Nahjul Balagha Short Lecture 1 (in Urdu)

                    Nahjul Balagha Short Lecture 2 (in Urdu)

                   Nahjul Balagha Short Lecture 3 (in Urdu)

                 Nahjul Balagha Short Lecture 4 (in Urdu)

                 Nahjul Balagha Short Lecture 5 (in Urdu)

                    Nahjul Balagha Short Lecture 6 (in Urdu)

                 Nahjul Balagha Short Lecture 7 (in Urdu)

                 Nahjul Balagha Short Lecture 8 (in Urdu)

                        Nahjul Balagha Short Lecture 9 (in Urdu)

Who Are The Shia? - Hajj Hassanain Rajabali

Maarfat e Nafs - 2009 - Ayatollah Syed Aqeel-ul-Gharavi

                                                                    Majlis no1

                                                                             Majlis no 2

[MUST LISTEN] Tazkiya- e - Nafs by Ayatullah Taqi Behjat

The Noble ones

 Ayatollah Taqi Behjat Fumani

                                                       Ayatullah Seyed Ali Aqa Qazi Tabatabai

 Allama Muhammad Hussain Tabatabai

                                                               Ayatollah Bahauddini 
                                                         

                                                                         Allama Amini                                                  

                                                                 Shaheed Murtaza Mutahhari

Conversation with a Hindu Convert to Islam

By SHAIKH VINAY KHETIA

Q: What religion were you affiliated with before your conversion? How practicing were you in this faith and how much did it mean to you?

A: My religion previous to my reversion to Islam was Hinduism. I traditionally come from a very religious and practicing Hindu family. In Hindu terms, my family is in the caste of Brahmins, which is the priest class. I was always very spiritually inclined and inquisitive about my own faith, and I was in touch with Hindu priests.

When I was 14, an event occurred in my life that led me to research my own faith and have a firm belief in God. Islam was quite alien to me still at this time. I was quite well versed in Hinduism. I had some books with in-depth information on spirituality. Then after the age of 15, this spiritual quest of mine had died out again, and I became just like any other non-believer or lost youth who engaged in certain immoral things because I did not have a spiritual inclination or a thirst to get to know my Lord. I was just a youth lost in the depths of filth and corruption of this world.

Q: What was your perception of Islam before you began studying more about it?

A: I had no real perception of it. I just saw it to be another faith. I respected it. Culturally I was told that Muslims and Hindus don't normally become best friends. But I always rejected that irrational notion.

Q: What sparked your interest in Islam?

A: Before I begin with the initial spark, I would like to provide some more background information. Throughout my high-school career the majority of my friends were of the Islamic faith. I was always exposed to Islam through their discussions, and from time to time I would see them pray or recite the Qur'an. But even though I had all these Muslim friends, I never dreamed of ever converting to Islam, nor did I ever have the slightest inclination to do so.
The initial spark I would say had to have begun with my trip to London, England, and the United Arab Emirates. In London I was amazed by all the Muslim women who I saw in fully veiled clothing.  I was just mesmerized by the thought of someone being completely veiled in black and walking in the heat of midday on Oxford Street in Central London. I was so curious as to who these women were, and why they dressed the way they dressed.

Then after leaving London, we were en route to Dubai on Emirate Airlines. While on the plane, I was exploring the on-board TV/radio stations, and I came across this unique language which was being recited so beautifully that it totally captivated me. I honestly was mesmerized by the sound of this language being recited. The channel was called "The Holy Quran". On that flight, I felt like I must have heard the entire Qur'an at least two times over. I listened to it in secrecy, because I did not want to seem like a weirdo if my parents heard me listening to it. But nonetheless, there was something about the recitation of that Qur'an which caught me by the heart at the age of 17 and sparked the need for me to learn more about this faith.

Then when we reached Dubai, I was again amazed by the Arab culture, dress, language, and religion. I was thirsty for more information. The minute we left the airport, I was looking for those beautiful mosques I would see on TV with those tall minarets at the front, from which someone would recite the call to prayer. Being in a Muslim country like this amazed me. I would listen to the radio in my hotel anytime I was alone. Again, I had found the station which played the recitation of the Holy Qur'an. Whenever I was alone in the hotel, I would attentively listen to the beautiful recitation of this holy book.

Coming to the Middle East was a total culture shock for me, seeing so many women covered up in black, men with beards, hearing this Arabic language everywhere, seeing the traditional Arab dress .When the trip ended, I was quite sad to leave, but I had to.

When I got back to Canada, life for me just moved on as usual until the event of September 11th. The event of September 11th was also one of the catalysts which led me to Islam. I was constantly asking my friends about what September 11th had to do with Islam, and who was this Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) that they frequently referred to?

In about the late fall/early winter, a very close friend of mine asked me if Hindus believed in One God. He was always curious. My response to him was "yes." But he wanted proof. So at two a.m. in the morning on a school night, I was sifting through the Baghagavad Geeta, which is a holy Hindu text supposedly revealed by or to "Lord Krishna". After a critical reading of this text, I came to realize that yes, Hinduism really does believe in one supreme God, and that idol worship is not a correct form of worship.

Q: Can you describe the process of your reversion to Islam and how you came to choose Shiism?

A: After I discovered that there was only one God which humans cannot see, I began to research different religions and what their perceptions of God are and how they go about worshipping something they cannot see. Another very close friend of mine also gave me an English copy of the Qur'an for me to read out of interest. I was now on a full-fledged quest to find the truth, and I would not settle for anything less than that.

Everything turned around the day I received a book called Index of Quranic Topics. Within this book, it quoted a prophecy from an ancient Hindu ascetic who foretold the coming of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny). He [the Hindu ascetic] went on to say that Muslims would be circumcised, would eat meat, and establish a call to prayer. I was totally amazed by this, because the ancient Hindu philosopher that foretold this was one of great magnitude for the Hindus, and very well-respected. He is an ancient respected figure in Hindu theology by the name of Maharishi Vyas.

As I continued to research prophecies about Islam from the Hindu books, I found out that the Kaaba and how Abraham and his son built it is written in the Hindu text. The name of Muhammad is also in the Hindu texts. Islam and the coming of Muhammad is also prophesied through the Buddhist texts, Christian texts, Jewish texts, and all prophecies were in utter praise of this man named Muhammad that was going to come. All this was so overwhelming for me. I discovered websites with Islamic miracles, all over the world, anywhere from Turkey to Australia. I knew there had to be something special about these names – Allah and Muhammad.

I began to read the Qur'an a bit later, and after that my heart and mind was completely focused on the words I was reading. I was so amazed and taken aback by these words – I would stay up late nights after everyone would go to sleep and read the Qur'an. This was a book which I could not put down; I just kept reading and reading and researching miracles. My faith in God was now at an all-time high. I decided that this faith was for me. I had only completed the first 4 or 5 surahs of this Qur'an, and my heart just told me that this is the solution to life!

All this time I was hiding this from my family; well, at least I thought so. I felt at this time that my entire family would be against me, everyone except my mother, so I decided to go into what I now know to be Taqiyya. I was told by some brothers that this is fine.

In early mid-winter, I went to a Muslim brother's house, where he taught me how to make Wudhu, pray, gave me some books, and I took the Shahada – the testimony of faith. At this time, only my close friends knew about my leaving Hinduism and embracing Islam. My life felt different from the day I took the Shahada. The feeling is indescribable.

The process of how I came to Shiism was just through nonstop study and through introduction to a friend's father, who I later came to know was an Islamic scholar. His name is Dr. Liyakat Takim – may Allah bless him. He was the one who gave me the reading material which led me to become a Shia Ithna-Ashari. I thank Allah everyday for giving me the opportunity to meet this man, for if not I fear I may have followed the path of the "Ahul Sunnah wa Jammah".

