Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Fazel Lankarani: 1931-2007

Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilayhi Raje'un - Verily we are from Allah and to Him do we return.

Coverage of Funeral Procession of Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Fazel Lankarani.


http://www.lankarani.org/eng/index.html

Business Ethics in Islam

Some quotes/passages/notes from Business Ethics in Islam by Respected Alim, Hujjatul Islam Wal Muslimeen Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi·

• As a creation of God, a human being is expected to:

1. obey the Divine commandments in relations to the self (be good to ourselves)
2. deal with others on the basis of justice and fairness (be good to others)
3. be moderate in one’s personal life and in the use of natural resources. (be good to the earth). (pg 8)
   

• The world has been created for humans; it is only here that persons can attain the levels of perfection.

• Humans have been created for God; it is here that they have to submit by their choice to the commandments of God.

• In a Hadith Qudsi, God says: “I have created all things for you, but you I have created for Myself." (pg 9)

“Work for your world as if you to live forever and work for your hereafter as if you are to die tomorrow.” – Imam Ja-far as-Sadiq (A.S.) (pg 13)

Learn three characteristics from the crow:
1. it conceals its act of cohabitation
2. it rises early for seeking sustenance
3. it is always alert
-Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (A.S.) – pg 20

“Try that your (daily) time is divided into four segments:

1. A time for meditations to God
2. A time for earning livelihood
3. A time for socializing with brethren and trustworthy (friends) who would point out your (moral) weaknesses and be sincere (in their friendship for you)
4. A time exclusively devoted for non-haraam pleasure (with the family). It is with this (fourth) time segment that you will be able to maintain (or master) the other three times…” - Imam Musa Kazim (A.S.) (pg 33)
   

“From the signs of the believer are three things:
1. good management of livelihood
2. patience in face of calamity
3. study of religion”
- Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (pg 33-34)

A ‘Muslim’ in the ethical sense is “one from whose hands and tongues other Muslims are protected.” (pg 37)

A mu’min, in the ethical sense, is defined as “one whom the believers can entrust with their lives and property.” (pg 40)

Al-'Askari Shrine Bombing

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT from

Marja-e-Taqlid
Ayatullah Al Uzama Syed Ali Al-Husaini Seestani,
(May He protect him & we pray for his long and healthy life - Ameen!)
___________________________________

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

The criminal hands have returned to once again desecrate the sanctuary of the Al-‘Askari Shrine in Samarra and have targeted what was left of its holy symbols in form of the two minarets. This repugnant crime displays the level of malice and hatred of the perpetrators towards the Blessed Prophet’s family, and their attempt to inflame the sectarian strife between the citizens of Iraq.

While the religious leadership (marja‘iyya) expresses its anger and strong condemnation on this horrendous act, and declares its great disappointment at the ineptitude of security organs in fulfilling their duty of protecting the holy shrine – implores the dear believers at this critical times to imbibe more patience and control of emotions, and to refrain from any reprisal act against the innocent people and the holy sites of others.

We hope that the government embarks on implementing its promise of adopting immediate steps to increase the required security for the holy shrine. And there is no strength and power except with the High and Great Allah.

Office of as-Sayyid as-Sistani
Najaf
27 Jamadi ath-Thani 1428 (13 June 2007)

Self Building / Self Knowledge Workshop

Excellent workshop by Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shomali on Self Building on June 2/07.

Salaat Resources

How

1. Translation and Transliteration
2. Particulars of Qunoot by Respected Alim, Hujjatul Islam Wal Muslimeen Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi - Sept 24/09
3. Significance of Sajdah (Prostration) by Respected Alim, Hujjatul Islam Wal Muslimeen Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi - Nov 12/09

Why

Imam al-Sadiq (A) said:

"When a human being stands for prayers,. God's Blessings descend upon him from the sky; the angels circle him around and one of them says., If this prayer-offerer would have known the worth of his prayer, he would never have broken his concentration (towards God) throughout the prayer."

-al-Kafi, vol. 3, p-265  -  (Extracted from  "Self Building" by Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini)

1. Soaring to The Only Beloved
2. Forty Ahadith on Salat
3. Adabus Salaat: The Disciplines of the Prayer
4. Self Building
5. Central role of Salaat in the victory of Karbala by Respected Alim, Hujjatul Islam Wal Muslimeen Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi - Jan 5/10
6. Secrets of the Prayer - Part VI : Sheikh Shomali
7. Salaat Seminar, by H.I. Abbas Ayleya - June 14, 2008, Zainabia Centre, Detroit, MI: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI, Part XII

When

1. Praytime.info

Resources

1. Animation for children
2. Useful lecture by Respected Alim Hujjatul Islam Wal Muslimeen Moulana Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi on humility & focus in Salaat.
3. Concentration in Salaat

Ahmadinejad DID NOT threaten to

Attend, show your numbers, save your humanity

June 2007 marks the 40-year anniversary of Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza Strip, the Syrian Golan Heights and the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula. On June 9-10, 2007, the people of Palestine and people of the world will join together in Global Days of action to say NO! to Israeli occupation and the siege on the Palestinian people.

In Toronto, actions will be occurring on both June 9th and 10th.

*** June 9: BOYCOTT CHAPTERS / INDIGO PICKETS
Please contact endapartheid@riseup.net to sign up for a picket. All information and material available at www.caiaweb.org


*** June 10: DEMONSTRATION Starting at 1pm
         At the United States Consulate - Toronto
         360 University Ave.

For 40 years Israel has constructed illegal settlements on stolen Palestinian land. For 40 years Israel has killed thousands of Palestinians, demolished 12,000 Palestinian homes, arrested 650,000 Palestinians, and uprooted more than a million Palestinian olive trees.

