Peshawar, 1927 (1345 A.H.)
Peshawar Nights
Sayyid Muhammad al-Musawi al-Shirazi
Translated by Hamid Quinlan & Charles Ali Campbell · Ansariyan Publications – Qum
Transcript of eleven nights of dialogue between Sunni scholars and a Shi'i scholar in Peshawar, 1927 (1345 A.H.) on successorship, the companions, the Ahlul Bayt and related topics.
Start readingNote on this edition. The Ahlul Bayt DILP team wishes to inform the reader of some important points regarding this digitized text, which represents the English translation of a work originally written in Farsi. The editing and digitization process (carried out by the DILP Team) revealed issues in the quality of translation. The DILP team therefore made grammatical corrections to make the text more readable and less ambiguous, corrected spelling mistakes and typographical errors, and attempted to improve the highly non-standard transliteration of Arabic names and terms. The online text is not an exact reproduction of the original translation. Those who understand are advised to refer directly to the original text.
Contents
- PrefaceTranslators' preface and introduction
- First SessionThursday night, 23rd Rajab 1345 A.H.
9 topics
- Relationship with the Holy Prophet
- Additional evidence proving that the descendants of Bibi Fatima are of the progeny of the Holy Prophet
- Why Shi'as combine their prayers
- How the Allama's ancestors migrated from the Hijaz to Iran
- How the grave of the Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali, was discovered
- Desecration of graves by Bani Umayyad
- Misdeeds of this dynasty
- Discovery of the sacred grave of 'Ali
- Differences about the burial place of the commander of the faithful
- Second SessionFriday night, 24th Rajab 1345 A.H.
17 topics
- Misconception about origin of the ‘Shi’as’ sect
- Absurd to associate Abdullah Ibn Saba with Shi'as
- Meaning of Shi'as
- Further merits of Shi'as
- Shi'as merits proven from Sunni books
- Rank of Salman, Abu Dharr, Miqdad, and Ammar
- Causes of Iranians' Receptivity to Shi'ism
- Iranians grateful for 'Ali's compassion
- Debates between Allama Hilli and the Chief Justice concerning the imamate
- Iranian king accepted Shi'as belief
- Islam forbids boasting about ancestors
- Islam also forbids racism
- Condemnation of the extremists
- Shi'as separate from Ghalis
- Clarification about reverence towards Imams
- The people of Ya Sin refers to the people of Muhammad
- 'Salawat' (blessings) on Muhammad and 'Ahle-Muhammad' is sunna (commendable), and in ritual prayer it is compulsory
- Third SessionSaturday night, 25th Rajab 1345 A.H.
49 topics
- Shi'as not divided into factions
- The ‘Zaidiyyas’
- The Kaysaniyyas and their belief
- The ‘Qaddahiyyas’ and their belief
- The ‘Ghullat’ and their belief
- Shi'as Imamiyya Ithna Ashari, and their belief
- Belief in Allah and the Prophets
- Belief in chastisement, reward, hell, Paradise, and day of judgement
- Belief in the articles of practice
- Belief in Imams
- Objection on ‘hadith’ of ‘ma'rifa’ (tradition of knowledge of Allah)
- Absurd reports in ‘sahihain’ (the two collections) of ‘Bukhari’ and ‘Muslim’
- References about visibility of Allah
- Holy Qur'an rejects doctrine of visibility of Allah
- Arguments and ‘hadith’ about the invisibility of Allah
- Further references to absurdities in two collections of traditions
- Hadith al-Thaqalain
- Polytheism and its kinds
- Polytheism in prayer
- Concerning offerings or pledges
- Offerings in the name of Allah
- Hidden Polytheism: Making a Display of Prayers
- Polytheism regarding causation
- Why prophets sought help from people
- The Holy Ahlul Muhammad (descendants of the prophet) are means of divine bounty
- ‘Hadith al-Thaqalain’ (hadith of two great things)
- Bukhari and Muslim have recorded many traditions reported by fabricators
- Many authentic hadith regarding Ahlul Bayt scrupulously avoided
- Sources of hadith al-Thaqalain
- Hadith al-Safina
- Seeking means to approach Allah not polytheism
- Du'a al-Tawassul
- Shi'as do not malign Sunnis
- Sunni ulama' call Shi'as infidels
- Shi'as and the four Sunni schools of law
- Murders of Shi'as in Iran and Afghanistan
- Martyrdom of Shahid al-thalis
- Instructions about ziarat
- ‘Namaz al-ziarat’ and invocations after the prayer
- Invocation after namaz
- Prostration of the brothers of Joseph before him
- Invoking Imams is not worshiping the dead
- The infidelity of Yazid
- Sanction by Sunni ulama' for cursing Yazid
- Should Yazid be cursed?