The following books led me to believing in the basic beliefs of Shia Islam: The Right Path and Nahjul Balagha. After this I had many questions about Shia Islam, and I would like to thank the following people for giving me the material and helping to guide me to the true path: Dr. Takim, Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi, the Office of Ayatollah Sistani, and the Office of Ayatollah Khamenei. May Allah bless them all.

Q: How did you learn to live as a Muslim? Who or what was most helpful to you in this?

A: My close friends were very helpful in teaching me the rules of Islam and how to live a daily life as a Muslim. I have received guidance whenever I needed it from organizations and Islamic scholars like Dr. Takim, Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi, the Office of Ayatollah Shirazi, Shaikh Usama Abdulghani, the Office of Ayatollah Khamenei, and last but not least, the Office of Ayatollah Sistani. I learned to live as a Muslim and rely on Allah through making du'a, through my prayers, and though guidance from knowledgeable people. May Allah forgive me if I have forgotten anyone's name.

Q: How easy or difficult was it for you to take on certain aspects of practical life as a Muslim, e.g. the daily prayers, fasting etc.?

A: The daily prayers were the hardest thing for me to get used to, because I had to learn how to say them, what to say in what part of the prayer, and the different physical positions of prayer. Memorizing this was a task on its own, but Alhamdulillah with the help from Allah, I was able to achieve this within two months after praying five times a day every day. All the other aspects of life, like fasting and Halal meat, came quite naturally to me, again with the help from Allah and the results of Allah's clear response to my supplications.

Q: How did your choice to become a Muslim affect your relationship with family and friends?

A: My relationship with my family is changed forever; they have a son who is a Muslim! At this time I am still not able to gauge where I stand, but with my mother I know I will always be comfortable, but with my father things are definitely progressing towards a positive relationship of mutual respect.

Q: Do you have any message for the youths of our community?

A: My message to the brothers and sisters of the community would have to be, to please keep your agreement with Allah and realize the privilege you have being born as a Muslim. Remember every time you recite the Shahada (the proclamation of faith in Islam), you are making a pledge to Allah that you believe in only Him and His Messenger, so according to these words you are a Muslim and thus must act like one.

Islam is a faith that solves all your problems in life without a doubt. If you want happiness, if you want to feel content, just turn to your Lord. Allah loves those who glorify Him through the night and morning. Miracles will happen in your life, you will feel a Noor (light) within you, and you will notice that your faith will become virtually unbreakable.

Please don't get into the corruption of this society, such as smoking drugs, drinking, clubbing, and being friends with those people who you know deep down can only be harmful to your faith in your Lord. Every time someone does these things, it's as if they are eating away at their own faith, and they are hurting themselves and the people around them that care for them. Wake up and realize the peace one shall get out of submission to his or her Lord. If you truly try and are able to do this, the Satanic powers and influences will not move you off the Siratul Mustaqueem.

I would like to end with two verses from the Qur'an, Surah Saba verses 1-2: In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful-Bismillah ar Rahman ar Rahim. Praise be to Allah to whom all things in the heavens and on earth: to Him be praise in the Hereafter: He is All-Wise, All-Aware. He knows all that goes into the earth and all that comes out thereof; all that comes down from the sky and all that ascends thereto and he is the Most Merciful the Oft-forgiving."

The World in the Eyes of Ahlul Bayt (as)

By ALI JAMALEDDINE

What is this 'world' that we live in? Is it Earth? Is it buildings and towers? Is it rivers and seas? Or maybe it is television, food, or even cars?

It is ironic that we all affirm that we exist in this 'world', yet many cannot even describe this world. It is like saying "I know I live at home, but I have no idea what my home is." If we have the wrong idea about our 'home', then we will fall into many traps and pitfalls. It is equally dangerous, if not more, when we have no idea. So, where can we obtain information about this 'world'?

Surely, the best and most pure source of information is from the creator of this world, Allah, who has conveyed it to us through the Prophet, and the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them). So, how do the Prophet and his Progeny teach us to view this world?

The Passageway

Imam Ali (peace be upon him) says, "Dunya (the world) is a passageway, and the Hereafter is the destination. Take [what you need] from your passageway to your destination." (Nahjul Balagha)

The Imam emphasizes that this world contains items that we absolutely need for the Hereafter. If Dunya was only a negative place that is no good, then we couldn't take anything from it.

The natural question that follows is: what can we take from this world that is of use to us later on? Allah answers that when He says, "Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope." (18:46) In another verse, Allah says, "And the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for recourse." (19:76) Allah also says, "And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is God-consciousness." (2:197)

So clearly, this world offers the chance to do good, to help, and to be pious. There are many opportunities to help the injured, the orphans, and the needy. There are opportunities to spread knowledge. This world has all that and more.

The Farm

The Prophet says, "Dunya is the farm of the Hereafter." (Awali Al La'ali)

This view also shows the good face of Dunya, and it is very similar to the 'passageway' view with one main difference: the benefits of this world depend on solid foundations and continuous monitoring.

If someone wants to build a farm, they will choose the best land. They will make sure they prepare the land and the soil. They will build a fence around it to protect it. They will choose the clean and healthy seeds and will continuously monitor the progress of this farm. If plants get spoiled in a farm, the farmer will extract it and search for the cause and, God willing, eliminate it. If all is done right, and with the blessings of Allah, this farm will produce healthy products. Allah mentions this idea about farms when He says, "Each of the two gardens produced its fruit and did not fall short thereof in anything." (18:33)

This world is the same. If we protect it with a fence of firm beliefs, then it will stand strong against the tides of doubt and disbelief. If we continue planting good deeds everywhere we go in this world, then this farm will yield healthy and beautiful produce.

For example, the Prophet says, "If a human dies, then his good deeds stop except for three: a Sadaqa Jariah (continuous charity), a beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who prays for him". (Bihar al-Anwar) This narration shows three important seeds that will continue to grow and give fruit even after we depart from this world.

Despite the previous two views showing a good side of this world, the Ahlul Bayt(peace be upon them) also warned against a more dangerous aspect. In the second part of this article, we will examine the traditions and teachings of our Infallibles regarding the negative aspects of this world.


As discussed previously the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) described the world in positive terms, with great benefits for humankind. However, they also warned us against a more dangerous and negative side to this Dunya.

The Salty Seawater

Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) says, "The example of this world is like the example of [salty] seawater; whenever the thirsty drinks from it, he gets more thirsty, until it (the seawater) kills him." (Al Kafi)

Consider power and authority. When someone attains power, this world will show him all that is beautiful. He will have money. He will have prestige. He will have respect. If he starts using that to fulfill more desires, it is as if he is drinking seawater. Soon, he start to suffer from diseases. Soon, people will start to hate him. Soon, he will feel empty on the inside. These are not just speculations. History has given us numerous examples of such oppressors who continued to drink from this seawater until they were humiliated before dying. Pharaoh, Qaroon, Namrud, and so many other examples come to mind.

So, this world will offer a lot of attractions, only for it to reel the people into its trap and eventually destroy them. Allah emphasizes this point when He says, "And leave those who take their religion as amusement and diversion and whom the worldly life has deluded." (6:70)

The Spider's Web

In one of his poems, Imam Ali (as) says, "This world is like a house (web) weaved by a spider." (Muhasabat Al Nafs)

The spider's web is one of the most fascinating creations of Allah. One important quality of the spider's web is its extremely weak nature. No water stream is necessary to destroy it, as few droplets are enough. No hurricanes are necessary to rip it to pieces, as weak winds can do that. This world is no different.

