1. What's New
  2. What's New

What's New

  • The Geography of Quranic Accounts: Eight Questions from Six Scholars of the Quran

    Questions and answers by six scholars of the Qur'an on the subject of archealogical sites mentioned in the Qur'an such as Dhul Qarnayn Dam and Ashab-e Kahf Cave, and the purpose of studying these sites.

  • The Prophetic Hadiths in Al-Khisal

    A partial translation of al-Khisal by Shaykh Sadooq, one of the greatest and earliest scholars of Shi'a Islam. al-Khisal is unique in that it categorizes the traditions contained therein according to their emphasis on numbers, from one to one million, in ascending order. This particular translation presents traditions related to numbers one through twelve.

  • Islam, the Qur'an and the Arabic Literature

    Relationship between Islam and Arabic, impact of Qur'an on the Arabic language, and the internalization of Arabic.

  • Brief Analysis of Ne'ma (Bounty) in the Holy Qur'an

    This short text contains a detailed discussion about the meaning and context of the term "Ne'ma" (bounty/favour) as used in all the various places in the Holy Qur'an. ***** بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم وبه تعالى نستعينفي القرءان الكريم“النعمة”  Introduction   Praise be to Allah Who is Manifest before His creation because of themselves. Who is apparent to their hearts because of clear proof; Who created without meditating, since meditating does not befit except one who has thinking organs while He has no thinking organ in Himself.  Praise is due to Allah whose worth cannot be described by speakers, whose bounties cannot be counted by calculators, whom the height of intellectual courage cannot appreciate.  He for whose description no limit has been laid down, no eulogy exists, no time is ordained and no duration is fixed. Our goal in this discourse is to better understand a certain reality which we as humans as well as other creatures enjoy everyday of our lives in different

  • Tradition of Myrobalan Fruit (Hadith al-Halila)

    A thought provoking dialogue between Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a) and an atheist physician from India. Using logical arguments and the Myrobalan fruit as its theme the Imam convinces the atheist beyond doubt of the existence and attributes of Almighty Allah.

  • A Concise Treatise of Authentic Traditions Regarding the Right to Divine Leadership (Imamate) of the Twelve Imams

    Dedication   This translation is devoted in gratitude to the memory of the late Mr Gulamhussein Bhai Somji, Mrs Tahera Bai Somji, Mr Mahmud Bhai Somji and all the deceased Believers worldwide.   The Late Shaykh Al-Tabrizi had this booklet published in Arabic. The edition consulted for this translation was the second edition, published in the year 1425 AH and obtained by the translator whilst studying in Damascus in the year 2008 AD.     Introduction   All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the Universe, and may His peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his purified progeny.   Questions frequently arise concerning theological issues relevant to Muslims, especially among the adherents of the Ahlulbayt. The motives underlying these questions tend to be diverse. Some raise questions in order to learn; and seek evidence regarding a subject. Such people need to be given convincing and complete answers, which is the objective of this treatise, with the help of Allah (

  • Al-Hadith, Analysis and an Overview

    Main Sources Sources of Hadith, Muhammad Al-Jalali. Al-Saadiq and the Four Madh'habs, Asad Haidar. Nahjul Balaaghah, English Translation of certain selections, Farouk Ebeid. Introduction to Hadith, A. Rahman Doi. Mish'kaat Al-Masabeeh, Translation by Fazlul Karim. What is Hadith? The Hadith is the record of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (swas). The sayings and conduct of Prophet Muhammad (swas) constitute the Sunnah. The Hadith has come to supplement the Holy Qur’an as a source of the Islamic religious law. The Hadith is the second pillar after the Qur’an upon which every Muslim rests his faith. Hadith consists of Mat'n and Isnad. Mat'n means the text of the Hadith, while Isnad means the chain of transmitters to that Hadith. The scholars of the Hadith literature divided the Traditions into categories according to the degree of authenticity and reliability, each category had to meet certain criteria. The categories are as follows: 1. Sahih:

  • Nahjul Balagha Part 2, Letters and Sayings

    The English translation (accompanied with original Arabic text) of a collection of letters and sayings of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) that provide divine wisdom and eternal guidance for his followers. The Sermons of Imam 'Ali can be found here:http://www.al-islam.org/nahjul-balagha-part-1-sermons

  • Nahjul Balagha Part 1 - The Sermons

    The English translation (accompanied with original Arabic text) of the supremely eloquent sermons of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him). Nahjul Balagha contains 240 sermons given by Imam Ali (a), dealing with a wide variety of topics including our existence, relationship with the Almighty, building a God-fearing personality, and the Imam's (a) reflections upon historical incidents. The Letters and Sayings of Imam 'Ali can be found here: http://www.al-islam.org/nahjul-balagha-part-2-letters-and-sayings

