interesting

Some Facts which are not taught in school...

What is Taught: The first mention of man in flight was by Roger Bacon, who
drew a flying apparatus. Leonardo da Vinci also conceived of airborne
transport and drew several prototypes.

What Should be Taught: Ibn Firnas of Islamic Spain invented, constructed and
tested a flying machine in the 800's A.D. Roger Bacon learned of flying
machines from Arabic references to Ibn Firnas'
machine. The latter's invention antedates Bacon by 500 years and Da Vinci by
some 700 years.

What is Taught: Glass mirrors were first produced in 1291 in Venice.

What Should be Taught: Glass mirrors were in use in Islamic Spain as early
as the 11th century. The Venetians learned of the art of fine glass
production from Syrian artisans during the 9th and 10th centuries.

What is Taught: Until the 14th century, the only type of clock available was
the water clock. In 1335, a large mechanical clock was erected in Milan,
Italy. This was possibly the first weight-driven clock.

What Should be Taught: A variety of mechanical clocks were produced by
Spanish Muslim engineers, both large and small, and this knowledge was
transmitted to Europe through Latin translations of Islamic books on
mechanics. These clocks were weight-driven. Designs and illustrations of
epi-cyclic and segmental gears were provided. One such clock included a
mercury escapement. The latter type was directly copied by Europeans during
the 15th century. In addition, during the 9th century, Ibn Firnas of Islamic
Spain, according to Will Durant, invented a watch-like device which kept
accurate time. The Muslims also constructed a variety of highly accurate
astronomical clocks for use in their observatories.

What is Taught: In the 17th century, the pendulum was developed by Galileo
during his teenage years. He noticed a chandelier swaying as it was being
blown by the wind. As a result, he went home and invented the pendulum.

What Should be Taught: The pendulum was discovered by Ibn Yunus al-Masri
during the 10th century, who was the first to study and document its
oscillatory motion. Its value for use in clocks was introduced by Muslim
physicists during the 15th century.

What is Taught: Movable type and the printing press was invented in the West
by Johannes Gutenberg of Germany during the 15th century.

What Should be Taught : In 1454, Gutenberg developed the most sophisticated
printing press of the Middle Ages. However, movable brass type was in use in
Islamic Spain 100 years prior, and that is where the West's first printing
devices were made.

What is Taught: Isaac Newton's 17th century study of lenses, light and
prisms forms the foundation of the modern science of optics.

What Should be Taught: In the 1lth century al-Haytham determined virtually
everything that Newton advanced regarding optics centuries prior and is
regarded by numerous authorities as the 'founder of optics. ' There is
little doubt that Newton was influenced by him.
Al-Haytham was the most quoted physicist of the Middle Ages. His works were
utilized and quoted by a greater number of European scholars during the 16th
and 17th centuries than those of Newton and Galileo combined.

What is Taught: Isaac Newton, during the 17th century, discovered that white
light consists of various rays of colored light.

What Should be Taught: This discovery was made in its entirety by al-Haytham
(11th century) and Kamal ad-Din (14th century). Newton did make original
discoveries, but this was not one of them.

What is Taught: The concept of the finite nature of matter was first
introduced by Antione Lavoisier during the 18th century. He discovered that,
although matter may change its form or shape, its mass always remains the
same. Thus, for instance, if water is heated to steam, if salt is dissolved
in water or if a piece of wood is burned to ashes, the total mass remains
unchanged.

What Should be Taught: The principles of this discovery were elaborated
centuries before by Islamic Persia's great scholar, al-Biruni (d. 1050).
Lavoisier was a disciple of the Muslim chemists and physicists and referred
to their books frequently.

What is Taught: The Greeks were the developers of trigonometry.

What Should be Taught: Trigonometry remained largely a theoretical science
among the Greeks. It was developed to a level of modern perfection by Muslim
scholars, although the weight of the credit must be given to al-Battani. The
words describing the basic functions of this science, sine, cosine and
tangent, are all derived from Arabic terms. Thus, original contributions by
the Greeks in trigonometry were minimal.

What is Taught: The use of decimal fractions in mathematics was first
developed by a Dutchman, Simon Stevin, in 1589. He helped advance the
mathematical sciences by replacing the cumbersome fractions, for instance,
1/2, with decimal fractions, for example, 0.5.

What Should be Taught: Muslim mathematicians were the first to utilize
decimals instead of fractions on a large scale. Al-Kashi's book, Key to
Arithmetic, was written at the beginning of the 15th century and was the
stimulus for the systematic application of decimals to whole numbers and
fractions thereof. It is highly probable that Stevin imported the idea to
Europe from al-Kashi's work.

What is Taught: The first man to utilize algebraic symbols was the French
mathematician, Francois Vieta. In 1591, he wrote an algebra book describing
equations with letters such as the now familiar x and y's. Asimov says that
this discovery had an impact similar to the progression from Roman numerals
to Arabic numbers.

What Should be Taught: Muslim mathematicians, the inventors of algebra,
introduced the concept of using letters for unknown variables in equations
as early as the 9th century A.D. Through this system, they solved a variety
of complex equations, including quadratic and cubic equations. They used
symbols to develop and perfect the binomial theorem.

What is Taught: The difficult cubic equations (x to the third power)
remained unsolved until the 16th century when Niccolo Tartaglia, an Italian
mathematician, solved them.

What Should be Taught: Cubic equations as well as numerous equations of even
higher degrees were solved with ease by Muslim mathematicians as early as
the 10th century.

What is Taught: The concept that numbers could be less than zero, that is
negative numbers, was unknown until 1545 when Geronimo Cardano introduced
the idea.

What Should he Taught: Muslim mathematicians introduced negative numbers for
use in a variety of arithmetic functions at least 400 years prior to
Cardano.

What is Taught: In 1614, John Napier invented logarithms and logarithmic
tables.

What Should be Taught: Muslim mathematicians invented logarithms and
produced logarithmic tables several centuries prior. Such tables were common
in the Islamic world as early as the 13th century.

What is Taught: During the 17th century Rene Descartes made the discovery
that algebra could be used to solve geometrical problems. By this, he
greatly advanced the science of geometry.

What Should be Taught: Mathematicians of the Islamic Empire accomplished
precisely this as early as the 9th century A.D. Thabit bin Qurrah was the
first to do so, and he was followed by Abu'l Wafa, whose 10th century book
utilized algebra to advance geometry into an exact and simplified science.

What is Taught: Isaac Newton, during the 17th century, developed the
binomial theorem, which is a crucial component for the study of algebra.

