PLEDGES/INVOCATIONS 

• Since nazr is a kind of prayer, it is essential that there should be an intention that it be for the sake of seeking nearness to Allah.  
• Two conditions for valid nazr: 
  • Intention of the heart—MUST be for the sake of Allah 
  • Utterance or expression in prescribed words in whatever language—MUST SAY IN WORDS that it is for Allah (contain the word Lillah—for the sake of Allah) 
• If we make an offering not in the name of Allah, but for someone else, whether he be dead or alive, or if we include him with the name of Allah, even if he is an Imam or his son, the offering IS NOT valid  
  • “…and not join anyone in the service of his Lord” (18:110) 
• If he pledges to make an offering simply for the sake of the Prophet or an Imam, a son of an Imam, or for some other person, it is forbidden  
• Is it polytheism to make requests of other people for the fulfillment of our desires?  If to seek help from others is polytheism, why did the Prophet seek help from people?  
  • “He said:  ‘O Chiefs which of you can bring to me her throne before they come to me in submission? 
  • The bringing of the throne of Bilqis to Solomon was impossible for every creature.  Admittedly, it was unusual, and the Prophet Solomon, despite his knowing that it required divine power, did not ask Almighty Allah to bring the throne but asked mere creatures to help him.  This fact shows that seeking others’ help is not polytheism. 
  • If a man asks for someone’s help and does not consider him Allah or his partner, it is not forbidden  
• Our permanent attention regarding our desires, distresses, and anguish is fixed upon Allah.  But the Holy Qur’an says that we should reach Almighty Allah, through some means of approach.  
  • “O you who believe! Do your duty to Allah and seek means of approach to Him” (5:38) 
  • “I praise Allah for whose Dignitiy and Light the residents of the skies and the earth seek means of approach towards Him.  Among His creation we are the means of approach.” 
• Caliph Umar said that he would pray for rain the next day thorugh means of approaching to Allah.  Next morning he went to Abbas, the uncle of the Prophet and said:  “Come out so that we may invoke Allah through you for rain” 
  • Jabir says that their prayers had not ended when clouds appeared and it began to rain.  Before they could reach their homes, they were drenched 
  • Bukhari also reports that once during the time of famine Umar bin Khattab invoked Allah through Abbas bin Abdu’l-Muttalib 
• Du’a-e-Tawassul 
  • “O our master and guide!  We seek your help to reach Allah.  O most respected in the eyes of Allah:  recommend us to Him.”      
• Instructions about Ziarat (Peshawar Nights, pg. 55) 
  • “When the pilgrim reaches the ditch of Kufa, he stands there and recites the following:  ‘Allah is most Great, Allah is most Great, the Possessor of Greatness, Sublimity, and Eminence.  Allah is most Great, the Possessor of Greatness, Holiness, Glory and Grace.  Allah is most Great above that which I fear.  Allah is most Great.  He is my support; on Him do I rely and in Him lies my hope, and towards Him I turn.” 
  • When the pilgrim reaches the Gate of Najaf, he should recite: “Raise be to Allah, who guided us to this.  We should not have been guided if Allah had not guided us” 
  • When he reaches the Gate of the Sacred Courtyard, he should recite, after praising Allah: “I bear witness that there is no God except Allah, the One.  He has no partner.  I also bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Prophet.  HE brought us truth from Allah.  I also bear witness that Ali is a servant of Allah and brother of the Prophet of Allah.  Allah is Most Great, Allah is most Great, Allah is most Great.  There is no God except Allah, and Allah is most Great.  All praise is due to Allah for His guidance and His support to respond to what HE has revealed on the way to Him” 
  • When the pilgrim reaches the Gate of the Mausoleum, he should recite:  “I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, the One.  He has no partner with Him..’ until the end. 
  • Then he enters and recites various Ziarats which contain salutations to the Holy Prophet and the Commander of the Faithful.   
• So when a pilgrim reaches the tomb of his beloved master and knows that the thing which he loved the most was the prayer, he offers two rakats of prayer in his approach to Allah and offers the prayer as a present to the holy soul of the master 
• After completion of the prayer, with OUR FACES TOWARD KA’BA (not the tomb), we recite 
  • “O Allah! I have made a present of this prayer to my leader and master, your Prophet and the brother of your Porphet, the Commander of the Faithful Ali bin Abu Talib.  O Allah, send your blessings on Muhammad and his progeny.  Accept these two rakats of prayer from me and recompense me, as you would recompense the doers of good deeds.  O Allah! I offered this prayer for Your sake and bowed down before You and prostrated in obeisance to You.  You are the One who has no partner.  It is not permissible to offer prayer or to bow down or prostrate before any but You.  You are Allah, the Great, and there is no god except You.” 
• Misinterpretation of “kissing” and prostration 
  • By way of showing respect, should kiss the threshold, not prostrate 
  • And, where have you seen, either in the Holy Quran or in any hadith, that kissing the threshold of the mausoleums of a Prophet or an Imam is prohibited 
• Prostration depends on intention 
  • Prophet Joseph’s brothers prostrated before him.  At that time, two Prophets, Jacob and Joseph, were present, but they did not forbid them to do so 
  • “And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they fell down in prostration before him, and he said:  ‘O Father, this is the significance of my vision of old; my Lord has indeed made it be true…” (12:100) 
  • The Holy Qur’an also shows in several places the Angels performed prostration before Prophet Adam 
• Invoking the Imams is not worshipping the dead (Peshawar Nights, p 59) 
  • “There is naught but our life in this world; we die and we live and we shall not be raised again” (23:37) 
  • When a man dies, his body becomes lifeless, but, unlike the animals, his soul and sense of speech remain with similar but purer bodies and will be blessed or chastised in the transitory state (barzakh) or purgatory 
  • When we stand before the tombs of the Imams, we do not stand before the dad, and we do not address the dead.  We stand before the living and speak to the living 
• Martyrs are not dead 
  • “They are alive(and) are provided with sustenance from their Lord.” (3:169) 
    • hence we are not worshipping the dead 
• “It is through us that Allah can be known, and it is through us that Allah can be served.”  