The world offers us a lot of things to hang on to. We find our wealth. We find our expensive clothes. We find the sports cars. We find fame. We find our children. If we get hold of any of those, it will be hard for us to throw it away. We start building our own empire thinking this will stay forever. But in a blink of an eye, and for the simplest of reasons, it gets destroyed, just like the spider's web. A fire can take away all the money that one owns. A slip on the brakes, and the most expensive cars are deemed worthless. A small fly can steal the beauty of sleep, even on the most luxurious mattress. Just like a spider's web, the luxuries of this world are very weak.

The words of the Imam are taken from the words of Allah when He says in the Qur'an, "The example of those who take allies other than Allah is like that of the spider who takes a home. And indeed, the weakest of homes is the home of the spider, if they only knew." (29:41) When people start hanging onto materialistic things that Allah describes as adornments to this life, then this world is nothing but a delusion that cannot be any weaker.

The Market

Imam Ali al-Hadi (peace be upon him) says, "The world is a market: some people win, while others lose." [Bihar Al Anwar]

Until now, we have examined descriptions of this world from the Ahlul Bayt which demonstrate the good side or the bad side of this world. However, this narration of Imam al-Hadi has an eloquent touch to it, in which it shows this world with both faces.

If we walk into any market, we will find good products that are worth buying. We will also find bad products that are of no use. We will find beneficial products as well as harmful products. Some are expensive, and others are not. Also in a market, we will find even more than just products. We will find the honest merchant, and we will find the cheater.

The market has both good and bad. This is exactly what life is. We have the good people around us, and we have those are not. We have wealth that can give us a good reputation, and the same wealth may make us notorious. The smart person is one who knows how to take the winning side and leave this market as a winner. Setbacks exist in life, just like off-seasons or inflation in markets. But the profit is determined at the end after all is said and done. And with life, winning or losing will come at the end. When death knocks on the doors, the profits will be calculated. Those who strive to seek the pleasure of God will win. And those who seek the temporary materialistic and worldly pleasures will lose.

That meaning is what we find in the supplication recited during Ramadan, "My God, those who fast have profited, and those who [pray] have won." (Mafatih al-Jinan)

The Broad View

As followers of Ahlul Bayt(peace be upon them), we should adapt the aforementioned views towards this world. Only then we will be able to make the most out of it and leave it as winners. And of course, the most important win is the Hereafter, and that should dictate to a certain extent how we treat this life. As Imam Hasan (peace be upon him) says, "In regard to the world, be as if you were going to live forever. In regards to the Hereafter, be as if you were going to die tomorrow." (Bihar al-Anwar)

This equation finds its basis in the words of Allah when He says: "But seek through that which God has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as God has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, God does not like corrupters." (28:77)

This is a peek at this world. Now that we are seeing it better, will we make the best out of it?

Coping with Cancer

By SHAIKH MANSOUR LEGHAEI
Cancer is a highly charged word in our culture, because we link it so closely with death. The word strikes fear into our hearts and immediately turns life into turmoil.

Firstly, let me share with you the three main Islamic principles related to the topic: 1) monotheism 2) meaningful life 3) conception of death.

Monotheistic conception means the realization of the fact that the world is "mono-axis" and "mono-orbit". This means that the world has come out of a wise will, and that its system is founded on mercy and all that is good.
Meaningful life aims at leading the existing things to a perfection befitting them. Nothing has been created in vain or without purpose. There is no chaos in cosmos. All the existing things of the world are harmonious, and their evolution proceeds towards the same center. The fuel of this harmonious procedure is love, which is the direct fruit of Faith. "He said to heaven and to earth, 'come both willingly or unwillingly.' They both replied: 'We come in willing obedience.'" (41:11)
Conception of death: Many think that talking openly about death is a sign of giving up the desire to live. Nothing could be further from the truth. Thinking and speaking about death simply reckons with a real responsibility, and it can very well coexist with a struggle for life.
We all find in ourselves a desire or wish to live forever. Hence, death is treated as a disastrous end. As such we tend to see it, if at all, in the distant future. From the Islamic point of view, man is created for eternity in hereafter, and death is not annihilation; rather, it is a bridge from here to a more advanced stage of life. The example of here and hereafter is similar to the world of a womb for a fetus and the outer world. This world and the hereafter are but two interconnected stages like those of sowing and harvest, for one reaps what one sows.

How Would a Faithful Muslim Cope with Cancer?

Based on the above principles, for one who has faith in God, when his specialist informs him of being diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer, instead of blaming God of being unfair to him, and questioning God as to why it has happened, he realizes that behind the dark shadow of any disaster lies mercy. Hence, optimistically considers the following inspirations:

Mindfulness to the Soul: Cancer or any other disease makes one more mindful and aware of oneself. The power of youth, health, and wealth, though temporary, usually misleads us to forget about ourselves and our souls. When a severe illness such as cancer strikes us, only then do we realize how weak and needy we are. Illness would bridge the gap between our world of everyday selves and the spiritual world, and give more meaning and awareness to the recognition of the real self. By then, an inner voice calls us to an Omnipotent Power who is the Source of all happiness and joy, which results in God-consciousness and His presence. As a result, at night, when the effects of chemotherapy keep one awake, he considers that seemingly painful call as a private invitation to a secret and sacred whispering with God, far away from the eyes of strangers.

Launch of Ascension: Since we believe in a meaningful life, any disease is a wakeup call for the faithful. The more severe it is, the more effective the call would be. We know that pain and disease can launch us on a journey that could change our entire lives. Thus, getting better is not all that one should expect out of being ill, or else one has missed a lot.

Gratefulness to the Blessings of Life: An Arabic expression goes: "The blessing is known when it is taken away." For a believing person, cancer can enhance one's appreciation of life. We realizes the fact that a call from one of our children, a hug from our spouses, a thoughtful inquiry from our friends, every leaf on the tree in our backyard, and truly every moment of life that we have received is a gift from the Merciful God, and then we appreciates it more.

Death, a Platform of Eternity: Finally, if we finds that our cancer is fatal, we realizes the fact that firstly, cancer is only one out of more than a million ways of passing from this world to the next, not the only one. And secondly, death is fearful if it means annihilation and total destruction. For a faithful man, death is but a platform to an eternal joy and happiness in Paradise, and as such it does not strike us as dislikeable.

To Cure and to Prevent Death!

All human beings endeavor to fight for life, and intense fear of death is in its sense of annihilation. Here are two glasses of the Divine Wine for those who wish to be eternal. I will just describe them to you, but should you take a sip, then I assure you that you would confidently leave Endostatin and Angiostatin to the mice!

Name yourself "Good", and act accordingly. You will be eternal. Instead of being depressed by cancer, which results in isolation and lack of motivation, make sure every day you are a cause of good for others. Regardless of how you'll be treated, if you cause a smile on another's face, you'll be happy. Remember! We enjoy happiness when we create joy and happiness for others. This is the law of cause and effect.
Love God, and He will make you eternal. Love is the music of life. Lovers have no fear of death, nor do they have any room for sorrow. As Emily Bronte expressed in her last poem, lovers in God have no cowardly soul. (No coward soul is mine.) When you love God, you love His creation and creatures, and He makes you be loved forever. Love is beyond the reach of death. As Hafez, an Iranian poet of the 14th century says: "Never dies he whose heart is living by love. Thus, our name is engraved eternally in the world."
Shakespeare and Hafez never die. Emily Bronte, though she physically left this world early, never dies. Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all) – none of the Prophets ever die, for they joined the eternal ocean of Divine Love. They were satisfied by the eternal water of life – love.

And at last but not least, a priceless message from the Abrahamic faiths as quoted in the Holy Qur'an: "And the same did Abraham enjoin on his sons and Jacob, 'O my sons! Surely God has chosen for you faith, thereforem die not unless you Submit yourselves to God.'" [2:132]

O Lord! Bestow Your Mercy and healing to all the patients of this world, both physically and spiritually, and in Your Presence leave us with no room for sorrow.

