Articles
The Virtues of Imam Husayn (a) and His Companions
The Virtues of Imam Husayn (a) and His Companions Mohammad Ali Shomali This paper is based on Lecture 11 of a series of lectures entitled, “Spiritual Struggle of Karbala.” This lecture was delivered by Dr. Shomali on the Day of Ashura...
The Meaning of Tawatur
As we know, the tradition or ahadith of the Holy Prophet (S) recorded in the books of Muslim traditionists begin with chains of transmitters on whose authority the traditionist reports the Prophet's acts or statements. Experts of hadith amongst...
The Phenomenon of Weeping
The phenomenon of weeping gives rise to much criticism. Despite the fact that it is not a phenomenon which is separate from the rites of remembrance for al-Husayn, I was influenced to devote a special study to it in a section which would be...
Significance of the Months of Muharram & Safar in Islam
The months of Muharram and Safar offer the yearly opportunity to commemorate the martyrdom of al‑Husayn ibn `Ali (A), the grandson of the Prophet (S) and the third Imam of the Shiite Muslims, at Karbala' on the tenth of Muharram in the year 61....
The Fast of 'Ashura
Some traditions are found in Sunni books to the effect that the Prophet (s.a.w.) on migrating to Medina found the Jews fasting on the 10th of Muharram. He asked them why, and was told: “It is an auspicious day; it is the day when God delivered...
Beliefs and acts of Yazid
What was the character of this so-called caliph of the Prophet? He was such that he openly denied the messengership of the Messenger (s.a.w). He made his beliefs clear in the following couplets: “Banu Hashim (the Prophet and his family) has...
Evil deeds of Muawiyah
Now we should turn our attention towards Damascus. It was the time when Muawiyah was the accepted ruler of the Muslim populace. Not through selection or nomination but through force and armed conflict. We have already seen the atmosphere...
How Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn (a.s) saved Islam from Destruction
Since the last 10 years, Maulana Sayyid Sa’eed Akhtar Rizvi is involved in religious propagation in East Africa. In that region writing in Urdu is of no avail. Due to this the respected Maulana has devoted all his attention to writing in English...
Chapter 4: Nomination of Ali to the Caliphate by the Prophet (S)
The chief and only cause for division among Muslims is the question whether or not the Prophet (S) has nominated anyone as his successor. All sects of Muslims universally agree that, of the four caliphs and in fact among all the companions of the...
Chapter 3: The Antagonists
Before the advent of Islam, Mecca was an international trade center populated by Jews, Christians, Idol worshippers, atheists, and a motley crowd professing several other philosophies and religions. When the Prophet (S) propagated the concept...