Ethics and Spirituality

The Munajat Sha‘baniyya and all fifteen whispered prayers are recommended for attaining the fullest expression of servitude to God and deepening one’s devotion. These prayers ask for nearness to God, love, knowledge of Him, freedom from sin, and attainment of the station of «قاب قوسین او ادنی». They beseech God to place the light of love and knowledge in our hearts and remove the love of this world.

To increase our capacity for devotion and worship, we should draw closer to Almighty God and seek His favor through the Ahl al-Bayt (AS). The sacred Name “Al-Wāsiʿ” (the All-Embracing) and its manifestations expand our being. Serving God’s servants and holding fast to Him with steadfastness, love and spiritual insight are also ways to enlarge the soul and one’s inner capacity.

We can come to understand the true meaning of “موتوا قبل ان تموتوا” by loosening our attachment to material things and our love of this world. Through God-consciousness and reflection on the verses of the Quran, we can gain insight into the realms beyond death and experience Paradise and Hell.

Your courage and good sense in encouraging what is right and discouraging what is wrong helped defend God’s religion. You followed the example of the prophets and God’s chosen servants, and brought joy to God. Don’t be upset or disheartened by the reactions of ignorant people.

You did very well to encourage what is right and discourage what is wrong on the plane. You handled the situation wisely and helped the young woman see her mistake. You defended God’s religion in the best possible way, and God is pleased with what you did. Your parents also deserve praise.

Excessive generosity is not commendable; giving should be thoughtful and guided by good judgment. In this case, I should have consulted my parents before giving away the potted plant. No one can be pressured into giving something away through words alone.

In broad terms, the duties of a religious and Qur’anic preacher are like those of the prophets and the friends of God. Whoever holds fast to the Qur’an and the Prophet’s Household will find their duties unfolding smoothly and will benefit from divine guidance along the way.

Even if we know that the person doing wrong is aware of the ruling, we must still enjoin what is right, since this means calling them to refrain from wrongdoing or to do what is good. If the person is unaware of the ruling, the matter takes the form of a reminder; once informed, they know the ruling and are then obligated to act or refrain accordingly. In either case, this duty must be carried out.

Imam Ali’s (AS) hadith refers to speaking without verification or certainty, whether something has been heard or read. What matters is having confidence in the reliability of the source, whether that source is a person or a written text. Sharpening one’s discernment, paying close attention to reports, and reflecting deeply on them are valuable aids in judging their reliability.

If enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong is established as a duty, and the person knows they will be mocked for fulfilling it, they should bear that mockery for God’s sake. Such patience brings a double reward and makes them like the great prophets, who were not spared mockery by their own people.

A lack of planning or a regular schedule, failing to make the night prayer a priority, excessive fatigue, and energy drained by other commitments can all keep us from this act of worship. Sometimes, too, a person may be deprived of it as a consequence of a particular action. At other times, divine kindness may temporarily withhold this opportunity to protect someone from self-conceit and pride, so that they return to the night prayer with greater longing.

The night prayer allows a person to benefit from its effects even at the moment of meeting the Angel of Death, for it inspires compassion, love, and kindness toward them. Its effects smooth the Angel of Death’s passage when a person’s appointed time arrives.

Constructive criticism between spouses, when offered with love and good intentions and with the aim of encouraging what is right and discouraging what is wrong, can strengthen affection and kindness between them and have remarkable effects.

During quarantine, when we are apart from those around us, enjoining good and forbidding wrong should begin with ourselves. Through self-examination, revisiting our beliefs in the fundamental principles of religion, seeking solitude with God, repentance and turning back to Him, and completing a reading of the Qur’an and the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt, let us reform ourselves before turning to others.

Shaykh Jaʿfar Kashif al-Ghita did not divorce his bad-tempered wife because he believed that being beaten by her kept his lower self in check and prevented him from becoming arrogant on account of his scholarly and social standing. He regarded her mistreatment as a divine blessing that helped him watch over his soul and guard against pride, and met it with gracious patience.

When forbidding wrong may lead to physical confrontation and life-threatening harm, such as death or serious injury, we must weigh the value of the act against its cost. If giving one’s life for God’s pleasure, keeping the faith alive, awakening heedless hearts, and guiding them is worth such a sacrifice, then taking this stand is commendable.

Dreams are not merely products of the unconscious and everyday events. In sleep, the human spirit takes flight and may travel to higher realms. Mental faculties account for only part of what the spirit receives; the spiritual journey of the mystics goes beyond them and is connected to higher sources.

Wishing for death because of the oppression of religion and the sight of injustice has a religious basis and reflects pain and love for the beloved. Like Mary’s (SA) wish to die amid the hardship of childbirth, or Imam Ali’s (AS) grief at being parted from the Prophet (PBUH) and Fatima al-Zahra (SA), this wish expresses the depth of one’s suffering and devotion to the truth.

Although the virtual world is virtual, it has real effects and consequences, and it should not lead us to be lax about sensitive matters. The presence of Satan in this space is a serious concern, and its dangers should not be underestimated. Inappropriate images and speech are more widespread here; this space has become a major arena for Satan’s victories.

Using a male name online can serve as a form of covering and hijab, provided the necessary ethical guidelines are observed and men do not initiate private conversations through the profile. Simply changing one’s appearance and name does not lessen one’s religious obligations; Islamic principles must still be upheld.