Parents

Allah, the Wise, has said:

فَلاَ تَقُل لَهُما اُفٍّ وَ لاَ تَنْهَرهُما

Say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them.

[Holy Qur'an, ch. Al-Israa (17), vs. 23.]

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said:

بِرُّ الْواَلِدَينِ اَفضَلُ مِنَ الصَّلاةِ وَ الصَّومِ وَ الْحَجِّ وَ الْعُمْرَةِ وَ الْجِهاَدِ فِی سَبِيلِ اللهِ

Kindness towards parents is better than prayers, fasts, Hajj, U'mrah and jihad in the path of Allah.

[Jaame' al-Sa'adaat, vol. 2, pg. 264.]

Short Explanation

In (several places in) the Qur'an, God has spoken about the very subtle issue of 'kindness towards the parents', attaching such immense importance to it that He has even said: Say not to them (so much as) "Ugh" nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word.

It is evident from this that it is not only forbidden to annoy parents in any way but it is obligatory to exhibit goodness and kindness towards them.  People who hurt their parents, even occasionally, must seek their forgiveness and happiness before they suffer the evil consequences. They should remember that their children, in turn, would ill-treat them too.

As for the repercussions in the Hereafter, the holy Prophet has said that if for every instance of hurting others one door of Hell opens up for man, then two doors of Hell will open up for he who causes inconvenience to his parents.

The Truthful Barber

The distinguished scholar, Sheikh Baqir Kadhimi, who lived near Najaf-e-Ashraf, narrates that a truthful barber, once related the following story:

I had an old father, whom I served diligently.  I exercised such great care never to be neglectful towards him, that I would even place water for him in the toilet and remain in wait outside till he emerged.  All throughout (the week) I would be watchful of him, except on Wednesday evenings when I would proceed to Masjid-e-Sahlah hoping to meet Imam Mahdi (a.s.).

One Wednesday I was very busy and did not find a spare moment until it was almost sunset.  Nevertheless, I set off towards Masjid-e-Sahlah alone in the dark.

It was a moonlit night and I still had one third of the journey to cover when suddenly I observed an Arab, seated on a horse, coming towards me.  I said to myself, "This Arab is surely going to loot me", but when he had come closer, he spoke in the local dialect, and sought to know where I was heading for.

I told him that I intended to go to Masjid-e-Sahlah, whereupon he inquired if I had anything with me to eat. When I replied that I did not, he spoke with some sternness, and said:

"You have some food in your pocket".

Putting my hand into my pocket, I found some raisins, which I had purchased for my son but had forgotten to give him.

The Arab then said:  "I recommend you to serve your father", and, repeating this three times, he suddenly disappeared.

It was only later that I realized that it was Imam Mahdi (a.s.) himself that I had seen and that he was not pleased that I stopped serving my father, even for the purpose of going to Masjid-e-Sahlah on Wednesday evenings.

Reference:

• Anecdotes For Reflection (Published by World Federation), Vol 1, Parents, Anecdote 4

If you want Imam Mahdi (as) to visit you…!

A man of knowledge was longing to meet with Hazrat Baqiyyat Allah Imam Mahdi (aj), and he suffered agonies due to not being granted the chance and for a long time he underwent severe austerity and pursued spiritual seeking.  

It is well-known among the tullab (Islamic seminary students) of Hawza in Najaf Ashraf and the scholars of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a) that every one who finds the honor to go the Masjid Sahla to perform the evening and night prayers every Tuesday uninterruptedly for forty nights, they will be graced with meeting the Imam al-'Asr (aj).
 

For a while, he struggled to this end but to no effect. Then he resorted to the occult sciences and numerical symbolism and started self-discipline and other ascetic and rigorous practices in seclusion, anxiously seeking to meet the Hidden Imam (aj) but all in vain. However, as a consequence of his nightly vigilance and lamenting and wailing at dawns, he had developed some kind of insight and intuition, and occasionally some illuminating flash would be graced on him. He would fall in ecstasy and rapture, often having certain visions and hearing some subtleties.  

In one of these mystical states, he was told: 'Your seeing and being granted an audience with Imam al-'Asr (aj) will not be possible, unless you make a trip to such and such a city”. Quite difficult as it sounded at first, but for that sacred purpose, it appeared to be so convenient.  

After several days the above-mentioned man arrived in that city and yet even there he carried on his self-discipline and ascetic practices in seclusion that intended to last forty days long. On the thirty seventh day, he was told: 'Right now Hazrat Baqiyyat Allah, Imam al-'Asr (aj) is in the blacksmiths' bazaar, in a shop belonging to an old locksmith; so, be quick to go now and seek his audience”.  