What Should be Taught: Hundreds of Muslim mathematicians utilized and
perfected the binomial theorem. They initiated its use for the systematic
solution of algebraic problems during the 10th century (or prior).What is
Taught: No improvement had been made in the astronomy of the ancients during
the Middle Ages regarding the motion of planets until the 13th century. Then
Alphonso the Wise of Castile (Middle
Spain) invented the Aphonsine Tables, which were more accurate than
Ptolemy's.

What Should be Taught: Muslim astronomers made numerous improvements upon
Ptolemy's findings as early as the 9th century. They were the first
astronomers to dispute his archaic ideas. In their critic of the Greeks,
they synthesized proof that the sun is the center of the solar system and
that the orbits of the earth and other planets might be elliptical. They
produced hundreds of highly accurate astronomical tables and star charts.
Many of their calculations are so precise that they are regarded as
contemporary. The Alphonsine Tables are little more than copies of works on
astronomy transmitted to Europe via Islamic Spain, i.e. the Toledo Tables.

What is Taught: The English scholar Roger Bacon (d. 1292) first mentioned
glass lenses for improving vision. At nearly the same time, eyeglasses could
be found in use both in China and Europe.

What Should be Taught: Ibn Firnas of Islamic Spain invented eyeglasses
during the 9th century, and they were manufactured and sold throughout Spain
for over two centuries. Any mention of eyeglasses by Roger Bacon was simply
a regurgitation of the work of al-Haytham (d. 1039), whose research Bacon
frequently referred to.

What is Taught: Gunpowder was developed in the Western world as a result of
Roger Bacon's work in 1242. The first usage of gunpowder in weapons was when
the Chinese fired it from bamboo shoots in attempt to frighten Mongol
conquerors. They produced it by adding sulfur and charcoal to saltpeter.

What Should be Taught: The Chinese developed saltpeter for use in fireworks
and knew of no tactical military use for gunpowder, nor did they invent its
formula. Research by Reinuad and Fave have clearly shown that gunpowder was
formulated initially by Muslim chemists.
Further, these historians claim that the Muslims developed the first
fire-arms. Notably, Muslim armies used grenades and other weapons in their
defence of Algericus against the Franks during the 14th century.
Jean Mathes indicates that the Muslim rulers had stock-piles of grenades,
rifles, crude cannons, incendiary devices, sulfur bombs and pistols decades
before such devices were used in Europe. The first mention of a cannon was
in an Arabic text around 1300 A.D. Roger Bacon learned of the formula for
gunpowder from Latin translations of Arabic books. He brought forth nothing
original in this regard.

What is Taught: The compass was invented by the Chinese who may have been
the first to use it for navigational purposes sometime between 1000 and 1100
A.D . The earliest reference to its use in navigation was by the Englishman,
Alexander Neckam (1157-1217).

What Should be Taught: Muslim geographers and navigators learned of the
magnetic needle, possibly from the Chinese, and were the first to use
magnetic needles in navigation. They invented the compass and passed the
knowledge of its use in navigation to the West. European navigators relied
on Muslim pilots and their instruments when exploring unknown territories.
Gustav Le Bon claims that the magnetic needle and compass were entirely
invented by the Muslims and that the Chinese had little to do with it.
Neckam, as well as the Chinese, probably learned of it from Muslim traders.
It is noteworthy that the Chinese improved their navigational expertise
after they began interacting with the Muslims during the 8th century.

What is Taught: The first man to classify the races was the German Johann F.
Blumenbach, who divided mankind into white, yellow, brown, black and red
peoples.

What Should be Taught: Muslim scholars of the 9th through 14th centuries
invented the science of ethnography. A number of Muslim geographers
classified the races, writing detailed explanations of their unique cultural
habits and physical appearances. They wrote thousands of pages on this
subject. Blumenbach's works were insignificant in comparison.

What is Taught: The science of geography was revived during the 15th, 16th
and 17th centuries when the ancient works of Ptolemy were discovered. The
Crusades and the Portuguese/Spanish expeditions also contributed to this
reawakening. The first scientifically- based treatise on geography were
produced during this period by Europe's scholars.

What Should be Taught: Muslim geographers produced untold volumes of books
on the geography of Africa, Asia, India, China and the Indies during the 8th
through 15th centuries. These writings included the world's first
geographical encyclopedias, almanacs and road maps. Ibn Battutah's 14 th
century masterpieces provide a detailed view of the geography of the ancient
world. The Muslim geographers of the 10th through 15th centuries far
exceeded the output by Europeans regarding the geography of these regions
well into the 18th century. The Crusades led to the destruction of
educational institutions, their scholars and books. They brought nothing
substantive regarding geography to the Western world.

What is Taught: Robert Boyle, in the 17th century, originated the science of
chemistry.

What Should be Taught: A variety of Muslim chemists, including ar-Razi,
al-Jabr, al-Biruni and al-Kindi, performed scientific experiments in
chemistry some 700 years prior to Boyle. Durant writes that the Muslims
introduced the experimental method to this science.
Humboldt regards the Muslims as the founders of chemistry.

What is Taught: Leonardo da Vinci (16th century) fathered the science of
geology when he noted that fossils found on mountains indicated a watery
origin of the earth.

What Should be Taught: Al-Biruni (1lth century) made precisely this
observation and added much to it, including a huge book on geology, hundreds
of years before Da Vinci was born. Ibn Sina noted this as well. it is
probable that Da Vinci first learned of this concept from Latin translations
of Islamic books. He added nothing original to their findings.

What is Taught: The first mention of the geological formation of valleys was
in 1756, when Nicolas Desmarest proposed that they were formed over a long
periods of time by streams.

What Should be Taught: Ibn Sina and al-Biruni made precisely this discovery
during the 11th century (see pages 102 and 103), fully 700 years prior to
Desmarest.

What is Taught: Galileo (17th century) was the world's first great
experimenter.

What Should be Taught: Al-Biruni (d. 1050) was the world's first great
experimenter. He wrote over 200 books, many of which discuss his precise
experiments. His literary output in the sciences amounts to some 13,000
pages, far exceeding that written by Galileo or, for that matter, Galileo
and Newton combined.

What is Taught: The Italian Giovanni Morgagni is regarded as the father of
pathology because he was the first to correctly describe the nature of
disease.

