Abode of Wisdom

From Sermon 1:

"The event of Karbala is, inevitably, an event possessing great social meaning for us, and it has a direct impact on our morality and character. It is an event that prompts our people, without anyone compelling them, to devote millions of man-hours to listening to the related episodes and to spend millions of dollars for this purpose. This event must be retold exactly as it occurred and without the least amount of interpolation. For if the smallest amount of interpolation takes place at our hands in this event, that would distort it, and instead of benefiting from it we would definitely suffer harm..." (To be continued)

-Ayatollah Shaheed Murtudha Mutahari [The Four Sermons on Ashura]

@AbodeOfWisdom

Continued from the last post regarding the Four Sermons delivered by Shaheed Ayatollah Mutahari on Ashura..

From Sermon 1:
"Now my point is that we have introduced thousands of distortions in retelling the narrative of Ashura, both in its outward form, that is, in respect of the very episodes and issues relating to the major events and the minor details, as well as in respect of their interpretation and meaning. Most regrettably, this event has been distorted both in its form and content. At times a distorted version has at least some resemblance to the original. But there are times when distortion is so thorough that the corrupted version has not the least resemblance to the original: the matter is not only distorted, but it is inverted and turned into its antithesis. Again I must say with utmost regret that the misrepresentations that have been carried out by us have all been in the direction of degrading and distorting the event and making it ineffective and inert in our lives" . (To be continued)

-Ayatollah Murtudha Mutahari [The Four Sermons on Ashura]

@AbodeOfWisdom

Continued from the last post regarding the Four Sermons delivered by Shaheed Ayatollah Mutahari on Ashura..

From Sermon 1:
"The people should get this expectation out of their heads and refrain from encouraging the kind of fictitious narratives which kill the soul of Karbala but work up the mourners into a frenzy. The people should hear the true narrative so that their understanding and level of thinking is elevated.

They should know that if a sentence creates a tremor in one's souls and attunes it with the spirit of Husayn ibn 'Ali and, as a result, one small tear were to come out of one's eyes, it is really a precious station. But tears drawn by the scenes of mere butchery, even if a deluge, are worthless.

They say that in one of the towns there was an eminent scholar who had some concern for the faith and who protested against these falsehoods, which are uttered from the minbar. He would say, “What are these abominable things that they say on the minbar?” One wa'iz (i.e. zakir) said to him, 'If we don't say these things we will have to shut down our shops right away!' That gentleman replied, 'These are mendacities and one must not utter them'".

-Ayatollah Murtudha Mutahari [The Four Sermons on Ashura]

@AbodeOfWisdom

Continued from the last post regarding the Four Sermons delivered by Shaheed Ayatollah Mutahari on Ashura..

From Sermon 2:
"The Umayyad regime did wage much propaganda of this kind, but their misrepresentations did not affect the history of Islam. You will not find a single competent historian in the world who might have said that Husayn ibn 'Ali, 'naudhubillah', made an unlawful uprising that he rose to cause conflict and disunity among the people. No. The enemy could not bring about any misrepresentation in [the history of] the event of Karbala'. Most regrettably, whatever tahrif has occurred in the event of Karbala' has been at the hands of the friends.". (To be continued).

-Ayatollah Murtudha Mutahari [The Four Sermons on Ashura]

@AbodeOfWisdom

Continued from the last post regarding the Four Sermons delivered by Shaheed Ayatollah Mutahari on Ashura..

From Sermon 2:
"The second factor (for 'tahrif') is the human tendency towards myth making and for turning facts into legends. This tendency has been at work in all the world's historical traditions. There is a tendency in men for hero worship which induces the people to fabricate myths and legends about national and religious heroes...

Many such legends have been made about Shaykh Bahi'i as well. Such things are not confined to the event of 'Ashura. However, let the people say what they would about Ibn Sina. What harm does it do? None! But in respect of individuals who are guides of mankind and whose words and deeds and whose stands and uprisings serve as a model and authority, there should not be any 'tahrif' whatsoever in their statements, in their personality, and history.

