1.
The major sins (al-kuba'ir)
from the point of view of Islam are, according to some, seven, but
according to others uncountable. The latter say that they are
arranged in degrees. They include Shirk (associating anything or
anybody with Allah) which is the greatest sin and cannot be forgiven
by Allah (see Qur'an, 4;48 & 116), killing a believer unjustly,
fleeing from jihad, causing distress to one's parents, falsely
accusing a woman of adultery, usury, appropriating the property of
orphans. The punishment for these is mentioned in the Qur'an.
2.
When the Prophet fled from Madinah to Mecca, he spent three days in
a cave (Thawr) with Abu Bakr. He was pursued from Mecca by the
Quraysh, but they were unable to find him even though they
approached the cave, for a spider had built its web across the mouth
Of the cave and they went away thinking it impossible for someone to
have entered. A few years before the Hijrah, the Quraysh decided to
cut off all relations with Muhammad (S.A.) and his followers, and to
have no exchange with them of any kind. The Prophet moved with his
followers to a mountain pass near Mecca where they stayed for nearly
three years. They suffered many hardships, and the only time they
could communicate with the outside world was during the months of
truce.
3.
This is not a particular group, but is used in general for anyone
who insults or shows disrespect for the family of the Prophet.
4.
18th Dhu'l-Hijjah 10 A.H.
5.
The Kaysaniyyah were followers of Kaysan, a freed slave of 'Ali ibn
Abi Talib and supposedly a student of his son Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah.
They exaggerated in their belief about him, ascribing complete
knowledge to him. They held an esoteric belief that religion
involved following a human, that Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah was
immortal and the Mahdi There were subsequent divisions into the
Mukhtariyyah, the Hashimiyyah, the Bayaniyyah and the Razamiyyah
sects.
6.
Amir al-Mu'minin (A.S.) said: "Clean yourselves by water from
offensive odours and examine your bodies carefully. Surely Allah
detests those of his servants who are not clean, so that when people
sit with them they are repelled by their odour.
7.
This does not only mean verbal remembrance of Allah such as say "Subhanullah
wa'l-hamdulillah" (Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah) and
the such-like repeatedly, but it means what Imam Ja'far Sadiq (A.S.)
said in interpretation of the remembrance of Allah: "We do not only
say subhanullah wa'l-hamdulillah wa la illaha illa 'llah wa allahu
akbar although this is a means of remembering Allah, but rather
Allah should be remembered everywhere whether we obey him or not.
8.
In illustrating the same point, Imam 'Ali, Amir al-Mu'minin, (A.S.)
said in his sermon known as 'al-Qasi'at'. "Verily, for all creatures
of the heaven and the earth His command is the same, and there is no
leniency in His law between Allah and anyone, so that he may do
unlawful things.
9.
"It is said that a man from Sham saw Imam Hasan riding and began to
insult him, but the Imam did not answer him. When the man had
finished Imam Hasan looked at him and smiled and said: 'O Shaykh! I
think you are a stranger and perhaps you have some misunderstanding
(about us), so if you have some criticisms we shall accept what you
say, and if you ask for something we shall give it to you, and if
you want guidance we shall guide you, and if you want to ride we can
give you a mount, and if you are hungry we can feed you, and if you
have no clothes we can provide you with some; if you need something
we can help you, and if you have no refuge we can protect you, if
you have any aim we can assist you, and if you come and be our guest
until such time as you wish to leave It will be an excellent idea
because we have a large property with many servants and provisions.'
When the man heard this he wept and said : 'I testify that you are
vicegerant of Allah on earth Allah knows best where to put His
message. You and your father were the most hated of men for me, but
now you are the most beloved of creatures for me.' He took his
baggage to the Imam's house and was his guest until the time that he
continued his journey, and he believed in and loved the Imams.
10. The Virtuous City /State. Notably the ideal in government
and politics as described by al-Farabi (259-339/872-950), and
modelled by him on Greek political theory.
11. Wasa'il ash-Shi'a. The largest and most widely referred to
collection of Shi'i traditions relevant to all branches of fiqh,
compiled by Muhammad Hasan al-Hurr al-'Amili (d. 1104/ 1693). The
latest printing in Iran is in 20 vols.
12. As-sirat is the way of Allah as in the first surah of the
Qur'an, 'Al-Hamd, .but. such things, it is believed will take a
material form on the Day of Judgement, and there are hadith which
describe it then as a bridge. Shaykh Saduq said: "our belief about
sirat is that it is true, and that it is the bridge over Hell, and
that over it all people shall pass. Allah has said: Not one of you
there is, but he shall enter it (Hell); that for thy Lord is a thing
decreed, determined.' (19;71)
13. By Najm ad Din al Muhaqqiq al-Hilli (d. 676/1277). A text in
fiqh used In teaching to this day.