What Should be Taught: Islam's surgeons were the first pathologists.
They fully realized the nature of disease and described a variety of
diseases to modern detail. Ibn Zuhr correctly described the nature of
pleurisy, tuberculosis and pericarditis. Az-Zahrawi accurately documented
the pathology of hydrocephalus (water on the brain) and other congenital
diseases. Ibn al-Quff and Ibn an-Nafs gave perfect descriptions of the
diseases of circulation. Other Muslim surgeons gave the first accurate
descriptions of certain malignancies, including cancer of the stomach, bowel
and esophagus. These surgeons were the originators of pathology, not
Giovanni Morgagni.

What is Taught: Paul Ehrlich (19th century) is the originator of drug
chemotherapy, that is the use of specific drugs to kill microbes.

What Should be Taught : Muslim physicians used a variety of specific
substances to destroy microbes. They applied sulfur topically specifically
to kill the scabies mite. Ar-Razi (10th century) used mercurial compounds as
topical antiseptics.

What is Taught: Purified alcohol, made through distillation, was first
produced by Arnau de Villanova, a Spanish alchemist, in 1300 A.D.

What Should be Taught: Numerous Muslim chemists produced medicinal-grade
alcohol through distillation as early as the 10th century and manufactured
on a large scale the first distillation devices for use in chemistry. They
used alcohol as a solvent and antiseptic.

What is Taught: The first surgery performed under inhalation anesthesia was
conducted by C.W. Long, an American, in 1845.

What Should be Taught : Six hundred years prior to Long, Islamic Spain's
Az-Zahrawi and Ibn Zuhr, among other Muslim surgeons, performed hundreds of
surgeries under inhalation anesthesia with the use of narcotic-soaked
sponges which were placed over the face.

What is Taught: During the 16th century Paracelsus invented the use of opium
extracts for anesthesia.

What Should be Taught: Muslim physicians introduced the anesthetic value of
opium derivatives during the Middle Ages. Opium was originally used as an
anesthetic agent by the Greeks. Paracelus was a student of Ibn Sina's works
from which it is almost assured that he derived this idea.

What is Taught: Modern anesthesia was invented in the 19th century by
Humphrey Davy and Horace Wells.

What Should be Taught: Modern anesthesia was discovered, mastered and
perfected by Muslim anesthetists 900 years before the advent of Davy and
Wells. They utilized oral as well as inhalant anesthetics.

What is Taught: The concept of quarantine was first developed in 1403.
In Venice, a law was passed preventing strangers from entering the city
until a certain waiting period had passed. If, by then, no sign of illness
could be found, they were allowed in.

What Should be Taught: The concept of quarantine was first introduced in the
7th century A.D. by the prophet Muhammad, who wisely warned against entering
or leaving a region suffering from plague. As early as the 10th century,
Muslim physicians innovated the use of isolation wards for individuals
suffering with communicable diseases.

What is Taught: The scientific use of antiseptics in surgery was discovered
by the British surgeon Joseph Lister in 1865.

What Should be Taught: As early as the 10th century, Muslim physicians and
surgeons were applying purified alcohol to wounds as an antiseptic agent.
Surgeons in Islamic Spain utilized special methods for maintaining
antisepsis prior to and during surgery. They also originated specific
protocols for maintaining hygiene during the post-operative period. Their
success rate was so high that dignitaries throughout Europe came to Cordova,
Spain, to be treated at what was comparably the 'Mayo Clinic' of the Middle
Ages.

What is Taught: In 1545, the scientific use of surgery was advanced by the
French surgeon Ambroise Pare. Prior to him, surgeons attempted to stop
bleeding through the gruesome procedure of searing the wound with boiling
oil. Pare stopped the use of boiling oils and began ligating arteries. He is
considered the 'father of rational surgery.' Pare was also one of the first
Europeans to condemn such grotesque 'surgical'
procedures as trepanning.

What Should be Taught: Islamic Spain's illustrious surgeon, az-Zahrawi (d.
1013), began ligating arteries with fine sutures over 500 years prior to
Pare. He perfected the use of Catgut, that is suture made from animal
intestines. Additionally, he instituted the use of cotton plus wax to plug
bleeding wounds. The full details of his works were made available to
Europeans through Latin translations. Despite this, barbers and herdsmen
continued be the primary individuals practicing the 'art' of surgery for
nearly six centuries after az-Zahrawi's death. Pare himself was a barber,
albeit more skilled and conscientious than the average ones. Included in
az-Zahrawi's legacy are dozens of books. His most famous work is a 30 volume
treatise on medicine and surgery. His books contain sections on preventive
medicine, nutrition, cosmetics, drug therapy, surgical technique,
anesthesia, pre and post-operative care as well as drawings of some 200
surgical devices, many of which he invented. The refined and scholarly
az-Zahrawi must be regarded as the father and founder of rational surgery,
not the uneducated Pare.

What is Taught: William Harvey, during the early 17th century, discovered
that blood circulates. He was the first to correctly describe the function
of the heart, arteries and veins. Rome's Galen had presented erroneous ideas
regarding the circulatory system, and Harvey was the first to determine that
blood is pumped throughout the body via the action of the heart and the
venous valves. Therefore, he is regarded as the founder of human physiology.

What Should be Taught: In the 10th century, Islam's ar-Razi wrote an
in-depth treatise on the venous system, accurately describing the function
of the veins and their valves. Ibn an-Nafs and Ibn al-Quff (13th century)
provided full documentation that the blood circulates and correctly
described the physiology of the heart and the function of its valves 300
years before Harvey. William Harvey was a graduate of Italy's famous Padua
University at a time when the majority of its curriculum was based upon Ibn
Sina's and ar-Razi's textbooks.

What is Taught: The first pharmacopeia (book of medicines) was published by
a German scholar in 1542. According to World Book Encyclopedia, the science
of pharmacology was begun in the 1900's as an off-shoot of chemistry due to
the analysis of crude plant materials. Chemists, after isolating the active
ingredients from plants, realized their medicinal value.

What Should be Taught: According to the eminent scholar of Arab history,
Phillip Hitti, the Muslims, not the Greeks or Europeans, wrote the first
'modern' pharmacopeia. The science of pharmacology was originated by Muslim
physicians during the 9th century. They developed it into a highly refined
and exact science. Muslim chemists, pharmacists and physicians produced
thousands of drugs and/or crude herbal extracts one thousand years prior to
the supposed birth of pharmacology. During the 14th century Ibn Baytar wrote
a monumental pharmacopeia listing some 1400 different drugs. Hundreds of
other pharmacopeias were published during the Islamic Era. It is likely that
the German work is an offshoot of that by Ibn Baytar, which was widely
circulated in Europe.