CURSING 

• Sunnis accuse Shias of infidelity because they claim Shias curse the companions 
  • However, there own companions curse the Sahaba 
  • Mu’awiya cursed and abused Ali bin Abu Talib 
  • Ayesha openly cursed and abused Caliph Uthman and declared:  “Kill this old idiot, for truly he has become an infidel” 
• Abu Bakr abused Ali 
  • Abu Bakr said:  “He (Ali) is a fox, the evidence of which is its tail.  He creates disturbances, minimizes the importance of big disturbances, and incites people to make the uproar.  He seeks help from the weak and accepts assistance form women” 
• Umar said that it was not permissible to take the life of a Muslim for abusing or cursing any Muslim excepting those who abuses the Prophet 

HUSBAND AND WIFE DON’T SHARE SAME ATTAINMENT 

• It is not necessarily so that if a husband is a virtuous believer and worthy of Paradise that his wife will be the same 
• Sura Tahrim (The Prohibition):  “Allah sets forth an example to those who disbelieve, the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot:  they were both under two of Our righteous servants but they were unfaithful to them, so they availed them nothing against Allah, and it was said: Enter, both the fire with those who enter. 
  • Moral:  just cuz your related/married to a masoom, doesn’t mean that you are protected in the eyes of Allah 
• Faithlessness is not same as adultery 
• All the wives of the Prophet except Bibi Khatija are of equal rank 