How many legends have been fabricated by us 'Shi'is' about Amir al Mu'minin 'Ali, many Peace be upon him! There is no doubt that 'Ali (a) was an extraordinary man. No one has doubts about 'Ali's courage which was superior to that of any ordinary human being. 'Ali did not encounter any contestant in battle without felling him to the ground.

But does that satisfy the mythmakers? Never! For instance, there is the legend about 'Ali's encounter with Marhab in the battle of Khaybar with all the curious details about the physique of Marhab. The historians have also written that 'Ali's sword cut him into two from the middle (I don't know whether the two halves were perfectly equal!). But here they found the opportunity to weave out fables which are harmful for the faith. It is said that God commanded Gabriel to go immediately to the earth lest 'Ali's sword when it comes down on Marhab should cut the earth into two halves, reaching right down to the Cow and the Fish. Gabriel was told to shield the blow with his wings. Gabriel went and when 'Ali struck the blow with his sword, it slashed Marhab into two halves which had they been put in a balance would have turned out to be exactly equal.

However, one of Gabriel's wings suffered injury and he could not ascend to the heaven for forty days. When at last he arrived in heaven, God asked him as to where he had been all these days. He replied, “O Lord! I was on the earth. You had given me an assignment to go there.” He was asked why he had taken so much time to return. Gabriel said, “O God, the blow of 'Ali's sword wounded my wings and I was busy bandaging and healing them all these forty days!” (To be continued).


-Ayatollah Murtudha Mutahari [The Four Sermons on Ashura]

@AbodeOfWisdom

Continued from the last post regarding the Four Sermons delivered by Shaheed Ayatollah Mutahari on Ashura..


From Sermon 2:
"The third factor is of a particular nature. The two factors that we have discussed above, that is, the hostile ends of the enemies and the human tendency for conjuring legends and myths, apply to all histories of the world, but there is also a factor which is specific to the event of Ashura' that has led to fabrication of stories.

The leaders of the faith, from the time of the Noble Messenger and the Pure Imams, have commanded in clear and emphatic terms that the memory of Husayn ibn 'Ali must be kept alive and that his martyrdom and ordeals should be commemorated every year. Why? What is the reason underlying this Islamic ordinance? Why is there so much encouragement for and emphasis on visiting the shrine of Husayn ibn 'Ali? We should reflect over these questions.

Some might say that it is for the sake of condoling with Hadrat Zahra' and offering her consolation! But is it not ridiculous to imagine that Hadrat Zahra' should still need consolation after fourteen hundred years, whereas, in accordance with the explicit statements of Imam Husayn and according to our creed, since his martyrdom Imam Husayn and Hadrat Zahra have been together in heaven? What a thing to say!

Imam Husayn (a) established the practical ideology of Islam and he is the practical model for Islamic movements. They (that is the Prophet and Imams) wanted Imam Husayn's ideology to be kept alive". (To be continued).

-Ayatollah Murtudha Mutahari [The Four Sermons on Ashura]

@AbodeOfWisdom

🔰The reality of the "Shi'a"🔰

✔The hadith is number 34 of the book "Sifat ush-Shi'a" which directly and without any formalities explains the essence of a "Shi'a". The book is compiled by Shaykh Sadooq (may Gods mercy be with him), who was amongst the greatest foundational scholars in the preservation of the pristine path of Islam after the occultation of Imam Mahdi, may God hasten his reappearance.

📍From the Hadith we learn that 'detestation' does not manifest from the heart of a believer into the corporeal world where it would harm others. Anger is restrained and hatred is shackled. Thus a "Mu'min" is he who's shadow is a shield for others.

📍The "Shi'a" do not easily ask others for favors unless it is their own intimate brethren and companions. Thus highlighting that the "Shi'a" are those who are a band of firm brothers.

📍The "Shi'a" do not bark or speak loudly and or disrespectfully like animals towards others, weather they be arguing or wailing. Weather they be friends, or foes. Hence, they are calm and firm on the path of righteousness and nobility.

📍They do not run after pennies of wealth, nor do they have the desire to as well. Thus, they do not sell their moral values for the cheap offers of "Dunya".

