Islamic Collections

Allamah Qutubud din Rawandi quotes from Lubbe Labaab' that it is related, that on the night of every friday, the spirits (Rooh) for the dead ones come to the doors of their houses and call out: "O my children! O' my relatives!Favour me by performing such acts which may prove helpful to me, and may also become the cause of Allah's blessings to be bestowed on you. Give us a place in your hearts, and do not forget us, have mercy on our wretched state. Surely we are in a state of imprisonment, loneliness, and anxiety. So do not hold your hands from giving alms (Sadqa) on our behalf, and pray for our forgiveness. It is possible that Allah may hear your prayers and bestow his mercy upon us, do so before you too may become like us. Alas! some day we were also strong and healthy as you are now. O' servants of Allah! Listen to our words, and pay heed to them. It is no doubt that the enormous wealth which you now enjoy was once ours. We did not spend it in the way of Alla...

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear. So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won't matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end. It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant. So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave. What will matter is not your success, but your significan...

Question: Astronomers believe that the shape of the Earth is spherical and it revolves around its axis; is it confirmed by science or still undecided? And if the Earth really revolves what are its scientific and perceptible signs? What is the reason that the Polestar, by means of which direction of Qibla is ascertained, always shows up at the same location? Other than this, is there any matter available in the Holy Quran and Islamic traditions that supports this? Answer: In the present age it is scientifically proved that earth is spherical and it rotates around its axis and for this different arguments are given. The most evident proof of the movement of the earth is the “Proof of Pendulum”. It is that if a heavy thing is hung with a rope that it can oscillate freely; when it is moved, it continues its movement for quite a long time. Now if the earth were immobile and without movement, then it is necessary that, the movement of the related thing should be upto a fixed line, but experi...

What is the exegesis of this verse? Question: What is the interpretation of the verse: Falaa uqsemo khunnasil jawaaril kunnase But nay! I swear by the stars, that run their course (and) hide themselves?[57] Answer: In the dictionary the meaning of Khunnas is one who returns and one who retreats. The meaning of Kunnas is one who gets concealed and Jaware is the plural of Jari (to continue, to flow) its meaning is the one who walks or moves. As the verses before and after this verse show and the commentators also say that by these verses it is meant those planets, which can be seen (mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn), because they are in motion, they appear sometimes and sometimes they disappear. In the Holy Quran reference of those stars is given with an oath; and people’s attention is drawn towards their special and distinct behavior and their movement and rotation and it calls attention towards the greatness of the Creator of the universe. This means, the type of those returnin...

Question: Many causes are mentioned in Islam regarding the importance and greatness of Shab-e-Qadr. Well-known traditions of religious leaders indicate it to one of the following nights of the holy month of Ramadhan: 19th, 21st or 23rd. We are instructed to offer special prayers on this night. It seems that Shab-e-Qadr is not more than one night every year, but we know this also that, because of the difference in horizons the beginning of the month of Ramadan in some countries happens to be one or two days earlier and in some happens to be one or two days later. According to this situation in those places, there is difference of one or two nights of Shab-e-Qadr. And for those different places more than one Shab-e-Qadr comes into existence. This situation arises every year, as Shab-e-Qadr being only one night and in that particular night the angels descend with blessings and bounties, how harmonious is it? Is it that Shab-e-Qadr was especially in the time of the Prophet (‘s) and in Mecc...

Question: The Holy Quran in Surah Kahf Ayat No. 86, states with reference to the legend of Zulqarnain. When he reached the place where the sun set, he found it going down into a black sea, What is meant by this dark water? How this is possible that even though the sun being with all its greatness can go down in the dark waters? And is not this against the fact earth is spherical and rotates round the sun; and against the new assertions of the celestial sciences. Answer: According to those latest research that the Islamic scholars and highly respected writers of Quranic exegesis have done with respect to the legend of Zulqarnain the meaning of above-mentioned verse is this: Zulqarnain continued his attack forward in the direction of the West in the same way till he reached to the shore of two oceans. In this regard there is a difference between the Mufassereen (commentators) that, by oceans is it meant to be the sea of Uqiyanus or it is the Mediterranean and whether the attack by Zulqar...

Holy Quran and control over planets Question: In the present age Russian and American scientists have succeeded in conquering to a certain extent some of the planets. In the Holy Quran is there any reference to this or not? And will they get more successes regarding them or not? Answer: There is no doubt that since man came into existence he is progressing towards perfection and still we see that not a single day passes when he is not moving forward, and he does not discover some hidden secret of nature. Therefore there is no doubt that a day may come when he with his god-given power, may spread his life into the heavenly spheres. Maybe the verse, which was revealed in Quran, which is about subjugating the earth and the heaven by man, may not be without indication to this possibility. Because either sun and moon and whatever is in the heavens that have become subdued for man right from the very first day. But control and to take benefit from this control also has degrees and among them...

