Mohammed Ali Vakil Mohammed Atif Vakil O IMAM ALI CAN YOU TELL US HOW FAR IS HEAVEN?40 Sufi Comics is licensed under Creative Commons by: Mohammed Arif Vakil & Mohammed Ali Vakil License type: Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. E©greative commons You are free to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work, under the following conditions: Attribution — You must attribute the work to the author/s. No Derivative Works — You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work. Online version of 40 Sufi Comics is available at: http:/vakiLorg/40-sufi-comics Email: suficomics@vakilorg First Edition: January 2011 ISBN-13: 978-1456461270 ISBN-10: 1456461273Table of Contents Introduction - 4 Ethics Justifying Wrong Actions - 7 Good Manners melt a hard heart - 9 Positive Thinking - 11 The Forgiving Commander - 13 Childish Behaviour - 15 Teaching Beautifully - 17 The Truth about Lies - 19 Follow Principles - 21 Good Intentions and Hard work - 23 The Stranger - 25 ‘The Prayer of Jesus - 27 Mother - 29 How far is Heaven - 31 Spirituality Food for thought - 35 The piety of Abu Dhar Al-Ghaffari - 37 The worship of free men - 39 How to Pray to God - 41 The Recipe for curing all sins - 43 Secrets of Prayer - 45 Preparing to meet God - 47 ASlave's slave - 49 ‘The Power of Prayers - 51 Real Wealth - 53 Stabilize the Inner State - 55Where does Wisdom come from? - 57 Where is God's Treasure? - 59 Al-Hamdwlillah - 61 The meaing of Love - 63 Philosophy The Blind Astronomer - 67 Is the World an evil place? - 69 Free Will or Pre-destination - 71 Answering 3 questions with 1 brick - 73 Dividing 17 camels between 3 people - 75 A Visit to Hell - 77 Key to Knowledge - 79 No Problem - 81 Existence of God How & where is God? - 85 lam the Creator - 87 Evidence of the Creator - 89 Can I see God? - 91 References for Traditions - 93Introduction During my childhood & teenage years I attended a Madressa (Islamic School) where we were taught beautiful stories from history & sacred traditions. Our teachers were very gifted. They would narrate the stories in such an engaging way that time stood still, and I felt as though a movie were playing in my head. These stories of faith, wit, love, sacrifice and adventure have stayed with me and influenced my life. Over the last two years, I have been learning the art of drawing comics & and have used it to express some of these stories. As I completed each comic, Arif and I would publish it on our blog (http://www.vakil.org). Though the feedback for the online version was tremendous, a great many still requested to see the compendium of this work in printed form. Alongside each comic, I have included verses from the Holy Qur'an and Traditions from the Prophet & the Ahlul Bayt that are pertinent to the respective comic's topic. For some comics, I further included my own reflections as I drew the comics. You may wonder why some of the characters don't have their faces drawn. Traditionally, Islamic art does not depict the faces of Holy personalities, and Thave respected this tradition in these comics. I truly hope you enjoy reading 40 Sufi Comics! I would like to thank Abdulbasier aziz, Uma Satish and Zeenat Merchant-Syal who've given the necessary encouragement and feedback to make this book possible. My sincere gratitude to those who have been the source of spiritual guidance in my life: Sheikh Arif Abdulhussain, Al-Haj Hassanain Rajabali & Sheikh Khalil Jaffer. Many of the stories in 40 Sufi Comics, | have learnt from them.This book is dedicated to our Grandmother, Maryam Vakil.EthicsAMAN STEALS TWO BREADS AND 2 FRUITS FROM JUSTIFYING ‘A SHOP WRONG ACTIONS Soff Conies ob ¢ ft AND HE GIVES THEM AWAY TO THE |] IMAM JAFAR QUESTIONS HIM ABOUT HIS ACTIONS. (BEING THE IMAM, DON'T YOU KNOW ‘ANYTHING? WHAT IGNORANCE HAVE YOU NOTICED IN ME? T HAVE STOLEN TWO FRUITS ‘GOD HAS SAID IN THE QURAN, "WHOEVER BRINGS A GOOD DEED, HE SHALL HAVE TEN LIKE IT, WHOEVER BRINGS AN EVIL DEED, HE SHALL BE RECOMPENSED ONLY WITH THE LIKE OF IT" ON THIS BASIS. AND 2 BREADS. T HAVE FOUR SINS IN MY ACCOUNT, BUT | HAVE GIVEN IT IN THE WAY OF GOD, SO T EARNED 40 GOOD DEEDS. REDUCING FROM 40, T STILL HAVE 36 GOOD DEEDS IN My ACCOUNT. A PITY THAT YOU HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH COMPUTATIONS! BUT HAVE YOU NOT HEARD THE VERSE OF THE HOLY GURAN "ALLAH ONLY ACCEPTS FROM THOSE WHO GUARD (AGAINST EVIL) (S27). YOU HAVE EARNED FOUR SINS BY STEALING THOSE FOUR ITEMS AND FOUR MORE SINS FOR GIVING THEM TO SOMEONE ELSE WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE OWNERS. SO YOU HAVE COLLECTED EIGHT SINS BUT NOT A SINGLE GOOD DEED. WITH SUCH INTERPRETATIONS AND JUSTIFICATIONS NOT ONLY DO THEY MISLEAD THEMSELVES, BUT OTHERS AS WELLIn the Qur'an (It is) a blessed Book that We have sent down to you, so that they may contemplate its signs, and that those who posses intellect may take admonishment. (38:29) In the Traditions The Prophet with regards to Allah's verse in the Qur'an “and recite the Qur'an in a measured tone" said, "Recite it clearly, do not disperse it prosaically, nor rave it like raving poetry. Stop where it mentions wonders, and move the hearts with it, and do not let your only concern be (to finish) the end of the chapter." Imam Ali said, "Verily there is no good in recitation that does not have contemplation in it. Verily, there is no good in worship that does not have understanding.” ARTIST'S NOTES: THE VERSES OF THE QURAN CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD IF THE READER APPROACHES THEM BY IMPOSING HIS IDEAS ON THEM. RATHER, THEY SHOULD BE APPROACHED WITH AN OPEN & SINCERE HEART TO UNDERSTAND THEIR OUTER AND INNER MEANINGS, THE QURAN CAN HAVE AN EMPOWERING EFFECT ON THE READER. IT IS A SOOK THAT CHALLENGES, DEGATES, CRITICIZES, AND INSPIRES THE READER.. AT TIMES, ONE MAY FEEL THAT THEY ARE NOT READING THE QURAN, GUT RATHER THAT THE GURAN IS READING THEM. 8www vakil.org, GOOD MANNERS MELT A HARD HEART Sof Contes WHATEVER YOUR NAME IS, IVE HEARD YOUR MOTHER WAS JUST A COOK your MOTHER was IMPUDENT ‘AND RUDE! TAM AMAZED BY YOUR CALM AND POLITE BEHAVIOUR ARE YOU A YES, THAT WAS HER PROFESSION "THERE IS NO SHAME IN IT IF THE THINGS YOU SAY ABOUT MY MOTHER ARE ‘TRUE, THEN MAY ALLAH FORGIVE HER. IF THEY ARE FALSE ‘THEN MAY ALLAH FORGIVE YOU. (0 IMAM! FORGIVE ME FOR My INSOLENCE AND ACCEPT ME AS ONE OF ‘YOUR FOLLOWERSIn the Qur'an Repel (evil) with what is best, and lo! He between whom and you was enmity would be as if he were a warm friend (41:34) And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace (25:63) In the Traditions The Prophet said, "I have been sent to perfect the nobility of your character.” The Prophet said, "Good character melts sins as the sun melts ice, and bad character spoils an action just as vinegar spoils honey.” A man came to the Prophet saying "O Prophet of God, which people have the most perfect faith?” "Those of them who have the best character”, he replied. Imam Ali said, "Cheerfulness is the basis of love, tolerance the burial of faults, conciliation the concealing of shortcomings, and there is no better relative than good character.” ARTIST'S NOTES: 1 RECALL THIS ANECDOTE WHENEVER SOMEONE IS RUDE. THE IMAM'S. APPROACH IS BEAUTIFUL. RATHER THAN DISAGREEING WITH HIM, WHICH WOULD HAVE AGGRAVATED THE SITUATION, THE IMAM HAD HOPE IN THE OTHER MAN'S GOODNESS AND USED IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS HIS SUSMISSION TO GOD & BELIEF IN HIS FORGIVENESS. 