Vol.

2 Issue 10
The Truth
A Weekly Bulletin Thu. Mar. 8th 2007

T hey ask you as to what they should spend. Say: Whatever wealth you
spend, it is for the parents and the near of kin and the orphans and the
needy and the wayfarer, and whatever good you do, Allah surely knows
it.
Holy Qur’an (2:215)

Word of Wisdom “To acquire knowledge is binding upon all

Muslims, whether male or female.”
Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him and His Purified Progeny)

“Only he who has the power to punish, can pardon.”

Imam Ali (AS)
Story The Stranger
Tired and exhausted with the water-skin on her
back, she was gasping and going towards her house where her innocent
children, their eyes fixed at the door, were eagerly awaiting the arrival of
their mother. On her way, an unknown man approached her. He took the
water-skin from her and placed it on his back. The door opened and the
children saw their mother entering the house with a stranger. He placed
the water-skin on the ground and said:
“Well, it seems you don’t have anyone to
fetch water for you; how come you are so
unhappy and miserable?”
“My husband was a soldier; Ali sent him to
the frontier where he was killed. Now I am
alone with these small children.”
The stranger said no more. Bowing down
his head he went away. But the thought of
Cont’d on P.2
Rights in Islam RIGHTS OF LEADERS
A Selection from “The Treatise on Rights
(Risalat Al-Huquq)” by Imam Ali Al-Sajjad (AS)