📍The lives of the "Shi'a" are simple, their homes do not exceed extravagance, and they will move or relocate without any resistance if it means to maintain their position on the path of "truth". Hence, they are constantly adhered to the values of truth.

📍Whether rich or poor, they always have a fixed share of their wealth for giving to others. They care and share of the bounties that God has blessed them. Thus, they are generous.

📍The "Shi'a" are intimate and interconnected with each other, and when they pass away, will visit each other and enjoy the others presence in the graves. Thus, it illustrates the elevated rank and station of a "Shi'a" even after life in this world.

📍When asked, where are these people?

📍Imam Sadiq, peace be with him, replies: "You will find them living in the outskirts and among the marts. They are the intendeds in Allah’s saying: 'They are humble towards the believers and dignified to the unbelievers' (5:54)".

🌺May God guide all of us to the path of true values and station us on the ark of salvation in this world and the next.

@AbodeOfWisdom

Directives from the grand Ayatollah Shaykh Ishaq Fayyadh may God prolong his life, Relayed by his son, during his visit, to the Unites States of America in April 2012


4-- It has been noticed that some believers departed their home countries to foreign countries, without having a clear goal or being confident of their status in those societies. Thus, they became a burden of weaklings (on the believers), to say the least. Neither did they gain from what they traveled toward, nor did they satisfy an aspect of the need in that society. Rather, they returned with broken souls, no longer finding some of the beliefs and righteous considerations which had once rested in their souls.
In light of this, believers in such societies should strive to attain excellent academic scores and understand the responsibility on their shoulders. For, indeed, power lies in action, or in knowledge which an individual there knows well – as power for the principles and values which he/she serves. If the people of a single faith and school of thought, over there, connect to the connection of religious education then that will be a (source of) power for them and a guarantee (to protect) their interests. We also anticipate that the increase in the number of believers in those countries will give hope to reduce the extremeness in misunderstanding Islam, faith, and the attributes of believers. (This is the extremeness) as marketed by those with a prejudice and others beneficiaries who paint an evil image of Islamic countries.

5-- The formation of Shia thought, ever since its beginnings in the first generation after the advent of Islam, was not limited to a region or group. Rather, it is the conscience of Islam and its call – a call which was answered by people of every kind. The worked diligently with seeking knowledge and teaching until they casted the summary of their knowledge in their verdicts. That is why you see the Shia refer back to the Grand Jurists, based on the principle which is confirmed by all intellectuals – the ignorant one refers to the knowledgeable one. For they are unable to reach the basis for the verdict, which represents God’s judgment in the matter in question, and they do not find it okay – rationally speaking – to refer to anyone but the most learned one, in order to fulfill the legal responsibility laid down by the system of law which they believe in. Hence, if the most learned scholar is proven to them, or if his most learned nature is at the level to allow them to emulate him, they do not hesitate to refer to him, no matter what his nationality or ethnicity may be. There is nothing strange about that, for the intellectuals of the entire world agree that if they are assured regarding the qualifications or knowledge of a given person in an area which they need him, they turn to him with their need, follow him, and obey his commands to attain their objective. Emulating a Grand Jurist is not different from this (intellectual) practice. It should not be seen as strange, then, if an American citizen, for instance, emulates a Grand Jurist in Najaf or Qum because the Grand Jurist is directing him/her within (the framework of) what his/her faith dictates, and that does not at all contradict the conditions for his/her citizenship, with all that it entails in terms of (observing) agreements and (avoiding) violations.
Yes, when it comes to matters dealing with governance in that country and the established laws which organize the rights of citizens regardless of their religion, and in order to have harmonious coexistence, the Grand Jurists find it necessary to abide by these (laws) and comply with their content.

@AbodeofWisdom

While discussing the necessity of blending intellect and knowledge Murtada Mutahari, in his book Training and education in Islam(pg 255), writes :


"In a famous and excellent quotation, (Francis) Bacon is reported to have said that learned men are of three types. Some are like ants. They always bring grains from outside and store them.
Their minds are like storage rooms. In reality, they are like tape recorders. They record whatever they hear. Others are like silkworms. They always weave their own thread from within themselves. They are not also really learned men
because they do not acquire anything from outside. They want to produce something out of their imagination or illusion. Their impending end is suffocation inside their very own cocoons. The third group consists of the true learned men. They are like honeybees. They extract the juice of flowers and they produce honey out of it."