10POSITIVE THINKING [Bn THE CONTRARY, IAM FADE IS PRISON A NOSGUE, AND PIS LONELINESS OF THE JAIL A PLEASANT PLACE FILLED WITH THE HAVE IMPRISONED IMAM MUSA AL- ‘THE STATE THAT IVE KEPT HIM WILL BREAK HIS WILL, AND MAKE HIM FEEL HOPELESS! o alia vou iow Iruar no see ase 17 I you To FREE ME FROM nr onvnron oxcerr | | woxsnprme voi, Now | {ou nave cose Ti. $e. pte ae 70900 L ARTIST'S NOTES: WHEN I RECALL THIS STORY, IT GIVES ME HOPE THAT NO MATTER HOW PAINFUL MY CIRCUMSTANCES ARE, I HAVE A CHOICE HOW TO REACT TO IT. INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE SHADOW, T CAN FOCUS MY ATTENTION ON HOW BRIGHT THE SUN IS SHINING. THE CIRUMSTANCES OUTSIDE OUR LIFE ARE NEUTRAL. WHAT MAKES THEM GOOD OR BAD IS OUR REACTION TO THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. 11In the Qur'an Therefore remember Me, I will remember you (2:152) Call on your Lord humbly and secretly (7:55) In the Traditions OGod, bless Muhammad and his Household, tempt me not with what Thou hast given to Thy creatures and tempt them not with what Thou hast withheld from me. Lest I envy Thy creatures and despise Thy decision! OGod, bless Muhammad and his Household, delight my soul through Thy decree, expand my breast through the instances of Thy decision, give to me a trust through which I may admit that Thy decree runs only to the best, and let my gratitude to Thee for what Thou hast taken away from me be more abundant than my gratitude to Thee for what Thou hast conferred upon me! Preserve me from imagining any meanness in someone who is destitute or imagining any superiority in someone who possesses wealth, for the noble is he whom obedience to Thee has ennobled and the exalted is he whom worship of Thee has exalted! Excerpt of Supplication In Satisfaction with the Decree of God by Imam Zainul Abideen 12THE FORGIVING COMMANDER TAM SORRY FOR THE SIN T RAVE [committed AN THERE IS NO SiN UPON YOU] BY Goo, x J Z\ lcame To me mosaue es- PUES cau to [| (2 \ ) SEEK FOR- |GIVENESS FOR| {you.In the Qur'an "Take to forgiveness and enjoin good and turn aside from the ignorant’ (7:199) In the Traditions "When a man asked the Prophet to explain nobility of character to him, he replied, "It means that you should forgive him who has wronged you, re-establish ties with him who has broken them off, give to him who has denied you something, and tell the truth even if it is against your own interests." Imam Ali said, "If you overcome your enemy, then make your forgiveness of them gratitude for your position of strength over them" 14CHILDISH SA'ID THE SERVANT OF IMAM THOUGHT. TIVE NEVER SEEN MY BEHAVIOUR MASTER IMAM ALI GET ANGRY. TODAY I WILL GET HIM ANGRY. g ; SAND, WHERE ARE YOU SA'ID, DO COME SAND... SAND. WHY ARE YOU NOT ANSWERING TO ME SAND? => DEAR SA'ID, I DON'T GET ANGRY AT SUCH CHILDISH BEHAVIOUR SORRY MASTER, I WANTED TO INCITE ANGER IN YOU BY DISOBEYING YOu 15In the Qur'an And those who restrain (their) anger and pardon men; and Allah loves the virtuous (Quran 3: 134) In the Traditions The Prophet said, "Shall I tell you who is the toughest and strongest from among you?" They replied, "Yes Messenger of Allah, do tell us’, so the Prophet said "The strongest and toughest of you is he who, when he is happy, his happiness does not lead him to committing a sin or anything wrong, and when he gets angry, his anger does not prevent him from speaking the truth, and when he is empowered in any way, he does not take hold of that which is not lawfully his” Imam Ali said, "There are six things by which people's intellects may be tested: clemency at the time of anger, patience at the time of fear, calculation when faced with a desire, Godwariness at all times, amicablene: s, and minimal engagement in disputation.” ARTIST'S NOTES: WHEN I WAS IN MY EARLY TEENS, I REMEMBER BEING INFLUENCED BY PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT EXPRESSING ANGER AT PEOPLE BELOW THEM WAS A SIGN OF STRENGTH. T WOULD COPY THEM, THINKING THAT WAS THE RIGHT WAY TO BEHAVE. THEN A DAY CAME WHEN T READ THIS STORY IN NAHJUL BALAGHA. IT WAS A TURNING POINT FOR ME IN UNDERSTANDING THAT SHOWING ANGER IS NOT A SIGN OF STRENGTH. THE STORY INFLUENCED ME ON HOW I RESPONDED TO SITUATIONS THAT AROUSED ANGER IN ME. 16GRANDSONS OF THE PROPHET (5), IMAM HASSAN & HUSSAIN, SAW AN OLD BEDOUIN PERFORMING HIS WUDHU, ‘BROTHER, HE'S DOING HIS WUDHU SIR, MY BROTHER AND I DISAGREE WHO PERFORMS WUDU THE BEST. WOULD YOU WATCH AND JUDGE WHO IS TEACHING BEAUTIFULLY BY ALLAH, I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO PERFORM WUDU. YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME HOW TO DO IT CORRECTLY. ~_ 17In the Qur'an O you who believe! let not (one) people laugh at (another) people perchance they may be better than they, nor let women (laugh) at (other) women, perchance they may be better than they; and do not find fault with your own people nor call one another by nicknames; evil is a bad name after faith, and whoever does not turn, these it is that are the unjust. (49:11) In the Traditions The Prophet said, “Whoever does not have mercy on our young and does not honour our elderly is not one of us.” When the Prophet was asked who were the most beloved of Allah, he replied, “Those who help others the most.” Imam Jafar said, “Husayn (younger) would never walk in front of Hasan (elder) nor would he begin the conversation when they met, out of respect for him.” 18‘wwwivakilorg TRUTH ABOUT LIES Sof Conies deb é kt HMM... WHY DON'T YOU PUT YOUR HAND DOWN THE TOILET / THAT'S EXACTLY HOW I FELT WHEN YOU ASKED ME TO LIE \\4 (AIn the Qur'an O you who believe! avoid most of suspicion, for surely sus some cases is a sin, and do not spy nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, surely Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), Merciful. (49:12) In the Traditions Imam AI-Baqir said, "When my father Ali ibn al-Husayn was close to death he drew me to his chest saying, 'O son give you the same advice as my father gave me, just as his father had given him the same advice: bear the truth patiently, even if it is bitter.” ARTIST'S NOTES: WHEN I HEARD THIS STORY, IT CHANGED THE WAY I LOOKED AT SINS. T REALIZED CERTAIN ACTS ARE SINS BECAUSE THOSE ACTIONS RESTRICT OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH. TF WE ARE AGLE TO REFLECT THE DAMAGE THAT SINS DO TO OUR SOUL, STAYING AWAY FROM THEM WILL BE AS NATURAL AS STAYING AWAY FROM SOMETHING THAT IS DISGUSTING. 20FOLLOW PRINCIPLES IMAM ALI HAD Pea eR Tae DO NOT FOLLOW PERSONALITIES FOLLOW PRINCIPLES!In the Qur'an O you who believe! be maintainers of justice, bearers of witness of Allah's sake, though it may be against your own selves or (your) parents or near relatives; if he be rich or poor, Allah is nearer to them both in compassion; therefore do not follow (your) low desires, lest you deviate; and if you swerve or turn aside, then surely Allah is aware of what you do. (4:135) In the Traditions The Prophet said, “Islam is Good Manners” Imam Jafar said, “A Muslim is he whose hand and tongue people feel safe from, whilst a believer is he whom people trust with their belongings and their lives.” ARTIST'S NOTES: SOMETIMES, OUR LOVE FOR PERSONALITIES BLIND US FROM THE TRUTH. THE NAMES OF GOD REFLECT DIVINE PRINCIPLES, AND OUR ULTIMATE JOURNEY IS TOWARDS HIM. THEREFORE, OUR GOAL SHOULD BE TO FOLLOW DIVINE PRINCIPLES. DOING SO WILL HELP US TO SEE ‘THE WORLD WITHOUT PREJUDICES & TO MAKE DECISIONS WITH CONFIDENCE. 22GOOD INTENTIONS AND HARD WORK x WHY ARE YOU PERSPIRING IN THIS OLD AGE? ARE YOU SO GREEDY OF THIS WORLD? HOW HAPPY I WOULD BE IF I DIE AND MEET GOD IN THIS CONDITION, THAT 1AM WORKING HARD SO THAT I DO NOT BECOME 23In the Qur'an Allah will not call you to account for thoughtlessness in your oaths, but for the intention in your hearts; and He is Oft-forgiving, Most Forbearing. (2225) In the Traditions The Prophet said, "Do not insult the world for it is the best mount for the believer, because by means of it he attains good and through it he is saved from evil." Imam Ali said "The Hereafter is secured through the World.” 