Sins and the Ability to Repent

By PROFESSOR HUSAYN ANSARIYAN

Mothers do not give birth to sinful children, and children do not come to this world defiled with sins.

When a baby comes to this life for the first time, his mind is empty of any knowledge, intellect, and information. He is completely ignorant of what is around him. When he comes to this world, he does not know anything, besides crying and suckling. At the same time, when he cries or suckles his mother's breast, he is ignorant of that too. Gradually, instincts, feelings, and lusts move into the circle of his physiological being, and these bodily activities enter into the field of his life. Then the baby begins to learn from the external environment and surroundings and from the conduct of the others what is necessary for him to survive in this life.

As for the body of a baby, it is vulnerable to different kinds of diseases and calamities throughout his life. The same is said about his intellect, soul, spirit, and heart. Concerning morals, he is also liable to commit sins and vices. Hence, sins are accidental to man just as diseases that attack his body. Sin is something accidental and not spontaneous.

Bodily diseases can be cured by following the instructions of a doctor, but intellect, spirit, and soul, when diseased, can be cured by following the instructions of the Almighty and obeying His orders.

If a sinner knows his state and notices his wrongdoing, and he knows what he should do and what he should not do, he must get ready to repent, to turn to Allah, and to follow the instructions of the "Spiritual Doctor", and then he will get out of the circle of sin to the circle of Allah's Mercy. Thus, he gets free of sins and becomes pure, as he has been born.

A sinner cannot pretend that he is unable to repent, because he who is able to commit sins is undoubtedly able to repent of those sins too.

Yes, if we who are able to eat, drink, come and go, talk, get married, work, play sports, travel, and associate with other people will curb all these appetites or activities if a doctor asks us to in order to avoid disease, then we should be able to avoid sins and falling into the abyss of corruption and disobedience. If sinners make excuses for not repenting, Allah will not accept their excuses. If sinners and disobeyers refuse to repent now, Allah will not invite them to repent later.

Sinners must accept the fact that they are able to refrain from sin in any case and any condition. The Qur'anic verses show that Allah is kind to His people, and He accepts their repentance and forgives sinners even if their sins are as vast as the sands of deserts. In fact, Allah may recompense sins with good doings.

Sinners must perceive that if they do not hasten to stop committing sin and being disobedient, and they do not purify their inner beings from sin's dregs, then Allah will torture them severely and punish them for their sins and crimes with the worst punishment.

Allah talks about Himself in the Holy Qur'an by saying:

"The Forgiver of the faults and the Acceptor of repentance, Severe to punish..." (40:3)

Imam Ali (peace be upon him) described God Almighty in Du'a Iftitah by saying, "I have ascertained that You are the Most Merciful of the merciful at the time of forgiveness and mercy, and You are the Severest Punisher at the time of punishment and revenge."

Allah declares to His sinful people His saying:

"Say: 'O my servants who have acted extravagantly against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah; surely Allah forgives the faults altogether; surely He is the Forgiving the Merciful.'" (39:53)

Hence, if we understand the verses of the Qur'an that give us the good news that we have the ability to refrain from sins, and that Allah accepts our repentance and is Forgiving and Merciful, then we have no excuse if we delay repenting and keep on committing sins. Therefore, repenting of sins is a prompt, moral, and rational obligation for all sinners.

If sinners do not hasten to repent, and they refuse to repair what they have committed and to purify themselves from the filth of sin and disobedience, then in the afterlife when they stand before Allah, they will not be excused by appealing to reason, conscience, or wisdom. The Day of Resurrection will come, when sinners will stand with deep regret, calling loudly:

"Were there only a returning for me, I should be of the doers of good." (39:58)

Allah will reply to them:

"Aye! My revelations came to you, but you rejected them, and you were proud, and you were one of the disbelievers." (39:59)

On that day, no excuses will be accepted from sinners. Faith and good deeds alone will save them from torture. Allah emphasizes the inevitable end of such people when saying:

"And had those who are unjust all that is in the earth and the like of it with it, they would certainly offer it as ransom (to be saved) from the evil of the punishment on the Day of Resurrection; and what they never thought of shall become plain to them from Allah." (39:47)

Imam Ali stresses in Du'a Kumayl that there will be no excuse accepted from a sinner when not repenting and turning to Allah, and that Allah has completed His authority over people by saying, "You have the authority over me in all of that, and I have no excuse before Your judgment against me."

Some Tough Answers

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Ustad pyare khan manqabats

Na Puchiye ke kya Hussain (as) hai..

 
Main Panjatani Panjatani hoon......

  Har sanam kaabe me hairan nazar aata hai.....

La ilaha illallah.......

Beliefs of Wahhabis about Allah (God)

What are the beliefs of the Wahhabis? First let's start in Aqeedah, because if the essential beliefs are wrong, then what good are the rest of their concepts? for, radical ideas result in radical actions. The quotes are in English and put the reference of their books in Arabic so it’s easier to find. Among the blasphemous deviations of Wahhabis about Allah (God): - Wahhabis liken Allah (God) to his creations! See their book: انظر كتاب ابن باز الوهابي: "تنبيهات في الرد على من تأولالصفات" ص 19، الرئاسة العامة للإفتاء، الرياض - They say Allah created mankind looking like Him in resemblance! See their book called “Aqeedat Ahlul-Iman page 40, 90” انظر كتابهم المسمى"عقيدة أهل الإيمان" للتويجري. - They attribute bodily parts to Allah (we seek refuge with Allah from such kufur)!! See page: راجع كتاب ابن باز: "تنبيهات في الرد على من تأول الصفات" ص 19 - They ascribe physical attributes of the creations to Allah!! See انظر كتابهم "حلقات ممنوعة" لحسامالعقاد، ص/26 دار الصحابة، طنطا. - They attribute organs, shape, size, movements and form to Allah!! انظر كتابهم "نظرات وتعقيبات على ما في كتاب السلفية" لصالح الفوزان ص/40 دار الوطن الرياض. - Wahhabis claim that Allah has feet and places them on the kursiy chair (wal-^iadhu billah)!! انظر كتاب العثيمين "تفسير ءاية الكرسي" ص/19، مكتبة ابن الجوزي. - They claim that Allah seeks assistance and help from the Angels! See: page: (كتابه (مجموع الفتاوى) المجلد الخامس صفحة (508) - They claim that Allah literally descends and ascends annually!! See: كتاب " شرح حديث النـزول وشرح الطحاوية للمجسم ابن أبي العز ص286 الطبعة التاسعة عام 1988. - Wahhabis claim that Allah sits on the throne (^Arsh) as the jews claim!! See: انظر كتابهم "فتح المجيد" لعبد الرحمن بن حسن ابن محمد بن عبد الوهاب ص/356، مكتبة دار السلام. الرياض. - They claim that Allah is limited and is contained in big and small places! See: انظر مجلة الحج سنة 49 جزء 11 عام 1415هـ، مكة ص/73-74. - They claim that Allah resides in the sky resting on the throne! See: انظر كتابهم "نظرات وتعقيبات على ما في كتاب السلفية" لصالح الفوزان ص/40 دار الوطن الرياض. - They too label themselves as "Wahhabi Muslims" and "The Wahhabi Movement" asliterally stated in their books. See: انظر كتاب "الحركة الوهابية" لمحمد خليل هراس حيث في ص37 "الدعوة الوهابية" وانظر كتاب "الشيخ محمد بن عبد الوهاب عقيدته السلفية ودعوته الإسلامية" لأحمد ابن حجر ءال بوطامي أحد كبار دعاتهم في قطر ص(105) وانظر كتاب محمد بن جميل زينو "قطوف من الشمائل المحمدية" ص67. Such beliefs are blasphemous and against al-Qur’an. All Muslims believe that Allah is supremely great, He does not resemble thecreations in any way. His istiwa’ on the throne and his aboveness is in STATUS and RANK and NOT in literal height, spaces, or places!! Because Allah the exalted existed eternally before the creations and before time and place, without a form, shape, body or place. He cannot be imagined in the minds. Nothing resembles Allah whatsoever. It is impossible that after having been existing without a place, He would become in a place, because this is a development, and the development is a sign of needing others, and the one who needs others is not God.

