The Righteous Sayings of Imam Hussain (P)
Beggar
The following incident took place in
Dhaka, which is the capital city of
Bangladesh.
Thursday, December 13, 2007. Vol. 2 Issue 41
There was a beggar in the city who used to
beg beside a Masjid on Fridays after Jumah
prayer. Begging was permissible for him
due to his adverse condition. Though he
was a beggar, he would pay attention to
the sermons that were delivered during the
Khutbah. One such sermon was about
the importance of earning Halal income.
He learnt that supplications (Dua) will
not be accepted from those people whose
income are from forbidden sources. He
immediately decided to accept money from
only those individuals that he knew had
Halal income. His daily earnings decreased
as a result but he was committed to his
decision.
Then came a day when the beggar died.
Even though he lived as a beggar, his
funeral was like that of a king. Many
dignitaries of the area attended his funeral
because they knew of that great sacrifice he
used to make daily in order to keep up with
the commandment of Almighty God.
Dear readers, we too should sincerely
adopt the commandments of Allah in our
lives regardless of our social status. In this
way, Allah will elevate us in this world and
in the hereafter.
8 The Truth
• When Allah wills to lead a servant
to destruction, He gradually bestows
upon him graces and does not let him
show his gratitude for these graces.
• Sitting with the intelligent is a sign
of successfulness. To dispute with
other than the disbelievers is a sign
of ignorance. A sign of a scholar is his
self-criticism of his sayings and his
acquaintance with various hypotheses.
• Beware of the things for which you
apologize. The true believer should
not make mistakes and should not
apologize. The hypocrite makes
mistakes and apologizes everyday.
• The stingiest person is the one who
refrains from greeting others.
• He who tries to achieve something
by disobeying Allah will miss what he
expects, and fall in what he fears.
• Some people worshipped Allah for
the purpose of gaining His gifts. This
is the worship of the merchants. Some
worshipped Him for the purpose
of avoiding His punishment. This
is the worship of the slaves. Some
worshipped Him as a sign of gratitude
to his grace and favor. This is the
worship of the genuine ones. It is the
best worship.
• There are seventy advantages for
greeting someone. Sixty-nine are given
to the one who greets first and one is
given to the one who responds to the
greeting.
Vol. 2 Issue 41 Thu. Dec 13, 2007
The Truth
a Sadr
u ll a
71-1
640 C.E.)
Mulla Sadra, also called Sadr al-Din al-Shirazi,
who was born in 1571 and died in 1640, was a
M
(15
Muslim Persian philosopher, who led the Iranian
cultural renaissance in the 17th century.
The foremost representative of the illuminationist,
or Ishraghi school of philosopher-mystics, he is
commonly regarded by Iranians as the greatest
philosopher their country has ever produced. His
school of philosophy is called Transcendent
Theosophy or al-hikmat al-muta’liyah.
CONT’D ON PAGE 2
HAJJ: PILGRIMAGE TO THE
HOUSE OF GOD - PART 2
“And proclaim among people the Pilgrimage;
they will come to you on foot and on every lean
camel coming from every remote path. That they
may witness advantages for them and mention the
name of Allah during the stated days over what
He has given them of the cattle quadrupeds, then
eat of them and feed the distressed one, the need”.
By: Mulla Mujahidali Sheriff
(Holy Qur’an Chapter 22: Verses 27 & 28)
CONT’D ON PAGE 3
I ro n By: Cyril Anderson
“Indeed, we sent Our Messengers with the clear
signs, and we sent down with them the Book and the
Balance so that men might uphold justice. And We
sent down iron, wherein is great might, and many
uses for mankind, and so that God might know who
helps Him, and His Messengers, in the Unseen.”
(Holy Qur’an, Chapter 57: Verse: 25) CONT’D ON PAGE 7
 IF YOU WANT TO From PAGE 1
Mulla Sadra I ro n
RECEIVE YOUR WEEKLY From PAGE 1
DIGITAL COPY He was born in Shiraz, Iran, Mulla Sadra completed his
In the Holy Qu’ran, in the chapter of the Iron the largest part of the interior of the earth.
education at Isfahan, which was the leading cultural and
(PDF FORMAT) intellectual center of his day. He was trained under the
(Surah Al-Hadid) it is mentioned that one of the
This magnetic field protects the earth from the
signs of God is iron, in which there are many uses
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE supervision of Mir Damad. for mankind. Indeed, there are many uses for this “solar wind”, which are charged particles shed
TO THE TRUTH’S After his studies with scholars there, he produced metal. from the sun, by deflecting these particles as if
the magnetic field was a sort of “force field.”
MAILING LIST @ several works, the most famous of which was his Asfar Iron is used as a key component of steel, used Otherwise, life would not be able to exist well,
(Journeys). Asfar contains the bulk of his philosophy,
HTTP://GROUPS.GOOGLE. which was influenced by a personal mysticism bordering
to make all sorts of things, including bridges, as the atmosphere would be in continual danger
buildings, ships, and tools. of being blown off an ionized.
COM/GROUP/THET- on the ascetic that he experienced during a fifteen-year Steel is iron fortified with The interaction of these charged
RUTH110 retreat at Kahak, a village near the holy city of Qum, carbon to make the metal less solar particles with the upper
brittle than it is alone. Iron is atmosphere in the Northern and
Iran. the bulk metal used most in Southern latitudes produces the
He wrote many valuable books and we are going to state a modern industrial society. spectacle of the aurora borealis
some of the well-known ones which have been published (98 million tons of steel were and aurora australis, two of
so far. They include: produced in the United States the most beautiful and awe-
IF YOU WANT ANY 1- al-Hikmat al-muta’aliyah fi’l-asfar al-arba’ah, a in 1993) inspiring natural phenomena.