- Desecration of Graves
- The descendants of the Holy Prophet are martyrs in the way of Allah, and are alive
- "They are alive (and) are provided with sustenance from their Lord." (3:169)
- The position of infallible Imams
- Fourth SessionSunday night, 26th Rajab 1345 A.H.
20 topics
- Discussion regarding Imamate
- Limitation to four schools of law has no basis
- Shi'ism compared to four schools of law
- The four imams have declared each other to be infidels
- The Sunni ulama's condemnation of Abu Hanifa
- Imamate according to Shi'as means vicegerency of Allah
- The rank of imamate is higher than that of general prophethood
- General and special prophethood
- Differences in the rank of the prophets
- Characteristics of special prophethood
- Arguments for the rank of prophethood for 'Ali from hadith of manzila
- Authenticity of hadith of manzila from the usual sources
- Amadi unreliable as narrator of hadith
- Confirmation of hadith of manzila by ‘Umar ibn Khattab
- The position of single narration in the Sunni sect
- Characteristics of 'Ali
- Significance of 'Ali's rank
- Hadith that by order of the Prophet the doors of houses facing the mosque were closed except the door of ‘Ali’s house
- While bowing in ritual prayer, 'Ali gave a ring to a beggar
- Aaron's position as Prophet as well as caliph
- Fifth SessionMonday night, 27th Rajab 1345 A.H.
31 topics
- Hadith of manzila narrated several times
- Aaron was the ordained successor of Moses
- Similarity between the affairs of 'Ali and Aaron
- Hadith of invitation to relatives and the Prophet's appointing 'Ali as his successor
- "And warn your nearest relations," (26:214)
- Confirmation by Sunni ulama' and by European writers
- Clear hadith about the caliphate of 'Ali
- Characteristics of the companions
- Hadith in praise of Abu Bakr
- Abu Huraira's character and his condemnation
- Ibn Abd Rabbi's slanders against the Shi'as
- Slanders by Ibn Hazm
- Slanders by Abu Taimiyya
- Abu Huraira's character and hadith calling for his condemnation
- Abu Huraira's collusion with Busr ibn Artat in the massacre of Muslims
- Condemnation of Abu Huraira and 'Umar's beating him
- Reply to the supposed hadith that Allah said "I am pleased with Abu Bakr – is he also pleased with me?"
- Ahadith in praise of Abu Bakr and 'Umar and their disqualification
- Hadith that both Hasan and Husain are the foremost of youth of paradise
- Reply to supposed hadith that Abu Bakr and A'ysha were preferred by the Prophet
- Shafi'is acknowledgement that love for Ahlul Bayt is obligatory
- Misconception regarding Holy Prophet's love for A'ysha
- Holy Prophet preferred 'Ali to all other men
- Hadith of the roasted bird
- "People of the remembrance" are the Ahlul Muhammad, the descendants of the Holy Prophet
- Citation of a verse of the Holy Qur'an about the appointment of the four caliphs, and a reply
- Argument from the "verse of cave" and its reply
- Facts about Abu Bakr's accompanying the Holy Prophet
- The Prophet's words "Allah is with us" no proof of excellence of Abu Bakr
- Barsisa Abid
- The sending down of peace was on the Prophet of Allah
- Sixth SessionTuesday night, 28th Rajab 1345 A.H.