24MY HUSBAND WAS A ‘SOLDIER. CALIPH ALI SENT ‘HIM_TO THE FRONTLINES WHERE HE WAS KILLED... THE STRANGER SoG Contes the [IT SEEMS THERE IS NO ONE TO cARRY| YOUR LOAD. wwwvakil NOW I'M LEFT HEARING THE STORY OF THE W0OW THE NEXT MORNING... ALONE WITH MY. ‘AND ORPHANS, HE COULDNT SLEEP CHILDREN #508 THar Nigh. YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS, WHILE DEAR CHILDREN, FORGIVE ALI IF HE HAS FAILED HIS DUTY. TowaRDS You FOR T HAVE FAILED ‘MY DUTY TOWARDS WHO FAIL IN THEIR DUTY TO WIDOWS AND ‘ORPHANS 25In the Qur'an And serve God and do not associate any thing with Him and be good to the parents and to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the neighbor of (your) kin and the alien neighbor, and the companion ina journey and the wayfarer and those whom your right hands possess; surely Allah does not love him who is proud, boastful; (436) In the Traditions Let it be known to you, Maalik, that am sending you as a governor to a country which has seen many regimes before this. Some of them were benign, sympathetic and good, while others were tyrannical, oppressive and cruel. People will judge your regime as critically as you have studied the activities of other regimes and they will criticize you in the same way as you have censured or approved other rulers. Maalik! You must create in your mind kindness, compassion and love for your subjects. Do not behave towards them as if you are a voracious and ravenous beast and as if your success lies in devouring them. Remember, Maalik, that amongst your subjects there are two kinds of people: those who have the same religion as you have; they are brothers to you, and those who have religions other than that of yours, they are human beings like you. Men of either category suffer from the same weaknesses and disabilities that human beings are inclined to, they commit sins, indulge in vices either intentionally or foolishly and unintentionally without realizing the enormity of their deeds. Let your mercy and compassion come to their rescue and help in the same way and to the same extent that you expect Allah to show mercy and forgiveness to you. Excerpt of letter by Imam Ali to Maalik Al-Astar 26THE PRAYER OF JESUS ('A) O LorD! FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT ‘THEY DO YOU'RE A FAKE! GET OUT OF HERE! WE DON'T NEED YOU! (0 JESUS! SHOULD YOU NOT BE ANGRY AND CURSE THEM? PROPHET JESUS FELT UNEASY BY THE \ BEHAVIOUR OF THE ISRAELITES. T SPEND ONLY (OUT OF WHAT | HAVE IN My PURSE ARTIST'S NOTES: THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT, THE MORE I REALIZE THAT THE WORLD AROUND US IS A REFLECTION OF OUR INNER SELF. NOTHING IS GOOD OR BAD OUTSIDE OF US, BUT WE MAKE IT SO THROUGH THE FILTER OF OUR WORLD VIEW. THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT ‘THE WORLD, AND MEANS IF WE WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD, WE START SY CHANGING WHAT'S, WITHIN OURSELVES. IF WE WANT TO RID THE WORLD OF POVERTY, WE NEED TO START BY REMOVING THE POVERTY OF LOVE IN OUR HEARTS. 27In the Qur'an "Behold! the angels said, 'Oh Mary! God gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him. His name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter, and in (the company of) those nearest to God. He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. He shall be (in the company) of the righteous... And God will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel” (3:45-48). And the servants of the Beneficent Allah are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address them, they say: Peace. (25:63) In the Traditions Prophet Jesus said, "My servant is my own two hands; my riding beast is my two feet, my bed is the earth, my pillow is a rock, my warmth in the winter is the east of the earth. I sleep and I do not possess anything, and I wake up and I do not possess anything, but there is no one on the face of this earth richer than me." The Prophet said "O Um Ayman! Did you not know that my brother Jesus never kept dinner for breakfast or breakfast for dinner? He would eat from the leaves of trees, drink from rainwater, wear hair-cloth, sleep whereever he was, and he would say, 'Every day comes with its own sustenance’ 28(© PROPHET MUHAMMAD WHO HAS GREATER RIGHT OVER ME? My MOTHER OR FATHER? HE REPLIED: MOTHER. (3) YOUR MOTHER Sof Coe Kel, é YOUR MOTHER "YOUR MOTHER [AND THEN YOUR FATHER" WHY DO You GIVE THE MOTHER THREE RIGHTS TO THE FATHER'S ONE? Ww WWW.VAKILORG THE PROPHET REPLIED: YOUR MOTHER CARRIED YOU FOR Fe Fe NINE MONTHS, AND GAVE BIRTH ‘OR YEARS SHE COOKED FOR YOU WHEN YOU WERE FED YOU, AND SERVED YOU FOOD 40, 50, 60 SHE Tow smut rottoweD sie cave ve vor wen suze \\ proctess suenieD vou Te aRRIED AND \ wwrenesr &\ denen 100 i — ‘SUPPOSE | CARRY HER ON My BACK FOR YEARS! COULD I REPAY HER FOR ALL THAT SHE'S, DONE FOR ME? = COOK & FEED HER Qn "NOT EVEN ONE NIGHT'S DuEr THE PROPHET SAID: “THERE WILL STILL BE ‘THIS DIFFERENCE: YOUR MOTHER LOOKED. FOR YOU TO LIVE, WHILE YOU ARE WAITING FOR HER TO DIES 29In the Quran And we have enjoined man in respect of his parents (31:14) ‘And that ye be kind to your parents, Say not to them (so much as) 'Fie’ nor chide them, but speak to them a generous word. (17:23) In the Traditions OGod, fill me with awe of my parents, the awe one has toward a tyrannical sovereign, and let me be devoted to them, with the devotion of a compassionate mother! Make my obedience and devotion to them more gladdening to my eyes than sleep to the drowsy and more refreshing to my breast than drink to the thirsty, so that I may prefer their inclination. to my inclination, set their satisfaction before my satisfaction, make much of their devotion to me though it be little, and make little of my devotion to them. though it be great. Excerpt of Supplication for his Parents by Imam Zainul Abideen 30HOW FAR cmmanauy IS HEAVEN? Su Contes 2 3 $ 2 z 2 31In the Qur'an But as for him who is awed to stand before his Lord and forbids the soul from (following) desires, his refuge will indeed be paradise. (79:40-41) In the Traditions The Prophet said, “The most courageous of people is he who overcomes his desires.” The Prophet said, “A strong person is not one who overcomes people, but a strong person is one who overcomes his own self.” Imam Ali said, “Prohibiting one’s self from desire is the greater Jihad.” Prophet Solomon said, “Someone who prevails over his desires is stronger than he who captures a city by himself.” 3233SpiritualityFOOD FOR THOUGHT Sh Cones heb hi "GOD HAS CREATED ‘SUSTENANCE. = FOR EVERY LIVING MAN IS FOOD FOR THE WORMS: CREATURE.. ~ A SAYING OF IMAM ALI CA) 35In the Qur'an Say (as for) the death from which you flee, that will surely overtake you, then you shall be sent back to the Knower of the unseen and the seen (62:8) In the Traditions The Holy Prophet said, "Remember the destroyer of pleasures." When asked what that was, he replied, "Death. Whenever one of Allah's servants remembers this when he is wealthy, this world is constricted for him. Whenever he remembers it in hardship, s expanded for him.” Imam Ali said "Wash the dead and your heart will be moved, for surely an empty body is a profound lesson" 36THE PIETY OF THe GREATEST AND MOST LOYAL COMPASIONS ABU DHAR AL-GHAFFARI ONCE He SPENT THE wHoLe _ NIGHT IN RUKU Soff Conies - (GENUFLECTION) kok é At OF THE PROPHET. HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS PIETY. /AMAN APPROACHED HIM AND ASKED. ‘© ABU DHAR (© ALLAH! IT WAS ‘YOUR RUKU THE NIGHT THAT WAS SO LONG wn WAS SO SHORT. ARTIST'S NOTES: SOMETIMES, WHEN I HAVE TO GO FOR PRAYER, T FEEL IT'S LIKE A CHORE. THEN I THINK TO MYSELF, DOES WORSHIPING GOD HAVE TO BE A BURDEN? CAN IT NOT BE A PLEASURABLE ACTIVITY THAT ONE LOOKS FORWARD TO? HOW IS IT THAT SOME PEOPLE LIKE ASU DHAR CAN SPEND A WHOLE NIGHT IN PRAYER? THEN I REALIZE THE PROSLEM IS IN THE WAY TM LOOKING AT PRAYER. HOW CAN ONE NOT LOOK FORWARD TO PRAYER, WHEN GOD INVITES YOU TO HIS DOMAIN IN. ‘THE DARK OF THE NIGHT TO HAVE A PRIVATE CONVERSATION? 