✔️Ayatollah Fadlullah:

⭕️"Keeping to emotions, but separated from reason, may lead to repeating the tragedy that Imam al- Hussein (a.s.) experienced!

🔹His tragedy did not stem from a lack of emotions amongst the Muslims towards him, for their hearts were beating with love for him, but it was a blind, superficial love that did not stem from a depth of knowledge, will and suffering; therefore when they found themselves facing the sacrifice of their interests, possessions or desires, love went away and interest and possessions had the upper hand. Al-Farazdaq, the poet, described the situation that the people of Kufa, who went out to fight al-Hussein (a.s.), experienced, by saying to al-Hussein (a.s.): ‘Their hearts are with you (but) their swords are against you’(12). We should love al-Hussein (a.s.) with awareness, reason and suffering, not in a superficial and frenzied way that is short-lived, and ends when it faces reality and challenges.

🔸This requires awareness of all content from which Ashoora proceeded, which are the content of Islam. In light of these points that make the aspect of thought in commemoration a vital and necessary matter, and in light of what we have said regarding the necessity of strongly preserving the aspect of emotions of Ashoora, we emphasize again that the emotions issue has human dimensions, and Islamic spirit, rich in effects and benefits, and gives thought vitality, releases it from its stagnation, leads it to activity and turns it from a static state into a state of belief and consciousness, and strengthens the person’s relationship with all its aspects and issues, something that makes the thought – in the particulars of the principle, the individual and one’s stance – become similar to feelings, related to consciousness so that this gives it some strength and firmness inside the soul and outside in life.

🔹We emphasize that adopting both emotions and thought is what achieves for the message its deep content in a man’s awareness and deeds, so that the thought develops into a belief and the belief develops into love or otherwise through the interaction between the mind and the heart.

🔸This is what we can draw from the concept of love towards God’s chosen individuals and hatred towards God’s enemies in Islamic belief as being a proof of seriousness and faithfulness, as it is to be noted that the goal here – which is expressed in the slogans of Ashoora – has to conform with the means of commemoration and that the content acts within the circle of religious adherence. Once again we say:

we have to educate our hearts as we do our minds, to educate our hearts with the culture of emotion, because if the heart fails to find the correct direction in emotions, this can destroy one’s life.

🔹If we proceed from a superficiality in our love and offer it to whomever is not worthy of it, this person might suffer a deeply concealed corruption that would destroy our lives in the future; similarly if we hate someone not on objective basis, he might be a good person in his depth and so our hatred of him would deprive us of the good he can offer. We have to rationalize our emotions so that they operate on the basis of awareness and proceed from the depth, not from the surface, and not allow our emotions to run out of control or to become childish in nature and deed".

📚Reference
-["Ashoora: an Islamic Perspective" by Ayatollah Fadlullah]

@AbodeofWisdom

While discussing the necessity of blending intellect and knowledge Murtada Mutahari, in his book Training and education in Islam(pg 255), writes :


"In a famous and excellent quotation, (Francis) Bacon is reported to have said that learned men are of three types. Some are like ants. They always bring grains from outside and store them.
Their minds are like storage rooms. In reality, they are like tape recorders. They record whatever they hear. Others are like silkworms. They always weave their own thread from within themselves. They are not also really learned men
because they do not acquire anything from outside. They want to produce something out of their imagination or illusion. Their impending end is suffocation inside their very own cocoons. The third group consists of the true learned men. They are like honeybees. They extract the juice of flowers and they produce honey out of it."

How to grow and develop, according to master of believers Imam Ali (عليه الصلاة والسلام)

Translated by: Manal Samhat

By Religious Authority, Ayatollah Sayyed Mohammad Husain Fadlullah (رضوان الله تعالي عليه)

Imam Ali (a.s.) has talked a lot about fanaticism and its destructive impacts on individuals and groups alike, and he mentioned many things that are capable of immunizing people against this repugnant immoral disease and attaching them to the human values, which, if they abide to, will make them ascend, progress, grow and open up to the positions of strength in the world.

