Dua Iftitaah

Liverpool Shia Society congratulates commencement of the holy month of Ramadan, the month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness.  Called as the ceremony of the Almighty Allah (SWT), Ramadan is the peak month of the year from its spirituality point f view.  The gates of forgiveness are open side to side; an especial mercy of the Almighty Creator (SWT) showers and He invites all to seek His blessing throughout this holy month, day and night.  Even sleeping time of the faster in this month is considered as he is continuously worshiping the Almighty Allah (SWT).  This is not surprising where the God (SWT) Himself says, “Fasting is [a worship particularly] for me and I myself will be rewarding it [differently].”

الصوم لی و أنا أجزی به

One of the elements of worshiping is to pray to the Almighty Allah (SWT) and, in the Islamic concepts, it is known as ‘dua’.  Dua is actually the speech of the servant to his/her Master, Allah (SWT).  However, how?  How should the servant put the words in context to talk and whisper with his/her Master?  The best people who can put the most suitable words, concepts and orders together to connect to the Creator (SWT) are those who have been authorised by the Creator (SWT) Himself to bridge between the creatures and the Creator (SWT).  They are the Almighty Allah’s (SWT) special reasons (hujjat/ hojjat), i.e. the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) and his Ahl al-Bait (PBUT).  The current Imam (may Allah hasten his advent) has issued out a piece of dua, known as ‘Dua Iftitaah’, via one of his representing bodies, Muhammad Ibn Uthman.  Dua Iftitaah contains very high concept and leave an extraordinary impression when recited every night over the holy month of Ramadan.  Paying enough attention to the meanings embedded in this dua assists in understanding and receiving the message of Ramadan, in-shaa-Allah.

Please do remember your family and friends when reciting duas.

Liverpool Shia Society

Moment by Moment: Expecting the Advent of al-Qa’im (PBUH)

According to the Ahl al-Bait’s (PBUH) and the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH&HF) traditions, expectation for the arrival of Imam Mahdi (PBUH)  during his disappearance is one of the main duties of the Muslims, in particular Shias who strongly believe in the presence of Imam Mahdi (PBUH).  “Moment by Moment: Expecting the Advent of al-Qa’im (PBUH)” is the name of a book written by Dr. Vahid Majd (Associate Professor at Tarbiat Modares University, Iran) which discusses in detail the events prior to the Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) advent and the reasons of the delay, using Shia references.  From next week, every chapter of the book will be published here on Fridays.  If you are interested to know the book in brief, read through the book nutshell below:

In many traditions, the events just prior to the reappearance of the promised savior, al-Qa’im (PBUH) have been portrayed. On the other hand, other traditions convey that the advent of the Qa’im (PBUH) will be very sudden and unpredictable, and the foretold events prior to his advent may be altered. In the first part of this book, the significance, purpose, predictability, and possibility of alteration in the signs, as well as their effect on one’s expectation of the arrival of al-Qa’im (PBUH) are discussed. In addition, the reasons for the delay in his advent and its relation with people’s behavior are presented with evidence.  In the second part of the book, some divine prescriptions for an early relief are enumerated. As confirmed by the traditions, adhering to these obligations may alleviate the hardships prior to and during the advent of al-Qa’im (PBUH) and may expedite the manifestation of the kingdom of justice over earth. In this light, the significance of continual expectation of receiving al-Qa’im (PBUH), the notion of waiting for the relief, and its effect on one’s life are discussed.

Liverpool Shia Society

Lailat ul-Raghaib  –  The Night of Hopes

Peace and blessings upon the Holy Prophet, his Holy Household, and his Respectable Companions.

The night before the first Friday of Rajab is known as Lailat ul-Raghaib, the Night of Hopes. It is one of the brightest nights in one of the brightest months of the year per lunar calendar.

It has been narrated that the person, who recites Surah (Chapter) Al-Yaseen before going to bed and performs special prayers for Lailat ul-Raghaib, will be saved from the terror of the grave. The Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF) has said, these prayers are means of forgiveness and on the first night in our grave, the Almighty (SWT) will send the reward off this prayer in the best and the most enlightened and eloquent form. When it is inquired, it will reply, “my Beloved, glad tidings to you that you have found salvation from every hardship and horror.” When it is asked, “who are you? By God, I have not seen any one more beautiful than you, I haven’t heard a word sweeter than yours, and a fragrance better than yours?”, the reply is, “I am the prayer which you offered on the eve before the first Friday of the month of Rajab. I have come to you, to be your companion in this loneliness and to remove from you your fright and horror. Be lest assured that my shelter will be with you until the blowing of the Horn of the Day of Judgment.”