37In the Qur'an And keep up prayer in the two parts of the day and in the first hours of the night (11:14) In the Traditions The Prophet said, "The most noble of my community are those who carry the Qur'an in their hearts, and those who stand in prayer at night.” The Prophet said, ‘Surely Allah will place light in the heart of the slave who retires with his Master in the deepest darkness of the night, conversing with Him in prayer; and if he says, "O Lord” then Allah will call out to him saying, "At your service, my slave: whatever you ask of Me, I will surely give you, and if you rely on Me then I will be enough for you.", Then He will say to the angles, "My angels, look at My slave - he retires alone with Me in the deepest darkness of the night while the misguided are playing and the negligent are sleeping. Bear witness that I have forgiven him." 38THE WORSHIP OF FREE MEN Sof Contes Al ¢ Ht 1100 NOT WoRSHIP GOD PROMPTED BY ‘THE FEAR OF BEING ‘THROWN INTO HELL BECAUSE SUCH IS ‘THE WORSHIP OF A SLAVE AMAN RECITES A PRAYER TAUGHT BY IMAM ALI 1100 NOT WoRHSIP GOD PROMPTED BY MY EAGERNESS TO ENTER HEAVEN BECAUSE SUCH IS ‘THE WORSHIP OF A MAN WHO IS WORKING FOR wages I WORSHIP GOD OUT OF MY LOVE FOR HIM, AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HE ALONE IS WORTHY OF THAT DEVOTION AND OBEDIENCE WHICH | GIVE HIM. THIS IS THE WORSHIP OF FREE AND NOBLE MEN. Aes ARTIST'S NOTES: THIS SAYING OF IMAM AL! (AS) HAS BEEN AN EYE OPENER FOR ME. AFTER READING IT, I REALIZED THAT HEAVEN & HELL ARE JUST INCENTIVES FOR US TO DO GOOD AND STAY AWAY FROM EVIL. THE REAL GOAL IS GOD HIMSELF. 39In the Qur'an And those who patiently persevere, seeking the pleasure of their Lord, and keep up prayer and spend (benevolently) out of what We have given them secretly and openly and repel evil with good; as for those, they shall have the (happy) issue of the abode (13:22) In the Traditions The Prophet said, "Man is with whom he loves. Whoever loves a bondsman in Allah, loves Allah. No one loves Allah except he whom Allah loves.” My God, were it not incumbent to accept Thy command, I would declare Thee far too exalted for me to remember Thee, for I remember Thee in my measure, not in Thy measure, and my scope can hardly reach the point where I may be a locus for calling Thee holy! Among Thy greatest favours to us is the running of Thy remembrance across our tongues and Thy permission to us to supplicate Thee, declare Thee exalted, and call Thee holy! Excerpt of the Whispered Prayer of the Rememberers by Imam Zainul Abideen 40WWW.VAKILORG - . FOLLOW ME HOW TO PRAY GOD NEVER ANSWERS TLL SHOW You MY PRAYERS! \ HOW GOD WILL TO GOD ) | answer your PRAYERS Su Contes teh, é At FIRST YOU HAVE TO WALK INTO THIS CAVE 0 MY Gop! es ote asa HEEEELP! ae peas THERE? (ON YOUR MIND? COULDNT THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN ASKING GOD TO IN THE SAME WAY PRAY TO GOD WITH HELP ME A CLEAR MIND AND AN ATTENTIVE HEART. YOUR PRAYERS WILL SE ANSWERED EITHER WITH YOUR REQUEST OR SOMETHING BETTER “AND WHEN My SERVANTS ASK YOU CONCERNING ME, THEN SURELY I AM VERY NEAR; T ANSWER THE PRAYER OF THE SUPPLICANT WHEN HE CALLS ON ME” ~ QURAN (2:186)In the Qur'an Woe to those who pray but who are unmindful of their prayers (107:4-5) Establish the prayer for My remembrance (20:14) Do not be amongst those who are unmindful (7205) In the Traditions The Prophet said, "Know that Allah does not answer supplication from a heedless and distracted heart." The Prophet said, "Seize the opportunity to supplicate during tenderness (of heart) for verily it is a mercy.” The Prophet said, "Whoever prays two cycles of prayer, and does not allow his mind to wander to the affairs of this world, will be forgiven for the wrong action he has committed earlier.” Imam Ali said, "Cajole your soul tactfully to worship, and be gentle with it and do not force it. Make allowances for both its weariness and its activity, except for the daily obligations that are incumbent upon it, for it must fulfil them and undertake them at their prescribed times." 42IMAM ALI ONCE SAW A DIGNIFIED DOCTOR SURROUNDED THE RECIPE = srecone oisiensne cures or U3 ron Hem FOR CURING ALL SINS Soff Contes teh ¢ At IMAM ALI ASKED HIM A SECOND TIME, AND THEN WHAT IS YOUR CURE FOR Stil ‘A THIRD TIME, THE DOCTOR REPLIED. BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE DESPAIRED (OF FINDING THAT CURE. MAY ALLAH BLESS YOU. DO ‘YOU KNOW OF THE CURE FOR SINS? YES HERE IT 1S. GO TO THE GARDEN THE ROOTS OF INTENTION, OF IMAN (FAITH & TRUST) THE GRAINS OF REPENTANCE, ‘AND EXTRACT FROM IT: ‘THE LEAVES OF REFLECTION. ‘THE FRUIT OF UNDERSTANDING, ‘THE GRANCES OF CERTAINTY, ‘THE KERNELS OF SINCERITY, ‘THE BARK OF DILIGENCE, ‘THE ROOTS OF TRUSTFUL DEPENDENCE, THE CALYX OF TAKING HEED ‘THE STEP OF RETURNING ‘TAKE ALL THESE REMEDIES WITH A KNOWLEDGEALE HEART AND FINGERS OF CONFIRMATION AND PALM OF ‘SUCCESS. THM PUT THEM ALL IN A BLOW OF REALIZATION ‘AND WASH THEM ALL WITH THE WATER OF TEARS. NEXT PLACE THEM IN THE POT OF HOPE AND SET IT ON THE FIRE OF YEARNING UNTIL YOU SEE THE CREAM OF WISDOM FLOAT UP. ‘THEN POUT THE CONTENTS ONTO PLATES OF CONTENTMENT, ‘AND COOL THEM WITH THE FAN OF SEEKING FORGIVENESS. THERE YOU WILL HAVE A PERFECT DRINK AS A PERFECT GIFT FROM ALLAH, GLORY GE TO HIM, WHICH WILL REMOVE ALL YOUR SINS.In the Qur'an Surely Allah loves those who turn much to Him (in repentance), and He loves those who purify themselves (2:222) But if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, they are your brethren in faith (9:11) In the Traditions The Prophet said, "Allah is more delighted when a slave turns to Him than when a man finds his riding-beast and provisions after they have gone astray during a dark night” The Prophet said, "There is nothing more beloved to Allah than a youth who turns to Him" Imam Ali said, "All good is contained in 3 things: your looking, your silence and your speech. Looking without reflection is negligence, silence without meditation is unmindfulness, and speech without remembrance is idle talk. Happiness will be theirs whose looking is a lesson, whose silence is meditation, whose speech is remembrance, who weep because of their mistakes and by whose hand people are safe from evil.” 44SECRETS OF PRAYER TAUGHT BY IMAM JAFAR SADIQ (AS) OPENING THE PRAYER WHEN YOU FACE THE QIBLAH, YOU ‘SHOULD DESPAIR OF THIS WORLD, WHAT IT CONTAINS OF CREATION AND WHAT OTHERS ARE OCCUPIED WITH, EMPTY YOUR HEART OF EVERY PREOCCUPATION WHICH MIGHT DISTRACT YOU FROM ALLAH. SEE THE IMMENSITY OF ALLAH WITH YOUR INNERMOST BEING, AND REMEMBER THAT YOU WILL STAND BEFORE HIM. KNOW THAT ALLAH DOES NOT NEED YOUR SERVICE. HE IS INDEPENDENT OF YOU, YOUR WORSHIP AND YOUR SUPPLICATION, PROSTRATION IN PRAYER ALLAH MADE PROSTRA~ TION THE OCCASION TO DRAW NEAR TO HIM IN ONE'S HEART, INNER~ MOST BEING AND SPIRIT. WHOEVER DRAWS NEAR TO HIM IS FAR FROM ALL THAT IS OTHER THAN HIM. DO YOU NOT SEE THAT IN ITS OUTWARD APPEARANCE THE STATE OF PROSTRATIONS IS NOT COMPLETE EXCEPT BY DISAPPEARING FROM ALL THINGS AND BEING VEILED FROM ALL THAT THE EYES SEE THUS DOES ALLAH WANT THE INWARD BEING TO BE. IF SOMEONE'S HEART IS ATTACHED TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN ALLAH IN PRAYER, HE IS NEAR TO THAT THING, AND FAR FROM THE REALITY OF WHAT ALLAH DESIRES IN HIS PRAYER. 