Thursday, December 13, 2007. Vol. 2 Issue 41

Thursday, December 13, 2007. Vol. 2 Issue 41

MATERIAL TO BE philosophical encyclopedia and a collection of important In history, a new age in human Iron metal, because of
PUBLISHED PLEASE issues discussed in Islamic philosophy, enriched by civilization was reached with the capability to use its magnetic properties is used as a “core”
the ideas of preceding philosophers, from Pythagoras iron – the Iron Age. Iron and steel weapons are to strengthen and amplify the effects of
SEND US AN E-MAIL. to those living at the same time with Mulla Sadra, and stronger than the bronze and stone weapons and electromagnetic induction, where a changing
tools used beforehand. Iron is also highly useful magnetic field produces an electric current, and
containing the related responses on the basis of new and for its magnetic properties, which enable a number vice-versa. This is used in a number of electro-
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE strong arguments. 4 big-sized volumes which have been of crucial practical applications magnetic devices on which modern civilization
HAVE THE RIGHT published in nine small-sized volumes several times.
These magnetic properties have been used for
depends, including generators, amplifiers, motors,
2- al-Tafsir (A commentary and exegesis upon the Holy transformers, speakers, and microphones.
TO ACCEPT, millennia for navigation, because the magnetism
Qur’an)
EDIT OR REFUSE 3- Sharh al-hidayah, a commentary on a book called
of iron becomes naturally aligned with the natural Iron plays a part as well in biological processes.
magnetism of the earth as a whole. Magnetized Hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells, carries
ANY CONTENT. Hidayah which has been written on the basis of Peripatetic iron is useful still in compasses for simple local oxygen from the lungs to the body’s trillions of
philosophy. navigation in camping and hiking, for example cells, allowing them to function. At the center
– the iron, magnetized by the earth’s magnetic of every hemoglobin molecule is an iron atom to
EDITOR IN CHIEF: 4- al-Mabda’ wa’l-ma’ad, also called al-Hikmat al-
field, will naturally align with the Earth’s magnetic which the oxygen atoms bind so that they can be
muta’aliyyah, considered to be a summary of the
HASSAN TABATABAI second half of Asfar. He called this book the Beginning
field lines, so that one end of a bar of iron will carried to the cells.
point approximately north. In a compass, a thin
EDITOR: and the End due to the fact, that he truly believed in his piece of iron is used, which rotates easily in the Iron is also significant from a nuclear physics
AHMAD AL NAJJAR heart, that philosophy means the knowledge of the Origin earth’s magnetic field to point north, helping to standpoint in that the iron nuclei represents the
peak of the nuclear mass binding energy per
DESIGNED BY: and the Return. give a sense of direction. Detailed study of such
effects allow the measurement of the smaller local nucleon curve. Put simply, it marks the end point
NAGI GIRGUIS 5- al-Mazahir This book is similar to al-Mabda’ wa’l- variations of the Earth’s field, such as magnetic of typical nuclear fusion of the sort in typical stars.
ma’ad, but is shorter than it. al-Mazahir is, in fact, a inclination (angle between the magnetic field In fusion, two light nuclei come together at high
handbook for familiarizing readers with Mulla Sadra’s and the horizontal) and declination (the angular speed, and “fuse” into a new, heavier nucleus,
PLEASE SEND US philosophy. difference between true north (direction toward the giving off energy in the process. Light stars burn
hydrogen fuel to make helium, while heavier stars
YOUR FEEDBACKS, 6- Iksir al-‘arifin, a gnostic and educative book. Northern contact between the earth’s rotational axis
fuse heavier elements. But the end product in the
and the Earth) and magnetic north). The study of
COMMENTS, 7- al-Hashr, a theory of the resurrection of animals and
such effects allows a deeper understanding of the heaviest stars is iron, because to fuse any nucleus
objects in the Hereafter. heavier than iron takes more energy in than is
AND SUGGESTIONS 8- al-Masha’ir, on existence and its related subjects.
underlying mechanisms and dynamics of terrestrial
gotten out, and as a result, such fusion reactions
magnetism.
TO THE FOLLOWING Professor Henry Corbin has translated it into French and don’t tend to happen, except, it is theorized, in
E-MAIL: written an introduction to it. This book has recently been
It is believed that the earth’s magnetic field
is itself produced by iron, through a “dynamo
extraordinary bursts of energy such as in supernova
explosion. Very massive stars, it is theorized, end
thetruth110@gmail.com translated into English, too. effect” of circulating currents of molten iron in up with dense cores of iron. It is believed that iron
the earth’s mantle. Iron is believed to comprise meteorites may be the former cores of dead stars.

