Lesson One: Thinking,reflection

Tradition:

Imam Ali (a.s) Said - Be Aware! Knowledge without thinking has no Profit. Be Aware! Recitation of Quran without reflection is of little use! Be aware! worship lacking reflection has no effect!

(Al-Kafi, Volume One, Page 36)

Brief Description:

      Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting. Filling the brain with information, rules and principles has little effect on it if it is not based on reflection. Reciting Holy verses of Quran has liittle effect when it is not accompanied by reflection and thinking about them. Similarly any action or worship devoid of the light of thinking and wisdom are like spiritless body  and unable to impart their high educational value. Just think how we spent our Ramadhan by reading Quran but hardly only few of us reflect on what we read. Some of us complete Quran after Quran after Quran but hardly we include any of its teaching in our life, May Allah s.u.b.t to reflect on everything we read and take lessons for everything we see and hear only that which is halal. O Allah send blessings upon Mohammad s.a.w.s and his pure progeny.

One Hundred and Fifty Lessons By Ayatullah Naser Makarem Shirazi

    Our greatest treasure of knowledge after the Holy Quran, are the practices of the Prophet(Peace be upon him and his Progeny) and the valuable traditions of the Prophet(Peace be upon him and his progeny).
   Unfortunately, These traditions which are full of science and knowledge are yet to be well known. There are many traditions that in one short phrase speak volumes in terms of useful lessons which can solve many problems that we face today as a society.
  This small book by Ayatullah Naser Makarem Shirazi serves as a example of Islam's attributes for those who want to know Islam better through a short study. What is even more important in appreciating their worth is the praticing of these programs in our lives.
  In the next posts of mine I will be taking each lessons from this book and If Allah wishes we will practice these precious sayings of Ahlulbayt a.s in our lives. 

Selected Ahadith on intellegence from Usool e Kafi

1)H4.Ch 1 The book of intelligence and ignorance

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa from Faddal from al-Hassan ibn al-Jahm who has said the following.
"I heard (Imam) al-Ridha (a.s) saying, "The friend of a person is his/her intelligence and the enemy of a person is his/her ignorance."

2)H6 Ch 1 The book of intelligence and ignorance

Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn Hassa'n from abu Muhammad al-Razi from Sayf 'Umayra from Ishaq ibn 'Ammar from abu 'Abdullah (a.s) who has said the following.
"One who has intelligence he has a religion and one who has religion he enters Paradise."

3)H9 Ch 1 The book of intelligence and ignorance

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from abu 'Abdallah(a.s) who has said the following.
"The holy prophet said, "If you would hear good things about a man, you would examine how good his intelligence is, because he will be rewarded according to his intelligence."

Arbaeen in Karbala photos 2013

Miracles that took place at the birth of Prophet Mohammad (s.a.w.s)

On the day the Holy Prophet (S) was born, all the idols in every part of the world toppled, the palace of the king of Iran Kisra shook and 14 turrets came down and the river Sawah which was being worshipped by the polytheists dried up and became salty and the valley of Samawaah, which did not have any water got filled up to the banks and the fire of the fire temple of Persia, which was burning continuously for the last thousand years, extinguished totally.

On that very night the Magian scholars who were very knowledgeable saw in their dream some Arabian camels pass through the Tigris River dragging tough Arabian horses and rushing into their cities and the arch of Kisra broke up into two and tumbled down and the water of Tigris began to flow in his palace. The same night a light rose up from all round Hijaz which lit up the entire world.

The thrones of all kings have fallen down that morning and all the kings became dumb and were unable to speak and the knowledge of all soothsayers had became dull and the magic of all magicians had failed and every soothsayer was separated from his twin and Quraish were accepted as leaders of all Arabs. 

 People called them the family of God as they were the neighbor of the house of Allah (in Mecca). Amina (r.a.) says: When the Holy Prophet (S) was born, he put his hands on the ground raised his head to the sky and looked all around. A kind of radiance appeared from his body which lit up everything. In that light I saw the palaces of Syria and in its midst I also heard a voice as if someone was saying:

The best of creation is born. Name him Muhammad. When the newborn was brought to Abdul Muttalib he took him in his arms and said: “I praise and thank Allah who blessed me with such a handsome son who surpasses all children.” Then he put in the child’s neck an amulet containing the names of the pillars of the Kaaba and composed a poem praising the newborn’s grace. At that moment Satan called his entire progeny.

They came up to him and asked: “What has made you so restless?” The devil replied: “Woe unto you.
Throughout this night I was observing changes in the sky and the earth. Surely some great event is to occur because, ever since Isa (a.s.) went up to the sky such change was never observed. So all of you spread out and find out what has happened.” The satans dispersed and soon they returned and reported: “We could not find anything.” The cursed one said: “Now it is only for me to find out the great happening.”

 Then he left and passing through the whole world approached the Holy Kaaba. He saw that the house was surrounded by angels all around. He tried to enter Kaaba. The angels challenged him saying: “O cursed one! Go back.” He ran away from there, became small like a sparrow and entered from the direction of Mount Hira. Angel Jibraeel scolded him saying: “Get out of here.” He said: “O Jibraeel! Please let me know just what has happened in the world last night.”

Jibraeel (a.s.) said: “Last night Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (S) was born.” He asked: “Will I get any benefit from him?” He was informed in the negative. Then he asked: “Do I have a share in his blessings?” He was informed in the affirmative. Then he said: “I am happy.”

 Refrence : Hayat al quloob Volume 2  by Allahma Majlisi