[15] The right of the one who possesses authority (Sultan) is that
you know that God has made you a trial (Fitna) for him. God is testing
him through the authority He has given him over you. You should not
expose yourself to his displeasure, for thereby you cast yourself by your
own hands into destruction and become his partner in his sin when he
brings evil down upon you.
[16] The right of the one who trains you (Sa’is) through knowledge
Cont’d on P.3
 The Truth, Thursday, February 8th, 2007. Vol. 2 Issue 6
Cont’d from P. 1
the helpless widow and orphans remained in his mind. He could hard-
ly sleep in the night. Early in the morning he picked up a basket; put
some meat, flour and dates in it; went straight to her house and knocked
at the door.
“Who are you?”
“I am the man who brought your water yesterday. Now I
have brought some food for the children.”
“May God bless you and judge between us and Ali”
She opened the door. Entering the house he said:
“I wish to do some good acts. Either let me knead the flour and bake
the bread or allow me to look after the children.”
“Very well, but I can do the job of kneading and cooking better than
you. You take care of the children till I finish cooking”.
She went to knead the flour. Immediately he grilled some meat, which
he had brought, and fed the children, saying to each child while putting
a piece in their mouth:
“My son, forgive Ali if he has failed in his duty towards you”
The flour got ready; she called: “Gentleman! Put on the fire in the
oven”. He went and put on the fire. When the flames rose up, he brought
his face near the fire and said, “Taste the heat of fire. It is the punish-
ment for those who fail in their duty towards orphans and widows.”
By chance, a woman from the neighboring house came in. Recogniz-
ing the stranger, she cried: “Woe, don’t you recognize the man who
is helping you? He is Ameer-ul-Momineen (Commander of the
faithful) Ali Ibn Abi Talib.”
The widow came forward and shamefacedly cried: “Curse and shame
be on me. I beg for your forgiveness.”
“No, I beg your forgiveness for I failed in my duty towards you.”
Prepared By: Mortada Al-Jibouri
Rights in Islam The Manner of Generosity
Kuleini and a number of great narrators have
narrated this story from Yasa’ ibn Hamzah - one of the companions of
Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (AS):
On one of the days, I was in the house of the Imam (AS) and many
people were present there. The people were asking questions about
various divine orders and the Imam answered each of them completely
and explicitly.
Meanwhile a tall man entered, and after greeting everyone, he ad-
dressed the Imam (AS) and said:
“O Son of the Messenger of Allah! I am your friend and I’m also de-
voted to your great father and the Ahl al-Bayt. I’m now on my trip back
from the holy city of Makkah, and have run out of money and food in
Cont’d on Next Page
 The Truth, Thursday, February 8th, 2007. Vol. 2 Issue 6
Cont’d from Previous Page
such a way that I cannot afford to get back to my city.
Please help me return to my city, if it is possible for you. As I’m not
of the people who are legally permitted to receive alms, I would pay the
same amount of alms to the poor in Allah’s way when I get back to my
city.”
The Imam (AS) said: “Take your seat here, may the kind Lord
shower you with His mercies.” He then continued answering the
questions of the people.
When the gathering ended the people left, me and Sulayman Jafari
and a few people stayed in the presence of the Imam (AS).
The Imam (AS) asked us to go to the inner part of the house.
Sulayman replied: “May your footsteps be full of blessing, the permis-
sion is yours.”
The Imam (AS) stood up and left. After a while, when he was behind
the door, he called: “Where is that passenger from Khurasan?”
The passenger said:” I’m here!”
The Imam (AS) stretched his hand from behind the room and said:” O
you, take those 200 Dirhams, and spend them on your trip and it is not
necessary to pay it back as alms.”
The Imam (AS) then continued:” Now, leave here so that we do not
meet each other!”
The passenger from Khurasan got the money, said goodbye and left
the house. The Imam (AS) came back to the room and sat beside us.
Sulayman asked: “O Son of the Messenger of Allah (P), may my life be
sacrificed for you, why did you do this while hiding yourself?
Imam Al-Ridha (AS) replied:” I did not want to make that
stranger ashamed!”
(Selection taken from “40 Story & 40 Hadiths from Imam Reza (AS)”, by Abdullah Salehi)
Cont’d from P. 1
is magnifying him, respecting his sessions, listening well to him, and
attending to him with devotion. You should not raise your voice toward
him. You should never answer anyone who asks him about something,
in order that he may be the one who answers. You should not speak to
anyone in his session nor speak ill of anyone with him. If anyone ever
speaks ill of him in your presence, you should defend him. You should
conceal his faults and make manifest his virtues. You should not sit with
him in enmity or show hostility towards his friendship. If you do all that,
God’s angels will bear witness that you went straight to him and learned
his knowledge for God’s sake, not for pleasing others.
[17] The right of the one who trains you through property is that
you should obey him and not disobey him, unless obeying him would
displease God, for there can be no obedience to a creature when it is a
disobedience to God’s orders.
Prepared by: fatima daher
 The Truth, Thursday, February 8th, 2007. Vol. 2 Issue 6
Science The Quran & Geography
The Quran is an incredible item that reveals to
us many astonishing features and aspects. We find a massive quantity
of topics that are hidden in the Quran by the count of the frequency of
various words that occurs in the entire Holy Book. The earth’s geography
is one of them.
Quran analyzers counted the number
of times the word “land” (Barr) oc-
curred and they obtained 13. As well,
they counted the occurrence of the
word “sea” (Bahr), they acquired
32. They tried a lot of mathemati-
cal combinations to obtain a certain
representative figure. Their conclu-
sion ended up as they discovered the
percentage of land and water in the
earth!
As I mentioned, 13 represents “land” and
32 represents “sea” (water). Their addition total makes 45 which is the
earth (land + water). The percentage of water in our planet is calculated
by dividing 32 by 45 and multiplying it by 100 which will equal to 71%.
Also, if we divide 13 by 45 then multiply it by 100, the result will equal
to 28.8% (29%).
Incredibly, modern science shows us that in fact, 71% of the earth
is covered by water and 29% is covered by land! Amazingly, the Quran
was before the discovery of what modern science declared. Doubtless,
Almighty God wants to show us that this Holy Book reveals an enormous
quantity of miracles before modern science reveal it to us.
Summary of the mathematical calculations:

Prepared By: Mohamad Al Khabaz

Story Beating the Servant

Once, a companion of the Noble Prophet (P) began hitting his slave.
The slave kept pleading: “By Allah! Do not beat me. For Allah’s sake
forgive me.” The master, however, refused to forgive him and continued
beating him.
Some people informed the Noble Prophet Muhammed (P) of the
slave’s predicament whereupon he (P) got up and went towards the
Cont’d on Next Page
 The Truth, Thursday, February 8th, 2007. Vol. 2 Issue 6
Cont’d from Previous Page
scene of the incident. As soon as the companion’s eyes fell upon the
Noble Prophet (P), he stopped his beatings whereupon the Noble Prophet
(P) said to him: “He placed you under the oath of Allah, but you refused
to forgive him and now that you have set your eyes upon me, you have
restrained yourself?”
The man, in order to amend for his deplorable behavior, said: “I now
free him for the sake (and pleasure) of Allah!” The Noble Prophet (P)
said: “Had you not freed him, you would have dropped face-down into
the fires of Hell.”
(Reference: Anecdotes for reflection, vol. 3, pg.156)

Article The Heir of the Prophet

He was one of the high rank members of his tribe. Just like his col-
leagues, he had a long hatred for Ali (AS) and his sons and he was even
proud of that. His tribe was later called “Khawarij (Kharijites)” which
means those who revolted against the commander of faithful, Ali (AS).
Since they had considered Ali and his sons - Hassan and Hussain (AS)
- as infidels, they posed a war against them later on.
His name was Nafe’ Ibn Arzaq and he was one of the leaders of Kha-
warij. Once upon a time he entered Masjid al-Haram; Husain Ibn Ali (AS)
and Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas were sitting in a corner. Nafe’ went and sit with
them. After a few minutes Nafe’ turned to Ibn Abbas and said: “O Ibn
‘Abbas! Describe the God Who you worship.”
Ibn ‘Abbas was silent for a while and did not say anything. Hussain
(AS) turned to Nafe’ and said: “O Nafe’! I will answer your question.”
Nafe’ kept no respect for the son of Prophet and addressed Hussain
(AS) impolitely: “I did not ask you the question.”
Ibn Abbas told Nafe’: “Don’t talk to the son of Prophet in this manner.
He belongs to the progeny of the Prophet and he is a great source
of wisdom.”
Nafe’ turned to Imam Hussain (AS) and said: “Describe the God for
me.”
Even though Imam Hussain (AS) had seen Nafe’s bad behavior, he
pretended that nothing had happened and said:
“I describe Allah the way He described Himself and I know Him the
way He introduced Himself for us. He is the One Who cannot be un-
derstood with senses of mankind and He is not comparable with
the creatures. He is close to us but not connected. He is far while He is
not away. He is the only one who has no parts. There is no Lord [...]
Cont’d on Next Page
 Ibn Abbas was of the outstanding students of Amir al-Mu’minin (AS). He is considered as a great
interpreter and scholar of his time in the eyes of Sunnis.
 The Truth, Thursday, February 8th, 2007. Vol. 2 Issue 6
Cont’d from Previous Page
[...] except Him. He is the greatest and the Most High.”
The narrator says Nafe’ started to cry heavily. Imam Hussain (AS)
asked him: “What made you cry?”
Nafe’ replied: “The beauty of your words made me cry.”
Imam Hussain (AS) said: “O Nafe’! I have heard that you accuse my
father, brother, and me of being unbelievers.”
Nafe’ replied: “By Allah I swear that from what I heard from you to-
day, I have no doubt that you are the luminous fountain of Islam and the
highlights of the commands of Allah.”
Imam Hussain (AS) said: “O Nafe’ let me ask you a question about
the words of Allah in the Holy Quran: “And as for the wall, it be-
longed to two orphan boys in the town; and there was under it
a treasure belonging to them; and their father was a righteous
man, and your Lord intended that they should attain their matu-
rity and then take out their treasure as a mercy from your Lord
...” Who had protected the treasure of those children until they were
mature enough to manage their heritage.”
Nafe’ said: “Their father.”
Imam Hussain (AS) said: “Which one has a higher status: the parents
of those two children or Prophet Muhammed (P) and his daughter Fati-
mah?”
Nafe’ who got Imam’s point, could not either say a word or accept the
issue. Thus decided to leave that place...
Allah (SWT) protected the wealth of a father for many years until that
heritage can be given to the actual inheritors; as sign of respect for on
of His pious servant. But, can anyone believe that Allah (SWT) would not
protect the treasure of knowledge and guidance of the His Messenger
who is the best of all people? Wouldn’t Allah (SWT) guard such treasure
for its true inheritors? Who else is more deserving than Prophet’s righ-
teous progeny who have been trained in the house of revelation?