2 The Truth The Truth 7

 Philosophy of Hajj (Part 1)
Imam Al-Sajjad, Ali ibn al-Hussayn (P) was
received by Shibli when he was back from
Hajj and the following dialogue occurred
between them:
Imam Al-Sajjad (P): Did you perform Hajj,
Shibli?
Shibli: Yes, son of Allah’s messenger (The
Imams were referred to as the sons of the
messenger of God, Yabna Rassoul
Allah).
Imam Al-Sajjad (P): You stopped
at Miqat, put off your sewn
clothes, and washed yourself, did
you not?
Shibli: Yes, I did.
Imam Al-Sajjad (P): As you stopped
in Miqat, did you intend to put off
the garment of disobedience (to
Thursday, December 13, 2007. Vol. 2 Issue 41
God) and put on a garment of
obedience (to Him)?
Shibli: No, I did not.
Imam Al-Sajjad (P): As you put off your
sewn clothes, did you intend to get rid of
ostentation, hypocrisy and intrusion in
suspicious matters?
Shibli: No, I did not.
Imam Al-Sajjad (P): As you washed yourself,
did you intend to wash yourself from sins
and offenses?
Shibli: No, I did not.
Imam Al-Sajjad (P): In that case, you did
not really stop at Miqat, put off your sewn
clothes, and wash yourself.
You washed yourself thoroughly, entered
the state of Ihram, and intended to perform
Hajj, did you not?
Shibli: Yes, I did.
Imam Al-Sajjad (P): As you washed yourself
thoroughly, entered the state of Ihram, and
intended to perform Hajj, did you intend
to wash yourself thoroughly with pure
repentance to Allah?
Shibli: No I did not.
Imam Al-Sajjad (P): As you entered the state
of Ihram, did you intend to abstain from
every matter that Allah deems unlawful?
Shibli: No, I did not.
Imam Al-Sajjad (P): As you intended to
perform Hajj, did you intend to get rid of
6 The Truth
Submitted by: Mulla Mujahidali Sheriff
any pledge that you took with anyone other
than Allah?
Shibli: No, I did not.
Imam Al-Sajjad (P): In that case, you did not
wash yourself thoroughly, enter the state of
Ihram, or intend to perform Hajj.
Did you enter Miqat, offer the two-rakat
prayer of Ihram and say labbayk?
Shibli: Yes, I did.
Imam Al-Sajjad (P): As you entered
Miqat, did you intend to meet all the
qualifications of the visitation of the Sacred
House of Allah?
Shibli: No, I did not.
Imam Al-Sajjad (P): As you offered the
two-rakat prayer, did you intend to seek
nearness to Allah through the best deeds
such as prayers and the deeds by which
servants of Allah can obtain His rewards?
Shibli: No, I did not.
Imam Al-Sajjad (P): As you said labbayk,
did you intend to utter any statement of
obedience to Allah and abstain from any
statement of disobedience to Him?
Shibli: No, I did not.
Imam Al-Sajjad (P): In that case, you did not
enter Miqat, offer the two-rakat prayer of
Ihram, or say Labbayk.
You entered the sacred Precinct, saw the
Kaaba, and offered, did you not?
Shibli: Yes, I did.
Imam Al-Sajjad (P): As you entered the
Sacred Precinct, did you intend to abstain
from backbiting any individual of Islam?
Shibli: No, I did not.
To be continued in the next issue…
HAJJ: PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOUSE OF GOD - PART 2
From PAGE 1
Hajj is a great Islamic conference. It is an
ideal demonstration of faith in which diverse
groups of every race, class and nationality
join together at a given time and in a specific
place. They repeatedly recite a single call, and
proclaim the same slogan. They gather for one
purpose and that is to declare their servitude
and loyalty to Allah (Glorious and Exalted is
He) alone, freeing themselves from any trace
of polytheism and ignorance, in a deeply
effective, collective way, which fills the soul
with feelings of faith and uniterism.
As the Holy Quran proclaims, and the
Prophetic traditions bespeak, Hajj is not only
worship and a way of getting closer to Allah
(G), but it is a way of granting the pilgrim
social, educational, economic and political
benefits. Combined together, these bounties
are conducive to improvement within an
Islamic society, increase its awareness, rectify
the problems and activate its movements.
During Hajj, Muslims witness the most
excellent example of equality, submissiveness
and human brotherhood. This is accomplished