Holy Quran and the story of Pharaoh Ramses II (Firaun Mummy)

A miracle, by definition, is a supernatural event beyond the laws of science; it is fulfilled only by Allah's will and power. It has significance and can be confirmed only by thosewho directly witnessed the event in time.
When Francisco Mitra became the presidentof France in 1981, France requested from the Egyptian government to host the mummy of Pharaoh. For the purpose of running laboratory and archeological examinations on the mummy of the most notorious dictator ever lived on earth. Uponarrival, very royal attendants were there including the French president himself and all ministers who bowed in honor for the Firaun Mummy.
When the ceremony ended, the mummy was carried to a specially-designed section at the Archeology Centre of France. Were it started to be tested by the greatest French archeological and anatomical scientists in order to discover more about such a great Firaun Mummy.
The scientists were headed by Professor Maurice Bucaille. The scientists were trying to restore the mummy while Professor Maurice Bucaille was mainly concerned with how did this mummy died? The final report of the scientists was released late atnight which states that the remaining salt in the mummy is an overt evidence that it was drawn in the sea, and the body was rescued very shortly where it was immediately embalmed to be saved.
An amazing thing was still confusing Professor Maurice Bucaille is that how couldthis body possibly be safer than any other mummy despite being taken out of the sea up until this time. Professor Maurice Bucaille was writing his final report on what he thought would be a new discovery about saving Pharaoh's body immediately after his death and embalming it.
Note: The picture shown above is the dead body of Ramses II, the Egyptian King in the era of Prophet Moses (pbuh) . Its age is approximately 3000 years old and it was found by the Red Sea, at the place called Jabalain, and is now on display in the Royal Mummies Chamber of the Egyptian Museumin Cairo.
And there, someone whispered to him that Muslims claim to know something about the drowning of this mummy. Yet ProfessorMaurice Bucaille firmly denied such thing saying that it's impossible to discover this without the development of science and without using his high-tech and complicated laboratories and computers.
To his surprise, he was told that Muslims believe in a book called " Holy Quran " and this Holy Quran narrates the story of Pharaoh's drowning and ensures the safety of his body after his death as to be a Sign tomankind.
Professor Maurice Bucaille couldn't believe his own ears and started to wonder: How can a book existed 1400 years ago speak about the mummy that was only found 111 years ago, in 1898? How can that be possible while the ancient Egyptian heritage was discovered only a few decades ago and no one knew about it before?
Professor Maurice Bucaille sat down pondering on what he was told about the book of Muslims, Holy Quran while his Holy Book (The Bible) narrates only the drowningof Pharaoh without saying anything about his body.
"Is it possible that this mummy in front of me is the one who was chasing Prophet Moses?" "Is it possible that Prophet Muhammad knew this 1400 years ago?"
Professor Maurice Bucaille couldn't sleep that night till they brought him the Old Testament where he read: "And the watersreturned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. (Exodus 14:28) But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 136:15) For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and theLORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the Children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. (Exodus 15:19)"
Professor Maurice Bucaille was surprised that the Holy Book ( The Bible ) didn't mention about the destiny of the body and that it will be saved.
When the scientists were done with the mummy, France retuned it to Egypt, but Professor Maurice Bucaille couldn't rest for a moment since he was told that Muslims know about the safety of the body from Holy Quran. So, he decided to travel and meet anatomy Muslim scientists and there he spoke about his discovery of the safety of the mummy after its death in the sea and so on.
One of the Muslim scientists stood up and simply opened Holy Quran and pointed to the Professor at one verse: "We brought the Children of Israel across the sea and Pharaoh and his troops pursued them out oftyranny and enmity. Then, when he was on the point of drowning, he (Pharaoh) said, I believe that there is no god but Him in whom the Children of Israel believe. I am of those who submit (to Allah in Islam). What! Now! And indeed you disobeyed before andyou were of the mischief-makers. This day shall We save you in your body, that you may be a Sign to those who come after you! But verily, many among mankind are neglectful of Our Signs." (Holy Quran 10:90-92)
Professor Maurice Bucaille was struck whenhe read that and immediately stood in front of the crowd and said loudly: "I believe in Islam, I believe in Holy Quran."
Then he went back to France with a different face he traveled with. In France, he dedicated 10 years investigating the scientific discoveries and comparing them with Holy Quran and trying to come up withone scientific contradiction with Holy Quran. Finally he quoted one verse from Holy Quran to be his conclusion:
"No falsehood can approach it (this book) from before or behind it: it is sent down by One Full of Wisdom, Worthy of all praise." (Holy Quran 41:42)
As a result of all years of his research, Professor Maurice Bucaille wrote abook that shook all Europe, especially the scientists there "The Bible, the Quran and Science: The Holy Scriptures Examined in the light of Modern Knowledge."
Ariel Sharon still brain dead (Neither Dead nor Alive)
Ariel Sharon is lying in coma since years, and no doctor is able to find the correct disease. No life - No death, this is the result of killing thousands of innocent people in Palestine. What we do in this world, we have to taste, before we leave this on our heavenly abode as well. This is what the whole World is watching the result of assault of innocent Muslim in Palestine.