33 topics
- 300 verses in praise of 'Ali
- 'Ali first to declare belief in Prophet of Allah
- Training of 'Ali from childhood by the Holy Prophet
- 'Ali's faith while only a child
- "Nor does he speak out of desire. It is naught but revelation that is revealed." (53:3-4)
- "He said: Surely I am a servant of Allah; He has given me the Book and made me a prophet." (19:30)
- "...and We granted him wisdom while yet a child." (19:12)
- 'Ali's faith was part of his very nature
- 'Ali excelled all other companions and the whole community in merit
- 'Ali's faith superior to Abu Bakr's
- 'Ali as the self of the Holy Prophet
- Qur'anic verse in praise of 'Ali on his sleeping in the Prophet's bed on the night of hijra
- "Vehement against the infidels" (48:29)
- Evidence regarding 'Umar's saying "had 'Ali not been there,' 'Umar would have been ruined'"
- Caliph 'Umar's bravery was never observed on any battlefield
- Conquests not due to personal merits of 'Umar
- Abu Bakr's and 'Umar's defeat in the battle of Khaibar
- 'Ali was the loved one of Allah and of the Holy Prophet
- Hadith of the standard in the conquest of Khaibar
- "And those who are with him are strong against the unbelievers, compassionate among themselves." (48:29).
- Uthman's character and way of life compared to that of Abu Bakr and 'Umar
- The wealth of caliph Uthman
- Caliph Uthman encouraged the evildoers among the Umayyads
- Holy prophet cursed Abu Sufyan, Mu'awiya and his son Yazid
- Uthman did not accept counsel of 'Ali
- Uthman mercilessly beat companions of Holy Prophet
- Ammar beaten by order of Uthman
- The hadith "all companions are like stars" applied also to Abu
- Dharr
- 'Ali ibn Abu Talib's kindness and generosity
- 'Ali's kindness to marwan Abdullah ibn Zubair
- 'Ali's kindness to A'ysha
- Doubts and complications regarding the "verse of guardianship" and their clarification
- Seventh SessionWednesday night, 29th Rajab 1345 A.H.
29 topics
- Difference between assumed unity and real unity
- The verse of imprecision (Mubahala) proves the unity of the soul of 'Ali with the Holy Prophet
- The Holy Prophet's arrival for the imprecision
- Merits of 'Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husain proven by the verse of imprecision
- Further narrations and hadith as evidence of the essential unity of the Holy Prophet and ‘Ali
- Since the Holy Prophet was superior to all other prophets, 'Ali was also superior to them
- The mirror of all the prophets as shown by the hadith of similitude (Hadith al-Tashbih)
- 'And He taught Adam All the names...." (2:31)
- "...I am going to place in the earth a Caliph..." (2:30)
- Consensus for Abu Bakr
- Arguments against validity of ijma
- 'Ali was deliberately kept uninformed of the meeting at saqifa
- Hadith al-Thaqalain and Hadith al-Safina
- Hadith "Ali is with the truth and the truth is with 'Ali"
- Kingdom." (4:54)
- Hadith of the Ark - Hadith of Saqifa
- Should ijma be accepted because of precedent?
- "Therefore give good news to my servants, those who listen to the word and follow the best of it." (39:17-18)
- Holy Prophet's hadith urging the believers to follow 'Ali
- Forced allegiance by 'Ali and Bani Hashim after six months
- 'Ali dragged from his home and his house set on fire
- Twelve arguments in support of the fact that 'Ali was taken to the mosque at the point of a sword
- Well-Wisher:
- Fatima told Abu Bakr and 'Umar that she cursed them both in every prayer
- Narrations about Fatima's miscarriage
- Imam Husain was never desirous of political power
- Imam Husain refused advice to abandon his mission
- Real meaning of bidat (innovation)
- Effects of visiting shrines of the Holy Imams
- Eighth SessionThursday night, 1st Sha'ban 1345 A.H.