by removing the outer difference and donning
the dress of unity, the ihraam. The result is
that all feel a oneness among the human race,
brotherhood and equality.
While performing Hajj, Muslims feel a
oneness with the earth and the people. It
invalidates all the artificial boundaries
established by human, regional, national and
racial superiority complexes and egoism.
Traveling across thousand of miles, they
penetrate all barriers, and rise above all man-
made hurdles, in order to respond to Islam’s
call of faith.
During Hajj, Muslims meet each other in a
magnificent communion. They relate to each
other’s domestic and regional affairs. They
consult each other concerning their life and
religion. They exchange experiences, opinions
and good habits. They become acquainted
with each other’s problems. They learn of each
other’s viewpoints. This interchanging of ideas
The Truth
increases their awareness, knowledge grows,
and the impetus to reform is invigorated. As a
result, plans are proposed, projects designed,
educational, political, social and economic
centers are established. The Muslims support
each other, as if they are one body and one
soul.
Since Hajj is a large and impressive human
gathering, it attracts millions of Muslims
from different countries. It also stimulates an
economic movement which is beneficial to
the world of Islam.
During Hajj, the pilgrim imbibes ethical and
educational lessons which reduce his faults.
He acquires patience through hardship. He
Thursday, December 13, 2007. Vol. 2 Issue 41
becomes humble, generous and tender. He
renounces lying, backbiting, animosity and
pride. He learns from his journey through
mixing with others. Within him, positive social
tendenciesgrowandmoralsarerefined.
(The Hajj as Worship and Education)
Hisham bin al-hakam once asked Imam
Ja’ffar as-Sadiq (Peace be upon him), “Why
does Allah order His servants to perform
Hajj and circumambulate around the
Ka’bah?” Imam (P) replied, “Allah has
created His servants and instructed them
how to obey Him through the performance
of religious duties. He has made (Hajj) a
gathering in which people from the east
and the west participate and become
acquainted with one another. Every single
one of them benefits from the experiences
of others who come from different places.
Memories of the Messenger of Allah (May
Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him
and his Progeny) and his life will never be
forgotten.....”
(al-Hur al-Amili)
To be continued in the next issue…
Footnote:
(G) Glorious and Exalted is He / Refers to Allah, God
(P) Peace be upon Him / Refers to Angels, Prophets, Imams, and
Infallible Ladies.
(M) May Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him and his
Progeny / Refers to Prophet Muhammed
3
>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>
Better To Give The Fisherman
A young man, who was a university student, was one day taking a walk with his An investment banker was at the pier
Professor, who was commonly called the students’ friend, because of his kindness to of a small coastal village when a small
those who listened to his instructions. boat with just one fisherman docked.
As they went along, they saw lying in the path a Inside the small boat were several large
pair of old shoes, which they supposed to belong
yellow fin tuna. The investment banker
to a poor man who was employed in a field close
complimented the fisherman on the
by, and who had nearly finished his day’s work.
The student turned to the professor, saying: “Let quality of his fish and asked how long it
us play a trick on that man: we will hide his took to catch them.
shoes, and conceal ourselves behind those The fisherman replied, «Only a little
bushes, and observe his perplexity when he while.»
cannot find them.” The investment banker then asked, «Why didn’t you stay out longer and
“My young friend,” answered the professor, catch more fish?»
“we should never amuse ourselves at the The fisherman said, «With this I have more than enough to support my
expense of the poor. But you are rich, and
family’s needs.»
Thursday, December 13, 2007. Vol. 2 Issue 41