It is said that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HF) used to fast on the first Thursday of the Holy Rajab and recite 12 rak’ats of prayers in six sets of 2 rak’ats between Maghrib and Isha prayers. In every rak’at after reciting Surah al-Fatiha, recite 3 times Surah al-Qadr and 12 times Surah al-Ikhlaas (al-Towhid). After completing the full prayers:

Recite 70 times: «اَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلي مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِيِّ الاُْمِّيِّ وَعَلي آلِهِ».
Translation: O Allah, send blessings on Muhammad, the Ummi Prophet, and on his descendants.
Transliteration: Allahumma s’alle a’laa Muhammadin an-nabiyy il-ummi wa a’laa aaleh.

Then do sajdah (prostration) and recite 70 times: «سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلائِکَةِ وَالرُّوحِ»
Translation: Holy and the most Holy is the Lord of the Angels and spirits.
Transliteration: Sobbuhun quddoos, rabbul malaaikati war-rooh.

Next sit and say 70 times: «رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَتَجاوَزْ عَمّا تَعْلَمُ اِنَّکَ اَنْتَ الْعَلِيُّ الاَعْظَمُ»
Translation: O Lord! Forgive, have mercy and be indulgent about that which Thou knows well, verily Thou art Sublime, Mighty.
Transliteration: Rabbi eghfir wa erham wa tajaawaz a’mmaa ta’lam, innaka anta al-a’liyy ul-a’zam.

Afterwards, do sajdah again and recite 70 times: «سُبُّوحٌ قُدّوُسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلائِکَةِ وَالرُّوحِ»
Translation: Holy and the most Holy is the Lord of the Angels and spirits.
Transliteration: Sobbuhun quddoos, rabbul malaaikati war-rooh.

Now, it is time to ask the Almighty Allah (SWT) whatever you wish.  It has been promised that you will achieve your wishes for good.

Allah (exalted is He) will condescend to notice that they have assembled there, and He will say, “My angels! Ask Me for whatever you wish!” Their response to this will be, “Our Lord! The request we wish to make is that You grant forgiveness to those who faithfully keep fasting in Rajab.” Whereupon, Allah (Exalted is He) will tell them, “I have already done!”

Don’t forget to pray for your brothers and sisters.

The video below can help you with understanding more about Lailat ur-Raghaib:

Liverpool Shia Society

By Zahra Karimi Nasab

Acts of the Holy Month of Rajab

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) said, “The month of Rajab is the month of Allah (SWT); Sha’baan is my month; and Ramadhan is the month of my people. Therefore, if anyone observes fasting on a day of this month, he will be seeking the pleasure of Allah (SWT)…”

Here is the month of Rajab; the month for self-purification. May God help all of us purify ourselves from evil desires and bad habits, and help us overcome our worldly desires.
First day of the month of Rajab is the birthday anniversary of Imam Baqir (PBUH), the 5^th Imam of Shia and a famous figure in Muslim world. Congratulations to all.
Imam Mohammad Baqir said, “Learn the good words, even from those who do not act upon it.”
“Convey my greetings to my Shias. Order them to fear Allah, the Great. Their rich should visit their poor. Their sound should visit their ill. Their living should attend the funeral of their demised. They should meet each other in their houses. Indeed their meeting each other enlivens our affair. May Allah have mercy on one who enlivens our affair and puts the best of it into effect. Say to them, we will suffice nothing for them with Allah except through their good deeds. They will not obtain our intercession but through piety and hard work. Indeed the most intense of all people in regret on the Day of Judgment is the one who describes a certain deed, and then he does other than it.” (Uyun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Atha)

The Holy Month of Rajab is upon us. The largest number of Islamic occasions in an Islamic year is within this month.

