Thursday, June 21, 2012

Traditions on Contentment and significance of Knowledge- Imam Baqir and Imam Sadiq

Imam Sadiq said, " whoever wishes spiritual richness, but does not quench his anger will die in sorrow." and he said," Whoever is content with what God destined for him will be one of the richest people, "

Imam Baqir said, " Do not desire the conditions of those better off than you, since God the Almighty said to the prophet, ' Let not their wealth not their number in sons dazzle you,' (Quran  Taaba 9:55) and (God said), ' Nor strain your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to parties of them, the splendor of the life of this world.' ( Quran , Taha 20:131)  If you ever doubt this  issue remember the prophet's life. His food barely was bread, his sweets were dates, and his fire came from burning date branches- if he could get any."

The prophet said, " Being content is a treasure is a form of wealth that will never get destroyed."

Imam Sadiq said of the following verses, '" Those truly fear God among His servants who have knowledge.'
( Quran, Fatir 35:28) " What is meant by 'those who have knowledge' are those whose words and deeds are the same. If your deeds are not the same as your words, then you do not have knowledge."

Imam Ali said, " O believer! knowledge and manners are the price of your life. Try to earn knowledge and acquire proper manners, so that your worth increases and your rank raises. This is the because knowledge will guide you towards your Lord, and you can serve your Lord better with proper manners, thereby  acquire the rank of nearness to God. Accept advice to the be saved from the torture of hell."

The prophet said, " Travel to earn knowledge even if it is in China, since acquiring knowledge is an obligation upon all muslims."

Imam Sadiq said, " Act according to any traditions that are brought to you, if they are in agreement with the Quran, irrespective of whether an honest or a wicked man brings it. On the other hand do not act according to any traditions brought to you that disagree with the Quran."


 Imam Sadiq said, " God will gather the people in one place on the Resurrection day and will weigh the blood of the martyrs against the ink of the scientists, and the ink of the scientists will be superior to the blood of the martyrs."'

Imam Baqir (a.s) said, " The birds in the sky, all the fishes, and other sea creatures will ask God's forgiveness for the students until the Resurrection Day."

Source: Mishkat ul anwar.



 

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Quotes from famous historians/intellectuals

"Globalization suggests that human affairs are evolving toward a universal pattern. If gas stations, iPods, and computer geeks are the same worldwide, why not political institutions? This view underrates the world's complexity. The relapse into bloodshed and anarchy that has occurred so visibly in much of the world has also made the idea of spreading a new order more attractive...But one should always be suspicious when military powers claim to be doing favors for their victims and the world by defeating and occupying weaker states." -ERIC J. HOBSBAWM on spreading democracy.


While longstanding US policies remain stable, with tactical adjustments, under Obama there have been some significant changes. Military analyst Yochi Dreazen observes in the Atlantic that Bush's policy was to capture (and torture) suspects, while Obama simply assassinates them, with a rapid increase in terror weapons (drones) and the use of Special Forces, many of them assassination teams. Special Forces are scheduled to operate in 120 countries. Now as large as Canada's entire military, these forces are, in effect, a private army of the president, a matter discussed in detail by American investigative journalist Nick Turse on the website Tomdispatch. The team that Obama dispatched to assassinate Osama bin Laden had already carried out perhaps a dozen similar missions in Pakistan."- Noam Chomsky


"Corporate power, by now largely financial capital, has reached the point that both political organizations, which now barely resemble traditional parties, are far to the right of the population on the major issues under debate."- Noam Chomsky

Sunday, June 17, 2012

My recent cast drawing


Thankfulness to God- traditions by Imam Sadiq and Imam Baqir

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said, " Whenever God grants someone some blessings and he realizes them with his heart and expresses his gratitude, God will order an increase in his blessings before he finishes his words. God the Almighty has said,' If you are grateful, I will add more (blessings) unto you.' ( Quran: Ibrahin  14:7)

Imam baqir (a.s) said,  " The steady increase of God's blessings will not stop unless the gratefulness of the people stops."

Imam Jaffer Sadiq (a.s) said, "Whenever the Prophet received a blessing which he liked he would say,' Praise is for the Benevolent, the Beautiful God.' and whenever he recieved something which he disliked he would say, 'Praise be to God in all cases, and praise be to God in this case'.

It is narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s) that one the Prophet was passing by a group of people who were trying to life a rock. He asked them why they were trying to do so? They replied that they were trying to see who was the strongest...The prophet  said, ' The one who is the strongest is the one who does not engage in sin or do wrong  when he is content; one who does not say but what is right when he is angry; and one who doesn't do injustice  when he is powerful.'

Source :Mishkat ul- Anwar

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Imam Baqir and Imam Jaffar Sadiq 's tradition on Love in Islam

Imam Baqir (a.s) said, "...Is religion anything but love? Haven't you seen the words of God, 'If you love God, follow me. God will love you and forgive you your sins for God is oft-forgiving, Most Merciful' ( Quran Ali-i- Imran 3:31) 
Haven't you heard what God told Muhammad, 'But God has endeared to you the faith, and has made it beautiful to your hearts, and He has made hateful to you unbelief, wickedness, and rebellion: such indeed are those who walk in righteousness.' ( Quran:Hujurat 49:7)
And God, the Almighty, said, '....  show their affection to such as came to them for refuge, and entertain no desire in their hearts for things given to the (latter), but give them preference over themselves, even though poverty was their (own lot). And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls,- they are the ones that achieve prosperity.'( Quran 59:9)
Therefore religion is as love, and love is as religion."

Source: Mishkat Ul Anwar.

Yahya Rhodus on 99 names of God.

http://www.livestream.com/seekersguidance

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