An Important Rule Often Neglected 13

Congregational prayers » Rules of congregational prayers
Islamic Laws; Ayatullah al Uzama Syed Ali al-Husaini Seestani


1470. It is necessary for the follower to recite all the things of the prayers himself, except Surah al-Hamd and the other Surah. However, if his first or second Rak'at coincides with third or fourth Rak'at of the Imam, he should recite Surah al-Hamd and Surah. 

1471. If the follower hears Surah al-Hamd and Surah of Imam in the first and second Rak'at of the Fajr, Maghrib and Isha prayers, he should not recite them, even if he may not be able to distinguish the words. And if he does not hear the voice of the Imam, it is Mustahab that he should recite Surah al-Hamd and Surah silently. But if he recites them loudly by mistake, there is no harm.

1475. The follower should not recite Surah al-Hamd and Surah in the first and second Rak'ats of Zuhr and Asr prayers and it is Mustahab that instead of them he should recite Zikr.

WHEN ALLAH WHISPERS

Munajat is a conversation between the lover and the Beloved. It is therefore no ordinary kind of conversation. It is a mutual conversation that entails secrecy and intimacy. Only those who are close to each other secretly whisper to one another. Our holy traditions introduce the canonical prayer as munajat. The Holy Prophet (s) is reported to have said: “O mankind surely when the worshipper (musalli) prays, he whispers (yunaaji) unto his Blessed and Almighty Lord; therefore he must know that with which he whispers.” Whispering to Allah is a phenomenon both encouraged as well as understood. However, very few qualify to be whispered by Allah. Imam al-Sadiq ('a) is reported to have said: "When the Prophet (s) was taken for the nocturnal ascent (mi'raj) and he reached the station where Almighty Allah wanted him to, his Lord Whispered to him." [Bihar al-Anwar, v.18, p.341]. Jabir bin 'Abdillah al-Ansari narrates that the Holy Prophet (s) called Ali ('a) in the battle of Ta'if, and whispered to him. So the people complained and said 'The Prophet (s) whispered to Ali alone, and did not whisper to us.’ Thereupon the Prophet (s) stood and praised Allah and said: ‘O people, surely you claim that I whispered to 'Ali; I swear by Allah, I did not whisper to him; rather it is Allah Who Whispered to Him.’ [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 39, p. 153]. These were examples of the infallibles, for whom such states are understandable. Can other human beings too attain a level in which they have the privilege of being whispered by Almighty Allah? Imam 'Ali ('a) is reported to have said: “In all the periods and times when there were no prophets, there have been persons with whom Allah, precious are His bounties, whispered in their hearts and spoke in the essence of their intellects”. Therefore it is feasible for other human beings to experience such moments of ecstasy as well. One of the instances that raises a person so high that Allah whispers to him is when one sincerely embarks to visit the grave of Imam al-Husayn ('a). If he enjoys sufficient receptivity, he would have the privilege of being whispered by his All-Beloved Creator. Imam al-Sadiq ('a) is reported to have said: “Surely when a person comes out to visit the grave of al-Husayn ('a), for the first step that he takes when leaving his family, his sins are forgiven; thereafter for every step that he takes, he is sanctified until he comes to the grave. When he reaches al-Husayn's grave, Allah Whispers to him, and Says: My Servant, ask Me, and I shall give you, and call me and I shall respond to your call…[Wasa'il al-Shi'a, v.14, p.420]

The Powerful Advice of the Messenger of Allah (saw) to Abu Thar al-Ghefari

Abel-Aswad said: “I arrived in Rabatheh and met Abu Thar; Jondab Ibn Jonadeh (may God be pleased with him). He narrated: 


“Once in the middle of the day I met the Prophet of Islam (peace be on him and his pure progeny) in his mosque. There was no one in the mosque except the Messenger of God and Ali was sitting next to him. I took the opportunity and said: ‘O Messenger of God! May my parents be sacrificed for you, would you give me a recommendation that I benefit from it.’ 


The Prophet said: ‘Yes, O Abu Thar! You are from us Ahlul-Bait. I will grant you an advice and you should hold onto it as it contains the ways to virtue. If you adhere to it, there will be two rewards for you. 
Abu Thar! 
Worship God as if you see Him, for if you don’t see Him, He indeed sees you. 


Be aware that the first step of worshipping God, is to know Him. Thus, He is the first before everything and there is none before Him. 
He is One and there is no two for Him. He is everlasting without any end; the Creator of the heavens and the earth and whatever is in them and between them. He is Allah the most Merciful and Most Knower and He is Mighty over everything. 


Then, it is the faith and acknowledgement in me, that Allah has dispatched me to all people with glad tidings and warning; a caller to Allah with His permission; an illuminated lamp.


Then, it is the love of my Pure Progeny “from whom Allah has removed the evil and purified them a thorough purification.” Abu Thar, be aware that Allah the Almighty has made the example of my Ahlul-Bait in my community, like the ark of Noah; whoever embarked on it was rescued and whoever turned away from it drowned, or the likeness of the Gate of Humiliation for the Israelites that whoever entered that was safe. 