The role of cognitive experience

As we go through this issue, we notice that Imam Ali (a.s.) calls on us to study the history of the nations in all their points of weakness and strength determined according to their negative experiences that were harmful to their situations or the positive experiences that elevated their level. The Imam (a.s.) actually wants the people to study the thought, any thought, in its theoretical and practical framework and to examine its influences on the ground, when experienced, for experience, scientifically speaking, proves what the thought truly is. A negative experience of a negative thought will prove that if such a thought is applied in reality, it will lead to negative results in man’s life, while a positive experience that is based on a positive thought will definitely prove how realistic this thought is and confirm its positive effects on man’s life.

And we know that cognition and knowledge in Islam are based on two aspects:

1- The aspect of contemplation, that is when an idea is brought up and man tries to use his mind to contemplate its elements and determine how realistic it can be, and this is the approach of the philosophers throughout history.

2- The aspect of experience, whereby Islam came to base knowledge on experience. It is narrated that Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “Experience is a created mind”.

Experience, through its dynamism and extensions, represents the mental knowledge practiced on the ground, and it is narrated in a Hadith by Imam Ali (a.s.), in which he calls on people to benefit from experience, that he said: “The best of what you experienced is what gives you advice”.

Experience extends on two lines:

The first line is the experience you acquire from your personal practices, for you go through bitterness and sweetness, repulsiveness and pleasantness and goodness and evilness to unravel from within these traits the good and bad elements they entail, which determines the nature of what you went through whether positively or negatively.

The second line is the others’ experiences, whereby history, throughout time, shows you the experiences of others in the private and public lives. On the one hand, there are those who confronted the prophets, rebelled against them, stood against their movement in society and stirred conflicts, disagreements and seditions that are based on negative values, spearheaded by fanaticism. On the other hand, there are those who sided with them and demonstrated unity, amiability, harmony, accord and integration, values that if any nation upholds will be undertaking the line that leads to goodness and peace and lays the foundation for civilization, which could lead to development in knowledge and science and progress in the movement of openness, awareness and so on.

Lessons from past experiences

We know this from the Quranic revelation that talked about stories from the past about people who opposed the prophets and persecuted them and others who believed in them and helped them, whereby Allah mentioned the bad and good results of each action. This is evident in Allah’s saying: “In their histories there is certainly a lesson for men of understanding” (12:111), and the lesson here stands for the knowledge man acquires from experience after studying its nature and results.

@AbodeofWisdom

✔️Ayatollah Fadlullah:

⭕️"Keeping to emotions, but separated from reason, may lead to repeating the tragedy that Imam al- Hussein (a.s.) experienced!

🔹His tragedy did not stem from a lack of emotions amongst the Muslims towards him, for their hearts were beating with love for him, but it was a blind, superficial love that did not stem from a depth of knowledge, will and suffering; therefore when they found themselves facing the sacrifice of their interests, possessions or desires, love went away and interest and possessions had the upper hand. Al-Farazdaq, the poet, described the situation that the people of Kufa, who went out to fight al-Hussein (a.s.), experienced, by saying to al-Hussein (a.s.): ‘Their hearts are with you (but) their swords are against you’(12). We should love al-Hussein (a.s.) with awareness, reason and suffering, not in a superficial and frenzied way that is short-lived, and ends when it faces reality and challenges.

🔸This requires awareness of all content from which Ashoora proceeded, which are the content of Islam. In light of these points that make the aspect of thought in commemoration a vital and necessary matter, and in light of what we have said regarding the necessity of strongly preserving the aspect of emotions of Ashoora, we emphasize again that the emotions issue has human dimensions, and Islamic spirit, rich in effects and benefits, and gives thought vitality, releases it from its stagnation, leads it to activity and turns it from a static state into a state of belief and consciousness, and strengthens the person’s relationship with all its aspects and issues, something that makes the thought – in the particulars of the principle, the individual and one’s stance – become similar to feelings, related to consciousness so that this gives it some strength and firmness inside the soul and outside in life.