137 topics
- Difference between Islam (submission) and Iman (faith)
- "And stop them, for they shall be questioned." (37:24)
- Association of Shi'ism with Imam Ja'far Sadiq
- Criticizing the companions does not mean infidelity
- Caliphs themselves did not regard cursing them as infidelity
- Caliph Abu Bakr abused 'Ali
- Caliph 'Umar held that cursing a Muslim is not infidelity
- According to Abu'l-Hasan Ash'ari even calling Allah or Holy Prophet by evil names is not infidelity
- Most companions abused one another but not regarded as infidels
- Holy Prophet of Islam knew all good and bad actions of sahaba
- Merit of being a party to Bai'at al-Rizwan
- Shi'as do acknowledge merits of sahaba
- Hadith of "following companions" examined
- Aqaba affair and design to kill Holy Prophet
- The Prophet never bade us follow liars
- Opposition of companions at saqifa
- Sa'd ibn ubaida's opposition to Abu Bakr and 'Umar
- Talha and Zubair confront ‘Ali at Basra
- Mu'awiya and 'Amr as used to curse and abuse 'Ali
- Sources of hadith "My companions are like stars." are weak
- Companions were not infallible
- Taking wine by ten companions in a secret meeting
- Companions' breaking their pledge
- In the Holy Qur'an "Truthful Ones" refers to Muhammad and 'Ali
- "O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah and be with the truthful ones." (9:119)
- Ghadir Hadith and its nature
- "The Prophet has a greater claim on the faithful than they have on themselves." (33:6)
- Hadith of Ghadir related by Tabari, ibn Iqda and ibn Haddad
- Gabriel's advice to 'Umar
- Hadith of "Following Companions" is unauthentic
- Some of companions were slaves to their wishes and turned against truth
- Imam Ghazali's view about companions breaking the pledge taken on the day of Ghadir al-Khum
- Sirru'l-Alamin is Imam Ghazali's book
- Reference to ibn lqda's status
- Reference to Tabari's death
- Nisa's murder
- Sunnis' doubt about meaning of “maula”
- Meaning of "maula" as "guide," "master" in light of the verse "Ya ayyuha'r-rasul baligh"
- Revelation of verse "This day have I perfected for you your religion." at Ghadir al-Khum
- Sibt ibn Jauzi's view about the meaning of "maula"
- View of ibn Talha Shafi'i about the meaning of maula
- 'Ali's argument based on hadith of Ghadir in the Mosque at Kufa
- Sad plight of those who did not confirm hadith of Ghadir
- Fourth argument: "Have I not a greater claim on you than you have on yourselves?"
- Hasan's couplets before the Holy Prophet
- Companions breaking their promise made on the day of Ghadir
- Companions breaking the promise at Uhud, Hunain, and Hudaibiyya
- Shi'as condemn only those companions whose acts were unjust
- Companions running away at Hudaibiyya
- Shi'as will seek redress on the Day of Judgment
- Fadak and its usurpation
- Revelation of the verse "Give to near of kin"
- Argument from hadith 'la nuris' - we do not leave legacies
- Fadak was a gift – not a legacy
- Hadith 'la nuris' is concocted
- Fatima argues her case
- Fatima's arguments rejecting hadith la nuris
- Fatima pleading in vain
- Caliph used abusive language
- 'Ali's remonstrating with Abu Bakr
- Abu Bakr's Insolence
- History judges a man
- Hadid's surprise at Abu Bakr's abusing 'Ali and Fatima
- Tormenting 'Ali is tormenting the Holy Prophet
- Hadith "I am the city of knowledge and 'Ali is its gate
- Vicegerency conferred on 'Ali (a.s.)
- Hadith about the vicegerency
- Allah selected 'Ali from among all men to be my vicegerent
- Ahlul Bayt endowed with seven matchless qualities
- Mahdi to fill the earth with justice
- At the time of his death, the head of the Holy Prophet was on the chest of Amiru'l-Mu'minin (a.s.)
- Inquiring about immediate succession or vicegerency
- Couplets of some companions about the vicegerency
- Holy Prophet's will concerning 'Ali's vicegerency exists in all authentic books
- Holy Prophet was prevented from writing his will at the time of his death
- Disobedience to Holy Prophet's command unbelievable
- Authentic reports concerning the Prophet's being prevented from making his will
- Ibn Abbas weeping because the Holy Prophet was prevented from writing his will
- ‘Umar prevented the Holy Prophet from writing his will
- Sources of hadith of "Prevention of will"
- 'Umar said: "This man is speaking nonsense, the Qur'an is sufficient for us"
- The Holy Prophet orders the quarreling companions to leave him
- To call the holy prophet "this man" was great insolence
- The word 'hajar' used by 'Umar means nonsense
- Insolence against Holy Prophet is infidelity
- First mischief in Islam in the presence of the Holy Prophet
- Could the Holy Prophet speak nonsense?