45 Soft Contes - fel, & fl BOWING IN PRAYER THE BONDSMAN OF ALLAH DOES NOT TRULY BOW (IN RUKU") BUT THAT ALLAH ADORNS HIM WITH THE LIGHT OF HIS RADIANCE, SHADES HIM IN THE SHADE OF HIS GREATNESS AND CLOTHES HIM IN THE GARMENT OF HIS. PURITY. BOWING IS FIRST AND PROSTRATION (SUJUD) IS SECOND: THERE IS COURTESY IN BOWING, AND IN PROSTRATION NEARNESS TO ALLAH. WHOEVER IS NOT GOOD IN THE COURTESY IS NOT FIT FOR NEARNESS. SALAM (PEACE) THE MEANING OF THE TASLIM (OREETING OF PEACE) AT THE END OF THE PRAYER MEANS SECURITY, THAT IS, ANYONE 7 WHO CARRIES OUT THE COMMAND OF ALLAH AND THE SUNNAH OF HIS PROPHET , OUT OF HUMILITY TO HIM AND SHOWING FEAR, HAS SECURITY FROM THE TRIBUI- LATIONS OF THIS WORLD AND FREEDOM FROM THE PUNISH MENT OF THE NEXT WORLD. AL-SALAM (PEACE) IS ONE OF THE NAMES OF ALLAH, WHICH HE ENTRUSTED TO HIS CREATION SO THAT THEY WOULD MAKE USE OF IT IN THEIR BEHAVIOUR, TRUSTS AND CONTRACTS; IN CON- FIRMING THEIR COMPANIES AND ASSEMBLIES; AND FOR THE SOLINDNESS OF THEIR SOCIAL RELATIONS. wwow.vakil.orgIn the Qur'an When my servants ask you about Me, (tell them that) I am indeed most near. I answer the supplicant's call when he calls Me. So let them respond to Me, and let them have faith in Me, so that they may fare rightly. (2:186) In the Traditions My God, the uninterrupted flow of Thy graciousness hast distracted me from thanking Thee! The flood of Thy bounty has rendered me incapable of counting Thy praises! The succession of Thy kind acts has diverted me from mentioning Thee in laudation! The continuous rush of Thy benefits has thwarted me from spreading the news of Thy gentle favours! This is the station of him who confesses to the lavishness of favours, meets them with shortcomings, and witnesses to his own disregard and negligence. Thy favours are many - my understanding falls short of grasping them, not to speak of exhausting them! So how can I achieve thanksgiving? For my thanking Thee requires thanksgiving. Whenever I say, To Thee belongs praise!’ it becomes thereby incumbent upon me to say, ‘To Thee belongs praise’! Excerpt of the Whispered Prayer of the Thankful by Imam Zainul Abideen 46‘A WEALTHY MERCHANT INVITED A SLIFI SHEIKH THE POWER AND A DOCTOR FOR DINNER OF PRAYERS Su Contes www.vakil.org THE MERCHANT SAID... MY FRIEND, Z WILL SHEIKH! I FEEL GRIEF RECITE THE HOLY NAMES BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER See eee ee HAS FALLEN SERIOUSLY ‘CURE. HER, ILL, WOULD YOU PLEASE RECITE SOME PRAYERS FOR HER. HAHA WHAT NONSENSE! WITH SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS OF HEALING THESE OLD FASHIONED WAYS ARE HOLDING. BACK PROG- RESS. YOU DONKEY! WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE POWER OF PRAYERS! HOW DARE YOU CALL ME SUCH NAMES !!! PLEASE FORGIVE ME. BUT IF THE WORD DONKEY CAN TURN YOUR FACE RED, DILATE YOUR BLOOD VESSELS, MAKE YOUR HEART BEAT FASTER AND BOOST YOUR ADRENALINE LEVEL, SURELY THEN IT'S NOT NONSENSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE NAME OF OUR CREATOR CAN HAVE A HEALING EFFECT. 47In the Qur'an Say: call uopon Allah or call upon the Beneficent; whichever you call upon, He has the best names. (17:110) In the Traditions The Prophet said:"As for prayer, it is the essense of worship.” O He who gives to a servant who asks from Him, takes him to his wish when he expectantly hopes for what is with Him, brings him near and close when he approaches Him, covers over his sin and cloaks it when he shows it openly, and satisfies and suffices him when he has confidence in Him! Excerpt of The Whispered Prayer of the Thankful by Imam Zainul Abideen 482 5 S 2 IMAM RAZA DONATES HIS WEALTH TO THE NEEDY REAL WEALTH Sof Contes deb é he NOW YOU'VE ON THE CONTRARY! BECOME POOR! I AM NOW WEALTHIER THAN DO NOT CONSIDER TRADING MY WEALTH FOR GOD'S REWARDS AND. PLEASURE AS BEING POOR ARTIST'S NOTES: PHILOSOPHERS DEBATE WHAT THE FUNDAMENTAL NATURE OF REALITY IS. TF WE GELIEVE THAT THE MATERIAL WORLD IS ALL THAT EXISTS, THEN OUR VALUE SYSTEM IS BASED (ON MATERIAL OSJECTS. IF WE THINK DEEPLY, WELL SEE THAT THE MATERIAL WORLD IS ONLY A SHADOW OF THE REAL WORLD. IN THE REAL WORLD, WHAT REALLY MATTERS ARE DIVINE VALUES SUCH AS TRUTH, LOVE, PEACE AND GROWTH. GREAT LEADERS UNDERSTOOD THIS AND USED IT TO DRIVE POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE IN SPITE OF MATERIAL FORCES AGAINST THEM, 49In the Qur'an And whatever wealth you spend, it is for your own benefit (2:272) Those of you who have faith and spend (in Allah's way) there is a great reward for them (57,7) You will never attain piety until you spend out of what you hold dear, and whatever you may spend of anything Allah indeed knows it. (3:92) In the Traditions Imam Ali in his will to his son said, "You have in your world that with which you can reform your (eternal) abode, so spend rightfully and do not be a storage place for other's (dues)” 50WHEN PERFORMING WUDHU || _ AND HE WOULD SHIVER OUT ABLUTION), IMAM ZAINUL OF FEAR. |ABIDEEN'S FACE WOULD PREPARING TO | |cnanee cotor. MEET GOD Sol Contes kel é he OH IMAM, WHY is YOUR T’M PREPARING TO CONDITION SUCH ‘STAND BEFORE A TN WHOSE HAND 1S GLORIOUS AND DIVINE EMPEROR, WHO THE REWARD AND PUNISHMENT OF EVERYONE WHAT IS SO ‘SURPRISING THAT MY CONDITION 1S SUCH DUE TO HIS FEAR ARTIST'S NOTES: THE WUDHU (ASLUTION) IS OFTEN DONE AS A MINDLESS EXERCISE. SUT WHEN T RECALL THIS STORY IT BRINGS BACK MY ATTENTION TO THE ACT OF PERFORMING THE WUDHU. ‘THE PROPHET HAS SAID THAT ONE OF THE SECRETS TO BE ATTENTIVE IN PRAYER IS TO PERFORM ‘THE ABLUTION WITH AWARENESS, REMINDING OURSELVES WHOM WE ARE PREPARING TO APPROACH. 51In the Qur'an And keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and bow sown with those who bow down... And see assistance through patience and prayer, and most surely this is most difficult except for the humble ones. (2:43-45) In the Traditions My God, who is the one who has come before Thee seeking hospitality, and whom Thou hast not received hospitably? Who is the one who has dismounted at Thy door hoping for magnanimity, and to whom Thou hast not shown it? Is it good that I come back from Thy door, turned away in disappointment, while I know of no patron qualified by beneficence but Thee? How should I have hope in other than Thee, when the good - all of it - is in Thy hand? How should I expect from others, when Thine are the creation and the command? Should I cut off my hope for Thee, when Thou hast shown me of Thy bounty that for which I have not asked? Wouldst Thou make me have need for my like? But I hold fast to Thy cord! O He through whose mercy the strivers reach felicity Excerpt of the Whispered prayer of the Hopeful by Imam Zainul Abideen 52[A SULTAN WAS RIDING THROUGH THE COUNTRY. EVERYBODY A SLAVE!S Sows as THE SULTAN PASSED... EXCEPT FOR ONE MAN SLAVE Soh Cris ee he YOU ARE A SLAVE TO GREED & ANGER ‘A FREE MAN ‘SHOULD NOT BOW TOA ‘SLAVE I MADE THEM My SLAVES, AND BECAME FREE WWWVAKILORG 53In the Qur'an Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their prayers (23:1-2) In the Traditions God, bless Muhammad and his Household, delight my soul through Thy decree, expand my breast through the instances of Thy decision, give to me a trust through which I may admit that Thy decree runs only to the best, and let my gratitude to Thee for what Thou hast