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Grand Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi

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Grand Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi The Touch Of Grace Lecture Set of Grand Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi with ultimate Q & A section Compiled & Edited by : Syed Ajaz Mehdi Naqvi 2 3 Biography Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi is one of the most influential ayatollahs currently in Iran. He is a spiritual guide for many Twelver Shi'a Muslims. His studies In Iran He started his formal Islamic studies at the age of 14 in the Agha Babakhan Shirazi seminary. After completing the introductory studies, he started studying jurisprudence (fiqh) and its principles (usul al-fiqh). He made rapid progress and finished studying the complete levels of introductory and both the levels of the intermediate Islamic studies in approximately four years. During this time, he also taught at the Islamic seminary in Shiraz. At the age of 18, he formally entered the theological seminary of Qom, and for the next five years was present in the religious gatherings and classes of some of the leading Islamic teachers of those days, such as Ayatollah Muhammad Hussein Burujerdi, & Ayatollah Seyyed Kazem Shariatmadari. In Najaf (Iraq) In 1950 he made his way to the seminary of Najaf, Iraq. Here, he was able to take part in classes of teachers such 4 as Ayatollah Muhsin al-Hakim, Ayatollah Abul-Qassim Khoei and Ayatollah Abdul Hadi ash-Shirazi. At the age of 24, he was granted complete ijtihad by two senior scholars in Najaf. Ayatollah Muhsin al-Hakim also wrote a short, comprehensive letter of commendation for him. In 1951 he returned to Qom, since he did not have the means to survive and continue his studies in Najaf. After returning to Iran, Ayatollah Nasir Makarim Shirazi began teaching the intermediate and higher level of studies in usul al-fiqh and fiqh. Also, he was a member of the editorial board of the first Islamic magazine published in Iran named "Maktab'e Eslam", next to Ayatollah Shariatmadari. He has won the Iranian Royal Academy of Philosophy' award for his essay "Filsuf-Namaha". Political Activities Ayatollah Makarim Shirazi was active in the pre- revolution days; hence he was thrown in jail many times. He was even exiled on three separate occasions to three different locations-Chabahar, Mahabad and Anarak. After the Iranian revolution, he was appointed to the first council of Representatives and played a major role in writing the first constitution. Fatwas and viewpoints Beating a disobedient wife According to Makarem Shirazi, a Muslim man may "under exceptional circumstances" inflict a "light physical 5 punishment" on his wife for not willing to perform her [sexual] marital duties. The physical punishment, he explains, must be very light where no harm or injuries are caused and even "the skin should not turn red". The "exceptional circumstances" are to be considered after [nicely asking and] advising, grumping, and separating beds, "just like when a surgery is the last resort for a patient" [1]. Wrongly translated[citation needed] news articles have referenced Makarem Shirazi, saying Islam allows a man to beat his wife. This leading ayatollah describes on his website, that Islam has ordered men to have good behavior with their spouses and has even forbidden them from yelling and speaking to their wives with temper [1]. On the same topic, Makarem Shirazi says, if a man does not perform his marital duties towards his wife, even after advice and when there is no other solution, the Islamic government can physically punish him [on behalf of the wife] [1]. In the same article, he references psychiatrists (probably Krafft-Ebing's Psychopathia Sexualis) and mentions that "some women" have natural tendency towards sexual masochism and a slight punishment act will help in "easing their mind" [1]. Women's attendance in stadiums In the aftermath of an attempt by President Ahmadinejad to allow women to attend soccer matches in stadiums (something they are not able to do now), Makarem issued a fatwa objecting to this.[2] Alternatives to stoning 6 Makarem's fatwa concerning stoning to death for adultery reads: "In certain circumstances, death by stoning can be replaced by other methods of punishment".