He stood up and, as he had already seen in his ecstatic vision, rushed the way down to the old man's shop where he saw the Holy Imam (aj) sitting there and talking amiably with the locksmith. When he greeted, the Holy Imam responded and beckoned him to keep silent, and asked him to watch what happens next in the shop. 

At this moment I saw a bent, fragile, old woman with a walking stick who showed us a lock with her shaking hand and said: 'Will you, for God's sake, buy this lock from me for 'three shahis'?. I need three shahis.”  

The old locksmith took a look at the lock and found it intact, and then said: 'My sister! This lock costs 'Two abbasis' because it’s key will cost no more than 'ten dinars'; so if you give me ten dinars, I will make a key to this lock and then its value will be ten shahis and not three.'

The old woman answered: 'No, I do not need that, I only need the money; if you buy this lock from me for three shahis, I will pray for you.'  

The old man said with utmost naivety: 'My sister! You are a Muslim, and I too claim to be a Muslim. So why should I buy a Muslim's property for a low price and deny someone's right? The value of this lock is already eight shahis;  if I want to benefit from it, I'll buy it for seven shahis, for it is unfair to make more that a shahi profit in a deal of only two abbasis. If you are sure you want to sell it, I'll buy it for seven shahis and not three, and I repeat again that the real price is two abbasis. Since I am a businessman I buy it for one shahi less.  

The old woman perhaps would not believe what the man said. She was upset and complained that nobody had been willing to buy that price. She said she begged them to buy it for three shahis but no one agreed and here there is someone who is prepared to pay seven shahis.   The old man paid seven shahis to the old woman and purchased it from her, though he could have got that lock for three shahis.

When the woman turned back to leave, the Imam (aj) said to me:  

'My Dear! Did you watch the wonderful scene? You do likewise, become honest and truthful like that locksmith and then…….then I will come to see you.  You won’t have to find me.

“There is no need for ascetic seclusion and resorting to Jafr (numerical symbolism). Self-discipline and various travels will not be required; instead show good sincere action and be a proper, honest Muslim so that I can interact with you.

“Of all people of this city, I picked out this old man, since this man is religious and knows God. And you observed the trial he went through: This old woman requested all in the bazaar, to fulfill her need and since they found her desperate and needy, they were all seeking to buy (her lock) cheap than the actual worth of it.  Nobody bought it even for three shahis. This old man, however, bought it for its real price, real worth, i.e. seven shahis.  Thus, every week I pay a visit to him and show kindness and amiability to him.'

This is how equity in transactions is effective in self-building, and attaining God's favor.  You create equity in your transactions and Imam (A.S.) of the time will come and visit you personally.

Equity in all tasks, especially in transactions is an important issue that has been highly stressed in Islam. Imam Ali (a) said:  

  'Equity is the best of virtues.'  

And he further said: 

  'The greatest reward is one granted for equity:'  

From Life & Times of the Famous Scholar SHAYKH  RAJAB ALI KHAYYAT

13th may 2008 ziyarate

ws,

alhamdulillah... ziyarate was good. with every year, going for ziyarate is becoming more n more easier n comfortable for ppl coming from all corners of d world.

Mashad, Iran - Imam Reza (a.s) shrine still under heavy comstructions. the main entrace gate, opp to gate 8 which leads to hotel khorasan (khorasan street) n other surrounding hotels had been brought by d haram n will soon be part of d huge courtyard. inside of d shrine needs some serious repairs as well. doing ziyarate at d zari is still a struggle, espcially for d old n children.

Qum, Iran - as beautiful as ever.

Najaf, Iraq - city still recovering. Imam Ali (a.s) shrine - d most simpliest of all d shrines i have visited. for a minute u r sadden by d sight.... the Ameer of d world n d hereafter n his shrine in such a state... but thn dats Maula Ali, who always lived a simple life.... n dat simplicity captures ur heart.

wadi-us-salam - mostly damaged.

Kufa, Iraq - masjid-e-kufa, masjid-e-Sahla - in its simple close to original form. although house of imam ali has been beautified n lost its original charm.

masjid-e-hannana and mazar of hazrat Kumail - is closed for construction..

Hazrat Hurr - shrine is being comtructed over his grave. open for ziyarate.

Sons of Hazrat Muslim - Shrine under contruction. open for ziyarate.

Karbala, Iraq - alhamduillah beautiful shrines of Imam Hussain (a.s) n Hazrat Abbas (a.s). developed city. well maintained. very tight security.
Kazmain, Iraq - very very tight security... but easier to visit for ziyarate.

Iraq is very muuch safe n peaceful at d this time for visiting, although very tight security n through checking at every km. didnt have much trouble at d borders either. looks like within next 10years, iraq will be quite developed n a beautiful country inshallah. lots of contruction work at every mazar, it wont be long before we can fly direct into iraq n do d ziyarates to our hearts content, inshallah.