
12 beautiful sayings by Imam Ali (as)
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As 2016 draws to an end, here are 12 beautiful sayings by Imam Ali (as) that we can collectively reflect on, to help us feel motivated and empowered for 2017!
1. “How can one become intimate with Allah when he has not separated…

Prophetic Texts Relating to Imamate of Imam Ali (A.S)
Shia islamSHAFAQNA-
This article is prepared in three parts with these submenus as follows:
1. The Event of the Day of Warning
2. The Tradition of Ghadir and Its Continuity (Part 1)
3. The Tradition of Ghadir…

The Reward of Loving Ahlul-Bayt (A.S.)
Shia islam, SpotlightSHAFAQNA-I found the following astonishing tradition in one of the most famous Tafsir book of the Sunni brothers, that is, "Tafsir al-Kabir", by Fakhr al-Razi who is a leading Sunni scholar with multiple specialties in Tafsir, Fiqh, and theology.…

The Sixth Imam, Ja’far Ibn Muhammad As-Sadiq (as)
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The 6th Imam, Ja’far Ibn Muhammad As-Sadiq (as) was Born in Madinah on 17th Rabiul Awwal 83 Hijiri (23.4.702 AD). Died in Madinah on 15th Shawwal, 148 Hijri (7.12.765 AD) at the age of 63. Period of Imamate 34 years.
It is…

The Concept of Ahlul Bayt: Tribal or Islamic?
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. The Meaning of Ahlul Bayt
"Ahlul Bayt" literally means people of the house and it refers to the family or children of a person. In Islamic terminology, it refers to the family of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).
What is the basis…

Unity of the Muslims and the School of Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.)
Featured, Shia islamSHAFAQNA-As we come to the end of our discussion, we find that Sunnites and Shi'ites do not disagree on any fundamental point in Islam, and that the mercenary writers, whose goal is to divide Muslims, can not substantiate any of their accusations.
They…

Haj Sheikh Ali Akbar Nahavandi
Shia islam, SpotlightSHAFAQNA-
His Eminence Ayatollah Haj Sheikh Muhammad Nahavandi, son of late Shikh Hussein Nahavandi and a renowned scholar in Mashhad, was born in Nahavand in 1278 A.H. After completing the preliminary studies in Brujerd, he went to Tehran…

Ahl al-Bayt's (A.S.) Status on the Day of Resurrection
Featured, Shia islamSHAFAQNA- The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said: The first who will join me by the Hawd of Kawthar are my Ahl al-Bayt and those of my Ummah who love me.
Al-Imam Ali (A.S.): The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) informed me that among the first who will…

The Eleventh Imam, Hasan ibn ‘Ali (al-Askari) (as)
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Born in Madina on the 10th of Rabuil Akhar 232 Hijri ( 6.12.846 AD) Died in Samarrah Iraq on 8th of Rabiul Awwal 260 Hijri (4.1.874) aged 28 years. Period of Imamate 6 years.
Samarra (Surre Mun Ra’) was a garrison town…

Ahl al-Bayt's (A.S.) Altruism
Featured, Shia islamSHAFAQNA-And they feed, for the love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan, and the captive - (saying), we feed you for the sake of Allah alone: No reward do we desire from you, nor thanks (76:8.9)
But give them preference over themselves, even…

Humbleness and Forgiveness of the Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.)
Shia islamSHAAFQNA-
The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.): An angel came down to me who had neither descended on any prophet before me nor will descend on anyone after me. He was the Israfil and was accompanied by Jibrail. He said: Peace be upon you o Muhammad…

Ahl al-Bayt's (A.S.) Way of Worship
Featured, Shia islamSHAFAQNA-Imam Ali (A.S.): O Allah! I worshipped you neither out of greed for the Paradise nor as a result of fearing your Hell Fire, but I found you praise worthy and worshipped you.
Imam a-Sadiq (A.S.): Servants consist of three groups: One…

Short Ahadeeth by Imam Al-Hussain (A.S.)
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1. Imam Al-Hussain (peace be upon him) said:
Sitting with the intelligent is a sign of successfulness. Disputation with other than the disbelievers is a sign of ignorance. A sign of a scholar is his self-criticism of his sayings…

Wisdom of the Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.): The Main Pivot of Islamic Unity
Featured, Shia islamSHAFAQNA- Translated by Dr. Muhsin and Zahra' Shuja '-Khani
The issue of marja'iyyat-i 'ilmi for Muslims has been widely discussed and debated for centuries and its importance among the Muslims has been steadily growing as the time factor…