What is Taught: The discovery of the scientific use of drugs in the
treatment of specific diseases was made by Paracelsus, the Swiss-born
physician, during the 16th century. He is also credited with being the first
to use practical experience as a determining factor in the treatment of
patients rather than relying exclusively on the works of the ancients.

What Should be Taught: Ar-Razi, Ibn Sina, al-Kindi, Ibn Rushd, az -Zahrawi,
Ibn Zuhr, Ibn Baytar, Ibn al-Jazzar, Ibn Juljul, Ibn al-Quff, Ibn an-Nafs,
al-Biruni, Ibn Sahl and hundreds of other Muslim physicians mastered the
science of drug therapy for the treatment of specific symptoms and diseases.
In fact, this concept was entirely their invention. The word 'drug' is
derived from Arabic. Their use of practical experience and careful
observation was extensive. Muslim physicians were the first to criticize
ancient medical theories and practices. Ar-Razi devoted an entire book as a
critique of Galen's anatomy. The works of Paracelsus are insignificant
compared to the vast volumes of medical writings and original findings
accomplished by the medical giants of Islam.

What is Taught: The first sound approach to the treatment of disease was
made by a German, Johann Weger, in the 1500's.

What Should be Taught: Harvard's George Sarton says that modern medicine is
entirely an Islamic development and that Setting the Record Straight the
Muslim physicians of the 9th through 12th centuries were precise,
scientific, rational and sound in their approach. Johann Weger was among
thousands of Europeans physicians during the 15th through 17th centuries who
were taught the medicine of ar-Razi and Ibn Sina. He contributed nothing
original.

What is Taught: Medical treatment for the insane was modernized by Philippe
Pinel when in 1793 he operated France's first insane asylum.

What Should be Taught: As early as the 1lth century, Islamic hospitals
maintained special wards for the insane. They treated them kindly and
presumed their disease was real at a time when the insane were routinely
burned alive in Europe as witches and sorcerers. A curative approach was
taken for mental illness and, for the first time in history, the mentally
ill were treated with supportive care, drugs and psychotherapy. Every major
Islamic city maintained an insane asylum where patients were treated at no
charge. In fact, the Islamic system for the treatment of the insane excels
in comparison to the current model, as it was more humane and was highly
effective as well.

What is Taught: Kerosine was first produced by the an Englishman, Abraham
Gesner, in 1853. He distilled it from asphalt.

What Should be Taught: Muslim chemists produced kerosine as a distillate
from petroleum products over 1,000 years prior to Gesner (see Encyclopaedia
Britannica under the heading, Petroleum).

Those A'mal which saves one from the Squeeze in the Grave.

There are many acts (A'amal) to save one from the squeeze in the grave, but for brevity's sake, I state here only seventeen of them.
(1) Amirul Mo'meneen Ali (A.S.) says, that a person who recites Surah-an-Nisa on every Friday will remain safe from the squeeze in the grave.
(2) It is narrated that if a person recites Surah-az- Zukhruf, Allah will save him from the reptiles of the earth, and the squeeze in the grave.
(3) A person who recites Surah-al-Qalam in Obligatory Prayers (Wajib Namaz) or Supererogatory Prayers (Nafela), will remain safe from this punishment.
(4) Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) says, that if a person dies between the sunset of thursday and the sunset of friday, Allah will exempt him from this punishment.
(5) Imam Ali-ar-Reza (A.S.) says, that the Midnight Prayers (Namaze Shab) is recommended (sunnat) for you. So if a person gets up in the last part of the night and recites Namaze Shab, Allah will save him from the squeeze in the grave and grant him immunity from the fire of hell, and will increase his age and sustenance.
(6) The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) says, that if a person recites Surah-at-Takasur before going to bed, Allah will grant him freedom from this punishment.
(7) If a person recites this supplication (dua') ten times daily will be saved from this punishment. (The du'a has already been quoted in Chapter - I under "Those A'mal which prove beneficial during death and eases it's tribulations").
(8) A person who is buried in Najafe Ashraf. Because the earth of that place has got the speciality, that a person buried there will be saved from the punishment in the grave, and will be exempted from the questioning by Munkir and Nakeer.
(9) To put Jareedatayn (two wet sticks or branches) along with the dead body in the grave. It is narrated that so long as the sticks remain wet, the dead person is saved from chastisement. It is related that once the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) was passing by a grave on which Allah's wrath was descending. He called for a leafless branch. He cut it from between, wetted it with water, and kept one on the head of the grave and the other on the feet. It is also related that to sprinkle water on the grave is also beneficial, for so long as the mud of the grave remains wet, the dead person remains safe from the punishment in the grave.
(10) A person who recites ten units (Rak'at) of Namaz on the 1st of Rajab such that in every Rak'at after Surah al-Hamd recites three times Surah-at-Tawheed, will be saved from the squeeze in the grave. To recite twenty Raka'at Namaz on the night of 1st Rajab, such that in every Rak'at after Surah-al-Hamd recite once Surah-at-Tawheed is beneficial to save oneself from the punishment in the grave.
(11) To fast for four days in the month of Rajab or twelve days in the month of Sha'ban is also beneficial.
(12) To recite Surah-al-Mulk on the grave is an act which saves the dead man from the punishment in the grave. Allamah Qutubuddin Rawandi relates from Ibne Abbas, who says that once a person pitched a tent on a ground not knowing that there was a grave beneath. Thereafter he started reciting Surah-al-Mulk. Suddenly he heard a voice saying that the Surah gives salvation. He related this incident to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.), who replied that, "Verily this Surah frees a person from the punishment in the grave". Shaikh Kulanini also narrates from Imam Mohammad-al-Baqir (A.S.) who said that the recitation of Surah-al-Mulk saves one from the punishment in the grave.
(13) It is related from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) in "Da'waat" of Allamah Qutubuddin Rawandi that, when a person is being buried and someone recites this supplication (du'a) thrice, the corpse will remain safe from the punishment in the grave till the day of Qayamat:

اللهم اني اسالك بحق محمد وال محمد ان لا تعذب هذا

الميت

(14) Shaikh Toosi in his `Misbahul Mutahajjid' relates the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) as saying that, if a person recites the following two Rak'at Namaz on friday night, Allah will free him from the punishment in the grave, and save him from fear on the day of Qayamat. In each Rak'at after Surah- al-Hamd recite fifteen times Surah-az-Zilzal.
(15) To recite thirty Rak'at Namaz in the middle part of the month of Rajab, such that in each Rak'at after Surah-al- Hamd recite ten times Surah-al-Tawheed is beneficial to ward off punishment in the grave. In the same manner to recite the above Namaz on the night of 16th and 17th Rajab and the 1st of Sha'ban is also beneficial. On the night of the 1st of Sha'ban to recite 100 Rak'at Namaz, such that in each Rak'at after Surah-al-Hamd recite once Surah-at Tawheed, after ending the Namaz recite fifty times Surah at-Tawheed. On the night of 24th Sha'ban recite one hundred Rak'at Namaz, such that in each Rak'at after Surah-al-Hamd recite ten times Surah-an-Nasr. Also to recite fifty Rak'at Namaz such that in each Rak'at after Surah-al-Hamd recite fifty times Surah-at-Tawheed, fifty times Surah-al-Falaq, and 50 times Surah-an-Naas saves one from the punishment in the grave. To recite the same Namaz on the night of `Ashoora' (10th of Moharram) is also beneficial.
(16) To keep `Khake Shifa' (the mud of the grave of Imam Husain ( A.S.) in the shroud (kafan), or to rub it on the parts of prostration (Sajdah).
(17) It is narrated from Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) in "Anware No'maniyyah" that if forty persons gather near the body and recite:

اللهم انا لا نعلم منه الا خيرا وانت اعلم به منا فاغفر له

Allah will safeguard the dead man from the punishment in the grave.
It is related from Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) that there was a virtuous man in Bani Israil, regarding whom it was revealed to Prophet Dawood (A.S.) that he was a hypocrite (riyakar) When he died, Hazrat Dawood refrained from attending his funeral But forty other people attended his funeral and said:

اللهم انا لا نعلم منه الا خيرا وانت اعلم به منا فاغفر له
Then another forty came and repeated the same, for they were not aware of the hidden reality. Allah then revealed to Dawood (A.S.) and asked him as to why did he not attend his funeral? Hazrat Dawood answered, "O Lord! You said that the man was a hypocrite, and so I avoided his funeral". Allah said, "Verily it was true, but because forty persons bore witness to his goodness I forgave his sins". It is Allah's mercy and beneficence who thus forgave His servant with any trial or tribulation.
It is for this reason that the believers (mo'meneen) in the olden days kept their shrouds (kafan) with them, and would request other believers to write down their testimonies on it The sight of the shroud made them remember death and increase the fear of the hereafter. We too should follow this example and request other Mu'meneen to write down their testimonies on our shrouds, and preserve it with us, so that we are always reminded of the hereafter

Ref: Manazale Akherah

Day-wise Rewards of Fasting in the month of Ramadhan

Saeed bin Jubair says that he asked Ibne Abbas, "What is the reward of a person who fasts in the month of Ramadan knowing its importance?" He replied, "O Ibne Jubair! Get ready for I am going to narrate such a tradition that you would never have heard with your ears nor it has passed your heart. Get your mind ready for the answer for it is the matter of beginning and the end."

Saeed bin Jubair went away and came back next day at dawn after preparing himself for the answer. After offering Salaat, he reminded Ibne Abbas of the tradition. He looked towards Saeed and said, "Listen carefully to what I say. I have heard the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) say, 'If you had known the reward in the month of Ramadan you would have thanked Allah much more. The Almighty Allah wipes out all the apparent and hidden sins of the people of my Ummah on the first night of Ramadan and increases the position of people by two hundred thousand levels and builds fifty cities in Paradise for them. He grants the reward of worship of one year, the reward of a prophet and the reward of fasting of one year for each step taken on the next day."

Reference:

• Sawaabul A'amaal, English (As-serat Publications)

"Am I the cause of the delay in the re-appearance of my Imam (a.t.f.s.)"

Ali and his family were very pious and religious people, they would visit Islamic Center’s and Masjid’s every Thursday and Friday, they would seldom missed any opportunity as far as “rights of Allah” like performing prayers and other mandatory religious requirements was concerned but the same could not be said when it came to the rights of the oppressed. Not that they did not like to help the oppressed but their “hectic schedule” and “low priority” prevented them from making the necessary effort in that direction.