- Words "this man speaks nonsense" were most insulting
- A caliph cannot be exonerated for disobeying the Holy Prophet
- The Holy Prophet, not ‘Umar was responsible for the security of the religion
- Holy Qur'an alone is not sufficient for our guidance
- Holy Qur'an also asks us to consult Ahlul dhikr, that is, Ahlul Bayt
- Qutbu'd-din shirazi's objection to 'Umar's words
- Abu bakr was not prevented from writing his will
- So it is clear that 'Ali was Holy Prophet's immediate successor
- Hadith 'la nuris' rejected
- Caliphate belongs to the heir of knowledge
- 'Ali's verdict concerning a woman who gave birth to a child after a six-month pregnancy
- Hadith 'la nuris' not applied to other properties
- Abu Bakr's returning fadak to Fatima and 'Umar's intervention
- Caliph's returning Fadak to descendants of Fatima
- Returning Fadak by ‘Umar ibn Abdu’l-aziz
- Returning Fadak to descendants of Fatima by Abdullah Mahdi and Mamun, the Abbasid
- Proof that Fadak had been given to Fatima
- Contention that Abu Bakr acted according to "Verse of Evidence" and its reply
- To demand witnesses from occupants was against religious law
- Rejecting witnesses of Fatima was against religious law
- "Truthful ones" refers to Muhammad and 'Ali
- 'Ali is most exalted among the truthful ones
- 'Ali is with truth and with the Qur'an
- Obedience to 'Ali is obedience to Allah and his Holy Prophet
- Caliph Abu Bakr did not follow law of evidence in other cases
- Abu Bakr giving wealth to Jabir without calling for witness
- 'Ali and Fatima were referents of the verse of purification
- Proving that the verse of purity was not in praise of the Prophet's wives
- Wives of Prophet are not included in Ahlul Bayt
- Numerous hadith concerning "verse of purity" being in praise of Holy Five
- Hadith of Umm Salma about 'harrira'(a sweet liquid food) of Fatima and revelation of "verse of purity"
- Fadak was taken away for political reasons
- Khums interdicted
- Caliph may not pass an order in violation of a clear ordinance of Allah and the practice of Holy Prophet
- Allah has made 'Ali witness of the Holy Prophet
- 'Ali's mental anguish
- Hadith condemning tormentors of ‘Ali
- 'Ali was tormented and insulted
- Fatima remained indignant with Abu bakr and 'Umar until her death
- Fatima's distress is Allah's and Prophet's distress
- Allegation about 'Ali's intending to marry Abu Jahl's daughter
- Fabricating of hadith during Mu'awiya's period
- Misunderstanding about Fatima's indignation being non-religious
- Fatima was free from worldly attachment
- Fatima's indignation motivated by religion
- Fatima's silence did not indicate her acquiescence
- 'Ali was not free to act during his caliphate
- Abu bakr and 'Umar tried to visit Fatima to explain their point, but in vain
- Abu Bakr realized the seriousness of Fatima's anger
- Fatima was buried at night, a proof of her lasting displeasure with Abu Bakr and 'Umar
- Ninth SessionFriday night, 2nd Sha'ban 1345 A.H.