taken away from me be more abundant than my gratitude to Thee for what Thou hast conferred upon me! Preserve me from imagining any meanness in someone who is destitute or imagining any superiority in someone who possesses wealth, for the noble is he whom obedience to Thee has ennobled and the exalted is he whom worship of Thee has exalted! Excerpt of Supplication In Satisfaction with the Decree by Imam Zainul Abideen 54(0 WISE MEN OF My KINGDOM! CREATE FOR MEA SAYING THAT WILL STABILIZE MY INNER STATE STABILIZE THE INNER STATE Sof Conics Abe hi WWW.VAKILORG REMEMBER...IT CANNOT BE TOO. LONG, AS T WANT TO KEEP IT WITH ME, ALWAYS. Now Go! Ae RETURNED PRESENTING ‘A SMALL BOX — = CONTAINING A RING WITH THE INSCRIPTION wr Ny iy, ~tis too V2 Shall Pass SZ A fa 55In the Qur'an And verity in the remembrance of Allah do the hearts find rest (13:28) In the Traditions Imam Ali said, "I searched for wealth and I did not find it other than through contentment. Adhere to contentment and you will become rich." Imam Al-Hadi said, "The thankful person prospers more as a result of his thanks than as a result of the bounty which incited the thanks, because bounties are sources of delight (in this world), whereas to thank brings bounties in this world and the hereafter.” 56WHERE DOES Suh Cares WISDOM : come Frome 64 # WWW.VAKILORG A PLANT THAT GROWS = DOES NOT GROW ON A. ON A SMOOTH LEVELLED LAND. "HARD ROCKY PLACE THE SAME GOES FOR AND DOES NOT WISDOM as IT GROWS IN Caer ‘THE HUMBLE HEART... ARROGANT HEART FOR ALLAH HAS. MADE HUMILITY A TOOL FOR THE INTELLECT AND MADE ARROGANCE A TOOL FOR THE IGNORANT A SAYING OF IMAM MUSA AL-KADHIM (AS)In the Qur'an Indeed, those who are near your Lord are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, and they exalt Him, and to Him they prostrate. (7206) In the Traditions The Prophet said to some of his companions, Why is it that I do not see sweetness in your worship?’ When they asked him what sweetness of worship was, he replied, ‘Humility’ The Prophet said, "Good fortune is theirs who are humble - but not through poverty, who spend of their wealth which they have gained lawfully, who have mercy on the abased and poor and who keep company with the scholars of law and the wise.” 58Ca RC oR SRR ld) WHERE |S GOD'S © GOD! ALL KINGS WHERE IS TREASURE ? POSSESS TREASURES polaSal SN ar ang GOD REPLIED: eee ; Padua er SR pt S12) Be a cat OR ee reed ITS EARTH IS ENLIGHTENMENT feeeae an) ag oie Rey 4 Pee al Ue Retr Cac Teese: ayo Cee Rea eel) My TREASURE HAS FOUR DOORS: 1 KNOWLEDGE, CONTENTMENT UR i My TREASURE IS THE HEART OF THE BELIEVER! TTT SSIn the Qur'an “Most surely there is a reminder in this for him who has a heart or listens while he is present (50:37) "And truly he (David) has an intimacy with Us and a good resting place" (38:25) In the Traditions The Prophet (AS) said, "Allah, most High, has receptacles on the earth, and verily they are the hearts. The most beloved of hearts to Allah are the softest ones, the purest ones, and the firmest ones: those that are the softest to their brothers, those that are the most pure from sins, and those that are the firmest in the path of Allah Imam Ali said, "Tears only dry up (ie. fail to flow) as a result of hardness of the heart, and the hearts only harden as a result of frequent sinning. When a person complained to the Prophet about the hardness of his own heart, the Prophet replied "If you want your heart to soften, feed the needy and stroke the head of orphans." Imam al-Jawad said, Seeking Allah with the hearts is more effective than tiring the limbs with actions" 60AL-HAMDU= _TSiTH CENTURY BAGHDAD, (0 SHAYKH! YOUR SHIP SHAYKH ABDUL GADIR TAKES EREIG ECODS RoRCSS CLASS IN A MADRASSA. SEA HAS SUNK. NOTHING LILLAH SOMEONE EXCLAIMS... HAS REMAINED !! Soff Contes hE ke aNd WWW.VAKILORG (© SHAYKH, | BRING GOOD NEWS THAT YOUR SHIP IS SAFE ! 3k AL-HAMDU-LILLAH (ALL PRAISE BELONGS TO GOD) WHEN T HEARD My SHIP HAD SUNK, I SEARCHED IN MYSELF IF T FELT TAT GRIEVED BECAUSE OF THE NEWS. m : WE UNDERSTOOD. T PRAISED GODSTHAT I WAS NOT, T SEARCHED IN MYSELF WHY YOU PRAISED IF TWAS OVER JOYED. GOD WHEN You HEARD THE GOOD. NEWS. guT WHAT IS THE REASON FOR PRAISING GOD WHEN YOU HEARD YOUR SHIP SUNK?, AND | PRAISED. GOD THAT | WAS NOT Ag ee Hb Be ee See SUT Wheat Ve ANE de eo LEN SO THAT YOU MAY NOT GRIEVE FOR WHAT HAS ESCAPED YOU, NOR BE EXULTANT AT WHAT HE HAS GIVEN YOU (QURAN 57:23)In the Qur'an So that you may not grieve for what has escaped you, nor be exultant at what he has given you (57:23) In the Traditions The Prophet said, “Contentment is a wealth that never dries up”, and “Contentment is an inexhaustible treasure.” Imam Jafar said, “Be patient in what befalls you, for this indeed is one of the greatest tasks.” 62WWW.VAKILORG THE MEANING OF LOVE Suh Contes feb d hi 0 BELOVED...vy Love FoR You HAS CONSUMED ME COMPLETELY. IT IS UNDYING AND FOREVER IVE GEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT FOR SO LONG... NOW'S MY CHANCE ‘YOUR WORDS ARE LOVELY, BUT MY SISTER IS COMING DOWN BEHIND You. ‘SHE IS FAR MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN TAM. DIDN'T YOU SAY YOUR LOVE FOR ME WAS ALL CONSUMING AND UNDYING? THE INSTANT I MENTIONED A MORE BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, YOU TURNED ‘AWAY TO LOOK AT HER. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOw THE MEANING OF LOVE 63In the Qur'an And spend in the way of Allah and cast not yourselves to perdition with your own hands, and do good (to others); surely Allah loves the doers of good. (2:195) In the Traditions sion of the innermost Imam Jafar said "When love of Allah takes pos being of Allah's bondsman, it empties him of every preoccupation except remembrance of Allah. The lover is the most inwardly sincere of all people for Allah. He is the most truthful in his words, the most faithful in his pledge, the most astute in his actions, the purest in remembrance, and the greatest in devoting his self in worship” Imam Ali said "Love of Allah is a fire which does not pass by anything without burning it up; the light of Allah does not come over something without illuminating it” 6465PhilosophyPsst! SH Ome | esse Me The erry THE BLIND ASTRONOMER ‘SiR, SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU SEEN BLIND? | i) G x = SUNS) x MOONS AND YOU THINK YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A TINY ENTITY, YET WRAPPED UP INSIDE YOU 's THe GREATEST UNIVERSE ~ IMAM ALI WWW.VAKILORG 67In the Qur'an Do they not reflect within themselves? Quran (30:8) Certainly We created man in the best make. (95:4) In the Traditions Prophet Muhmmad said, “Whoever knows himself knows his Lord” Imam Ali said: Your sickness is within you, though you do not realize And your cure is within, yet you do not see You claim that you are nothing but a tiny entity Yet wrapped up inside of you is the greatest universe You are the clear book, through whose letters Alll that is secret is revealed and made known. So you have no need for anything outside of you Your consciousness is within you, though you do not know 68WWW.VAKILORG IS THE WORLD AN EVIL PLACEP YOU MAY BE DECEIVED y THE WORLD. BUT THE worLD DOESNT DECEIVE ANYONE ~ PLACE OF WORSHIP FOR ‘THE FRIENDS OF GOD Nc OE ITe Cea IT'S A PLACE OF CRIMES YOU MAY HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME. ~ BUT THE WORLD DOESN'T COMMIT A cRIME AGAINST you IMAM ALI (’A) CONTINUED: THE WORLD ISA... — PLACE OF PRAYER FOR THE ANGELS OF GOD AIS) \) ("“ AND FULL OF DISHONESTY = BUT THE WORLD IS HONEST WITH WHOSOEVER DEALS WITH IT HONESTLY ~ A TRADING PLACE FOR ‘THE LOVERS OF GODIn the Qur'an And He has made