Important Dates and Events in Rajab
1^st – Birthday anniversary of Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (PBUH)
3^rd – Martyrdom anniversary of Imam Ali Al-Naqi Al-Hadi (PBUH)
10^th – Birthday anniversary of Imam Muhammad Al-Taqi Al-Jawad (PBUH)
13^th – Birthday anniversary of Amir ul-Mo’mineen Ali Ibn Abi Talib (PBUH)
14^th – Birthday anniversary of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) (according to another source 1^st of Zhul Hajjah has been mentioned too)
15^th – Demise of Lady Zainab (PBUH)
25^th – Martyrdom anniversary of Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (PBHU)
26^th – Night of Me’raaj and Ba’that (proclaim) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HF)
28^th – Imam Hussain Ibn Ali (PBUH) leaves Medina for Karbala

Islamic Insights – Allah loves us too much to let us fall behind in good deeds – He has gifted us with an opportunity in the form of Rajab that easily trumps the ‘business’ excuse! This blessed month is filled with simple ways to develop a stronger sense of God-consciousness; so why let it slip by unnoticed?

The Gifts of Rajab
Rajab is a month of many special days, including the birth anniversaries of our first, fifth and ninth Imams, the day when the Prophet (PBUH&HF) officially proclaimed Islam, and the day when he ascended to the heavens (Me’raaj). To top it all off, the Almighty Allah (SWT) has made it an especially honoured month for us to seek His forgiveness, to earn rewards, and – above all – to attain nearness to Him through worship.

Do not forget to pray for your brothers and sisters.

Liverpool Shia Society

Sent by: Zahra Karimi Nasab

Ziaarat Aale-Yassin

Ziaarat (visiting) is one of highly advised means of conversation with the Prophet (PBUH&HF) and Ahl al-Bait (PBUT).  Several types of ziaarat have received to us through the Shia scholars.  We have been asked to visit the holy shrine of the Prophet (PBUH&HF) and Ahl al-Bait (PBUH); however, if one cannot make travelling to the point, s/he can recite the ziaarat from distance.

Ziaarat Aale Yassin is one of those well-known ziaarats appointed to Imam Mahdi (may Allah advent his return).  Its narrator (Abu Ja’far al-Humayri al-Qumi) is one of most famous narrators and is known for his trustworthiness.  As he has lived during the final years of Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) provisional (short) disappearance (before the long one commenced), he has been in frequent communication with Imam Mahdi (PBUH) through writing.  Imam (PBUH) has given the Ziaarat Aale Yassin as a reply to one of Abu Ja’far’s letters.

Liverpool Shia Society

Birthday Anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HF)

LSS congratulates the birthday anniversary of the holy Prophet of Islam, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HF).  Liverpool Towhid Centre will be celebrating this lovely event on Sunday, 20 February 2011.  The programme will start at 7 pm and will last until 9 pm including the supper.  Please note that the lecture will be in English.

To know more about the great birth of the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF) please refer to:  http://www.revertmuslims.com/islam/birth_of_muhammad.htm

A group of guys from Manchester have asked all the faithful to hold a fast on our beloved Prophet’s (PBUH&HF) birthday with the intention of the return of our Imam (may Allah advent his advent) and freedom for our oppressed brothers and sisters in Parachinar.  It is sad to hear that our brothers and sisters in Parachinar, Pakistan, are confined by devils who claim are Muslims but have no idea what Islam is.  Please pray for them.

Hope to see you all again.

Liverpool Shia Society

In the Name of Allah the Compassionate the Merciful

Some Characteristics of the Companions of Imam Hussain (PBUT)

“I have never known companions better than mine“, said Imam Hussain (PBUH).

Verse 29, Chapter ‘The Victory’ in the Holy Quran summarizes the characteristics of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HF) as follows:

“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those with him are firm of heart against the unbelievers, compassionate among themselves; you will see them bowing down, prostrating themselves, seeking grace from Allah and pleasure. Their marks are in their faces because of the effect of prostration; that is their description in the Taurat [Torah] and their description in the Injeel [Bible]; like as seed-produce that puts forth its sprout, then strengthens it, so it becomes stout and stands firmly on its stem, delighting the sowers that He may enrage the unbelievers on account of them. Allah has promised those among them who believe and do good, forgiveness and a great reward.” (Translated by Shakir, 2005)

The companions of Imam Hussain (PBUT) had additional characteristics to those highlighted by this verse and those characteristics were not available to other companions of Ahl al-Bait (PBUT), even those of the Prophet (PBUH&HF). The most important ones of these are the following:

1. Islam was deeply-rooted in them since they had spent a longer period with Islam. Some of them were themselves companions of the Prophet (PBUH&HF); others were Muslims in birth. In addition, most of them were companions of more than one Imam, as they had seen and served Imam Ali, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain (PBUT).