117 topics
- Shi'as accusing A'ysha of adultery and its reply
- A'ysha's exoneration from the charge of adultery
- A husband and wife do not necessarily share the same level of attainment
- Meaning of faithlessness of Noah's and Lot's wives
- Faithlessness of wives does not imply impurity
- Reference to A'ysha's conduct
- A'ysha grieved the Holy Prophet
- No such reports about other wives of the Holy Prophet
- Ummu'l-mu'minin Suda did not go out even for hajj or umra
- A'ysha goes out to fight against 'Ali
- 'Ali's virtues are beyond number
- Hadith in praise of ‘Ali’s virtues
- Friendship with 'Ali is faith and opposition to him is infidelity and hypocrisy
- 'Ali 'Best of Mankind' said the Holy Prophet- reported by A'ysha
- Authors who narrate Holy Prophet's hadith about hypocrites' hatred of 'Ali
- Slaughter of sahaba (companions) and innocent believers in Basra by order of A'ysha
- Shi'as say about A'ysha exactly what history shows
- No evidence that A'ysha repented
- A'ysha prevents burial of Imam Hasan near the Holy Prophet
- A'ysha's prostration at martyrdom of Amiru'l-Mu'minin
- Contradictory statements of A'ysha about Uthman
- Allah is merciful but the blood of innocent Muslims cannot go unquestioned
- A'ysha cannot plead loss of memory because she was reminded by Umm Salma
- Hadith of mending shoes is the greatest proof of the imamate and caliphate of 'Ali
- Difference in mode of appointment of the first three caliphs is proof of invalidity of their caliphate
- Other proofs for invalidity of consensus (Ijma')
- Holy prophet's nomination of 'Ali ignored and abu bakr's nomination of 'Umar upheld
- Objection to majlis al-shura (consultative body)
- Objection to Abdu'r-Rahman ibn Auf being arbiter
- According to the holy prophet, ‘Ali should be followed in preference to all the others
- Worst injustice done by 'Umar to Amiru'l-Mu'minin's position
- Caliphate of 'Ali was ordained by Allah
- Real basis of 'Ali's caliphate is not consensus but the Holy Prophet's declarations
- 'Ali was superior to all the other caliphs
- Hadith of Holy Prophet regarding ‘Ali’s superiority
- 'Ali's pure ancestry
- 'Ali's creation from light and his association with the Holy Prophet
- 'Ali's physical ancestry
- Azar was Abraham's father
- Fathers and mothers of the Holy Prophet were not polytheists but they were all believers
- 'Ali's forefathers were equally free from polytheism
- Misunderstanding about Abu Talib's faith clarified
- Shi'as consensus regarding belief of Abu Talib
- Misunderstanding about concocted hadith of Zuhzah clarified
- Evidence for Abu Talib's belief
- Ibn Abi'l-Hadid's couplets in prais of Abu Talib
- Couplets of Abu Talib Prove his Islam
- Abu Talib's acknowledgement of his belief in Allah at the time of his death
- Holy Prophet's conversation with Abu Talib at the announcement of his Prophethood
- Abraham's announcement of prophethood and his conversation with Azar
- Abu talib assures Holy Prophet of full support and also recites couplets in praise of Islam
- Abu Talib was a supporter and guardian of the Holy Prophet
- Not proper to call Mu'awiya 'khalu'l-mu'minin'
- Mu'awiya pronounces takbir at Imam Hasan's martyrdom
- Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr was killed thirsty and burnt to ashes for love of Ahlul Bayt
- Mu'awiya was not a scribe of wahi (revelation) but only of letters
- Evidence for Mu'awiya's infidelity
- Evidence from suras of the Holy Qur'an and hadith Mu'awiya and Yazid are cursed
- Murder of prominent believers, like Imam Hasan, Ammar Hajar ibn Adi Malik Ashtar, and Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, by order of Mu'awiya
- Murder of 30,000 believers by Busr ibn Artat on order of Mu'awiya
- Mu'awiya ordered that 'Ali be cursed
- The companions of the Prophet were at different levels of understanding
- In the words of the holy Qur'an "sahab" and "sahaba," meaning "companions", have no reverential significance
- Holy Qur'an praises good companions but also condemns bad companions
- "If then he (Muhammad) dies or is killed, will you turn back upon your heels?" (3:144)
- Abu Talib was a firm believer
- Additional proof of Abu Talib's belief
- Ja'far Tayyar's embracing Islam by his father's order
- The Holy Prophet wept bitterly at Abu Talib's death and invoked Allah's blessings on him
- 'Ali's clergy for his father, Abu Talib
- Abu Talib concealed his faith while Hamza and Abbas proclaimed theirs
- Why Abu Talib concealed his faith
- Abu Talib's faith was commonly known during the time of the Holy Prophet
- Mut'a marriage and hajj Nisa were lawful up to Abu Bakr's time but made unlawful by 'Umar
- Sunnis are really rafizis and Shi'as are Sunni
- Arguments for lawfulness of mut'a
- Ahlul Sunna regarding lawfulness of mut'a
- Command permitting mut'a was not repealed
- Distinguished companions and Imam Malik insist that the ordinance of mut'a was not abrogated
- All conditions of wedlock are fulfilled by mut'a
- Was qu'anic command for mut'a abrogated by the Holy Prophet?
- Arguments concerning its abrogation during the time of the Holy Prophet
- Could caliph 'Umar abrogate mut'a?