Jinns: Some Commonly-Asked Questions

by Sayyid Abul Qasim Rizvi

What is the significance of Jinns in Islam?
The Holy Qur'an has been revealed for both humans and Jinns as it says, "Say: If men and Jinn should combine together to bring the like of this Qur'an, they could not bring the like of it, though some of them were aiders of others." (17:88) Several other verses from the Holy Qur'an indicate that worship of Allah is required from both the Jinns and humans.
During the revelation of Sura Jinn, accordingto a tradition, Ibn Abbas said: "When the Holy Qur'an was revealed, Jinns were prevented from ascending towards the skies and several other prayers. Experiencing this, several Jinns came to Mecca to know the reason behind this abandonment. When they entered, they saw and heard Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) reciting Qur'anic verses during Fajr prayer. Hearing his beautiful speech, Jinns became influenced by the Holy Prophet."
Then the first two verses of Sura Jinn (chapter 72) were revealed to the Prophet as, "Say: It has been revealed to me that a party of the Jinn listened, and they said: 'Surely we have heard a wonderful Qur'an, Guiding to the right way, so we believe in it,and we will not set up any one with our Lord.'" Thus, the party of the Jinn immediately accepted the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad and the Qur'an as the holy book.
Now, it is proved that the Qur'an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad for both humans and Jinns. Lovers of Prophet exist from both humans and Jinns. Similarly, enemies of the Prophet exist from among the humans and Jinns.
The enemies of Islam used to ascribe various things to Allah, and some of them even associated Jinns with Allah. In this context, a verse was revealed which said,"And they make the Jinn associates with Allah, while He created them, and they falsely attribute to Him sons and daughters without knowledge; glory be to Him, and highly exalted is He above what they ascribe (to Him)." (6:100) Another verse says, "And thus did We make for every prophet an enemy, the satans from among men and Jinn, some of them suggesting to others varnished falsehood to deceive (them), and had your Lord pleased they would not have done it, therefore leave them and that which they forge." (6:112)
What materials are Jinns created of?
Allah has created humans from clay, angels from light, and Jinns from fire. The common factor between Jinns and angels is that both can appear in any form and shape; human, however, does not possess this ability. This appearance of angels is always of a pure kind, whereas Jinns may be impure. Angels possess only intellect, whereas Jinns possess intellect and desire like humans. This would further imply that due to their desires, Jinns are not always pure.
Coming back to the question, there are 37 instances in the Holy Qur'an where Jinns have been mentioned. As the Qur'an says,"And the Jinn We created before, of intensely hot fire..." (15:27) Another instance about the creation of Jinn mentioned in the Holy Qur'an is, "And He created Jinns from fire free of smoke." (55:15) Thus, it is firmly established that Jinns are created by hot fire, free from smoke.
Is it possible for a Jinn to possess a human being?
Before answering this question, let us consider this verse, "And I have not created the Jinn and the men except that they should serve Me." (51:56) As both of them have been bestowed with wisdom and desires, the duty of all humans and Jinns is to serve the Almighty by controlling their desires and practicing wisdom in the Right Path.
Therefore, Jinns whose desires empower their wisdom (or intellect) are those affected by Shaitan. Those Jinns who are influenced by Shaitan are capable of harming anyone, just like those humans who are influenced by Shaitan are capable of harming anyone.
How can one stay away and be saved from possession by Jinns?
Firstly, if a human lives with Taharat (spiritual purity) and remembrance of God, then no Jinn can cause harm to him. Secondly, one can be saved from the possession of Jinns if one recites Sura Jinn (chapter 72) and Sura Naas (chapter 113) from the Holy Book, and then can do severalactivities like blowing these chapters on a glass of water and drinking it.
Can evil Jinns or Jinns influenced by Shaitan enter holy shrines, mosques, Islamic centers, or such places?
It is not probable that a Jinn influenced by Satan could enter an Islamic center or such places, as these places are pure and filled with the intent and action of worship. It is also very difficult for Jinn to cause harm to anyone or anything in such places.
Is the Day of Judgment applicable to Jinns as well?
As the Qur'an says, "And on the day when He shall gather them all together: O assembly of Jinn! you took away a great part of mankind. And their friends from among the men shall say: Our Lord! some of us profited by others and we have reached our appointed term which Thou didst appoint for us. He shall say: The fire is your abode, to abide in it, except as Allah is pleased; surely your Lord is Wise, Knowing."(6:128) This verse explains that the field of Mahshar, where everyone will be gathered, is for both humans and Jinns. Therefore, the Day of Judgment is applicable to Jinns too.
There are several other verses from Sura Rahman which tell us that Jinns will also be accounted during the Day of Reckoning. TheQur'an also states, "On that Day no questionwill be asked of man or Jinn as to his sin." (55:39) Jinns will also be punished and rewarded, as the Qur'an states, "This is the Hell which the Sinners deny" (55:43) and regarding the rewards of getting damsels"Whom no man or Jinn before them has touched" (55:74).
Understanding this, it implies both men andJinn will be accounted. Thus, both of them should live a life of awareness with knowledge, wisdom, and fear of Allah. If they become ignorant and show negligence, they will be sent to hell. With respect to this, the Qur'an says, "And certainly We have created for hell many of the Jinn and the men; they have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear; they are as cattle, nay, they are in worse errors; these are the heedless ones." (7:179)
It implies that those Jinns who do not make use of hearts, eyes, and ears are worse than animals because of their ignorance and negligence.
How did some Jinns work for Prophet Solomon?
It was God's special mercy on Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) that He gave him the army of both humans and Jinns. Thesuccessors of Prophet Solomon were amongthe Jinns who were very powerful and audacious. The Qur'an states, "And his hostsof the Jinn and the men and the birds were gathered to him, and they were formed into groups." (27:17)
The reason for these Jinns working and possessing such great powers for the prophet can be derived from the Qur'anic verses: "One audacious among the Jinn said: 'I will bring it to you (the throne of Bilqees) before you rise up from your place; and most surely I am strong (and) trusty forit.' One who had the knowledge of the Book said: 'I will bring it to you in the twinkling ofan eye.' Then when he (Solomon) saw it settled beside him, he said: 'This is of the grace of my Lord that He may try me whether I am grateful or ungrateful; and whoever is grateful, he is grateful only for his own soul, and whoever is ungrateful, then surely my Lord is Self-sufficient, Honored.'" (27:39-40)

Contrary to these Jinns, there were some other bad Jinns in the kingdom of Queen Bilqees (Saba) who were worshipped. The Qur'an states about the people who worshipped them: "They shall say: 'Glory be to You! You are our Guardian, not they.' Nay! They worshipped the Jinn; most of them were believers in them." (34:41) Thus,there are disbelievers from both among theJinns and humans who will be responsible for their accounting.
How long do the Jinns live and where do they live?
When Allah ordered angels to prostrate before Adam (peace be upon him), Iblees, who was among the Jinn, disobeyed. Considering this, Iblees is the oldest living Jinn who got the permission to influence people till the Day of Judgment. Normally, like humans, Jinns do not have a stable life period. Some of them live long, and some ofthem live short lives.
When Iblees asked for permission from Allah to influence people all their lives, he told that he would reside in their hearts andrun in their veins. These are the places where this Jinn resides. He resides in the veins through the prohibited income we earn and the impermissible food we consume, which further goes in our body to produce blood and influence us as Shaitan. He resides in the hearts of desires and hearts of various diseases, such as envy, hatred, selfishness, misery, etc.
Coming back to where do they live, normal Jinns can live anywhere. They reside amongus, but we cannot normally see them. However, Allah has given them the power to see us.
Who is the better creation, Jinn or man?
Allah has bestowed some exclusive faculties in Jinns which are not present in humans, and vice versa. But the best creation of Allah is man. When Prophet Adam was created, all angels and Jinns were asked to prostrate before the superior creation and Allah's vicegerent. The Qur'an also confirms the superiority of human beings over all creation in this verse, "And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference." (17:70)
Do people see them? If so, why/when/how?Why do jinns seem to 'share' Qur'an with us instead of having own prophets and revelation? Is time different for them than for us?DoDo people interact with Jinns? If yes, why and how?
As far as interaction is concerned, Allah has created us as free being. Now, once that freedom is controlled or forced by anyone, then it is an offence to Allah's wisdom. As allcreatures are created for the sake of Allah only, they should not try to control what they do not understand and should remain aware of their limits. Narrations say that these interactions with Jinns occur through certain supplications and recitations. Allah is the most Merciful and Knowledgeable.
Both Jinn and men are ordered to worship Allah only, and it not appropriate to mingle among each other instead of what we are commanded to do.
Can humans harm Jinns and vice versa?
Yes, both of them can harm each other. We should not forget our true aim in life of serving Allah and should not harm or controlJinns for our purposes.
In special circumstances, can humans see Jinns?
They can. There has been no denial about this.
Sayyid Abul Qasim Rizvi is the resident scholar of the Panjtan Society of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.
Editor's Note: Islamic Insights would like to thank Brother Jafar Hasan for transcribing this interview.