Thursday, December 13, 2007. Vol. 2 Issue 41

may give yourself a much greater pleasure
The investment banker then asked, «But what do you do with the rest of
by means of this poor man. Put a coin in each
shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and your time?»
watch how this affects him.” The fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take
The student did so and they both placed siesta with my wife, stroll into the village each evening and spend time
themselves behind the bushes close by. The poor with my family, I have a full and busy life.”
man soon finished his work, and came across the The investment banker scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you.
field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes. You should spend more time fishing; and with the proceeds, buy a bigger
While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes, but feeling boat: With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats.
something hard, he stooped down to feel what it was, and found the coin.
Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your
Astonishment and wonder were seen upon his countenance. He gazed upon the coin,
catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor; eventually
turned it around, and looked at it again and again.
He then looked around him on all sides, but no person was to be seen. He now put the opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and
money into his pocket, and proceeded to put on the other shoe; but his surprise was distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and
>>>>

doubled on finding the other coin.
His feelings overcame him; he fell upon his knees, looked up to the heavens and
uttered aloud a fervent thanksgiving in which he spoke of his wife who was sick
and helpless, and his children without bread, whom this timely bounty, from some
unknown hand, would save from perishing.
The student stood there deeply affected, and his eyes filled with tears. “Now,” said
the professor, “are you not much better pleased than if you had played your
intended trick?”
The youth replied, “You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. I
feel now the truth of these words, which I never understood before: “It’s more
blessing to give than to receive.”
Abdullah bin Abbas reported that Prophet Muhammed (M) said that:
“Encouraging good, prohibiting evil, lifting the burden of the one who’s weak and
removing an offensive thing from a person’s path are all adequate prayers to Allah.
>>>>
move to a big town and eventually to the city where you will run your ever-
expanding enterprise.”
The fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
To which the investment banker replied, “15 to 20 years.”
“But what then?” asked the fisherman.
The investment banker laughed and said that’s the best part. “When the time
is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the
public and become very rich, you would make millions.”
“Millions?...Then what?”
The investment banker said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small
coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with
your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings
and spend time with your family.”

4
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 5
The Truth The Truth