- Command of Allah or of the Holy Prophet may not be abrogated by a caliph
- Expediency not grounds for abrogation
- Abu Talib's faith was well known during the time of the Holy
- Prophet
- 'Ali's birthplace was the Ka'ba
- The origin of 'Ali's name was the unseen world
- After the names of Allah and the Holy Prophet, ‘Ali's name is written on Arsh
- Words used by Adam for acceptance of his repentance were the names of the five pure ones
- Wahi (revelation) and ilham (intuition) bestowed on persons other than Prophets, even on animals
- Abu Talib was guided by Allah to name his son 'Ali
- Revelation of lawh (tablet) to Abu Talib
- 'Ali's name is not a part of the adhan and iqama (calls for prayers)
- 'Ali's piety
- Abdullah ibn Rafi'i's report
- Suwaid ibn Ghafla's report
- 'Ali's abstaining from eating halwa
- 'Ali's dress
- Zurar's conversation with Mu'awiya concerning 'Ali
- The Prophet's recognition of 'Ali's piety
- Allah and the Holy Prophet called 'Ali imamu'l-muttaqin (chief of the pious)
- As Imamu'l-muttaqin 'Ali had no inclination for self-indulgence or authority
- 'Ali's refusal to pay allegiance to Abu Bakr proves the method of his appointment as caliph was not right
- Silence of holy prophets
- 'Ali's situation similar to Aaron's
- Acquiescence of prophets
- The Holy Prophet could not effect drastic changes for fear of people
- After the death of the Holy Prophet ‘Ali’s patience was for the sake of Allah
- 'Ali's statements on the expediency of his silence after the demise of the Holy Prophet
- Amiru'l-Mu'minin's letter to the people of Egypt explaining his silence when deprived of the caliphate
- Amiru'l-Mu'minin's sermon after martyrdom of Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr
- Sermon of Shiqshiqayya also explains 'Ali's silence
- Doubt about the Sermon of Shiqshiqayya
- Sayyid Razi
- Sermon of Shiqshiqayya recorded long before the birth of Sayyid Razi
- Tenth SessionSaturday night, 3rd Sha'ban 1345 A.H.
88 topics
- Assessment of 'Umar's knowledge of Islamic law
- ‘Umar’s knowledge of Islamic law was weak
- A woman silences 'Umar on a point of law
- Confiscation of any portion of mehr is unlawful
- 'Umar denying the Prophet's death proves that he was ignorant of several verses of the Holy Qur'an
- ‘Umar’s order to stone five people and ‘Ali’s intervention
- ‘Umar’s ordering a pregnant woman to be stoned to death and ‘Ali’s intervention
- 'Umar ordering an insane woman to be stoned and 'Ali's intervention
- 'Ali's knowledge and merit
- ‘Umar’s ignorance concerning tayammum (substitute for ablation)
- All knowledge was clearly visible to 'Ali
- Mu'awiya defending the position of 'Ali
- 'Umar's admission of his ignorance concerning difficult problems and his declaration that if 'Ali had not helped him, his difficulties would not have been solved
- 'Ali was most suitable for the office of caliphate
- By all standards 'Ali was the fittest man for the caliphate
- 'Ali's "allegiance" to caliphs was forced
- There should be no "blind faith" in religion
- Faith should be based on reason and honest inquiry
- Prophet's order to obey 'Ali
- No hadith exists designating other caliphs as the "Guides of the Community" or "Gates of Knowledge"
- Sunni ulama' do not want cooperation with us
- Prostration on dust by Shi'as objected to by others without reason
- Differences among the four schools are ignored but Shi'as are not tolerated
- Verdicts by Sunni scholars in contradiction to Qur'anic injunctions
- In absence of water ghusI and wuzu' one should perform tayammum
- Abu Hanifa's verdict that if water is not available we can perform ghusI and wuzu' with Nabiz (syrup of date)
- Washing of the feet in wuzu' is against the Qur'anic ordinance
- Wiping over the socks against the explicit ordinance of the Holy Qur'an
- The wiping over the turban is against the Quranic ordinance
- Shi'as alone blamed for such differences
- According to Sunni ulama' prostration on dry excrement and dung is lawful
- Prostration on floor coverings instead of the ground is against Qur'anic injunction
- Shi'as do not consider prostration on dust of Karbala compulsory
- Shi'as keep sajdagahs (tablets of earth) for prostration during prayers
- Why we prostrate on the soil of Karbala
- Characteristics of soil of Karbala
- Old age is no criterion for the caliphate
- 'Ali appointed for conveyance of verses of sura bara'a (the immunity) of the holy Qur'an
- Reason for ‘Ali’s appointment
- Accompanying report of Abu Bakr
- Another proof that age is no criterion for the caliphate
- Holy Prophet sent 'Ali to Yemen
- After the Holy Prophet 'Ali was the guide of the community
- Conspiracies of enemies
- 'Ali hated corrupt politics
- Rebellion during Amiru'l-mu'minin's caliphate was due to enmity against him
- A'ysha was largely responsible for the revolt against 'Ali
- 'Ali's battles of Jamal, Siffin, and Nahrwan were like the battles of the Holy Prophet against the infidels
- After the holy prophet, 'Ali was the greatest statesman
- 'Ali possessed knowledge of the unseen world
- Is knowledge of the unseen restricted to Allah?