Males and Females – "Just Friends"?

by Nabila Rizvi

After a long day of hard work with your peers on a project, a sister suggests that allof you hang out at the pizza place nearby for a late lunch. The problem is, your group of peers is made up of both guys and girls."But we're all friends!" protests the sister when you, as a brother, bring up the issue. So you think about it and agree, because after all, you say – "She's like a sister to me."
Key phrase here: "like a sister." She isn't really your sister, which means that there are limitations in how you relate to her. Nowadays, under the guise of Islamic brotherhood and sisterhood, many are unfortunately committing sins in the nameof friendship. Islam, however, does not permit such close relationships between non- Mahrams .
Of course, living in the West, there are times when non-Mahrams do interact – butthere is a difference between how we do so with our colleagues and with our friends. We interact on a regular basis withour colleagues regarding the work that hasbrought us together on a professional level. We also interact regularly with our friends, but our topics of conversation are not restricted to just business. Furthermore, we spend time with our colleagues at university or at the workplace – basically, any place that is relevant to business meetings. However, we can meet our friends in both formal andinformal settings.
Our colleagues and friends are not one and the same. Keeping that in mind, we are supposed to interact with non-Mahrams as colleagues, not as friends. Unnecessarily spending time with non-Mahrams – doing things like hanging out or having long conversations just to kill time – is out of the question, because that is what we would do with a friend.
Islam on Cross-Gender Friendships
As Muslims, everything we do is with the intention of gaining the pleasure of our Creator. We are supposed to be constantly aware of the presence of Allah, and to strive to get closer to our Beloved by following the teachings of the Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them). In line with those teachings, the concept of Hijab for men and women is one of the fundamental aspects of Islam. When it comes down to the core of the matter, all forms of Hijab are for the purpose of maintaining God-consciousness and respect when we interact with non-Mahrams out of necessity.
However, mixing with non-Mahrams and going out of our way to spend time with them obviously defies those ideals of Hijab.It's as simple as this: brothers and sisters who are not Mahram to each other are not supposed to interact when there is no point in doing so, and any interaction that does take place is supposed to be done in aprofessional manner. Conclusively, the ideaof non-Mahram guys and girls spending time together as "friends" is not endorsed by Islam.
Also, we need to realize that being Muslim doesn't make us immune to falling into sin.Just because a sister wears a headscarf and a brother sports a beard does not mean it is okay for them to become friends. As Muslims, we are instructed to follow guidelines for our own benefit, and in this situation too there is wisdom. Just as we are to abstain from sitting at a table that has alcohol bottles on it and just as weare to abstain from listening to music, we are to abstain from developing non-Mahram friendships because of the greater sins that we could be led to commit.
Studies on Cross-Gender Friendships
Allah is the One who created us, and He knows the details of the human system better than we can ever discover. It standsto reason that whatever He commands us to do and to stay away from is logical, because He would not ask of us something that is impossible to do or that is harmful for us.
Whether or not we acknowledge it, there is a scientific aspect of attraction in cross-gender "friendships". Our brains release chemicals upon interaction with others, and the amount released increases as we spend more time with a person of the opposite gender. We are fooling ourselves if we try to ignore these facts and be "just friends" with non-Mahrams, because then we will be treading thin ice over a sea of sin in which we will lose focus on our journey of getting closer to the Almighty.
Published in Psychology Today , Camille Chatterjee's article, "Can Men and Women be Friends?" (2011), sets out trying to prove that non-Mahrams can indeed be just good friends. However, the evidence that she presents counters her own arguments. Chatterjee says: "The reality that sexual attraction could suddenly enterthe equation of a cross-sex friendship uninvited is always lurking in the background. Unwelcome or not, the attraction is difficult to ignore." Citing poll results, Chatterjee's article also shows that even though 83 percent of the 1,450 poll participants believed that non-Mahram friendships can be successful, 62 percent ofthe participants admitted to their friendships having "crossed the line and [become] romantic or sexual."
Even when it comes to people who do not give in to their desires, there are still problems with their non-Mahram friendships. The details of Linda Sapadin's study were released in the Journal of Socialand Personal Relationships , under the title of "Friendship and Gender: Perspectives of Professional Men and Women" (1988). Sapadin mentions: "Both sexes generally kept their friendships and sexual relationships separate though sexual feelings and tensions still existed in many cross-sex friendships." On top of that, her study reveals that of the 156 questionnaire participants, 62 percent reported that there was sexual tension in the air with their non-Mahram friends.
Also found in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships are the results of Daniel Kaplan and Christopher Keys' study"Sex and Relationship Variables as Predictors of Sexual Attraction in Cross-SexPlatonic Friendships between Young Heterosexual Adults" (1997). The results of the surveys show that a significant number of women and men (the number ofmen being higher) consider befriending non-Mahrams as the first step towards developing a romantic relationship with the person. This in itself shows that it is difficult for non-Mahrams to be "just friends" because the relationship doesn't even start off with straightforward intentions.
Published in the Journal of Adolescent Research , Rivka Tuval-Mashiach, Sophie Walsh, Shirley Harel, and Shmuel Shulman'sstudy focuses on the behavior of 142 participants. Entitled "Romantic Fantasies, Cross-Gender Friendships, and Romantic Experiences in Adolescence" (2008), their results strongly indicate that one of the ways which adolescents get to experience romance is through cross-gender friendships, in addition to their romantic relationships.
More often than not, it seems that befriending someone of the opposite gender has become the first step to eventually turning the friendship into a more intimate relationship. So whether or not it is clearly stated aloud by the non-Mahram individuals themselves, studies show that non-Mahram friendships are, in reality, made for inappropriate reasons.
But...
"What's so wrong about it?" That question is usually followed by excuse after excuse, yet each reason that is always given has many flaws. Non-Mahram friendships are not permitted in Islam, no matter how much one may try to justify them by saying, "But..."
"It's a normal thing these days."
Everyone is best friends with a person of the opposite gender these days, so what's the big deal if we go with the flow? The bigdeal is that it's wrong. Just because everyone else is doing something, that doesn't make it right.
In order to promote a lifestyle of selfishness and immorality, society pressures the public from all around. Be it through sit-coms, books, movies, or real-life examples, we are faced with a smorgasbord of practices that have become common. This idea of "friends withbenefits" – the concept of having a friend of the opposite gender with whom one hasphysically intimate relations, while both still consider each other to be "just friends"– has permeated the fabric of our society, so much that it is no longer considered wrong. Yet the relation of "friends with benefits" does not truly provide anything but momentary pleasure; it destroys the moral compass by promoting easy indulgence in carnal desires, it shatters thehonorable concept of being committed to one person, and it severely blackens the soul by gaining the displeasure of Allah.
As mentioned in the above scientific studies, the question of "what if we were more than just friends?" is always in the air. So why go through all that doubt and put ourselves in a situation that has a great potential to become sinful?
"I know my intentions are pure."
First of all, what does it even mean to"have a pure intention" when it comes to being pals with a non-Mahram? Second of all, even if you have no ill intentions, Shaitan has promised to mislead any person that he can, so what makes you think you're immune to his whispers? We have already been clearly warned in the Holy Qur'an, "Did I not charge you, O children of Adam, that you should not serve the Shaitan? Surely he is your open enemy." (36:60) We have to be on guard and be able to abstain from situations that are not only spiritually harmful but even potentially spiritually harmful.
Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani's response tothis can be found in his book, A Code of Practice for Muslims in the West :
328. Question: Is it permissible for a Muslimyouth to accompany the girls who study with him in foreign universities for walking together, in vacation tours, etc.?
Answer: It is not permissible, except with surety that he will not commit a forbidden act.
To have absolute surety of oneself is the condition here, and not everyone can claimthis sense of surety. In order to qualify for such a claim, one would have to be the kind of person who – at the very least – has impeccable God-consciousness and Hijab in that (s)he keeps the gaze lowered, does not participate in idle chatter, and has control over his/her thoughts from wandering into inappropriate territory. Even then, the manner in which such a person would interact with non-Mahrams would end up falling under the "colleague" category and not that of "friend". Recalling the manner of our Infallibles (peace be upon them all), they fit this pious description perfectly and had the strongestof faith, yet we do not see evidence of them ever having befriended non-Mahrams or having spent time with them without official reasons.
And assuming that our intentions are pure,what about the intentions of our non-Mahram friend? We cannot claim to beabsolutely sure of his/her intentions, so it doesn't make sense to put ourselves in that situation. It's one thing to be confident in the strength of our faith in the face of temptations that may arise; however, it is entirely foolish (not to mention outright vain) to be so confident in the strength of our faith that we voluntarily dive right into a situation that is wrought with potential sin.
Ultimately, all our actions are supposed to be based on whether or not they will please Allah and take us closer to Him. Having a non-Mahram friend does neither.
"I'm engaged/married/older than him/younger than her, so it's okay."
All those factors make no difference. Again,we are reminded by Allah, the Prophets, and the Ahlul Bayt that Shaitan is our open enemy who attacks from all sides. He targets everyone, so being engaged, married, older than the brother, or younger than the sister does not make a difference.
In fact, for an engaged/married person to befriend a non-Mahram would only cause misunderstandings and problems. In the study by Kaplan and Keys, participants who were already involved in a relationship reported that their attraction towards non-Mahram friends was less, relative to those who were single. A point worth noting is that the word used in reference to the level of attraction was"less" not "none", so there is still the potential for falling into sin. Just as the engaged/married factor, the older/younger factor would cause a personto let down his/her guard, leaving an opening for Shaitan to easily enter through.
"It's a good way to learn how guys/girls think so I can relate with my future spouse better."
A practice spouse? That's just plain wrong. Many of the official studies, such as April Bleske and David Buss' "Can Men and Women be Just Friends?" (2000) in the Journal of the International Association for Relationship Research , as well as informal interviews all reveal that men and women see this as one of the main beneficial reasons for having non-Mahram friends. Byspending time with a non-Mahram friend, people claim that they can pick up tips on how to improve their relationship with their partner. So a person spends time both with a non-Mahram friend and with his/her spouse, talks over important issueswith both, and is intimate with both – and according to the studies already mentioned, the level of intimacy with both is actually equal for a majority of cases. Butthen what's the difference between your close friend of the opposite gender and your spouse?
Prevention, Not Cure
There is no truth to this fashion of non-Mahrams being just good friends. Getting into such a tainted "friendship" willonly cause problems on multiple levels. A person may be able to control their thoughts and desires, but after repeatedly meeting a non-Mahram in an unstructured setting to spend time as friends, the battle against the self becomes increasingly difficult. With regard to one thing leading to another, the Leader of the Pious, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said: "Simply thinking about sinful carnal deeds encourages you to commit them eventually." ( Ghurar al-Hikam, p. 518 ) Islamis about looking ahead and being wise to the on-goings around us. Some things are forbidden to us because they are harmful in essence, and other things are forbidden because they lead to harmful things. Here, we have a situation that is harmful in itselfand that will also lead us to even greater harm in this world and in the next.
We are taught to surround ourselves with friends who inspire us to strive even closertowards Allah, not with those because of whom we risk falling into sin. We must not let our desires direct our actions; rather, we must let our God-consciousness guide us towards what is pleasing to Him and thus beneficial for us. So let's not fool ourselves, because non-Mahram guys and girls can't be "just friends".