Since 2002 the Apartheid Wall built on occupied Palestinian territory has effectively encircled the Palestinian population, squeezing Palestinians into truncated Bantustans, cementing Israeli expansionism, and forcing thousands Palestinians off of their land. The Wall divides farmers from their land, students from their schools, workers from their jobs, and people from their communities. Despite the International Court of Justice ruling it illegal, the Wall now encircles Palestinian towns and cities in the most massive land-grab in 40 years. In its recent war against Lebanon, Israel's unilateralism and militarism have been exposed to the world. Israel continues to establish "facts on the ground" to maintain strategic control over the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and to annex land and get rid of the non-Jewish indigenous population.

In Jerusalem and inside Israel, Palestinians face institutionalized discrimination and are denied equality and their full rights as citizens since 1948. And Israel continues to deny Palestinian refugees, who were forcibly exiled from their homeland in the 1947-48 war, their internationally guaranteed rights, including the right to return to one’s homeland and the right to property restitution.

On 29 March 2006, Canada became the first country in the world to impose a siege on the Palestinian people living in the West Bank and Gaza, which meant total political and economic sanctions on the Palestinian Authority – the largest employer in these occupied Palestinian territories. The stated reason for the siege was the formation of a democratically elected government in uncontested democratic elections. Canada had been one of the states calling for democratic Palestinian elections, but was displeased with the result: the victory of Hamas.

The siege is the first time in human history that the “international community” has decided to punish a people under occupation, let alone punish them for democratically electing their leadership. The siege has had a devastating effect on the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza including:

-  eliminating the salaries, wages and livelihood of one-third of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza;

-  dragging two-thirds of the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza below the poverty line (they live on less than $2 a day). These working people and their families now live in fear of starvation;

-  The closure of Palestinians areas (i.e. Palestinians were prevented from getting to work, school or hospital outside of their canton [usually their village, town or city] for 86% of the year.

Join together on 10 June outside the US consulate in Toronto to demand that Canada lift this siege immediately, and end any and all Canadian support for the Israeli Occupation of Palestine.

For more information, contact Palestine House
at: info@palestinehouse.com 

Israeli Settlements (Colonies) in Palestine

Al-Abbas (Peace be on him) : Badr Shahin

Al-Abbas compiled by Badr Shahin (2nd Edition) is a good read. Here are some take-aways from the book:

Al-Abbas – the frowning. Named this because his father “perceived that this baby would be one of the heroes of Islam and would be frowning in the faces of evils and wrongdoers…” (pg 40)

In Arabic, Al-Abbas: the lion that other lions fear and escape.(pg 40)

Was nicknamed ‘Abu’l-Fadhl – father or owner of virtue (pg 40)

Tawiz/dua of his mother for his protection:

I seek the guard of the One (God) for him
From the eye of every envious
Including the rising and the sitters
The Muslims and the unbelievers
The comers and the goers
And sons and fathers (pg 41).

After martyrdom, he is the shelter and refuge of everyone who seeks his help. Most surely, God will relieve him who directs to Him and implores to Him by using Abu'l-Fadhl as his means and interceder. (pg 41)

Pilgrimage/Ziyarat:

“Recommended for pilgrims of the tomb of Imam al-Hussein (a) to begin first with visiting the tomb of al-Abbas. This is one of the confirmations of al-Abbas's being the door to his brother; chief of the martyrs.” (pg 46)

Ziyarat of Nahia from 12th Imam:

Peace be upon Abul Fazl al-Abbas, the son of Amirul Mu'mineen, defender of his brother (Imam Hussain) with his life and soul, who prepared for the fateful morning since the day before, and lay down his life for Hussain, faithful unto death; and who strove to bring water for him and his children, but whose arms were both cut off.
May Allah curse his murderers, Yazeed bin Ruqaad al-Heeti and Hakeem bin Tufail at-Taai.

Bab ul-Hawaaij:

“People believed that God will surely settle the needs of him who implores to Him by seeking the intercession of al-Abbas for the special rank that he enjoys in the sight of Almighty God and for dedicating himself to the obedience to Imam al-Hussein. Hence, al-Abbas is called 'Bab ul-Hawaaij - the door to the settlement of needs.” (pg 52)

“Since obedience is attached to pure worship, al-Abbas was described by Imam as-Sadiq (a) as obedient.” (pg 53)

“As he was about to have a drink, he remembered the thirst of his brother and his children. He therefore refused to drink before he would sate the thirst of those ones.” (pg 59)

My soul, you must be preceded by al-Hussein
And you must not continue to exist after him
Al-Hussein is about to drink from cups of death
While you want to drink from this cold water
No, by Allah! This is not my religion! (pg 139)

On the construction of Shrine of Al-Abbas:

Sayyid Hasan, the writer of Fadak and other books, has mentioned that the golden small hall facing the first gate of the holy shrine was established by the king of Lakanhu Mohammad Shah the Indian. (pg 75)

Imam Hussein (A.S.) on the day of Ashura:

"People are certainly the slaves of this world. The religion is only a slaver on their tongues. They turn it wherever their livelihood demands. If they are examined by misfortunes, the religious will be very little. This world has changed, snubbed, and its good has turned tail. Nothing has remained from it except a thing that is as scanty as the leftover of a cup and a mean life that is like a noxious grazing. Have you not noticed that the right is ignored and the evil is not forbidden? This is sufficient for making the believers desire for meeting Allah rightfully. I consider death as happiness and life with the wrongdoers as boredom."(pg 127)