Religious Upbringing and Family

The hadith, “Just as men like to see their women adorned and well-groomed, women too like to see men adorned and well-groomed,” means that men, like women, should guard their adornment from the eyes of unrelated members of the opposite sex and observe modesty, chastity, and decorum. Any form of grooming that puts a man on display before unrelated women is blameworthy and may give rise to sin in the heart.

Managing a home is a first step toward managing the world, and the Creator of the universe entrusts people with responsibilities according to their abilities. By understanding our duties in this world, we can hasten the growth of our souls and see managing a home not as an obligation, but as a class and a test.

Fasting and staying up at night become futile and wasted when they are not guided by reason and merely burden the body. Worship without reason is lifeless; only the discerning can free themselves from these hardships through reflection.

In response to the question of whether Prophet Noah fell short in raising his son, this text explains that responsibility for upbringing is shared, and that parents cannot be held entirely to blame. A person’s own role and choices matter too.

To help a three-and-a-half-year-old child start speaking, gentle massage from the crown of the head to the fingertips is recommended, along with washing the head and neck with marshmallow-flower infusion after bathing. Other suggestions include using natural fragrances such as musk, esfand and frankincense; stimulating the sense of smell with garlic; applying violet oil to the nose; and reciting Quranic verses and the call to prayer.

Praying at the earliest prescribed time brings countless benefits and blessings. Yet if we pray solely for those benefits, we may lose sight of the true purpose: nearness to God and the meeting with Him. Any aim in prayer other than drawing near to God diminishes its sincerity and may even amount to associating partners with Him. Sincere intention for God is the foundation of prayer and the key to its acceptance.

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.

You can tell your uncle that you love your mother and don’t mistreat her, and ask him not to say that anymore. You respect your parents, as God has commanded, and God Almighty watches over our actions. We do not go against His commands.

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.

If you regret what you have done, turn to God in repentance, and resolve not to repeat your mistake, you will find the Imam of Our Time more compassionate than ever and receive his attention. He is always aware of our deeds; when we repent and feel remorse, the door to his mercy opens to us.

The way you pray—trying to mention everyone by name and asking God to include those you have forgotten—is one of the finest and most thoughtful ways to pray. The angels, too, will pray for you. Your prayer is wise and will be accepted.

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.

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.

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.

Yes. The practices recommended for the Fortress of Well-Being may be performed on behalf of others—especially those unable to do them because of illness, old age, or lack of awareness. Each person should do what they are able, while those who support people in need will earn an additional reward.

For a pregnant woman who is anxious and worried about coronavirus, the supplication of Imam Jaʿfar al-Sadiq (AS) and the invocation «أعوذ بعزه الله و أعوذ بقدره الله...» are recommended. In this supplication, one seeks refuge with God from fearing anyone but Him, and asks Him to make one fear only Him, so that other fears may be overcome.

Using perfume on children and adolescents calls for care, both because they are vulnerable to people with bad intentions and because stimulating fragrances may pose specific risks, such as premature puberty. Further research and a more detailed discussion of the subject will have to wait until a later date.