Question: In Surah Nahl the Almighty Allah, while pointing towards the creation of quadrupeds whom humans are using for transport and riding, states in this way: And (He made) horses and mules and asses that you might ride upon them and as an ornament; and He creates what you do not know.[64] He creates what you do not know are the means of transport and commutation of the present day? Answer: Our writers of Quranic exegesis in giving tafseer of this verse have expressed possibilities about two things. One is the things, which we do not know by creation of these it is meant to be the vehicles of travel of the present world and those other artificial means about which the people of those days had no knowledge. The corroboration of this possibility is also done by that you might ride upon them. The second possibility is that this verse means those living and existing creatures, which are created in jungles and in the deep seas and other far-flung areas, they were hidden from the sights o...

Question: Recently a book is written whose author has tried to prove evolution. That is the transformation one living species to another living species. After much argumentation for the correctness of the theory of evolution he has tried to compare it with the verses of Quran. And according to his saying, he proved that the Holy Quran also supports evolution of a living existing species towards another species. To prove his view correct, he has argued with the following two verses. (1) “Does not man remember that when We created him initially, he was nothing?”[65] The author has also quoted the Quranic words: Before reaching to this state of excellence man was nothing. He lived a life like that of single cell of living organisms, which gradually evolved into man-like monkeys. Even that he did not have any sign of presently existing physical or psychological excellence of man. (2) There surely came over man a period of time when he was a thing not worth mentioning.[66] The author here...

Question: According to the verse: And never did We destroy a town but it had a term made known.[67] There was no Prophet from any community who did not stand up and did not talk in their own language. And the heavenly book also used to be in the language of those people. Therefore if the apostleship of a Prophet is specially for that community, then that system would have been very much likeable, but if his apostleship is universal and for the people of the whole world, then why it is necessary that his book should be in the language of those people say for example, the book brought by the Prophet of Islam (‘s) is in the Arabic language? Answer: Those Prophets who were sent for the guidance of the people since their very first concern was with their own people, therefore it was necessary that the heavenly book which they brought should be in the language of their people and then he should do propagation of his message and in other communities in different other ways. Nowadays the knowl...

Question: When the Almighty Allah is One, unique and peerless, and knows about His oneness, then why in the Holy Quran he uses the plural pronoun (We) for Himself? Answer: The use of first person plural noun (We) is the sign of greatness and magnificence of the person (entity) who is speaking and this use is most appropriate and befitting to Allah. Arabs say that the reason for the use of first person plural noun is considered as proof of greatness that great people generally are not alone. The servants, attendants and other people are always around them to fulfill their needs. That is why they always used the pronoun We and the use of this word is a metaphor for greatness. In this respect, whereverin the words of Allah plural noun is used it reminds us about His greatness and magnificence and we start thinking about those apparent and hidden powers of the universe, which are subordinate to Him. In this way our belief in Tauheed become stronger and our attention towards the sanctified ...

Question: What is the reason that in the following verse of the Holy Quran the word “Samaa” is in singular, but “Qalb” and “Basar” are used in plural form. “Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing and there is a covering over their eyes.”[68] Answer: Some commentators say that here, “Sama” is in the sense of noun of action and when on some word there is an increase of noun of action, then that noun of action gives the meaning of totality and generality. And it is not dependant on that word to be plural. But the other two words i.e. “Qalb” and “Basar” are used in the sense as a name of a specific organ. That is why they have come in plural form. Some research scholars have described this difference that every person understands the things of various types with his heart and imagination. And in the same way he perceives colors, faces, shapes and measurements with eyes. The perception of those two organs are numerous and exceptionally of various kinds. According to t...

Question: In Surah Anbiya, Ayat no. 98, it is said regarding those gods whom the polytheist were worshipped: “Surely you and what you worship besides Allah are the firewood of hell, to it you shall come”. On this basis the false gods will burn in the fire of hell, whereas the connection of some false gods is with the living things. (For example, the animals whom the ignorant communities worshipped). What is their sin that they be burnt in fire? Answer: As the venerable Shia Mufassereen Marhum Tabarsi has said in his famous Tafseer Majmaul Bayan, this Ayat is addressed to the country of polytheists. And all the Ayats of Surah Anbiya were revealed in Mecca. The false gods of the people of Mecca were made of wood, metal and stone. And those gods which are the firewood of Hell, they are these idols, etc, whom at the time of revelation of Quran, people used to worship, those living gods are not included in this Ayat whom some people worshipped. It also interesting that in those days the ido...