IMPORTANT (NON-MASOOM) FIGURES IN ISLAM 

Zaid Shahid 

• Zaid bin Ali, son of Imam Zainu’lAbidin and well known as a great scholar and pious theologian, went to see the caliph to seek redress for the grievances of the Bani Hashim.  But as soon as he arrived, he was abused with horrible language. 
• Zaid said:  “Disgraceful life and honorable death:  both are bitter morsels, but if one of them must be chosen, my choice is honorable death” 
• Although he fought bravely, Zaid was killed in battle.  His son, Yahya, took his body from the field and buried him away from the city near the river bank, causing the water to flow over it.  
• The grave was discovered and, under Yusuf’s orders, the body was exhumed, Zaid’s head was cut off and sent to Hisham in Syria and placed on the gallows entirely naked. 
• When Walid bin Yazid bin Abdul-Malik bin Marwan became caliph, he ordered the skeleton be taken down from the gallows, burnt, and the ashes scattered to the wind 

Yahya bin Zaid of Gurgan 

• He opposed the oppression of the Bani Umayya—was martyred on the battlefield 
• His head was sent to Syria and, as in the case of his revered father, his body was hung on the gallows for six years. 
• Waliu’d-din Abu Muslim Khorasani rose up against the Bani Ummaya.  He took his body down and buried it in Gurgan 

Abu Hanifa 

• Imam Shafi’I said:  “There never was born a more damned person in Islam that Abu Hanifa”.  He also said:  “I looked into the books of the companions of  Abu Hanifa, and I found in them 130 pages containing matter in opposition to the Holy Qur’an and the Sunna 
• Imam Ghazali says in his Mutahawwal, “There are many mistakes in Abu Hanifa’s work.  He had no knowledge of etymology, grammar, or hadith.”  He also writes, “Since he had no knowledge of ahadith, he relied on his own conjecture.  The first being who acted on conjecture was Satan.” 

Abu Huraira 

• Associate of Abu Sufyan 
• When asked about his double dealing policy, Abu Huraira said:  “Mu’awiya’s food is very rich and savory and prayers behind Ali are preferable” 
• Mu’awiya organized a group of companions of the Holy Prophet and the children of the companions for the purpose of fabricating hadith—Abu Huraira, Amir bin As, and Mughira Ibn Shaba        
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• Abu Huraira said:  “the Holy Prophet said ‘…Every Prophet has a Haram and my Haram is Medina.  One who is responsible for innovation in Medina is cursed by Allah, by his angels, and by all humanity.’  I swear by Allah that Ali was responsible for innovation.” 
  • After this, Mu’awiya made him governor of Medina 
• One who abuses the Prophet according to both sects is condemned 
  • Holy Prophet said:  “One who abuses Ali, abuses me; one who abuses me, abuses Allah” 
  • It is clear that Abu Huraira was one of those who abused Ali 
• Collusion with Busr Ibn Artat 
  • Led to the massacre of thousands of Muslims 
  • Mu’awiya sent Busr ibn Atat with 4,000 Syrian soldiers to Yemen via Medina to crush the people of Syria and the Shias of Ali 
  • Believed that 30,000 Muslims were killed 
  • Abu Huraira witnessed this and was not only silent but actively supported it. 
  • Holy Prophet said:  “He who threatens the people of Medina with oppression will be threatened by Allah and will be cursed by Allah, by his angels, and by humanity.  Allah will not accept anything from him.  May he be cursed who threatens the people of Medina.  If anyone harms the people of Medina, Allah will melt him like lead in fire” 
• Umar beating him 
  • Caliph Umar appointed Abu Huraira governor of Bahrain 
  • People informed Caliph that Abu Huraira had amassed great wealth and purchased many horses.  Umar therefore deposed him.   
  • As soon as Abu Huraira entered the court, the Caliph said:  “O enemy of Allah and enemy of his Book! Have you stolen Allah’s property?”  He replied, “I never committed theft, but the people have given me gifts” 
  • The Caliphs face grew red with anger and he lashed him so violently that his back bled.  Then he ordered 10,000 dinars which Abu Huraira had collected in Bahrain be taken from him and deposited in the account of Baitu’-Mal 
  • Umar beat him with a lash and told him that he had changed ahadith and attributed false sayings to the Holy Prophet.  He forbade him from narrating hadith of the Prophet 
    • “Because you narrate ahadtih in large numbers from the Holy Prophet, you are fit only for attributing lies to him” 
• Imam Ali said:  “Beware the greatest liar among the people, Abu Huraira Dusi” 
• Ayesha said:  “Abu Huraira is a great liar who fabricates ahadith and attributes them to the Holy Prophet”