- Knowledge is of two kinds - dhati (self-existent) and arzi (acquired)
- Qur'anic evidence that prophets possessed knowledge of the unseen
- Claims for knowledge of the unseen through other means are false
- Vicegerents of prophets also had knowledge of the unseen
- Holy Imams were true caliphs and had the knowledge of unseen
- Gate of knowledge
- Sunni ulama' who have narrated the hadith of "city of knowledge"
- To narrate ‘Ali’s merits is worship
- Hadith "I am the house of wisdom"
- Elucidation of the hadith of "Gate of Knowledge"
- 'Ali had knowledge of the unseen
- 'Ali knew outer and concealed meanings of the Holy Qur'an
- Holy Prophet opened 1,000 chapters of knowledge in ‘Ali’s heart
- Entrusting the Prophet's knowledge to 'Ali
- Jafr al-Jami'a and its nature
- Imam ar-Ridha' prophesied his death
- Gabriel brought a sealed book for wasi (successor) of the Holy Prophet
- 'Ali's announcement of saluni (ask me) and the reports of the
- Sunnis
- 'Ali's claim that he could judge cases according to the Torah as well as the gospels
- 'Ali's knowledge about verses of the Holy Qur'an
- 'Ali's knowledge about people who guide or misguide
- Prophesying that Sinan ibn Anas was the murderer of Imam Husain
- Foretelling the standard bearing of Habib ibn Ammar
- Foretelling Mu'awiya's oppression
- Foretelling of Dhu'th-Thadiyya's murder
- Prophecy about his own martyrdom and about ibn Muljim
- 'Ali's Superiority
- Allah could not have willed that the superior be superseded by the inferior
- "Say: Are those who know and those who do not know alike?" (39:9)
- "City of knowledge" proves 'Ali's right to be the first caliph
- According to the Holy Prophet 'Ali excelled all others in knowledge
- Description of zones of space in agreement with the modern science of astronomy
- 'Ali mastered all sciences
- Ibn abi'l-hadid's admission of 'Ali's superior knowledge
- Imam Husain's birth and the Angels' congratulations
- Nawab sahib's acceptance of Shi'ism
- Eleventh Session (Last Session)Sunday night, 4th Sha'ban 1345 A.H.
16 topics
- Birthday of Imam Husain
- Genuine Liberty
- Sunnis belief concerning the meaning of "those vested with authority"
- Three ways of appointment of 'Uli'l-amr' (those vested with authority)
- Leaders of Israel selected by Moses were considered worthless
- The words 'Uli'l-amr' do not refer to rulers
- A ruler who takes power by force cannot be called Uli'l-amr'
- 'Uli'l-amr' must be ordained and appointed by Allah
- Infallibility of the Holy Imams generally reported
- Knowledge of the Ahlul Bayt
- Why the names of the Imams do not appear in the Holy Qur'an
- "And whatever the Apostle gives you, accept it; and from whatever he forbids you, keep back." (59:7)
- There is no mention of units (rak'ats) of prayers in the Holy Qur'an
- Uli'l-amr refers to 'Ali and the imams of the Ahlul Bayt
- Names of the twelve Imams and their number
- The number of caliphs after the Holy Prophet is twelve