Question: The holy Ayat: Yaa ayyohal ladeena aamanoo toobu iallaahe taubatan nasooha “O you who believe! Turn to Allah a sincere turning.”[69] There is a difference regarding this Ayat, explain its meaning with clarity. Answer: In the dictionary the meaning of ‘Nasha’ is to “be clean-pure”. On that basis by ‘Tauba Nasooh’ is meant to that Tauba which is clean, that is pure from sin. And for such pure Tauba it is necessary that man should not return to that sin again. Many traditions narrated by Imams (‘a) also confirm and support this fact. For example according to a tradition, Imam Sadiq (‘a) was asked that what is meant by this Quranic Ayat. Imam (‘a) said: The servant of Allah repents on his sin and does not return to the same again.[70] In another tradition from Imam Hadi (‘a) it is related that he replied: “Tauba-e-Nasooh” is this that while repenting for forgiveness man’s apparent (outward behavior) should be exactly to his inner feelings (inner self).[71] Many other traditions a...

Question: In Surah Anbiya, Ayat no. 98, it is said regarding those gods whom the polytheist were worshipped: “Surely you and what you worship besides Allah are the firewood of hell, to it you shall come”. On this basis the false gods will burn in the fire of hell, whereas the connection of some false gods is with the living things. (For example, the animals whom the ignorant communities worshipped). What is their sin that they be burnt in fire? Answer: As the venerable Shia Mufassereen Marhum Tabarsi has said in his famous Tafseer Majmaul Bayan, this Ayat is addressed to the country of polytheists. And all the Ayats of Surah Anbiya were revealed in Mecca. The false gods of the people of Mecca were made of wood, metal and stone. And those gods which are the firewood of Hell, they are these idols, etc, whom at the time of revelation of Quran, people used to worship, those living gods are not included in this Ayat whom some people worshipped. It also interesting that in those days the ido...

Question: The Almighty Allah states in Surah Yusuf, Ayat No. 100: And he raised his parents upon the throne and they fell down in prostration before him and he said: O my father! This is the significance of my vision of old; my Lord has indeed made it to be true: It was because Yusuf (‘a) has seen in his first dream that, the Sun and the Moon, and eleven stars are prostrating in front of him. We read in history that when Amirul Mo-mineen (‘a) was going towards Siffeen people of a group, who were standing at the roadside, according to the system for the Sassanid kings fell down in prostration as soon as they saw Hazrat. Amirul Mo-mineen saw this spectacle and felt too much of anguish and said: “What kind of unpleasant sin are you committing. Go and do your work, because I am also a creation of Allah, just like you.” Is this historical fact, not contrary to the above-mentioned Ayat? Answer: Prostration by way of worship is specifically only for the Almighty Allah and is not permitted fo...

Question: The holy Ayat: Yaa ayyohal ladeena aamanoo toobu iallaahe taubatan nasooha “O you who believe! Turn to Allah a sincere turning.”[69] There is a difference regarding this Ayat, explain its meaning with clarity. Answer: In the dictionary the meaning of ‘Nasha’ is to “be clean-pure”. On that basis by ‘Tauba Nasooh’ is meant to that Tauba which is clean, that is pure from sin. And for such pure Tauba it is necessary that man should not return to that sin again. Many traditions narrated by Imams (‘a) also confirm and support this fact. For example according to a tradition, Imam Sadiq (‘a) was asked that what is meant by this Quranic Ayat. Imam (‘a) said: The servant of Allah repents on his sin and does not return to the same again.[70] In another tradition from Imam Hadi (‘a) it is related that he replied: “Tauba-e-Nasooh” is this that while repenting for forgiveness man’s apparent (outward behavior) should be exactly to his inner feelings (inner self).[71] Many other traditions a...

Question: Our belief is that those who enter Paradise do not go out from there and remain there forever. And many Ayats explicitly prove this. But by Ayat No. 108 of Surah Hud it seems that it is possible that one day they may go out of Paradise. “And as to those who are made happy. They shall be in the garden abiding in it as long as the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord please, a gift which shall never be cut off.” Exception: As it evidently seems that it is possible that one day Allah may wish to drive them out of this center of blessings, whereas other Ayats prove that they will never go out of Paradise. In this situation what is the meaning of this Ayat? Answer: It is true that the Almighty Allah has promised a permanent stay in Paradise in many Ayats to virtuous people and He will never go against this promise as He Himself says: “Whatever Allah Has promised, He will never go against that.”[72] But it is possible that some may think that after this categorical pro...