Quranic Verses about Imam Ali’s Imamate
Quran & Etrat, Shia islamSHAFAQNA-
To prove the caliphate of Ali ibn Abi Talib, Shiites have had recourse to Quran verses, including the following:
"Your master [wali] can be only Allah; and His messenger and the those who believe, who establish worship and pay…

The Prophet, an 'Ummi'..
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One of the specific challenges in the Qur’an to prove its miraculous nature is the position of the recipient of the revelation, prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
In one of the verses, Allah commands the prophet to…

What did Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) do when Eating?
Featured 2, Shia islam, Shia StudiesSHAFAQNA – Imam al-Ridha (a.s.), whenever he attended a meal and wanted to eat, he asked others to place a large tray next to the food, then he would put on the tray the finest of every food available, and he would ask them to take the tray…

The Medicine of Imam Reza (A.S.)
Featured 2, Shia islamSHAFAQNA-Compiled By: Syed Zainul Abideen Razavi, Tehran, Iran
Many mental and spiritual illnesses arise from worry, grief, loneliness, nervous tension and fear; these disturbances also lead to physical diseases and necessitate treatment of…

Imam al-Ridha s Words on the Sign of the Imam
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Source: Uyun Akhbar Ar-Ridha Volume 1
19-1 Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taliqani - May God be pleased with him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed ibn Uqda al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn…

Life of Imam Hasan Mujtaba(AS)
Shia islam, SpotlightSHAFAQNA-
Name : Hasan (AS) - the 2nd Holy Imam
Title : al-Mujtaba
Agnomen : Abul-Mohammad
Father : Imam Ali(AS) - the 1st Holy Imam
Mother : Hazrat Fatima Az-Zahra(SA) bint-e-Mohammad Rasool-Allah(pbuh&hf)
Birth : At Madina…

Imam Hussain’s letter to the Shia in Basra
Shia islamSHAFAQNA-
The Shi’a in al‑Basra also wrote to al‑Husayn asking him to lead a revolt against Yazid. In al‑Tabari’s version of Abu Mikhnaf’s account, the text of al‑Husayn’s reply is preserved. If genuine, it represents a very…

AhlulBait (as) and Salaat
Shia islam, SpotlightSHAFAQNA-Great dua to be recited before and after namaz. Shows the relation between Namaz and the Ahlulbait (as):
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيى ، عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسى ،…

Imam Hussain’s Revolution for Humanity
Shia islamSHAFAQNA-
by Marwa Osma
Imam Hussain’s life and status in the Islamic history are formidable. Indeed, it is not of secrecy but because of the vitality and the significance of his contributions.
Imam Hussain (pbuh) was one of two sons of…

Lessons from Karbala – Raising kids with empathy
Shia islam, SpotlightSHAFAQNA-
With the arrival of the month of Muharram, the month in which Imam Husayn ibn Ali was killed, along with his brothers, sons and followers on the plains of Karbala, there is no better time to touch on the topic of empathy. Especially…

Wilayah of AhlulBayt (as)
Shia islam, SpotlightSHAFAQNA-Written by Shaikh Al-Mufid
Abul Qasim Ja'far b. Muhammad - may Allah bless him with mercy, reported to me from his father, from Sa'd b. Abdillah, from Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Isa, from Muhammad b. Sinan, from Abdul Karim b. Amru and…

Arbaeen of Imam Husayn AS
Shia islamSHAFAQNA- By Shaykh Saleem Bhimji
What follows in this piece is a brief look at the “Arba‘een” [the commemoration of 40 days after the tragic events of Karbala] of Imam al-Husayn, peace be upon him. The article concludes with…

Jabir's powerful words to 'Atiyyah on the Arbaeen of Imam al-Hussain (AS)
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Al-A’mash narrates from ‘Atiyyah al-‘Awfi, who said:
I left with Jabir bin ‘Abdillah al-Ansari (may Allah have mercy on him) to visit the grave of al-Husayn bin ‘Ali (‘a) bin Abi Talib (upon whom be peace); and…

Arbaeen Pilgrimage: Religious Trek to Karbala
Photos, Shia islamSHAFAQNA- The annual congregation of Shiite Muslims in commemoration of Arbaeen, the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), is reaching its climax as millions of pedestrians walk to the Iraqi city of Karbala, which hosts…