DETERMINATION

by Martyr BINT AL-HUDA

It was a gloomy, overcast night. The wind was blowing and it was going to storm. Khadijah and her three young children weresitting on an old worn carpet in their room Khadijah looked out the window often, trying not to draw her children’s attention. She was worried that the storm would break before her husband arrived. Finally, hearing the key turn in the lock, she quicklygot up, telling her children to go welcome their father.
“Oh mother”, said the youngest child, “Has he brought us food?” She gently scolded him, saying, “This is not important. Don’t ask him this question.” The children ran towards their father and, although she was upset, Khadijah, too, greeted him with a smile. Her husband had brought a few pieces of bread and cheese, which he handed to his wife. She soon served the simple meal on plates that had lost their colour through long use.
Khadijah spoke cheerfully while they ate and later the children slept, dreaming of sweets, toys and games. Their parents sat quietly for a while.
“So this year is about to end,” Khadijah’s husband, Hassan, said bitterly, “And I still haven’t found a job. We have spent our savings and sold what we could of our furniture. We have nothing left with which to fight our hunger.”
His wife replied, “We still have faith and determination, which are the keys to all which is good and brings happiness.”
“What good thing or happiness has our faith brought us? Our children are wearing torn clothes and are hungry. It is this very faith that has made life difficult for us, and it is guidance, which has led us to poverty! In the past we were living in luxury…”
Khadijah interrupted her husband, asking, “What kind of luxury was it? Since when has gambling been a way of providing for one’s family! Allah has said that gambling isforbidden to Muslims. How could we have been happy knowing that the food we ate and the clothes we wore would send us to the Fire in the Hereafter? Our gain caused others to go hungry and naked!
“Yes, Khadijah,” Hassan said. “I know you are right. For these very reasons I gave up gambling, but it has brought us nothing. I thank you for helping me out of that bottomless pit. All praise belongs to Allah for His guidance. Still, poverty is bitter and the shamefulness of being needy is almost unbearable.”
Upon hearing these words, Khadijah consoled him saying, “Oh Hassan, it is only temporary. Allah says that with every difficulty comes relief. The life of the Hereafter is the real and endless one. We still have hope. This future, everlasting life is the one we should care about and make ready with good deeds. Don’t regret what has passed; instead, thank I Allah for possessing the means of obtaining His forgiveness. Happiness belongs to those who are patient while facing hardships and avoid disobeying Allah.”
“Oh Khadijah, I am not without hope, but I’m afraid that Satan will cause me to sin- then I will fall and lose everything.”
“I still have my gold wedding ring,” his wife said.
“Tomorrow I shall sell it and we will have money for a while. Almighty Allah will help us. Be confident that you will find a job, with Allah’s help. Allah doesn’t leave those who worship Him without hope of His compassion. You will surely see how the future will brighten for you, and how generous Allah is to those who believe.”
With a sigh, her husband replied,” If you think so, I will believe you but what is the wisdom behind our hardship?”
“Oh, Hassan!” She cried. ” Don’t you know the Qur’anic verse: “And we will most certainly test you with what you fear, and hunger, and loss of property and lives. Therefore, give good news to the patient?”
“But when will this hardship end?” he asked.
“As soon as we pass our test successfully,” she replied. “Through patience, prayer, and avoiding sinful ways of getting money, we shall succeed.”
At this point, the couple stopped talking andfell asleep, putting their trust in Allah. At dawn they awoke for their morning prayers. Afterwards, Khadijah began preparing breakfast and her husband sat down to recite some suras from the Qur’an. When the children woke up, their mother poured tea for them. One of the children asked for bread. He said, “My friend and hisbrothers have. eggs and butter every morning.”
His mother, feeling great pain in her heart, smiled, kissed him and said, “‘Tomorrow, byAllah’s will, you will have whatever you like.”
The child innocently asked, “Why do you say: ‘By Allah’s will’?”
“Because,” she replied, “It is Allah Who gives us everything and helps us to do our work. Without His will, we can’t even breathe.”
“Mother, does that mean Allah will give us eggs and bread for breakfast?”
“Yes, my son. By the will of Allah it will happen.” The father listened to his wife. He was greatly surprised by her strong faith. He began to feel hopeful and confident. He started talking with his children about the days to come and how Allah would help himto find a good job. Then he would buy whatever sweets and fruits they like. Then there was a knock at the door. Wondering whom it could be at such an early hour, Hassan went to find out. When he returned,his face was shining with happiness. Upon seeing this, his wife said, “Hassan, I feel our test is over.”
In a voice choking with emotion, he replied. “Yes, my dear wife, Allah, the Exalted, has ended our test. Praise to Allah, it has happened with your patience, efforts and faith. There is a hadith which says: ‘A good woman is better than 1000 men’ Our hardship is finished by the grace of Allah and your strong faith.”
“Was it the messenger of Hajj Sahib?”
“No, it was Hajj Sahib himself. He said that he had been looking for someone to manage his business and heard about our situation and my past experience. Allah used him as the way to save us from despair and to give us hope, as Allah promised to the patient believers. Hajj Sahib said to me, ‘You are now cleaner and purer than all of us. You are now as one newly born.’”