISLAMIC LIFESTYLE:

As-Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh
"Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you."
___Meaning and Significance:

This Islamic greeting is not just a casual salutation; it is a powerful prayer and expression of goodwill.

1. Peace (Salam): Wishing peace to the recipient, which signifies a desire for their safety, tranquility, and freedom from harm.

2. Mercy (Rahmah): Asking for Allah’s compassion and kindness to be bestowed upon the person, which encompasses forgiveness and relief from hardships.

3. Blessings (Barakatuh): Wishing the recipient abundance and success in all aspects of their life, both material and spiritual.

Importance to Individuals and Societies:

1. Promotes Unity and Brotherhood: This greeting fosters a sense of community and mutual respect, which strengthens bonds between individuals, encouraging a spirit of brotherhood.

2. Encourages Positive Interactions: By starting interactions with such a prayer, it sets a positive tone for communication, promoting kindness and goodwill.

3. Divine Protection and Blessings: The greeting invokes Allah's protection and blessings, which contribute to the well-being and prosperity of both individuals and the community as a whole.

How to Enjoy Its Benefits:

To fully benefit from this greeting:

1. Respond Appropriately: When someone greets you with this phrase, respond with a similar or better greeting, e.g., "Wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh" (And peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you too). This reflects reciprocation of goodwill and enhances mutual respect.

2. Live by Its Principles: Strive to embody the peace, mercy, and blessings you wish upon others in your own life. Be peaceful in your actions, merciful in your dealings, and seek to be a source of blessings to those around you.

By understanding and practicing the deeper meanings of this greeting, individuals can cultivate a more harmonious and blessed environment, both personally and within society.

Good Day ?

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If you cannot see and appreciate God's blessings in your life now, how will more blessings make any difference?

Have a Happy Sunday ?

Life's Trials Lead to God

The quotation by Martyr Mustafa Chamran highlights the concept that life's challenges, trials, and tribulations are a means through which an individual is drawn closer to God. These difficulties serve to detach the person from worldly attachments and dependencies, directing their focus and devotion towards God alone.

The key teachings from the quotation are:

Detachment from Worldly Attachments: The breaking of the heart and the displacement from settled places represent the removal of attachments to worldly things and people. This detachment is not seen as mere suffering but as a divine strategy to shift the individual's focus towards God.

Exclusive Devotion to God: Through the process of loss and displacement, the person learns to rely solely on God. The trials teach the person that ultimate security, peace, and fulfillment can only be found in a relationship with God, rather than in transient worldly attachments.

Purification of Worship: The recurring theme of loss and worry serves to purify the individual's worship, ensuring that it is directed exclusively towards God. This purification process is depicted as a blessing because it refines the person's spiritual practice and deepens their faith.

Gratitude in Suffering: The expression of gratitude for these trials signifies a profound spiritual insight—that suffering and loss are not to be resented but appreciated as means of spiritual growth and deeper communion with God.

In summary, the quotation teaches that life's hardships can be understood as divine interventions designed to draw individuals closer to God. By stripping away earthly attachments, these experiences help to foster a deeper, more exclusive devotion and trust in God, ultimately leading to spiritual growth and a more profound sense of peace and fulfillment in the divine presence.

A Corrective Exegesis | Sheikh Naser Makarem Al-Shirazi Debunks A  Misleading Interpretation of the Qur'an.

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THE STRAIGHT PATH

Praying on Time

I don't think I've ever read a description of the idea of praying on time and not delaying it from its appointed time as I read from Imam Khomeini, Allah have mercy on his soul. He says about prayer:

'The idea that embarrasses me in delaying prayer from its time lies in the fact that I am not the one who set the appointment for this prayer, nor am I the one who chose the timing. The Creator, the Most High, is the one who determined it. Allah, who created this universe, whose greatness, vastness, complexity, beauty, mystery, exquisite craftsmanship, abundance of creatures, and blessings, and miracles astound my mind when I think about them. He is the one who wants me to stand before Him, talk to Him, and supplicate to Him. And what do I do? Often, I make this appointment the last of my priorities until its time is almost missed, presenting it with every trivial matter and insignificant affair. Allah, the Most High, calls me (a mere weightless speck in His vast universe) to stand before Him, while I am engrossed in the trivialities and fading allure of life. He calls me for just a few minutes, and I procrastinate, hesitate, and delay, then come to Him late, as is my habit. Is there any greater misery than this? The Most High calls me (to a closed meeting) between Him and me. I am the one in need, and He is the rich, generous one. Yet, I make it an open meeting for all kinds of thoughts and daydreams. I attend with my body, and my mind is absent. He wants me to distance myself from everything for a few precious minutes to relax my body and mind, and detach a bit from the noise of life and its preoccupations. I confide in Him with my complaints and concerns, for His sake alone. He is the great Creator, independent of me and my worship and my time. He calls me to hear my voice, and I procrastinate! Then, here I am, either coming slowly or in a rush, as if I am coming to Him against my will! I am present yet absent! He, the Most High, wants it to be a private meeting, and I make it a cold listening session and empty exercises and a wandering mind. What greater wretchedness is there? O Allah, forgive me for every prayer that does not befit the majesty of Your countenance and the greatness of Your sovereignty.'

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