• FADAK

  • When the forts of Khaiber were conquered, the nobles, landlords, and prominent of Fadak came to the Holy Prophet
  • There was a peace treaty with the people stating that half of the whole of Fadak was to be in the possession and the other half would be the property of the Holy Prophet
  • When Prophet returned to Medina
    • Gabriel revealed:  “And give to the near of kin his due and (to) the needy and the wayfarer, and do not squander wastefully.” (7:26)
    • Gabriel appeared again:  “Let Fadak be given to Fatima.”  The Prophet called Fatima and said:  “Allah has commanded me to bestow Fadak as a gift to you.”
  • As long as the Prophet lived, Fadak remained in her possession.  That exalted lady leased the land; its revenue was collected in three installments.  Out of this amount she took enough money for food for her and her children and distributed the rest to the poor people of Bani Hashim.
  • After the demise of the Prophet, the property was snatched
    • Sunni:  Fadak was confiscated on the hadith from Abu Bakr who declared that he heard the Prophet say:  “We prophets do not leave behind any legacy; whatever we leave as inheritance is charity”
    • Examining hadith—term, “we Prophets”
      • There are many examples of when prophets did leave inheritances
      • Prophet Zakariyya in the Quran says:  “Therefore grant me from thyself an heir, who shall inherit me (also) of the house of Jacob.” (19:5-6)
      • “And Zakariyya, when he cried to his Lord:  ‘Oh my lord, leave me not childless, though Thou art the best of inheritors.’ (21:89-90)
  • Bibi Fatima’s argument
    • Does not the Quran say:  ‘And those who are akin are nearer one to another in the ordinance of Allah…’ (8:75) and:  “Allah enjoins you about your issue! The male shall have an equal of the shares of two females.’ (4:12) and: ‘Bequest is prescribed for you when one you approaches death, if he leave wealth, that he bequeath unto parents and near relations in kindness.  (This is) a duty for all those who ward off evil.’
    • She cried:  “on the Day of Judgement I will file a suit against you in the Divine Court of Justice and Allah will decide the case justly”
    • Abu Bakr’s response
      • Couldn’t give a good reply
      • Descended from the pulpit and insulted Fatima and her family
  • Imam Ali’s response
    • Ali said:  “Why did you deprive Fatima of her legacy, though she was its owner and possessed it during the lifetime of her father?”  Abu Bakr replied:  “Fadak is the booty of the Muslims.  If Fatima produces complete evidence that it is her own property, I will certainly give it to her; otherwise, I will deprive her of it.”
  • Ali said:  “If two persons were to give evidence that Fatima had committed some wrong, tell me how you would treat her?”   Abu Bakr responded, “I would inflict punishment on her as I would any other woman”
    • Imam said, “If you did this, you would be an infidel before Allah, because you would have rejected Allah’s evidence about Fatima’s purity”
  • However, Fadak was not inheritance.  It was a gift given to Fatima during the time of the Prophet
  • Also if inheritance wasn’t to be given Abu Bakr wouldn’t have given Fatima her apartment and the apartments to the wives of the Prophet
  • Return of Fadak
    • After hearing Fatima’s speech, Abu Bakr wrote a document to give the property back.  But Umar tore this up
    • However, during Umar’s caliphate, he returned Fadak to the proper heirs.  Similarly the Amawid and Abbasid caliphs also returned it to the heirs of Fatima.
    • It remained in their possession until Yazid usurped it again
  • At first Fatima declared it was a gift.  But when witnesses were required from the property’s occupants, in contradiction to the injunction of the Holy Prophet of Islam, she produced witnesses. Their evidence was rejected.  She was thereby forced to seek protection under the law of inheritance
  • Sunni:  Abu Bakr was right to request witnesses under the ‘verse of Evidence’
    • Response:  which religious ordinance demands witnesses from one who is in possession of the property?