subservient to you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, all from Himself, most surely there are signs in this for people who reflect (45:13) In the Traditions The Prophet said, “Do not insult the world for it is the best mount for the believer, because by means of it he attains good and through it he is saved from evil.” 70(0 IMAM! WHICH OF MY ACTIONS ARE SY FREE WILL OR MY FREE WILL AND WHICH ARE PRE-DESTINED? PRE-DESTINATION Soff Conies eh ke LUFT YOUR RIGHT LEG THATS, FREEWILL 71In the Qur'an And Allah has created you and what you make (37:96) He said: Our Lord is He Who gave to everything its creation, then guided it (to its goal). (2050) In the Traditions A person asked Imam Ali whether man has the power to exercise free will or not. If he has the power to do things, then how is it possible to say that there is no power nor help but from Allah? ‘ou have ability by the Will of Allah, while He has it independently. If He endows you with it, that is His favour. The Imam said: If He takes it away from you, that means He is testing you. In any case, you should remember that whatever He bestows on you, He is still its owner. If He enables you to do a thing, that thing is still within His power”. 72ANSWERING 3 THERE ARE 3 TEACHINGS I DO NOT AGREE WITH MY QUESTIONS TEACHER, IMAM JAFAR... WITH 1 BRICK Sof Contes ‘www.vakilorg deb é Ht 1. GOD CAN NEVER BE SEEN. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? 2. SINCE SATAN IS MADE OF FIRE, HOW CAN HE FEEL ANY PAIN IN HELL-FIRE? 3. IF GOD IS IN CONTROL OF MAN’S DESTINY, WHY SHOULD MAN BE PUNISHED FOR SINS? I ACCUSE BAHLOOL TS THIS TRUE LWAS JUST ANSWERING ‘OF WRONGFULLY BAHLOOL? THE QUESTIONS HE INJURING ME! I WANT JUSTICE THIS MAN CLAIMS THAT IF GOD IS THERE, THEN HE MUST BE SEEN. HE IS NOW COMPLAINING OF PAIN. JUST AS PAIN CAN BE THERE WITHOUT BEING SEEN GOD ALSO EXISTS WITHOUT BEING HE IS MADE OUT OF CLAY AND THIS BRICK WITH WHICH I HIT HIS HEAD IS ALSO MADE OUT OF CLAY, IF CLAY CAN INFLICT PAIN AND HURT CLAY, WHY CAN'T FIRE DO THE SAME TO FIRE? LASTLY, WHY DOES HE WANT JUSTICE FROM YOU? HE MIGHT AS WELL TRANSFER THE PUNISHMENT TO GOD WHO, ACCORD- ING TO HIM ~ IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE ACTIONS OF MAN. 73In the Qur'an He grants wisdom to whom He pleases, and whoever is granted wisdom, he indeed is given a great good and none but men of understanding mind. (2:269) In the Traditions The Prophet said, "The very basis of man is his intellect, and the man devoid of intellect has no religion.” Imam Al-Kadhim in his advice to Hisham, "O Hisham, nothing has been bestowed upon the servants better than the intellect. The sleep of a man of intellect is better than the night vigil of an ignorant man. Every single Prophet that Allah has sent down has been a man of intellect, whose intellect supersedes the labour of all diligent workers. The servant is not considered as having fulfilled an obligatory act from among the acts made incumbent by Allah until he understands it” 74DIVIDING 17 CAMELS BETWEEN 3 PEOPLE Sof Contes hob ¢ ft ‘OUR FATHER HAS ASKED TO DIVIDE 17 CAMELS BETWEEN THE 3 OF US IN A WAY THAT IS IMPOSSISLE THE ELDEST SON GETS 1/2 OF 18 =7 ‘THE SECOND ONE GETS 1/3 OF I8 = 6 ‘THE YOUNGEST GETS 1/7 OF IB = 2 NOW THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CAMELS = 17 (94642) NOW I WILL TAKE MY CAMEL BACK. My Will HAVE I7 CAMELS AND 3 SONS. DIVIDE MY CAMELS IN SUCH A WAY THAT: My ELDEST SON GETS HALF OF THE TOTAL MY SECOND SON GETS A THIRD OF THE TOTAL MY YOUNGEST SON GETS ONE-NINTH OF THE TOTAL. TVE HEARD OF IMAM ALIS BRILLIANCE, HE'S THE ONLY MAN IN ARABIA WHO CAN HELP US ‘AND THEY EXPLAIN TO HIM THEIR PROBLEM... (OK, | WILL LEND ONE OF MY CAMELS. ‘TO THE TOTAL WHICH MAKES IT 18, NOW LETS DIVIDE AS PER HIS WILL, ‘© IMAM, YOU ARE ‘TRULY BRILLIANT! I HAVE NOT : wr )In the Qur'an Allah commands you that when you judge between people you judge with justice (4:58) In the Traditions Imam Jafar has said, “The proof of the man of intellect lies in two things: truthful words and correct actions. The man of intellect does not say something which the intellect rejects, neither does he expose himself to suspicion, nor abandon the help of those who have been tested. Knowledge guides him in his actions; gnosis is his certainty in the paths he treads, and forbearance is his companion at all times.” 76WWW.VAKILORG HARUN RASHID ONCE MET BAHLOOL THE WISE. A VISIT WHERE ARE YOU QUST CAME COMING FROM IN BACK FR TO HELL THIS STATE? “HELL! Soff Contes teh ¢ At FIRE WAS NEEDED SO IT THOUGHT OF GOING TO HELL = TO ASK IF THEY COULD SPARE A LITTLE TASKED ISN'T HELL. A PLACE ‘THERE REALLY OF FIRE?" 1S NO FIRE DOWN HERE .. ~~ BECAUSE EVERYONE BRINGS HIS OWN FIRE WHEN HE COMES I" BUT THE FELLOW IN CHARGE SAID ‘THERE'S NO FIRE Pears LO Ras Toler uae SEEIT POT a ero 4 OPN aac aa me BaaIn the Qur'an So. he who has done an atom's weight of good shall see it. And he who has done an atom's weight of evil shall see it. (99:7-8) In the Traditions Imam Ja'far was asked the meaning of Allah’s words, ‘(In order) that He may try you - which of you is best in deed, (67:2) and he answered, “this does not mean the greatest number of deeds, but rather the most correct deeds: truly, correctness comes from fear of Allah and a good and sincere intention. Perseverance in a deed until one finishes it is the hardest of deeds. A sincere deed is one for which you want no one’s praise but Allah’s; indeed the intention is better than the deed itself, rather, the intention is a deed.’ The he read Allah’s word, * Say: everyone acts according to his manner,’ (17:84) and explained it as meaning, ‘according to his intention’. ARTIST'S NOTES: HEAVEN & HELL ARE NOT JUST SOMETHING AWAITING US IN THE AFTERLIFE - THEY ARE SOMETHING WE ARE CREATING FOR OURSELVES IN THE PRESENT LIFE AS WELL. WE CREATE OUR HEAVEN & HELL AS WE MAKE OUR CHOICES BETWEEN ACTIONS THAT EITHER PROMOTE OR RESTRICT OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH. THE CLOSER WE MOVE TOWARDS GOD, THE CLOSER WE COME TO HEAVEN, AND THE GREATER WE DISTANCE OURSELVES FROM GOD, THE GREATER WE NEAR OURSELVES TO HELL. 78THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAw/) ADVISED HIS PEOPLE: KEY TO KNOWLEDGE IS A THE KEY TO WHICH KNOWLEDGE TREASURE! 1S THE. Sof Conjes heb é Me WWW.VAKILORG QUESTION SO ASK AND ALLAH WILL HAVE MERCY ON you FOR VERILY FOUR PEOPLE ARE REWARDED... THE SPEAKER My LORD! INCREASE ME IN MY KNOWLEDGE ~ QURAN (20: II4)In the Qur'an Say: Are those who know equal to those who do not know? Only those who possess intellect take admonition (39:9) In the Traditions The Prophet said, "The quest for knowledge is incumbent upon ever Muslim, by virtue of it the Lord is obeyed and worshipped, consanguinal relations are maintained, and the lawful is distinguished from the prohibited. Knowledge leads to action and action follows it. The fortunate ones are inspired by it whereas the wretched ones are deprived of it.” Imam Ali said, "Knowledge is better than wealth, for knowledge guards you while you guard wealth, and wealth is reduced by spending, whereas knowledge increases by spending it, and any good produced by wealth (respect and honour) ceases when it ceases to exist.” Imam Ali said, The scholar is alive even when he is dead, whereas the ignorant man is dead even though he may be alive." The Prophet said, "An hour spent by a knowledgeable man lying on his bed thinking about his deeds is better than seventy years spent by the worshiper performing acts of worship.” 