THE NEWSLETTER
A REPORT FROM ISSUE No. 1 of the NEWSLETTER
We were privileged to have an audience with Shaykh Nur Ilayihan, the head of Shazmani Mudaris, the body that aids Hawzas outside Iran, and were able to benefit from his wise words.
After reciting the verse of the Holy Quran which sanctions sending a group from among you to study so that they can return and teach and added an hadith that says the Angels, the animals in the jungle, the fish in the depths of the oceans and all other things are seeking forgiveness for one who treads the path of seeking knowledge. He continued by relating two incidents from the Sirah of the Prophet saw. When entering the Mosque he saw. chose to join a group of scholars discussing religion rather than a group engaged in worship. Then he gave an account of the departure of Imam ‘Ali as. for the Yemen when the Holy Prophet said, "Oh, ‘Ali remember that to guide one person to the right path is better than all that the Sun shines on from East to West." The Shaykh elaborated on these words by saying that this included the Ka’ba, Masjid al-Nabi, etc. and that all the students are ambassadors for Islam in the West during the absence of our Twelfth Imam. He said that the only aims of a student should be to learn and guide.
He referred to a report in the Tafseer of the Eleventh Imam where it is stated that when al-Mahdi as. calls for his supporters 313 believers will respond and of these 50 will be women. A sister asked wryly if they were there to cook? The Shaykh laughed and said no that these women will be women of great station and would be lieutenants to the Imam as. The Shaykh took this opportunity to refer to the work of the learned brother Raza Masai, who is the head of a hawza in Qom, whose research has proven that many of the reports in Nahj al-Balagha about the intelligence, faith and morals of women being lacking are not sound, refer to specific women or to the women of specific tribes and that non of these reports are generalised to include all women for all time. He reminded the students that Islam had raised the status of women and that seeking knowledge was obligatory for men and women. This was, he said, what Islam brought to raising the status of women further and the biggest boost that could be given towards equality for women.
He told some stories of women who fought on the battlefield with the Prophet saw. and of those women who had been recommended, by the Imams as., to be sought out for guidance. He then told us that he sat next to the daughter of Imam Khomeinie ra. on a flight to Bombay. She told him that in the whole of her fathers married life he had never ordered his wife to do anything for him. Even if he were, for some reason, unable to help himself he would say, softly and indirectly, something like, "I wish there were a glass of water here."
From Newsletter No2
July saw the end of the academic year and the annual prize-giving ceremony at the
Institute. The number of brothers and sisters who decided to attend this years ceremony was
a delightful surprise to the organisers, doubling the attendance of previous years. This
proved to be a strain on resources, especially catering, but the volunteer helpers rose to the
challenge and coped admirably. Their flexibility and fortitude earned the thanks of all
members of the Institute’s administration.
The formalities commenced with recitations by Br. Murtaza Bandali, who when not
sellingbooks is more than qualified to recite from them. He was followed by speakers from
the various departments of the Institute. Each one speaking on topics related to his area of
activity. The speakers were, in order of speaking, Shk. M. Amin, Shk. M. Mumisa,
Dr. Sd. A. Shah, Prof. Dr. I.K.A. Howard and H.I. Shk. A. Abdul Hussain. The prizes and
certificates were presented by Sd. S. H. Naqvi.
This was the first time that so many of the members of the Institute had spoken from one
platform at a public event and revealed the true status of the Institute to many in the
audience. Others, who were aware of the importance of the Institute in its’ function as a
centre of learning in the Shi’a "World", were amazed to learn that while this aspect has
continued to grow unhindered the Institute has gained recognition and support from Local,
National and International bodies in many other fields. These include Interfaith
Committees, Publishers, Welfare Organisations and Academic Institutions.
The whole evening was a happy and successful commemoration of the excellent standards
achieved by all the students studying at the Institute.
Joining the teaching staff of the Institute for the next academic year is Dr. David Thomas.
Dr. Thomas, who is a lecturer and a supervisor of doctorate students for the University of
Birmingham, will be lecturing on The Development of Theological Issues from an Historical
Perspective.
During July the co-ordinator of ClearBook was invited to attend, as an observer, a seminar
held to discuss Jewish/Christian common issues at the Synagogue of the Birmingham
Hebrew Congregation. The fact that he together with Br. Abdullah Bawhab of Central
Mosque were the first Muslims ever invited to one of these seminars is a measure of the
success of the current tabligh strategies.
During the time that ClearBook has been operating it has been able to help in the
conversion of several people to Shi’ism. Several ex-Christians and an ex-Hindu are now
numbered amongst the lovers of Ahl al-Bayt. Many more now consider themselves to be
friends of the Ithna ‘Asheri. The full effects of the work carried out so far have yet to be seen.
Those who have aided and supported this work have helped in the planting of seeds that
will, by the Will of Allah swt. grow into the timbers of sturdy bulwarks for the ship of salvation.
May He swt. bless and reward all our friends beyond what we are able to ask for them.
This hadith is sponsored by MASTERS PHARMACY, Oldbury.
Hadith number eight in the eleventh assembly of al-Shaykh al-Mufid’s Amaali translated by
Mulla Asgharali M. M. Jaffer:
"He said: Abul Hassan Ahmad b. Muhammad b. al-Hassan reported to me from his father,
from Muhammad b. al-Hassan al-Saffar, from Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Isa, from al-Hassan b.