  • Misconceptions about Nahjul Balaghah

    No scholar of Sunni or Shi'a profession has questioned the genuineness and uthenticity of Nahjul Balaghah for more than two centuries. The first person to raise doubts about its attribution to Amir al-Mu'minin was Ibn Khallikan (d. 681/1282), who, without referring to any author or source, made the following remarks about the authorship of Nahjul Balaghah: People have different opinions about the compiler of Nahjul Balaghah, a collection of the utterances of al-'Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) There is difference as to whether it was compiled by al-Sharif al-Murtada or his brother al-Radi. It is also said that it is not at all the composition of 'Ali (as) and that the one who compiled it and attributed it to him made it himself; but Allah knows the truth. These remarks were made in Wafayat al-aya'n in connection with the account of the life and work of al-Sharif al-Murtada, al-Radi's elder brother. Ibn al-'Athir al Jazari (555-630/1160-1232) in Mukhtasar al-Wafayat, Salah al-Din

  • The Commentaries on Nahjul Balaghah

    Since the times of al-Radi, Nahjul Balaghah has been a subject of study and interpretation. As reported earlier al Sayyid al-Murtada's daughter used to narrate her uncle's work, and the book had become a subject of study in academic circles. The Kitab nameh yi Nahjul Balaghah published in 1359 Sham/1980 in Persian from Iran, enlists 370 titles of various commentaries, translations, selections and books dealing with its madarik and masadir (sources) in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Turkish, English, Gujrati and French. This bibliography cannot be considered to be complete in any way, for it is compiled in Iran and the compiler depended on secondary sources such as al-Dhari'ah, Kakh-e dilawiz, Nuqaba' al-bashar, etc., as he had no access to the works in other languages, particularly Indian languages. A large number of titles could have been added to this list with some research in the languages unfamiliar to the Persians. A selected bibliography on the basis of this Kitab-nameh and two

  • The Contents of Nahjul Balaghah

    The Contents of Nahjul Balaghah Nahjul Balaghah comprises various issues that cover major problems of metaphysics, theology, fiqh, tafsir, hadith, prophetology, imamate, ethics, social philosophy, history, politics, administration, civics, science, rhetoric, poetry, literature, etc. Most of the discussions about various theological issues and philosophical notions in Islam have their origin in this very book. Similarly, all the controversies regarding socio-political problems in the Muslim society and state left their echo in Nahjul Balaghah, or rather those were inspired from the utterances of al-lmam 'Ali (as). The book not only reflects the spirit of early Islam and the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet (saw) in the proper perspective, but also serves as a guide to traverse the future in the light of these teachings. It is a matter of regret that Nahjul Balaghah was not properly utilized by the Muslims as a source book of Islamic philosophy, kalam, fiqh, and

  • Sources of Nahjul Balaghah

    The most important work of al-Radi is the compilation of selected sermons, letters and sayings of Amir al-Mu'minin 'Ali (as). He selected 241 sermons, 79 letters, and 489 sayings. Those numbers vary in different editions of Nahjul Balaghah. The number of sermons varies from 238 to 241 and the number of letters varies from 77 to 79, whereas sayings vary from 463 to 489. Al-Radi, in the introduction to Nahjul Balaghah, gives an account of the circumstances that led him to compile the utterances and writings of 'Ali (as). According to this account, while busy in writing Khasa'is al-A'immah he planned to devote the last part of the book to the sayings and writings of Amir al-Mu'minin (as). This task was so absorbing and fascinating that his friends and brothers-in-faith desired that he should compile a book covering all the forms of 'Ali's utterances such as letters, lectures, counsels, moral admonitions and aphorisms, for, they would prove to be masterpieces of eloquence,

  • A Divine Perspective on Rights

    A Divine Perspective on Rights: A commentary on Imam Sajjad's "The Treatise of Rights" by Imam 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn as-Sajjad (as) A detailed commentary on the Treatise of Rights as narrated by our fourth Imam, Ali bin Husayn (as). This commentary contains further references from the Qur'an and ahadith confirming and shedding light on what has been narrated by our fourth Imam in The Treatise of Rights.

  • Trends of History in Qur'an

    A collection of the Ayatullah's last lectures on topical exegesis, norms and laws of history mentioned in the Qur'an, and man, nature and society.

  • A Short History of Ilm ul Usul

    A discussion of 'Ilm al-Usul (the science of the principles of Islamic Jurisprudence), including its need, importance, and history.

  • Al-Mizan - An Exegesis Of The Qur'an - Volume 2

    This is the second volume of this renowned commentary on the Holy Qur’an written by Allamah Tabataba’i, one of its greatest modern commentators, and translated by Sayyid Sa’eed Akhtar Rizvi.  This volume contains the exegesis of Surah Al-Baqarah from verse 94 to verse 182.

  • Al-Mizan - An Exegesis Of The Qur’an - Volume 1

    This is the first volume of this renowned commentary on the Holy Qur’an written by Allamah Tabataba’i, one of its greatest modern commentators, and translated by Sayyid Sa’eed Akhtar Rizvi.  This volume contains the exegesis of Surah Al-Fatiha and Surah Al-Baqarah till verse 93.

  • Forty Hadith: The Noble Qur'an

    This text is a collection of forty ahadith about the Holy Quran from the Fourteen Infallibles (as).

  • Treatise On Rights (Risalat al-Huquq)

    Imam Zayn al-'Abidin's `Treatise on Rights' is the only work attributed to him other than supplications or relatively short sayings and letters. The `Treatise on Rights' elaborates on a well-known saying of the Prophet, which has been transmitted in a rather large number of versions, because he repeated it in many different contexts.