Abu Thar! Adhere to what I advise you and you will be prosperous in this world and in the hereafter.


Abu Thar! There are two blessings that many people are wrong about them; 
the blessings of health and free time. 


Abu Thar! Seize five things before five things: 
your youth before your aging, 
your health before your illness, 
your wealth before your poverty, 
your free time before your engagement, 
and your life before your death.  


Abu Thar! Be stingier with your life than your money. 


Abu Thar! The worst person in the sight of God on the Day of Judgment is a learned person who does not benefit from his knowledge. 
Whoever seeks knowledge to attract the attention of people to himself, will never even smell the fragrance of Paradise. 


Abu Thar! When you are asked of a topic that you have no knowledge of, say: ‘I don’t know’, then you will be saved from its consequences, and never give an opinion on something that you have no knowledge about, you will be saved from the chastisement of the Day of Judgment. 


Abu Thar! A group of people of Paradise will attend a group of people of hell and ask them surprisingly: “What brought you to Hell whilst we entered Paradise, because of your teachings”?! The people of Hell will reply: “Indeed we enjoined people to good, yet we didn’t practice it ourselves.’ 


Abu Thar! For every farmer is what he cultivated. Whoever cultivates good will be on the verge of harvesting it, and whoever cultivates evil will also be on the verge of cultivating regret. 


Abu Thar! When God wills evil to a person, He will make him forget his sin.’” 


Bihar al-Anwaar, Vol. 77, Pg 76

An Important Rule Often Neglected 12

Islamic Laws : Wudhu » Introduction
Fatawa of Ayatullah al Uzama Syed Ali al-Husaini Seestani



254. While performing Wudhu, it is obligatory to wash the face and the hands once, and it is recommended to wash them twice.
Washing them three or more times is haraam. As regards to which washing should be treated as the first, it will depend upon washing the face and hand thoroughly, leaving no room for precaution, with the niyyat of Wudhu.

So, if he pours water on his face ten times with the intention of the first washing, there is no harm, but when he will then wash with the niyyat of Wudhu, it will be called the first time. Thus, he can go on pouring water on his face several times, and in the final wash, make the niyyat of Wudhu. But if he follows this procedure, then the face and the hands should be washed once only, as an obligatory precaution.

The Heart - the key to all secrets!

Imam Ali (A.S.) in his Last Will and Testament to his sons Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Hussain (AS)

I am amazed at the heart of man:It possesses the substance of wisdom as well as the opposites contrary to it ... for if hope arises in it, it is brought low by covetousness:
and if covetousness is aroused in it, greed destroys it.
If despair possesses it, self piety kills it:
and if it is seized by anger, this is intensified by rage.
If it is blessed with contentment, then it forgets to be careful;
and if it is filled with fear, then it becomes preoccupied with being cautious.
If it feels secure, then it is overcome by vain hopes;
and if it is given wealth, then its independence makes it extravagant.
If want strikes it, then it is smitten by anxiety.
If it is weakened by hunger, then it gives way to exhaustion;
and if it goes too far in satisfying its appetites, then its inner becomes clogged up. 
So all its shortcomings are harmful to it, and all its excesses corrupt it.

There are four things that make the heart die:
- wrong action followed by wrong action,
- playing around with foolish people,
- spending a lot of time with women,
- and sitting with the dead.
Then they asked Imam Ali: 'And who are the dead, O Commander of the believers?'
He replied: 'Every slave who follows his desires.'

Surely want is a trial, and having sickness of the body is more difficult to bear than indigence, and having a sickness of the heart is more difficult to bear than having a sickness of the body.

Surely being very wealthy is a blessing, and having a healthy body is better than being very wealthy, and having awe of Allah in your heart is better than having a healthy body.

Surely hearts have desires, and they turn towards, and they turn away...
so approach them by means of what they desire and what they turn towards, for surely if the heart is forced to do some thing against its will, it goes blind.

'Friday-mind-stimulator'

'Your society will pass through a period

= when high positions will be given only to those who defame others, = when vicious people will be regarded witty and
= the just will be regarded weak,
= when charity will be considered as a loss to wealth and property,
= when support and help to each other will be considered as favour and benevolence and
= when prayers and worship to Allah will be taken up for the sake of show to gain popularity and higher status, 
= at such times regimes will be run under the advice of women and the youngsters will be the rulers and counsellors of the State.'

Imam Ali, Nahjul Balagha, Saying 102

'I swear by the time,

(is it nearly time?)
Most surely man is in loss,

(aforementioned = loss?)
Except those who believe and do good, and enjoin on each other truth, and enjoin on each other patience.'
(Am I faling prey?)

[Quran 103: 1-3]

An Important Rule Often Neglected 11

Islamic Laws : Obligatory acts relating to Namaz » Qiyam (to stand)
Fatawa of Ayatullah al Uzama Syed Ali al-Husaini Seestani

975. If he recites something Mustahab (IN SALAH) while in motion, for example, if he says Takbir while going into Ruku or Sajdah, his Zikr will not be correct but his namaz will be valid. Bi hawli lahi wa quwwati Aqumu wa Aq'ud should be said in the state of rising.