Theology and Creed

Religion is the constitution of ethics and humanity, while ethics and humanity are the soul of the divinely revealed religions. Human nature inspires us to follow the path of truth, which remains ever present in the human heart. The geography of Palestine is not what makes someone Jewish, and every religion can be found throughout the world. If we study the Qur’an with sincere intent, we will find it bearing witness to this truth.

There is nothing wrong with turning to others for help with our ordinary worldly needs, provided we understand that they are means through which things come about and are themselves in need of God. Asking them for help must not become worship or supplication; we should recognise the limits of their abilities and not regard them as healers in their own right.

The existence of the Hereafter can be established through rational and Quranic arguments. Rational arguments include the instinct for survival, sleep and wakefulness, the renewal of nature, and the course of the universe. The Quranic verses also explicitly affirm resurrection, the reward of the righteous in Paradise, and the punishment of the disbelievers in Hell, and describe them as everlasting.

Describing Paradise with material blessings such as gold and pearls is a way of appealing to hearts drawn to worldly things, while reminding us of the far greater and unimaginable delights of the hereafter. In Paradise, these blessings bring a joy beyond the fleeting pleasures of this world, and serve as good news for those who worship God in hope of reward. Yet the greatest blessing is God’s good pleasure.

The scope of each being’s freedom of choice determines the extent of its duties and mission, and God has equipped every being with what it needs to fulfil that mission. In light of the verse «لا یکلف الله نفسا إلا وسعها», no one will have an excuse for falling short in carrying out their mission.

God created all beings with wisdom. Animals have found different ways to meet their needs, while some, by overstepping divine limits, have become enslaved to their appetites and desires. They have turned a beautiful, measured way of meeting their needs into a harsh and difficult one.

In Islam, hijab is a covenant of devotion to God, an ongoing act of worship, and a banner of divine love. By observing hijab, a woman affirms her steadfastness in that covenant, expresses her love for God, and continually sends the message “I love You” to the Eternal Beloved. In doing so, she will become a beautiful butterfly in Paradise.

The eulogist misspoke. Only God, the Almighty, governs the affairs of the world; everything happens by His permission and will. Imam Husayn (AS) has a role in the movement of the universe by God’s permission—not in the sense that he acts independently or helps God.

According to the Qur’anic and hadith texts, and the glad tidings of the prophets, God’s proof on earth and in the heavens is our master, the Greatest Remnant of God, the Mahdi, Hujjat ibn al-Hasan al-Askari (AJ). He is the Seal of the Vicegerents and the greatest divine light.

Having prayers and fasts performed on someone’s behalf allows believers to fulfil the obligations a deceased person missed. It is like planting a seed: its fruits and blessings take time to emerge and be seen. In general, these acts make up for missed obligations.

The reality of the human being is known by various names, including “the self,” “I,” “the self itself,” “essence,” “being,” and “innermost nature.” This reality possesses light, spirit, spirits, heart, intellect, body, and limbs, and is regarded as the sovereign of the body.