80NO WE THINK PROBLEMS ARE PROBLEMS CAN BECOME A BAD, BUT PROBLEMS CAN MEANS FOR THE ATTRIBUTES PROBLEM! — 26000 THING. OF ALLAH To REAVEAL IF WE CAN CHANGE OUR ‘THROUGH US INTO THIS WORLD PERSPECTIVE. Soff Contes PROBLEM ‘ — si! Aol é At i yi! 9SN/IHL GOOD of a WWW.VAKILORG WHEN YOU SEE POVERTY jus 344, WHEN SOMEONE HAS GIVE CHARITY TO ¥ a) - DONE SOMETHING SUSTAIN THE POOR, ig a) > ‘To HURT you, v FORGIVE THEM. THE SUSTAINER WHEN YOURE FEELING WHEN YOU SEE DEPRESSED, secome —® INJUSTICE IN THIS ‘APPRECIATIVE OF - WORLD, BECOME A. ‘ALLAH'S GOUNTIES FORCE OF JUSTICE THE NEXT TIME YOURE AND ASK WHICH OF THE USE THESE ATTRIBUTES FACED WITH APROSLEM. ATTRIBUTES OF ALLAH NEED AS ANTIDOTES FOR THE LOOK AT THe PROBLEM To MANIFEST IN THIS PROBLEM, BY MEDITATING FROM GOD'S SITUATION ON THEIR MEANINGS.. PERSPECTIVE x PROBLEM = E GOOD THING . : = AND THEN BY TAKING ACTION!In the Qur'an Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere (2:155) In the Traditions The Prophet said, "When Allah loves a servant He tests him with tribulations, and if he endures these He selects him (for His Proximity), and if he bears them with satisfaction, He distinguishes him (ahigher status)" ARTIST'S NOTES: THIS HAS TO BE MY FAVORITE SUFI COMIC. HOW DOES SPIRITUAL PRACTICE & OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD HELP US TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS IN OUR DAILY LIVES? THE ANSWER ISIN THIS COMIC. 8283Existence of Godele Mla). Uw cTolordIn the Qur'an And your god is one God! There is no god but He; He is the Beneficent the Merciful (2:163) In the Traditions ‘The Prophet has said: "Truly Allah resembles no ‘thing’ and no ‘thing’ resembles Him; everything which enters one's imagination concerning Him is a misinterpretation." A man asked the Prophet, "O Muhammad, describe for me thy Lord.” The Prophet answered,Surely the Creator cannot be described except by that with which He has described Himself-and how should one describe that Creator whom the senses cannot perceive, imaginations cannot attain, thoughts cannot delimit and sight cannot encompass? Greater is He than what the depictors describe. He is distant in His nearness and near in His distance. He fashions ‘howness', so it is not said of Him, 'How?; He determines the 'where, so it is not said of Him, Where ?. He sunders 'howness' and 'whereness, so He is "One... the Everlasting Refuge" (112: -2), as He has described Himself. But depictors do not attain to His description. 'He has not begotten, and has not been begotten, and equal to Him is not any one' (1123-4). 86‘HMM... I'M GOING TO PUT MUD AND WATER IN A BOTTLE I AM THE FOR WORMS TO GROW. CREATOR 7 AT MERA Sof Corer fob é CANNOT REFUTE! O IMAM JAFAR —— I AM THE CREATOR WHEN NEITHER YOU HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THEM, NOR ANY CONTROL OVER THEM, THEN HOW CAN YOU BE THEIR CREATOR? 87In the Qur'an Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were joined together as one united piece, then We parted them? And We have made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe? (21:30) In the Traditions Imam Ja’ far was asked by Mufaddal “O my master, there is a group of people that claim that this (creation) is the doing of nature (itself)’, the Imam said, "Ask them about this nature, does it have knowledge and power to carry out such actions (as creation) or not? For if they answer that it has knowledge and power, then what is preventing them from acknowledging the existence of a creator? For verily, this is His creation. If they claim that nature does these actions without knowledge or without purpose while having witnessed the exactness and wisdom therein, it is (obviously) known that this is the work of a very wise creator, and what they have called ‘nature’ is the very system running through creation.” 88EVIDENCE OF THE CREATOR Sul Contes ‘www.vakilorg w= THAT A CAMEL HAS PASSED yAY LOOK AT THIS GRAND LINIVERSE! WITH ALL IT'S CREATURES... O IMAM ALI, WHAT. EVIDENCE IS THERE OF AN ALMIGHTY THE FECES OF A CAMEL LEADS ONE TO BELIEVE... INDICATES A MAN HAS TREKED ON THE PATH BOTH BIG... IT IS EVIDENCEIn the Qur'an Verily in the heavens and the earth are Signs for those who believe. And in your (own) creation and in what He spreads abroad of animals there are signs for a people that are sure; And (in) the variation of the night and the day, and (in) what Allah sends down of sustenance from the clouds, then gives life thereby to the earth after its death, and (in) the changing of the winds, there are signs for a people who understand. (45: 3-5) In the Traditions Imam Ali sai "Wonder at man, who observes with a ball of fat (the eye), who talks with a lump of flesh (the tongue), who listens by means of a bone (the inner ear) and breathes through a hole in the flesh (the nose).” Imam Jafar said “Consider the universe together with its sun, moon, stars and Zodiac, which revolve perpetually in accordance with a definite decree and judgement to bring about numerous benefits to the denizens of the earth, variegated animal and vegetable kingdoms through the changes in the four seasons, the days and nights, which have been expatiated to you. Can any man with a discerning mind think that such regulated plan and design on which depend the ition of the universe, can come about without the order and organi: Omniscient Designer? If someone says that mere chance has brought this about, why does he not say that same thing in connection with the Persian-wheel which he sees revolving, irrigating a garden planted with trees and vegetation? He sees all its component parts manufactured according to a definite plan, each part coupled with the other on a pattern to serve the needs of the garden and its contents.” 90CAN | SEE GOD? ABTS | WOULD LKE To See HIM Soff Contes keh ¢ At ‘wnew.vakil org TAKE A LOOK IF 1 Look AT THEN HOW CAN YOU SEE You HAVE AT THE SUN THE SUN, TLL GOD IF YOU CAN'T EVEN SPOKEN GO BLIND SEE THE CREATION OF GOD WISELY 91In the Qur'an Say: He, Allah is One. Allah is He upon whom all depend. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And none is like unto Him (112:1-4) In the Traditions Imam Ali was asked by one of his companions, Dhilib al-Yamani, ‘Have you seen your Lord? The Imam replied, T would not worship a Lord whom I have not seen’ He was then asked, "How did you see Him?’ The Imam replied, The eyes cannot see Him according to outward vision; rather, it is the hearts that perceive Him, through the verities of faith. 92References for Traditions: Prophetic Traditions in Islam A collection of Traditions from the Prophet Muhammad and the Ahlyl Bayt. The narrations are arranged according to topics. Compiled by: Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri Publisher: Muhammadi Trust Nahjul Balagha A collection of Sermons, Letters and Sayings left as a memorial from Imam Ali (as). Compiled by: Syed Radi Publisher: Tahrike Tarsile Quran Sahife Sajjadiya (Pslams of Islam) The oldest prayer manual in Islamic sources and one of the most seminal works of Islamic spirituality of the early period. It was composed by the Prophet's great grandson, ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, known as Zayn al-’Abidin. Translated by: William Chittick Publisher: Muhammadi Trust Lantern of the Path A collection of sayings by Imam Jafar Sadiq on knowledge, behaviour remembrance, prayer and fear of God. ‘Translated by: Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri Publisher: Muhammadi Trust Mizan Al-Hikmah (The Scale of Wisdom) A collection of traditions by the Prophet & the Ahlul Bayt, covering almost 2000 topics. Collection complied by M Muhammadi Rayshahri Translated by: N Virjee, A Kadhim, M Bozorgi, Z Alsalami,A Virjee Publisher: ICAS Press 939495