Mahboob, from Malik b. Atiyyah, from Abu Ubaidah al-Hazza’ who reported that:
Abu Ja’far al-Baqir Muhammad b. Ali (pbuh) said," It is recorded in the book of Amirul
Mo’mineen (pbuh), three traits are such that whoever possess them, would not die
before seeing their evil consequences: Injustice; Breaking off with blood (womb)
relations and False oath."* And the quickest way to earning a reward (from Allah) is to
mend relations with your kith and kin; for these are people who transgress, but when they
mend their relations with each other, their wealth grows and they become rich. And false
oaths and breaking of with one’s relatives turn the villages into the wastelands.
And may Allah bless our master Muhammad and his progeny, with peace and salutations."
(*What follows appears to be the commentary of the Shaykh (ra))
From Newsletter No.4
Ayatullah J'afar Karimi was a recent visitor to the Al-Mahdi Institute who answered questions on Islamic Law.
It is permissible to film women because everything that is halal for men is also halal for women and filming is no exception. A man may film a man as long as modesty is observed and women may do likewise. Theoretically it is permissible for women playing sports to be filmed but if any form of corruption is involved by the participents, makers, distributors, broadcasters or viewers it is not permissible. If by looking at such a film passions are raised or it gives rise to detrimental feelings towards the subjects of the film then it is haram. These discussions are necessary because in Sha'riah looking at a picture is considered differently to looking at the actual person.
Acting is permitted if the performance is a realistic representation of the person portrayed and not a mockery or exageration that might cause hurt or loss of reputation. The same is true of the portrayal of historical events
There is no particular dress that can be called hijab. Western dress that conceals the form and all areas specified by the Sha'riah is hijab. He noted that there was a dress code for men and that men should pay attention to modesty too.
Singing and music are haram when associated with unlawfull acts, cause emotional outbursts or false states of consciousness. The definition of singing that has been given by the learned Ulama concerned ressonance in the throat or chest when accompanied by rhythm or melody and that permitted melodies with excessive ressonance were haram and doubly so when used in recitation of the Holy Quran, rememberance of the Martyrs of Kerbala, poems of a religious nature, lamentations, eulogies or the performance of Salah. His personal opinion was that the recitation of Qari Abdul Basit was at the limit of acceptability.
From Newsletter No.6
Israeli Exchange Students in Birmingham
On 15-10-2000 the students arrived at the Mosque and were welcomed by Shaykh Mohammed Amin. After refreshments were served he gave a short introductory talk on some of the fundamental aspects of Shi'a belief and practice. The areas of belief common to all Muslims were highlighted during this presentation and then the visitdrs were invited to ask questions on any topics of their choice.
The first question, from a young man from Mettula in Northern Israel, to the Shaykh was, "What do you think about the present situation in Israel?"
He replied, "Do you mean the situation in Israel or that in the occupied territories?"
When the young man indicated the latter the Shaykh continued, "The former British ambassador to Saudi Arabia answered this question on breakfast TV this morning when he said, "If Israel complies with the UN resolutions then what is there to fight about?". This is a simple answer. We as Shi'a have a duty to defend the oppressed from their oppressors. This does not mean that every Jew becomes our enemy but anyone who supports an oppressor is as guilty. All lawfull means to exert pressure on these supporters may be used but the Shari'ah does not permit attacks on innocent citizens. It is very distastefull to see attacks on places of worship anywhere.."
After a short silence, there were some questions and discussion on the benefits of the Holy month of Ramadhan. The spiritual and physical improvments being stressed. The visitors were then guided around the Imambargah.
Before they left the Shaykh raised a topic that he had been prewarned was concerning them. Does the Quran order the killing of Jews? He explained to them that references to a Jew hiding behind a rock is to extend the law that applies to all Muslims to Ahlul Kitab. If a Muslim seeks to betray his community his life is forfeit and that this refers to the time of the betrayels in Madinah.
Gifts were then exchanged and the visitors left.
As a post script to this visit Shaykh Amin was invited to a civic reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham at Birminghams Council House (pictured). Here, in the company of Shaykh Michael Mumisa, he had the opportunity to introduce the work of ClearBook Fourteen to several civic leaders and give a brief account of what had been discussed at the Mosque to the Lord Mayor.
This visit had been arranged prior to the Palestinian protests against the occupation of their territory by the Israeli Army and the illegal settlements. The decision to continue with it was based upon the realisation that it was an excellent opportunity to tell a group of young Israelis, who are the prisoners of their governments propoganda machine, a little of the truth about their situation and about Islam. The civic reception afterwards afforded a further opportunity to continue this process and involve local politicians.
There have been some questions about the gifts that were exchanged. They gave a small enamel pin, a small banner and a plastic ball point pen, all of them bore the name of their youth club. In return they were given a copy of Sahifah al-Sadajjiyah, told about its author and reccomended to read the Risalat al-Huquq. They had not heard of either the books nor the author before.
It was the practice of the Prophet saw that before a conflict he would invite his opponents, in a cordial fashion, to embrace Islam and outline the consequences of refusal. This was also the practice of Imam 'Ali as. Jamal and Siffin being two well documented occasions.
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