It was the auspicious night of 15th Shab’an the birth anniversary of Imam Mahdi (ATFS) and Ali was extremely please with himself as he was able to joined the congregation at the Islamic Centre to celebrate the occasion and to perform special prayers, including the supplications invoking Allah (swt) to hasten the advent of Imam Mahdi (ATFS). After staying awake throughout the night in prayers and assuming close proximity of Imam Mehdi (ATFS), he peacefully went to sleep.
Ali woke up on a bright, sunny morning and looked out of the window. It looked like a perfectly normal day, but then he remembered it wouldn’t be as perfect as he would’ve liked it to be. Just this past week, the sun had started rising from the west and setting in the east. The meteorologists at NASA kept saying again and again on the news media that it was only the dust from the severe earthquakes occurring around the world that was causing this outstanding mirage. That it wasn’t the only thing making ‘top headlines’ on the news though. A powerful man was slowly taking over the world under the guise of “war on terror”. Could he be the prophesized “Sufiani” Ali wondered, the evil person appearing before the advent of Imam Mehdi (ATFS) as he sat in his bed trying to remember where he had heard about him before. Was it in one of the Islamic speeches or at “Sunday Madrassa”, Yes, he said to himself  it was at “Sunday Madrassa” that’s where he had heard. But what did they warn us about “Sufiani”? He is a rich, powerful man with plenty of resources. He will buy the high profile people from the Ummah to promote his evil plan while the majority will remain completely oblivious to what is really going on, their primary and only concern would be to satisfy their desires whatever that may be, consumption, sex, love, status, money, etc. In the mean time, Sufiani and his army shall be pulling the strings and profiting from global exploitation with no resistance because the masses were simply mindless zombies.
Ali was just getting ready to get out of bed when he heard a loud voice saying that the one who will rid the world of injustice has come. Just as the voice stopped speaking, Ali heard another voice that spoke to him softly, in a very soothing tone that immediately made him feel very sleepy. “Go back to sleep” it said. “There is no one here your mind is playing tricks on you. Think of how tired you are and how warm your bed is. Go on back to sleep.” Like a fool, Ali listened to the voice and went back to sleep.
The sound of the doorbell woke him up, Ali tried to ignore it but the persistent ringing convinced him that whoever was there was not going away. Finally Ali dragged himself out of the bed to open the door. He saw a handsome young stranger staring at him with kindness. The stranger greeted him in an extremely polite way. Ali usually wouldn’t invite strangers in his house, but something about this man made him to invite him inside. As the stranger stepped in, he said “are you ready to join me in my struggle to spread justice in this world”. On hearing this, Ali was baffled, confused and perplexed, gathering enough courage he asked, “Who are you?” The stranger politely replied, “you always stood-up whenever my name was uttered as a indication of joining me in my struggle, on hearing my name you would place your right hand on your head as a sign of offering your head in my cause” - The time has come, Islam needs your sacrifice in order to restore the justice and peace”. He further continued “I am preparing an army that will help us get rid of these evil people, and restore peace and justice”. On hearing his words, rush of adrenaline soared through Ali’s vein, comprehension dawned on him as he realized that he was in the presence of his Imam. Ali’s knees felt weak as relief washed over him.
Ali replied, “O my Imam, I have patiently waited for you all along during these hard times and I would be highly obliged to join your army if you could solve my simple little problems, you see I just bought my first big house and to pay the “mortgage” for this I and my wife have to work round the clock. The big house without the furniture was worthless so we bought new furniture’s. In this new neighbourhood all my neighbours had new latest car so we got new cars. To watch the annual pilgrimage live from Mecca and “Ashura” live from Karbala we bought new plasma TV, all this recent expenditures has put us in tremendous debt. Than we have this “recurring” expenses of my children’s that are undergoing graduation, can you help me with this small problem. The Imam stood in silence, he did not speak……... 
Ali continued……if my problems could be solve, I would gladly joined you. I know I am sounding similar to my forefathers that left your forefathers stranded before but let me tell you that my forefathers were wrong because they had more time then we have, you see we are terribly swamp at times for weeks together I don’t get time to see my wife or my children’s we just exchange messages on “voice mails” and “emails”. If I had time I would have gladly joined you however I promise you that every evening I will perform additional prayers for your success, please consider me with you spiritually and financially. The Imam looked at Ali walked away towards the door saying, “You are the real cause of my delay, you are still not ready for my mission”.
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar! Ali opened his eyes, he was jolted awake by the sound of the adhan emanating from his digital alarm clock. He sat up in his bed and looked around his master bedroom. His heart was still beating fast as he realized that it was a tragic dream. A dream that has shattered all his hope, all along he has thought that he was waiting for his Imam but his dream has proved otherwise. He had gathered enough “signs on the appearance” of Imam but failed to meet the “conditions of appearance” he realized how unprepared he was for his Imam’s advent, he cried from the depth of his heart, he fell to the floor crying in shame and saying “O Allah let this tragic dream become wake-up call for my preparation, give me courage and hope to work for the condition that will result in the final uprising of Imam Mahdi (ATFS)”.

Reading Quran

Why do we read Quran, even if we can't understand a Single Arabic word????

 This is a beautiful story.

An old man lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Qur'an. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, 'Grandpa! I try to read the Qur'an just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur'an do?'

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, 'Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.'

 

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, 'you'll have to move a little faster next time,' and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, 'I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough,' and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, 'See Grandpa, it's useless!'

'So you think it is useless?' The old man said, 'Look at the basket.'

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

'Son, that's what happens when you read the Qur'an. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Allah in our lives.'
If you feel this email is worth reading, please forward to your contacts/friends. Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Aliehe Wasalam) says: 'The one who guides to good will be rewarded equally'.

On Collecting Wealth

The Holy Prophet [p.b.u.h.] said: "At the moment when the coffin of a person is being lifted and carried, the concerning soul follows its corpse and regretfully calls: 'O you my children and my relatives! Beware that the world does not cheat you as it did me. I gathered wealth regardless of it being lawful or unlawful and left all of it for others. Now I am left with its burden upon me while they enjoy the fruit of it; therefore, avoid that which is similar to what happened to me'."

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 6, p. 161

 

Imam Amir ul Mu'mineen Ali [a.s.] said: "How many wretched people there are whose days are being numbered but yet they are laboriously seeking wealth."

Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 240

THE EFFECTS OF CHARITY!

A famous scholar, Shaykh Muhammad Hadi al-Amini relates that his father once visited his hometown Tabriz and did not meet an old acquaintance of his, who was a poor and needy man.

 

Upon inquiring, he was told that the man he was asking about was now a wealthy man and no longer poor. Shaykh Amini's father decided to pay a visit to his friend.

 

While conversing with his friend he asked his friend the reason for the change in his economic position. The man replied that he had been very poor to the extent that he was forced to sell some properties that belonged to him, like furniture etc. By selling these things he had collected some money enough to start a business with.

 

On his way back to his house with the capital, he saw a poor lady crying. The man asked the lady the reason for crying, and she explained that she was a widow with orphans who were hungry. The man felt pity on her, and on seeing that she needed the money more than himself, he gave the whole amount of money to her. He returned home and spent the night depressed and worried for his family.

 

The next morning, surprisingly he was summoned to the house of a rich man. When he went to the rich man he was told by the rich man that he had six thousand bags of rice which he feared were on the verge of expiring. The rich man suggested to him to buy the rice at a low price on loan from him. The poor man did so and sold the rice bags quickly. He took some more and in this way was able to make much profit. Soon he became rich and well-to-do.

 

Indeed Noble Qur'an says that:

 

Who is it that will offer to Allah a goodly gift, so He will multiply it to him manifold?

and Allah straitens and amplifies, and you shall be returned to Him.

 

Al Baqarah (2): 245

Leakage of the Heart

These days I have been listening to a series of lectures based on the topic of how to become an excellent teacher of Quran. Surprisingly I have learned things which I had not even expected. For example, the concept that external problems or hurdles are not the real obstacle in the way of success . Rather it is our sins which have the most damaging effect on our lives.


This reminded me of the countless times I have told others that I could not do such and such thing or could not complete the target I had in mind because of this problem or that hurdle. Sometimes blaming people, other times crying over health problems, always a string of excuses which are nothing more than that excuses! Because If I had truly wanted to do something and sincerely asked Allah (SWT), then why would he not let me do things which I want to do only for his sake? Surely there must be something wrong inside my own self?

I remember a few years ago I had gone to visit my parents. The next morning there was no water in the taps ... very strange! Because the night before they had got the water tank refilled ... so where did those gallons of water disappear? Plumbers were called and they began digging to find the leakage ... the whole house was in an uproar, with people coming in and out ... nothing else could be done because everything depends on water. Finally the broken pipe was discovered and repaired, the tank was filled again and life restored back to normal.