    • The witnesses should be produced by the plaintiff and not by the holder of the property?
  • An Arab had made a claim against the holy Prophet and his single evidence was considered sufficient.
    • The Holy Prophet gave him the title Dhu’sh-Shadatain because he was regarded as being equeal to two just witnesses
    • Example shows that “Verse of Evidence” has exceptions
  • Abu Bakr didn’t follow law of evidence in other cases
    • He used to give property of Muslims to others in response to mere verbal claims without taking the evidence of any witnesses. 
    • When Jabir claimed that the Holy Prophet had promised that he would be paid from the booty taken at Bahrain, he was given 1500 dinars from the Baitu’l Mal (public treasury) without raising any objection or demanding witnesses
      • Sunni’s use this example that a single report from just companion is acceptable
  • But in the case of Fatima’s property he became extraordinarily cautious
    • Reason—if he had released Fadak to Fatima that day, the next day she would have come to claim the caliphate for her husband.  Then the Caliph would have been compelled to return that right also, since he would have accepted her truthfulness in the former case
  • Fatima said that she would never speak with Abu Bakr or Umar again
    • When she died, her husband buried her at night and did not allow Abu Bakr to join her funeral and offer prayers for her
    • Fatima said, “None of those persons who have oppressed me and snatched away my right should be allowed to join my funeral.  They are certainly my and the Holy Prophet’s enemies.  Do not allow any one of them or their associates to offer funeral prayers for me.  Bury me at night when people are asleep.”
    • She said:  “Allah be my witness that you two have offended me.  In every prayer I curse you and I will continue cursing you until I see my father and complain against you.”
    • Fatima went to the mosque where she said to Abu Bakr:  “How soon you have sacked the Ahlebaith, I swear by Allah, I will not talk with Umar until I see Allah.”
      • Did not speak to them for the rest of her life
  • Holy Prophet says, “Fatima is a part of my body, she is the light of my eyes, she is the fruit of my heart, she is my soul between my two sides.  He who grieves Fatima grieves me; he who grieves me, grieves Allah; he who makes her angry makes me angry; what pains Fatima pains me”
  • Holy Prophet says, “Verily, Fatima, my daughter, is a part of my body; what makes her happy, makes me happy; what is painful to her is painful to me”
  • Fatima’s silence did not mean acquiescence
  • Both Abu Bakr and Umar went to the door of Fatima but she did not allow them to visit her.
    • When they asked Ali to intervene, he remained silent but allowed them to go in
    • When they went in and greeted her, she turned her face to the wall
    • Abu Bakr said:  “Oh part of the Prophet’s liver, by Allah, I value the relationship of the Holy Prophet with you more than my relationship with my daughter, Ayesha.  Would that I had died soon after the Holy Prophet of Allah.  I know your rank and position more than anyone else.  If I have deprived you of your right heritage, it was really because of the Holy Prophet, whom I myself heard saying:  ‘We prophets do not leave any heritage.  What we leave is charity (for the Muslims).’
    • She asked Imam Ali to remind them of the hadith, “Fatima’s pleasure if my pleasure, Fatima’s indignation is my indignation.  So one who loves my daughter loves me; one who pleases Fatima pleases me. One who offends Fatima offends me.”
    • Both of them said, “Yes we heard those words”
    • Fatima said:  ‘I call Allah and His Angles to witness that both of you have offended me and did not treat me justly.  When I meet the Holy Prophet I will certainly complain to him of you both.”
    • Abu Bakr then began to weep, “I seek Allah’s shelter from the Holy Prophet’s anger.” 
    • Fatima began to weep and said:  “I swear by Allah that I will certainly call down curses upon you in all my prayers.”