(Reference: Selected from “Tafsir al-Ayyashi”, by Muhammed ibn Mas’ud Ayyashi)

 The Holy Quran, 18:82. In this verse Allah (SWT) points to the story of Moses and
Khedr (PBUT) where they reached a city and there was an old wall. The wall was about to collapse
and Khedr fixed the wall by the command of Allah (SWT). This verse points to the reason why this
wall had to be fixed.
 Besides Tafsir al-Ayyashi (vol.2, p.338), this narration may also be found in the follow-
ing books:
- Tarikh Madinah Damishq, vol. 14, p. 184
- Tawhid by Sheikh Saduq, p. 80
- Raudah al-Wa’edhin, p. 34
- Tafsir Noor al-Thaqalayn, vol. 3, p. 290
- Bihar al-Anwaar, vol. 33, p. 424
 The Truth, Thursday, February 8th, 2007. Vol. 2 Issue 6
Sayings Sayings of Imam Ali Al-Ridha (AS)

. The best and most respected virtue of a man is to do good and to

fulfill the desires of the needy.
2. The honest man has not betrayed you, but you consider the betrayer
as the honest one.
3. You had better avoid the generosity that results in a greater loss to
you than the benefits received by your brethren.
4. He who is sure about the divine rewards will be more generous.
5. He who adopts someone as a brother in order to provide Allah’s
blessing will be given a chamber in paradise.
6. Giving alms is the most valuable saving.
7. To be patient in the face of hardships is a virtue but to refrain from
forbidden deeds is a greater one.
8. Patience and resignation are considered as the worthiest devotions.
9. True devotion not only means performing excessive prayers and
keeping fasts. One ought to meditate on the divinity profoundly.
0. Be modest before your friends and be prudent while encountering
an enemy. Be pleasant with everyone.
. I question the one who purchases the slaves and releases them.
Why doesn’t he try to make the free people indebted by his good
conduct?
2. It is a lot better to be uninterested in other’s properties than to be
munificent.
3. To help the disabled is much better than to give alms.
14. The best wealth is that which provides a good name for its owner.
5. There is no better milk for the baby’s nourishment than its moth-
er’s.
6. He who exposes himself to an open accusation should not blame
those who may suspect him.
7. The oppressors will finally be punished.
8. He who wishes to be the most needless, should put his full trust in
Allah.
19. He who shows patience in providing
Allah’s consent will no doubt get
more than what he has lost.
20. He who desires to
postpone the time
of his decease and
wishes to have his
sustenance increased
should observe ties
of kinship.
 The Truth, Thursday, February 8th, 2007. Vol. 2 Issue 6
Poetry
When I seek You!
When your child does not recover;
and you see him wilt,
you seek Him.
When the breeze is harsh;
and the moon too dim,
you seek Him.
When poverty strikes;
and leaves you empty,
you seek Him.
When pain enters your body;
and incubates wherein,
you seek Him.
I ask myself;
where is the mad lover,
who loves God,
for His presence alone?
By: Sahar Hussain

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