But when the same story happens with our tank of faith and knowledge; it never becomes an issue of concern. We fill our hearts and minds with the knowledge of Quran and Hadith ... but the next day when we face any situation and open the tap, nothing comes out ... no patience, no gratitude, no kindness with others ... where did all the faith and knowledge go? No body is worried ... no one tries to find the leakage of the heart ...

But we must realize that just as life stops if there is no water, similarly the soul dies if there is no faith ... our very survival depends on it ... so if the faith and knowledge is not coming out in deeds then it means that there is some serious leakage problem.

For me it remained a mystery for many years but Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to Allah), I just found out that every sin for which we do not feel guilty nor do Taubah (Seeking Forgiveness) nor correct it ... then it creates a crack in our heart from where faith keeps dripping out and we don't even realize it.

So whenever we feel lack of motivation, lack of energy, then immediately we should pray to Allah (SWT) to show us where we went wrong and then honestly and sincerely ask Allah (SWT) for forgiveness. So as to mend the crack and ensure that our tank of faith remains full.

May Allah protect us from our self conceit and give us insight with which we might realize our mistakes and correct our ways. Because no one else can do it for us. Each one of us has to be responsible for his own life.

Moral of the Will Power Story: Knowledge and actions are the two arms of Islam. Just as a bird cannot fly without two wings the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (saw) has said: Knowledge without action is a curse and action without knowledge is deviation.

PRIDE OVER ONE’S PIETY - II

Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s.) says that two persons entered the mosque. One was pious and the other a transgressor. When they emerged from the mosque after the prayer, the transgressor was pious and the person with piety had turned a transgressor. The reason was that the pious person came out of the mosque with pride at his piety and the transgressor was penitent at his past misdeeds.

 

For the benefit of the readers, the translator is digressing here with a tale:

 

One day Hazrat Moosa (a.s.) was passing through a barren hill. He noticed a pious person busy in prayer sitting in a cave of the hill. Hazrat Moosa (a.s.) felt the urge to meet and talk to the person. He went near and greeted him. The pious person asked disinterestedly, "Who are you?" Hazrat Moosa (a.s.) said, "I am Moosa (a.s.)!"

·         The person asked, " Are you the Prophet Moosa (a.s.)?"

·         Hazrat Moosa (a.s.) said, "Yes!"

·         The person said," Then ask Allah to Grant my wish!"

·         Hazrat Moosa (a.s.) asked, "What is it that you want?"

·         The person said, "Since the last one hundred years I am sitting here praying to Allah. I don't do anything other than the Prayer. Ask Allah, what He will give me for my efforts?"

·         Hazrat Moosa (a.s.) said, " I shall find about it immediately." He immediately climbed up the hill and called aloud, " O Sustainer Allah! This person wants to know about the reward for his prayers! Tell me, what shall I inform him?"

·         He heard the sound, " O Moosa (a.s.)! Tell him, we shall inform him about his reward tomorrow."

·         Hazrat Moosa (a.s.) went to the person and conveyed the message to him

·         The pious man said, " It's fine! Tomorrow is not much of a time!" The pious person was in the habit of going to a nearby canal early every morning for bathing and fetching some water for his use. Therefore, the next morning too he started for the canal but he lost his way and reached somewhere else. Because of the sun's heat he became very thirsty and tired. He sat on a lonely boulder and started thinking about his death. In that time he found a person coming from the other direction. He waved to the person to come to him. When the person came nigh, he asked him to help him with some water.

·         The man said, " Where is any water in this wilderness? Whatever little I have is only for me."

·         The pious person started crying. The other person said, "Fine! What will you give me if I give you a tumbler of water?"

·         The pious man said, " I don't have anything. I have been busy in the cave praying for the last one hundred years."

·         The man said, " If you agree to transfer to me the Rewards for your prayers of one hundred years, I shall give you a tumbler of water."

·         The pious man thought, if he lived, he could pray for a further period to get the Reward from Allah. He said, " I am ready to transfer to you my reward for the hundred years' of my prayers.

·         The man gave him a tumbler full of water and the pious person returned to his cave.

·         In the morning Hazrat Moosa (a.s.) got a Revelation that the pious person transferred his hundred years' prayers to another person in exchange for a tumbler of water. Ask the man to settle the value of the tumblers of water that he had been drinking during the last hundred years!

·         Therefore, Hazrat Moosa (a.s.) went to the cave and told to the person that he had a message for him from Allah.

·         The man said, : O Prophet (a.s.)! I have already sold my hundred years of penance!"

·         Hazrat Moosa (a.s.) said, " Yes! I know. But Allah has said that when the value of one hundred years of prayer is one tumbler of water, then he must settle the value of the water he had been drinking over the last hundred years."

·         When the pious person heard this, he was shocked and shouted, " O Prophet (a.s.)! Recommend to Allah to forgive my sins! Allah is Beneficent and Merciful!"

·         Hazrat Moosa (a.s.) got the Revelation, " tell the pious person! Your penitence of this moment pleased us more than your prayers of a hundred years and we have given to you rewards for a thousand years of prayers!".

 

AINAL HAYAT by Allama Majlisi : CHAPTER 8 -THE TRAITS-QASAIL

PRIDE OVER ONE’S PIETY

Being proud about ones own piety is a major sin. This pride can make all the prayers and supplications void. If a person understands the Greatness of Allah, then he will not be proud and vain at his exertions at prayer. The endowments of the munificent Allah are so great that it is impossible to count His Blessings.

Imam Moosa Kazim (a.s.) says, " O Son! Don't delay in offering your prayers. Nor should you be over-confident of the acceptance of your prayers and feel proud of your efforts at piety. We cannot offer prayers and obedience to Allah commensurate with His Blessings.

 

Imam Reza (a.s.) says that a pious person from Bani Israel offered intense prayers for forty years. Then he offered a sacrifice to Allah that was not accepted. The person was disconsolate with sadness for his failure. He cursed his psyche blaming it for his failure. He received a Revelation that blaming his psyche and accepting the shortcomings pleased Allah more than the prayers spread over the long period of forty years. For this reason Allah accepted his long years of penance..

 

AINAl HAYAT by Allama Majlisi : CHAPTER 8 -THE TRAITS-QASAIL

Three Tough Questions !!

There was a young man who went overseas to study for quite a long time.
When he returned, he asked his parents to find him a religious scholar or
any expert who could answer his 3 Questions. Finally, his parents were able
to find a Muslim scholar.

