The topic of the prophet of Islam’s (P.B.U.H.) marriages and number of spouses is a subject which has been much under question. In order to shed light on the veracity of this topic, we must pay attention to several points: 1.       The Number of Wives of the Prophet (Peace be upon him). Some people have exaggerated such as Hakem in the book, ‘Mustadrak’, who stated that there were a total of 18 spouses, while Masoudi, in ‘Murujul Zahab’ counts a total of fifteen spouses. From these 15 the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), four were only concluded marriage contracts without any intimate (sexual) interaction, whereas for the others marriageRead More →

Shi‛ism began with a reference made for the first time to the partisans of Ali (shi‛ah-i‛Ali), the first leader of the Household of the Prophet, during the lifetime of the Prophet himself. The course of the first manifestation and the later growth of Islam during the twenty-three years of prophecy brought about many conditions which necessitated the appearance of a group such as the Shi‛ites among the companions of the Prophet. The Holy Prophet during the first days of his prophecy, when according to the text of the Quran he was commanded to invite his closer relatives to come to his religion, told them clearlyRead More →

Hijab and the covering of women is so important that Allah has made reference to it in the honorable Quran. In sura Nur Allah has states: And tell the faithful women to cast down their looks and to guard their private parts, and not to display their charms, except for their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers, or their brothers sons, or their sisters’, or their women or their female captures, or male dependants lacking desire, or children initiated to women’s parts. Many believe that the face and the hands from the wrist downRead More →

The existence of jins is established in the Quran and there characteristics are also displayed as follows: 1. They are an existence that was created from fire; man was created from dirt. (Quran, 55:15) 2. They have knowledge, understanding, and the ability to decipher right from wrong. (Quran, various verses from Sūrah Jin) 3. They have duties. (Quran, verses from Sūrah Jinn and Sūrah Rahmān) 4. They have a Day of Resurrection and a Hereafter. (Quran, 72:15) 5. Some of them are believers and pious and some of them are disbelievers. (Quran, 72:11) 6. They had the power to influence the heavens and to listen to what was going on upRead More →

Allah, the most high, manages this world in an organized and wise fashion. For every occurrence there is a reason and it would be impossible to reach one’s goals except by using these causes and determined methods. Marriage and choosing a spouse are very important matters in Allah’s viewpoint. Hence, the qualities of a suitable spouse have been mentioned in the Quran (Quran, 24:26 and 66:5) and traditions from the infallibles (a). In addition to this, a man who wants to find a spouse must try to find a spouse that is similar to him (in intellectual, cultural, social, and economic affairs). The path toRead More →

DID SATAN HAVE CHILDREN, AND IF SO, ARE THEY CURSED AS WELL?

Just like human beings Satan also has offspring. This has been pointed out in the Quran and in narrations from the Ahlul-Bait (P.B.U.T.). “When We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate before Adam,’ they prostrated, but not Iblis. He was one of the jinn, so he transgressed against his Lord’s command. Will you then take him and his offspring for guardians in My stead, though they are your enemies? How evil is a substitute for the wrongdoers!” (Sura Kahf – Ayah 50: …Will you then take him and his offspring for guardians in My stead…) In Allameh Majlisi’s book, “The Heavens and the Earth”, which is one of theRead More →

WHAT IS ISLAM’S VIEW ON DINOSAURS?

The Quran is a book of guidance and everything which supports this goal [of guidance] has been mentioned in this Holy Book. The method used in expressing matters is: focusing on the general aspects and less on the details and particulars, and the reason for that may be the unimaginable amount of specific topics and Islamic laws. (For more information, see: “Vicegerency and Religiosity”, Studies in Islamic Political Thought: Dr. Mehdi Hadavi Tehrani – Pages 47-57.) In the Quran, even though much has been mentioned about the reality of life, various creatures, classification of living organisms into plants (Sura An’aam (The Cattle) – Verse 99:Read More →

Studying means: to look over something with precision and attentiveness in order to understand or to gain information about it.             Hence studying is in conjunction with meticulousness and precision and any research or studying which does not have these specifications can not be called ‘studying’. (Method of Studying and Summarizing: Abdul-Rahim Mogahi – Page 23, Lines 1-4) Its is undeniable that in order for one to abandon the island of ignorance and enter the ocean of knowledge, necessary preparations and conditions must first be set up in order for one to be able to achieve ideal and beneficial studying.             In order to reach this blessed goalRead More →

WHAT DOES ISLAM SAYS ABOUT THE LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS?

Man has always pondered the thought of whether or not there are other living organisms or intelligent life forms in other galaxies or on other planets; however a definite answer has yet to be found.             Interpretations of the Quran have indicated the existence of living creatures in the heavens, such as: 1.      The expression “Min Dabbah”: Among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and whatever creatures He has scattered in them and He is able to gather them whenever He wishes. ({42:29} وَمِنْ آیَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَثَّ فِیهِمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ وَهُوَ عَلَى جَمْعِهِمْ إِذَا یَشَاء قَدِیرٌ) 2.      The phrase “Man Fil Samawat”: EveryoneRead More →

Living on other planets is a legitimate modern day question. And two aspects come to mind when we think about living on other planets: Of course, answering these questions is the responsibility of astronomers and researchers in the field of natural sciences. After the possibility of living on other planets has been proven, then this issue will face the next question, as to what are the responsibilities which one would have and how would one carryout his Islamic duties there? This second question is what pertains to Islamic scholars and legal authorities. It is their job to use the ayats of Quran, authoritative hadith, and theRead More →