🔹We emphasize that adopting both emotions and thought is what achieves for the message its deep content in a man’s awareness and deeds, so that the thought develops into a belief and the belief develops into love or otherwise through the interaction between the mind and the heart.

🔸This is what we can draw from the concept of love towards God’s chosen individuals and hatred towards God’s enemies in Islamic belief as being a proof of seriousness and faithfulness, as it is to be noted that the goal here – which is expressed in the slogans of Ashoora – has to conform with the means of commemoration and that the content acts within the circle of religious adherence. Once again we say:

we have to educate our hearts as we do our minds, to educate our hearts with the culture of emotion, because if the heart fails to find the correct direction in emotions, this can destroy one’s life.

🔹If we proceed from a superficiality in our love and offer it to whomever is not worthy of it, this person might suffer a deeply concealed corruption that would destroy our lives in the future; similarly if we hate someone not on objective basis, he might be a good person in his depth and so our hatred of him would deprive us of the good he can offer. We have to rationalize our emotions so that they operate on the basis of awareness and proceed from the depth, not from the surface, and not allow our emotions to run out of control or to become childish in nature and deed".

📚Reference
-["Ashoora: an Islamic Perspective" by Ayatollah Fadlullah]

@AbodeofWisdom

While discussing the necessity of blending intellect and knowledge Murtada Mutahari, in his book Training and education in Islam(pg 255), writes :


"In a famous and excellent quotation, (Francis) Bacon is reported to have said that learned men are of three types. Some are like ants. They always bring grains from outside and store them.
Their minds are like storage rooms. In reality, they are like tape recorders. They record whatever they hear. Others are like silkworms. They always weave their own thread from within themselves. They are not also really learned men
because they do not acquire anything from outside. They want to produce something out of their imagination or illusion. Their impending end is suffocation inside their very own cocoons. The third group consists of the true learned men. They are like honeybees. They extract the juice of flowers and they produce honey out of it."

While discussing the necessity of blending intellect and knowledge Murtada Mutahari, in his book Training and education in Islam(pg 255), writes :


"In a famous and excellent quotation, (Francis) Bacon is reported to have said that learned men are of three types. Some are like ants. They always bring grains from outside and store them.
Their minds are like storage rooms. In reality, they are like tape recorders. They record whatever they hear. Others are like silkworms. They always weave their own thread from within themselves. They are not also really learned men
because they do not acquire anything from outside. They want to produce something out of their imagination or illusion. Their impending end is suffocation inside their very own cocoons. The third group consists of the true learned men. They are like honeybees. They extract the juice of flowers and they produce honey out of it."

🔰The reality of the "Shi'a"🔰

✔The hadith is number 34 of the book "Sifat ush-Shi'a" which directly and without any formalities explains the essence of a "Shi'a". The book is compiled by Shaykh Sadooq (may Gods mercy be with him), who was amongst the greatest foundational scholars in the preservation of the pristine path of Islam after the occultation of Imam Mahdi, may God hasten his reappearance.

📍From the Hadith we learn that 'detestation' does not manifest from the heart of a believer into the corporeal world where it would harm others. Anger is restrained and hatred is shackled. Thus a "Mu'min" is he who's shadow is a shield for others.

📍The "Shi'a" do not easily ask others for favors unless it is their own intimate brethren and companions. Thus highlighting that the "Shi'a" are those who are a band of firm brothers.

📍The "Shi'a" do not bark or speak loudly and or disrespectfully like animals towards others, weather they be arguing or wailing. Weather they be friends, or foes. Hence, they are calm and firm on the path of righteousness and nobility.

📍They do not run after pennies of wealth, nor do they have the desire to as well. Thus, they do not sell their moral values for the cheap offers of "Dunya".

📍The lives of the "Shi'a" are simple, their homes do not exceed extravagance, and they will move or relocate without any resistance if it means to maintain their position on the path of "truth". Hence, they are constantly adhered to the values of truth.

📍Whether rich or poor, they always have a fixed share of their wealth for giving to others. They care and share of the bounties that God has blessed them. Thus, they are generous.