Young man: Who are you? Can you answer my questions?

Scholar: I am one of Allah (SubHana Wa Ta`ala )'s slaves and
Insha-Allah (God willing), I will be able to answer your questions.

Young man: Are you sure? A lot of Professors and experts were not able
to answer my questions.

Scholar: I will try my best, with the help of Allah(SubHana Wa Ta`ala).

Young Man: I have 3 questions:
     1. Does God exist? If so, show me His shape.
     2. What is thaqdir (fate)?
     3. If shaitan (Devil) was created from the fire, why at the end
he will be thrown to hell that is also created from fire. It certainly
will not hurt him at all, since Shaitan (Devil) and the hell were created
from fire. Did God not think of it this far?

Suddenly, the Scholar slapped the young man's face very hard.

Young Man (feeling pain): Why do you get angry at me?

Scholar: I am not angry. The slap is my answer to your three questions.

Young Man: I really don't understand.

Scholar: How do you feel after I slapped you?

Young Man: Of course, I felt the pain.

Scholar: So do you believe that pain exists?

Young Man: Yes.

Scholar: Show me the shape of the pain!

Young Man: I cannot.

Scholar: That is my first answer. All of us feel God's existence
without being able to see His shape... Last night, did you dream that you will
be slapped by me?

Young Man: No.

Scholar: Did you ever think that you will get a slap from me, today?
Young Man: No.

Scholar: That is takdir (fate) my second answer........ My hand that I
used to slap you, what is it created from?

Young Man: It is created from flesh.

Scholar: How about your face, what is it created from?

Young Man: Flesh.

Scholar: How do you feel after I slapped you?

Young Man: In pain.

Scholar: Thats it. this is my third answer, Even though Shaitan Devil)
and also the hell were created from the fire, if Allah wants, insha-Allah
(God willing), the hell will become a very painful place for Shaitan

Beautiful Sayings from Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.)

Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) says:

• Indeed, generosity & charity has a quantity, so when it exceeds that it becomes spending lavishly (squandering). And so does forsightedness & caution have a limit & when it exceeds that, then it is cowardice. [Beharul Anwar, vol 78, pg 377]

• The sustenance which has become guaranteed (by Allah) must not refrain & make you so busy so that you do not perform the obligatory practices. [Beharul Anwar, vol 78, pg 374]

Reference :

1. Fascinating Discourses of Fourteen Infallibles, Traditions of Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.), Hadees 27,32.

The Shias of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)

One of the traditions concerning the position of the Shias and the lovers of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) states that the fire of Hell cannot scorch them. Thus, these types of traditions impart strength to our hope. Our love for the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) is certainly a surety for us but it should not tempt us to commit sins blatantly. 

Shia and Mohib

The traditions regarding this subject are based on two important points. The first is concerned with 'Shia' and the second 'Mohibs' (Admirers) of the Holy Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). The position and status of those Shias who have achieved excellence in the field of knowledge and good deeds is definitely higher. Even so, such people did not consider themselves fit to be called the Shias of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). Take the example of Muhammad bin Muslim Thaqafi. He was the honourable companion (Sahaabi) of Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) and Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.). Both the Holy Imams (a.s.) have recommended him to the Shias for solving their religious problems. Muhammad bin Muslim Thaqafi has also been mentioned as the greatest Jurist of his time in the books of Rijal (Chain of narrators).

On one occasion Muhammad bin Muslim along with Abu Karibatul Azdi went to see Qazi Shareek. Shareek glared at him in anger and said, "These two are Ja'fari and Fatimi!" [Shias of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)]. Upon hearing this, both of them began to cry bitterly. When the Qazi enquired the reason for their lamentation, they replied, "You have associated us with such a lofty personality [Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.)]!. Are people like us who lack in piety and abstinence to be compared with such an exalted person? What connection does the dust have with the Divine existence? (A Persian saying). We shall be highly obliged to you if you can accept our request (and give us not the title that we do not deserve)." 

The True Shias are Those Who Follow (Obey) the Imams (a.s.)

Yes, we can give the title of 'Shia' to that individual who follows the Imams (a.s.) in all aspects of character and speech. Thus, Bab-ul-Hawaij Imam Musa al-Kazim (a.s.) says:
"Our shias are only those who follow us (in every respect), walk in our footsteps and imitate our actions."
(Behaarul Anwaar) 

Conversation of Ali (a.s.) With Some Shias

On a certain evening Ali (a.s.) was departing from the mosque. The surroundings were bright due to the moonlight. He saw behind him a group of people walking towards him. He enquired as to who they were? They said: "We are your Shias." Ali (a.s.) looked at their faces carefully and said.

"Why is it that your faces do not exhibit any sign of you being a Shia?".

"Master, what are the signs of a Shia?"

"Their faces are pale due to excessive worship and the fear of Allah, their backs are bent due to prolonged prayers, too much fasting causes their abdomen to touch their backbones, their lips become dry be repeating endless invocations, and their hearts are filled with the fear of Allah."
(Behaarul Anwaar, Al-Irshad).
Now I shall quote three traditions for the benefit of the readers:

Mere Claim is not Sufficient

1) Jabir (a.r.) relates from Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) that he said,
"Is it sufficient for one to associate himself with Shiaism and say that, "I am a lover of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)? By Allah, our Shia is not, but the one who fears Allah and obeys His Commands."
(Al-Kafi)

2) Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) told Mufazzal bin Umar,
"If you wish to see one of our devotees then look for that person who abstains from sins and fears more His Creator and remains hopeful of His reward. Whenever you find such an individual then take it for granted that he is one of my devotees."

3) Isa bin Abdulla Qummi entered in the presence of Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.). The Imam said,
"That person is not from us nor do we hold him in esteem, the one who, if he lives in a town of a population of hundred thousand and there is even one non-Shia who is more pious than him."
(Al-Kafi).

Thus the belief, actions and the piety of the Shias of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) should be such that they should be the best and none should excel them. Allah has defined such people 'Khairul Bareeya' in the Holy Qur'an:
"(As For) those who believe and do good, surely they are the best of men."
(Surah Bayyanah 98:7)

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) is reported to have explained that 'Khairul Bareeya' connotes the Shias of Ali (a.s.):
"O Ali, 'Khairul Bareeya' means you and your Shias. On the Day of Judgement, they would be satisfied with what Allah has bestowed upon them and they shall be liked by Allah. (Tafseer Tabarsi, Manaqib Khwaarazmi, Ibne Hajar).