[3] Smoking Makarem issued a fatwa declaring smoking as religiously illicit (makruh). His Works His works number more than 130 volumes. Some of these are: • Commentary on the book Kifayatul Usul (at age 18) • The Manifestation of Truth‌ • Commentary on the Quran • The Message of the Quran • Anwar al-Fuqahah • al-Qawaidul Fiqhiyyah 7 Compiler/Editor’s Note The achievements of Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi in the field of Islamic Theology are innumerable. The basic aim behind the creation of this book was to compile the lectures of this Grand Ayatollah at one place. For additional information, all of the text used in this book has been taken from the original site of the Ayatollah i.e. makaremshirazi.org, for any further confirmation please visit the site. As we have already read that the book contains the lectures of the Grand Ayatollah so it is obvious that the original form of most of the text used might not be the written but the ‘minutes’ i.e. spoken by Ayatollah recorded by others. At the last part, the book has AN ULTIMATE QUESTION & ANSWER SECTION which contains some very interesting questions which might be very helpful to clear some doubts, to increase knowledge and to present logical reasoning for the questions which you might never heard before. If Allah wills (Insha Allah) then this book will seem to be very helpful to the readers in many aspects and to increase quite a good part of reader’s information from the ocean of knowledge, to nourish his/her both the worlds and to bring the reader from the scorching core of darkness to the shining coarse of light. Wa Innahu Wali al Taufeeq Wassalaam Syed Ajaz Mehdi Naqvi 8 [email protected] Contents SECTION ONE 012-Tawhid in the actions (of Allah) and the benefits of belief in this 023- Blessed Prophet (S.A.W.) : Offering peace and salutation to Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) : In Prophet’s Sunnah 025- On the occasion of `Eid-ul-Ghadeer 030- The Quran : A divine light in the (spiritually) dark and gloomy nights 035-Commentary of * Keep us on the straight path * 038-Why does Allah need to test people? 040-The opinion of Sunnis about Mahdi (a.s.)? 043-Conflict between actions and beliefs 051-Saying two successive prayers together 053-The (various) levels of perfection in Iman (True Faith) 057-Shall look causes & sources 061-Six things that lead to success 073-Advice given to Abu Dharr - Sustenance 081-Misguidedness 085-Two despised characteristics : Eating too much and looking at others SECTION TWO CHARACTERISTICS OF A TRUE BELIEVER 091- Silence 098 - The True Shia of Ameer-al-Mumineen (a.s.) 101 - The characteristics of a righteous servant of Allah 105 - The signs of a Muslim 115 - Modesty 120 - Showing thanks for divine blessings 123 - Fulfilling the needs of your adversary 129 - Forgiveness and Pardon NOURISHMENT OF SOUL 9 134 - Al Jihad - Al Akbar 140 - Training of the Soul 149 - Taqwa [ Consciousness of Allah ] 163 - Five good qualities THE MATERIALISTIC & THE NEXT WORLD 167 - The relation between the religion and the material world 171 - The status of man in this life and the next world 178 - The world is a storehouse of treasures 190 - Upheavals around the world 194 - The psychological effects of loving the transient world 201 - How to gain the love of Allah and the love of people 208 - Two opinions in regards to the material world and the next life 212 - The description of the material world and a comparison between its past and the time remained 222- The description of the material world and our responsibility while living in 232 - Being spiritually awake and ready 240 - Good of this world and the next life CERTAINITY & DOUBTS 245 - The levels of certainty 255 - The way to keep away from doubtful things and the lower desires of the Soul 260 - Five life giving lessons and refraining from doubtful things DEATH : AN UNACCEPTABLE TRUTH 266 - Fleeing from death 273 - Paying attention to those who came before us 277 - The final journey and the remembrance of death 283 - A noble end THE ULTIMATE QUESTION & ANSWER SECTION FROM Page 252 TO Page 200 287 Q 01. Did Ameer-al-momeneen Ali (a.s.) desired for caliphate? 295 Q 06. How Adam’s children ?married ? 10 301 Q 08. How can you prove from Quran that the Earth is spherical ? 305 Q 10. What is the period of Creation of Earth ? 309 Q 12. Is it allowed to prostrate on the tomb of Imams ? 313 Q 15. What are the rules of prayer at nearby areas of North & South Pole ? 341 Q 25. How Ali(as) travelled 600kms. in one night ? 343 Q 26. Many Shia & Sunni scholars believe that verse “ Today, I have perfected your religion..” is concerned with Haraam & Halaal flesh not with announcement of caliphate of Amirul Momineen Ali (as) ? 351 Q 27. Did Prophet splitetd the moon ? Prove from Quran. 361 Q 30. Ali(as) was envolved so deeply in prayers how did he notice beggar ? 370 Q 32. How calamities are justified when good people also dies in it ? 11 SECTION ONE Tawhid in the actions (of Allah) and the benefits of belief in this .001 Text of the Hadith: قال ابن عباس قال،قال رسول ا (صلي ا عليه و آلJه و سلم):من انقطJع إلJي ا كفJاه كJل مؤونJJة،ومن انقطJع إلJي الدنيا و كله ا إليها.و من حاول أمJرا بمعصJية ا كJان أبعد لJه مما رجا و أقرب مما اتقي،و من طلب محامد الناس بمعاصي ا عاد حامده منهم ذاما.و من أرضي النJاس بسJخط ا و كلJه ا إليهم،ومن أحسن سريرته أصلح ا علنيته.ومJن عمJل لخرتJه كفي ا أمر دنياه.
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