📍The "Shi'a" are intimate and interconnected with each other, and when they pass away, will visit each other and enjoy the others presence in the graves. Thus, it illustrates the elevated rank and station of a "Shi'a" even after life in this world.

📍When asked, where are these people?

📍Imam Sadiq, peace be with him, replies: "You will find them living in the outskirts and among the marts. They are the intendeds in Allah’s saying: 'They are humble towards the believers and dignified to the unbelievers' (5:54)".

🌺May God guide all of us to the path of true values and station us on the ark of salvation in this world and the next.

@AbodeOfWisdom

✔️Ayatollah Fadlullah:

⭕️"Keeping to emotions, but separated from reason, may lead to repeating the tragedy that Imam al- Hussein (a.s.) experienced!

🔹His tragedy did not stem from a lack of emotions amongst the Muslims towards him, for their hearts were beating with love for him, but it was a blind, superficial love that did not stem from a depth of knowledge, will and suffering; therefore when they found themselves facing the sacrifice of their interests, possessions or desires, love went away and interest and possessions had the upper hand. Al-Farazdaq, the poet, described the situation that the people of Kufa, who went out to fight al-Hussein (a.s.), experienced, by saying to al-Hussein (a.s.): ‘Their hearts are with you (but) their swords are against you’(12). We should love al-Hussein (a.s.) with awareness, reason and suffering, not in a superficial and frenzied way that is short-lived, and ends when it faces reality and challenges.

🔸This requires awareness of all content from which Ashoora proceeded, which are the content of Islam. In light of these points that make the aspect of thought in commemoration a vital and necessary matter, and in light of what we have said regarding the necessity of strongly preserving the aspect of emotions of Ashoora, we emphasize again that the emotions issue has human dimensions, and Islamic spirit, rich in effects and benefits, and gives thought vitality, releases it from its stagnation, leads it to activity and turns it from a static state into a state of belief and consciousness, and strengthens the person’s relationship with all its aspects and issues, something that makes the thought – in the particulars of the principle, the individual and one’s stance – become similar to feelings, related to consciousness so that this gives it some strength and firmness inside the soul and outside in life.

🔹We emphasize that adopting both emotions and thought is what achieves for the message its deep content in a man’s awareness and deeds, so that the thought develops into a belief and the belief develops into love or otherwise through the interaction between the mind and the heart.

🔸This is what we can draw from the concept of love towards God’s chosen individuals and hatred towards God’s enemies in Islamic belief as being a proof of seriousness and faithfulness, as it is to be noted that the goal here – which is expressed in the slogans of Ashoora – has to conform with the means of commemoration and that the content acts within the circle of religious adherence. Once again we say:

we have to educate our hearts as we do our minds, to educate our hearts with the culture of emotion, because if the heart fails to find the correct direction in emotions, this can destroy one’s life.

🔹If we proceed from a superficiality in our love and offer it to whomever is not worthy of it, this person might suffer a deeply concealed corruption that would destroy our lives in the future; similarly if we hate someone not on objective basis, he might be a good person in his depth and so our hatred of him would deprive us of the good he can offer. We have to rationalize our emotions so that they operate on the basis of awareness and proceed from the depth, not from the surface, and not allow our emotions to run out of control or to become childish in nature and deed".

📚Reference
-["Ashoora: an Islamic Perspective" by Ayatollah Fadlullah]

@AbodeofWisdom

While discussing the necessity of blending intellect and knowledge Murtada Mutahari, in his book Training and education in Islam(pg 255), writes :


"In a famous and excellent quotation, (Francis) Bacon is reported to have said that learned men are of three types. Some are like ants. They always bring grains from outside and store them.
Their minds are like storage rooms. In reality, they are like tape recorders. They record whatever they hear. Others are like silkworms. They always weave their own thread from within themselves. They are not also really learned men
because they do not acquire anything from outside. They want to produce something out of their imagination or illusion. Their impending end is suffocation inside their very own cocoons. The third group consists of the true learned men. They are like honeybees. They extract the juice of flowers and they produce honey out of it."