What's New

  • The History of the Islamic Seminaries of Qum, Part 1

    This article delves into the history of the Islamic seminaries of Qum. Using Islamic traditions and historical records, the significance of Qum according to the Ahlul Bayt will be stated, along with its link to Lady Ma‘sumah’s arrival to the city and its impact on the future of the seminaries’ success.
  • The Descent of Adam in the Torah and the Qur’an

    This article is the comparison between Jewish and Islamic perspectives regarding the descent of Adam and Eve. According to this research, both the Quran and Torah include the event of Adam and Eve’s descent with apparent differences in the details about the incident.
  • Spiritual Journeying In The Words Of Shi’a Mystics

    In the Islamic mysticism and ethics, ‘wakefulness’ (yaqzah) is the first stage of journey to God and the first phase of spiritual journey.This text explores the way to wakefulness with the word and examples of great Shi’a Mystics.
  • Humility in the Conduct of Great Scholars

    In this article, examples of virtuous humility in some contemporary great scholars’ conduct have been provided, and praiseworthy humility referred to in the Holy Qur’an and hadiths have been introduced and elaborated on.
  • Sincerity for the Sake of God

    This article addresses various aspects of sincerity as viewed in the Qur’an, Islamic traditions, and by Muslim scholars, as well as some of its signs and effects. Moreover, instructions on how to acquire and strengthen ikhlaas will also be stated, some of which steps include having true love for God, being certain about His oneness, yearning for what is with Him, controlling our desires.
  • The Supreme Light And Created Lights: A Qur’anic Perspective

    Using the Qur’an and Islamic traditions, this article addresses some of the major aspects of the concept of light. Light is one of God’s qualities, and every being in the universe is endowed with it.
  • The Islamic Sciences And The Philosophy Of Science

    The Islamic Sciences and the Philosophy of Science Hajj Muhammad Legenhausen Hajj Muhammad Legenhausen teaches at the Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute in Qom, Iran. His blog can be accessed at: http://peacethroughunderstanding.blogspot.com ***** How do theories in the Islamic sciences grow, develop, and change? What sorts of questions are answered through the development of theoretical religious sciences? One of the topics currently of great interest among the scholars and researchers of Qom is about whether Western philosophy of science can be used to help understand the structure of religious knowledge. From the period between the world wars, when views about the philosophy of science were presented by members of the Vienna Circle, until the present day, numerous philosophical views have been presented about the empirical sciences. These views are designed for several purposes: (1) To Explain How And Why Scientific Theories Change And Occasionally
  • Where Do We Find God?

    Where Do We Find God? Hajj Muhammad Legenhausen Hajj Muhammad Legenhausen teaches at the Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute in Qom, Iran. His blog can be accessed at http://peacethroughunderstanding.blogspot.com ***** Since everything manifests God in some way or other, God can be found everywhere, if only we learn how to look. May Allah help us to look properly and to find His manifestations in all things, especially in the best of His creatures Muhammad and his Ahlul Bayt, the immaculate and pure, and in all the prophets and guides He has sent to humanity, and may we, too, in our own humble ways, come to manifest Him in our own lives. Someone wrote to me: “I need to find God. Where can I find God?” And I thought, “I need to find God too. Don’t we all? Where can we find Him?” This is what came to mind – fourteen places to find God. Of course, there are many more, maybe some which are better or more important than those I’ve mentioned here. Maybe some work
  • Ibn Sina’s Practical Philosophy

  • What is True Success? Excerpts from Peak of Eloquence (Nahjul Balagha)

    Nahjul Balagha, the Peak of Eloquence, is a collection of 239 sermons, 79 letters, and 489 sayings of Imam Ali (a.s.). Each sermon deals with many topics, depending upon the needs of the time, in answer to a question, or in response to a specific event or request. This text arranges the sayings of Imam Ali (a.s.) topically helping the reader to know what is said on a particular subject.
  • The Life of Imam Al-Mahdi

    This book is the biography of the Twelfth Imam, Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (a.s.), also referred to as the Qaim of Aale Muhammad, the Awaited Imam (a.s.) and the Last of the Successors. The book also covers major objections that the opponents of Shias aim against the belief in Imam Mahdi (a.s.), which the respected author, Baqir Sharif Qarashi has refuted in a convincing way.
  • Mishkat ul-Anwar Fi Ghurar il-Akhbar, The Lamp Niche for the Best Traditions

    Many of the verses of the Quran and the concepts of Islam can be understood better using authentic traditions. The book The Lamp Niche for the Best Traditions is a translation into English of the book Mishkat ul-Anwar Fi Ghurar il-Akhbar. This book, which has been based on many authentic documents, is an authentic document on traditions. It is organized into several chapters and sections and contains almost all aspects of life and religion introduced through the maxims of the prophets and Imams.
  • Lights on the Muhammadan Sunnah or Defence of the Hadith

    Throughout history, many false ahadith were ascribed to our holy Prophet (S). The situation got to the point that people who met the Prophet (S) once or not at all transmitted more narrations that the people who actually lived with our beloved Prophet (S). This book is an amazing attempt to discern what is true and what is false, who is on the right side and who has the truth in their grasp. The author's endeavour is even more wondrous as studying ahadith is a slow and tiring process of studying dates, characters and many many books.
  • Love for the Ahlul Bayt and its Outcomes

    This article offers the effects of having love for the Ahlul Bayt in this world and in the next.
  • Imam Sadiq’s Contribution to the Scientific Movement

    This article focuses on Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq 's role in developing this scientific movement, offers an account of the number and religious denominations of his students and narrators, and reveals the degree to which this influence extended to include Sunni literature of Islamic studies. Indeed, many scholars and students are indebted to the Imam's vast knowledge and contributions in religious and academic fields.
  • A Glimpse at the Major Shi'a Seminaries, Part 3

    This article largely focuses on the Islamic Seminaries of Jabal Aamel, Isfahan, and Mashhad.
  • Man and the Formation of Social Life According to Tafsir Al-Mizan

    This article investigates the viewpoint of Allamah Tabatabai on the characteristics of man, particularly his social life, the origin of the human society, and man's tendency to establish social justice.
  • Miracles and the Principle of Causality: Christian and Shi’a Perspectives

    Miracles have always been a controversial issue, both in theology, philosophy, and science. This paper will quote from both Christian and Shi'a perspectives and will conclude that miracles are not against the principle of causality
  • Imamate and Wilayah, Part 7

    This paper is based on lecture 14 of a series of lectures delivered by Dr Mohammad Ali Shomali in summer 2004 in Qum.
  • Eating and Drinking Conduct of Prophet Muhammad

    Considering all the narrations (hadiths) regarding the etiquette and conduct of the Prophet with regards to eating and drinking, we find answers to questions such as: When, why, and how did the Prophet eat? How much and what types of food did he have? Did he eat alone or with others?