Question: It is said that at the time of starting any work ‘Bismillah’ should be said, what is the benefit of this? Answer: With regard to the purity of man’s action, keeping in mind the effect of the attention being paid towards Allah, it becomes evident that at the time of starting every work taking Allah’s name makes the man attentive to doing the work correctly and towards uprightness. And if in this precious command of religion there is no other benefit, then too it is enough for its importance that to say ‘Bismillah’ and to seek help from His Exalted self before the beginning of every work is itself a lesson in training and invites man towards doing the work correctly, sincerely and in upright manner and keeps away from breach of trust and evil (which in the present age is a fountainhead of most of social misfortunes). Other than this, weak and restricted man is in need of help from Allah in every moment of his life. By saying ‘Bismillah’ he shows his humility and seeks helps fro...

Question: Was the Quran revealed to the Prophet of Islam (‘s) in the same form as it is presently? And what is the proof of that there was no tempering with it? Answer: It should be kept in mind that the song of tempering with Quran was mostly sung by the Christians and the Jews. Since according to the admitted testimony of history the heavenly books of both those religions had became prey to change and tempering as the time passed and have lost their original charm, value and credence. That is why they make efforts that the Holy Quran also be polluted with allegations of distortion. History testifies that copies of Taurat were destroyed many a times during different historical calamities and especially in attack by Nebuchanezzer on the Jews. Afterwards some Jew scholars rewrote it.[73] Testimony is available that all the four Gospels were written many years after Hazrat Isa (‘a) by some people. That is why there is no trace of the Injeel, which was sent down on Hazrat Isa (‘a).[74] Th...

Question: According to the revelation which is the first and last surahs of the Holy Quran? After the revelation by whom was the Holy Quran was being written? Answer: Whatever is written by the reliable Islamic historians according to that, the first Surah which was revealed on the Holy Prophet (‘s) was: Read in the name of your Lord Who created.[76] And the last Surah was Surah Tauba. The subject matter of these surahs also support this assertion. As regards the writing of Quran in the period of the Holy Prophet (‘s) is concerned it can be said that whatever Ayats which were revealed to him some of his selected comparisons use to regularly and formally ask him about those Ayats and write them in the style of Kufaite style which was the current style of writing in those days. Those gentlemen were called Katibe-Vahi meaning writers of the revelations of the Holy Quran. Historians have written the number of these persons to be 43. Out of those 43 persons, Imam Ali Ibne Abi Talib (‘a) and...

Question: It is mentioned in many traditions that no one has the right to interpret the Quran according to ones personal views and opinion. And if anyone does it, his place is Hell. What is the meaning of interpreting according to ones personal views? Answer: Muslim scholars and commentator of Quran are unanimous on the view that no one has the right to interpret the ayats of Quran according to ones personal view and opinion. Many traditions are narrated in this regard. We present below a few examples of the same: 1. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: One who interprets the Quran according to personal opinion[77] he makes his place in fire (Hell). 2. One who interprets the Quran according to his view,[78] even though it may be right, yet he has committed a sin.[79] There are some of the traditions that are related on the topic. Now we should see what does interpretation on personal view mean. The great commentators have given three meanings of Tafseer Bir Rayy and we shall explain each ...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Why are some ayats repeated in the Quran and in this way why are some stories mentioned on many places? Answer: We should remember that the Holy Quran was revealed over a period of 23 years according to different circumstances and happenings. The Holy Quran is not a dry jurisprudence book or a classic that should present an analysis of intellectual problems and laws. The Holy Quran is a discourse, a book of religious propagation and guidance whose aim is enunciate the realities of human life and laws that are necessary to take humanity to perfection and they should purify the souls and thoughts of people and establish the proper social laws so that a society is established which would be perfect from the economic as well as the ethical point of view. To achieve this aim the Holy Quran has spoken on all the important subjects. The Holy Quran is revealed over a period of 23years in different circum...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: In the lessons of the history of religions we read as follows: What is the forbidden fruit? As the Old Testament writes in detail and the Holy Quran says in suggestive way. (Forbidden fruit) is insight because on the basis of Quranic verses the Almighty used to call Adam and Eve and without feeling any kind of shame for their nakedness they used to reply. But after eating the forbidden fruit they began to feel ashamed of their nakedness and hid themselves. In the past they used to see the Lord without any kind of shame. Now after eating the forbidden fruit they are feeling ashamed of their nakedness. The proof is that the condition in which they were till yesterday (nakedness), they were not able to see it and now by eating the forbidden fruit they have received insight and the forbidden tree is the tree of insight. What did the Almighty desire? Should man eat the forbidden fruit or not? We shoul...