2. All of them had come out of an ordeal that had hit Islam on the hands of the neo-pagans, where only those who had good insight could find the right path in following the right party.

3. The most important of these characteristics was the fact that the companions of Imam Hussain did not have a choice between victory and martyrdom as the other companions and followers did, i.e. they had only one choice, which was martyrdom.

Liverpool Shia Society

_________________________________________________

Dr Hameed Hassoon Bjaiya Al-Mas’udi is assistant professor at the Department of English, University of Babylon.  Being originally from Babylon, Iraq, he achieved his BA in English from Baghdad University, Iraq, in 1976.  Afterwards, he completed his MA in ELT (English Language Teaching) at the University of Warwick, the UK, in 1989.  Back to Iraq, he fulfilled his PhD in Translation and Linguistics at Al-Mustansiriya University, Iraq.  He has obtained several degrees since 1994 and has gained valuable experiences in academia.  Further to teaching and researching, he has several publications in conferences and journals.

The above article has been sent by Dr Hameed Al-Mas’udi to go online on the LSS website.  Please note that the article has been reviewed before publication; however, if any comment deems worthwhile to be considered with regard to the article, LSS website team would be thankful if you could kindly share the comment.

In the Name of Allah the Compassionate the Merciful

End of Safar Events

Liverpool Towhid Centre will be running mourning event for highlighting the anniversary of sad demise of the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH&HF) and martyrdom anniversary for Imam Hassan al-Mujtaba (PBUH), as they have been recorded for Safar 28^th.  Also, last day of Safar is the anniversary for Imam Ali al-Ridha martyrdom.  Therefore, we will be commemorating these two days by attending their sessions, as the holy Quran states, “and whoever respects the signs of Allah, this surely is [the outcome of] the piety of hearts.” (Al-Hajj: 32)

The event will be on 2^nd and 3^rd of February 2011 and will start at 19.00 and last until 21.00.  The location is Liverpool Towhid Centre whose address is seen on the poster. The sessions will include Quran recitation, lecture and dirge, and they will finish by serving supper to the guests of Ahl al-Bait.

We will not have Thursday Meeting for this week and invite all to attend the events at Liverpool Towhid Centre.

Hope to see you all again.

Liverpool Shia Society

Arba’een through Cameras

It was stated by the Karbala Province Council that until Monday evening (January 25th), 13 million people have entered Karbala Province and it was predicted that two million more would enter in Karabala City by the Arba’een day.

“Certainly, in the heart of Mu’minnen (faithfuls), there is a heat (passion) for the martyrdom of Hussain (PBUH) and that heat never subsides”, the Holy Prophet of Islam

رسول الله (صلـّی الله علیه و آله و سلـّم): إنّ لقتل الحسین حرارة فی قلوب المؤمنین لن تبرد ابدا

There should be a wise reason for this many people leaving thier work and ordinary life, putting themseleves in trouble, walking long distances and insisting in mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain and his companions (PBUT) and visiting their shrine!

یا لیـتـنا کـنـّا معـهم

The Rank and Significance of the Ahl-ul-Bayt

Liverpool JMU Islamic Society (JMU Isoc) is running a lecture session on the rank and significance of Ahl-ul-Bayt (PBUT). It will be a speech by Imam Khalid Hussain to highlight the importance of loving and respecting the people of the house of the Prophet (PBUT).

The Rank and Significance of the Ahl-ul-Bayt

The lecture will be on 19 January 2011 and will start at 6.30 pm.

The venue of the meeting is:

Lecture Theatre
Cherie Booth Building
Liverpool John Moores University
Byrom Street
Liverpool         L3 3AF

Please note that Cherie Booth Building is known to be found with difficulties. It is located opposite to the James Parsons Buildings. The building is adjacent to the entrance steps of Byrom St Campus. If you could not find the building, please ask the reception in James parsons Building.

All are invited to attend the lecture session.

Hope to see you all there.

Liverpool Shia Society