Weekly Friday Night Discussion Notes: 2/24/2012

Bismillah

Weekly Friday Night Discussion Notes:  2/24/2012

(written by Br. M. Sajjad S.)

IEC - Attendance: 20-25

*Introductions*

*Quran Recitation: Surah Kafiroon-Surah Naas (last two pages of Uthman Taha Quran, Surah Dukhan*

*Quran Competition:*

Food: Pizza Tempos

Murteza’s Discussion

How can you prove the need for an existence of a creator?

1.       Amir: Something cannot come into existence from nothing.

a.       Hawking Radiation: can be disproven because Hawking Radiation happens in a system surrounding it, but at the beginning of the universe the Hawking Radiation was not possible because there was no surrounding system.

2.       Emaun: The universe is based on a system, and a system needs a system administrator.

a.       Murteza: Do you have a great-great-great-great-great-grandmother? There is no scientific or physically proof for you having a great-great-great-great-great-grandmother. But there is logical proof for her existence through your existence.

3.       Chain of Causation:

a.       Every Effect must have a Cause. Everything around us is an effect and has effect. Therefore we have dependent existence and independent existence. Your existence depends on your parents and the on their parents etc….. all dependent on Allah (swt). Allah (swt) is independent of all.

          i.      What is the cause of God?

1.       Omid: a mathematical analogy is that in math many times we have the answers of infinity and zero. Well if we can have infinity in math than we can have infinite in real life too, which is the incomprehensible God.

          ii.      If our Creator had a creator then it would go on forever. Meaning that creation would never exist, because infinite creators must wait to be created. We would never exist because the chain of infinite causation would never reach us. That is why logically we need to have the SINGLE un-created Creator.

4.       Man, however flawed, still came up with the idea that their creations (example: phone) needs a “User’s manual” or “Handbook”. So this Creator, should He have not made a Manual for his creations?

a.       God would not make a system higher than our Logic and intellect then hold us accountable for it. This statement is based on the assumption that everything God expects from us is logically based. Those items which we cannot currently comprehend does not prove it to be illogical, rather we lack the needed perspective to fully understand God’s command, consequentially His logic behind it. It is for this reason we are at times left with no choice but to obey without full understanding of the commandment of God (due to our own lack of yearning for true incite for God all mighty).

Br. Ali Reza S’s Presentation

History/Aqa’id Discussion:

Question: Who was Obeidullah and Abdullah ibn Abbas?

Answer: Cousins of Imam Ali (as), the Abbasids descended from these two brothers. Abdullah was blessed with a lot of knowledge; he defended Imam Ali, Hasan, and Hussain (as). He grew very old but still protected the names of the Imams. Obeidullah was somewhat overshadowed by Abdullah’s great achievements. Unfortunately, Obeidullah and eight thousands of his followers accepted the bribe of Mu’awiyah to fight against Imam Hasan (as).

Question: Do Prophets other than Muhammad (saww) have very big miracles?

Answer: Yes, example Prophet Jesus (pbuh) speaking at young age to protect his mother and profess his prophethood.

Question: Why did the Prophet Muhammad (saww) marry Aayishah, and why was she so young? And why were the wives of the prophet (saww) allowed to remarry after the death of the propthet.

Answer: Aayishah was the only wife of the prophet (saww) that was not widowed before. Back then Age difference between man and woman was very common. All the Prophet’s (saww) wives were married to him because of Islamic gain. Many times Allah (SWT) commanded the Prophet (saww)  to marry many of his wives. The Qur’an uses the term “Ummul-Mu’mineen” Mother of the Believers, so they can not marry their own “sons”.  If the Prophet (saww) divorced the wife before his death they were allowed to remarry.

Question: Why wasn’t Hazrat Hurr able to convince his army to join Imam Hussain (as)?

Answer: The soldiers were not OWNED by Hurr, but rather they were just COMMANDED them. He didn’t even tell anyone that he was going to join Imam Hussain (as). He said he was going to feed his horse some water, but afterwards went towards the camp of Imam Hussain (as). Some narrations say that he did take his son(s).

Sports: We played 1.5 hours of basketball and 35 minutes of turf soccer 

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Comments, questions, concerns are all welcome.

Weekly Friday Night Discussion Notes 2/17/2012

Weekly Friday Night Discussion Notes (by: Br. Sajjad)

2/17/2012

Venue/Attendance: IEC / 20+ brothers were in attendance tonight (Alhamdulillah).

Quran: Surah Dukhan was recited. Inshallah from next week, we will incorporate shorter surahs from the 30^th juzz into our recitation list.

Br. Ali Reza's Akhlaq Discussion

Reflecting: Sitting down and chatting with our selves is really beneficial. Most of our bad deeds stem from our desires. Therefore, we need to sit down and reflect about our desires/needs/wants/actions. Our ego tells us to spoil us with desires and fun. Desire is like a wild horse that is very hard to control. You try to guide the horse to the road to go to your destination. Your horse is continuously trying to divert itself from the main road. We need to tell ourselves to not constantly do thing only for our desires. Sometimes we should do things because it is the right thing to do or it is the thing that needs to be done. We constantly have to keep watch of that diverting Horse.

In no condition is it allowed to dig up a grave:

1.       When the person is buried somewhere that doesn’t belong to them. Or when something the guy have been buried wasn’t his, the owner can dig up his grave to regain his position.

2.       If Ghusl-Mayyit isn’t done on the body then they can dig up the grave to give it the Ghusl.

a.       Why should we wash the body after death?

i.      To purify the body, and to make the body Taahir.

ii.      To give the person friends and family time to contemplate and think. Also, to give comfort to others.

iii.      A level of disease control, stench, ground, surrounding.

 iv.      Respect, property of God, so we much respect it no matter how insignificant.

 v.      Both the spiritual and the physical body of a person must be pure, so the physical part MUST be purified as well.

3.       When to use the body as proof in the court of law.

4.       If a woman has been buried, and she was pregnant and to save the child it is allowed to dig up the body and save the child or to remove the child and bury it separately.

5.       When they are buried incorrectly, we can unbury them to fix their burial.

Imam Sadigh: Satan said: “No matter how much I try to trick and approach and deceive them I fail. If it were not for these actions of these people, I have them in my fist” This is about the ones who have:

1)      The honest and the ones who trust in God whole-heartedly. And they recognize that their source of existence, rizq, and hereafter is only from God. Tawwakul

2)      The ones who constantly do remembrance of God and do Dhikr.

3)      The person who wants everything for others that he wants for himself

4)      The person who doesn’t lose control of themselves when a tragic event happens. For Example, when Imam Khomeini found out about his son, he did not break down or cry, only said “inna lillah wa inna ilayhi rajiun.”

5)      The person who is content with what God has given him.

History Lesson 2

Br. Sajjad

Question: A follow up of last session’s question, which was about using the Quran for legitimate historical proof. Can we also use the examples Allah uses in the Quran, Tamseel va Tamssol, for Historical proof and reasoning as well?

Answer: The places when Allah uses examples, these are true even if they are very old stories. Sometimes Allah uses Tajassum, which is like “idol-making” or “statue-making”. One example is when Allah tested Prophet Dawood with the “two brothers” and their issue with their sheep. These two brothers were actually Angels, trying to make a point by Allah’s command. Some people also say the scenes that the Prophet (PBUH) saw during his Mi’raaj were Tamassol, meaning Allah showed them to him like that, not that they were not necessarily exactly like that, nor that they were false.

Question: Another follow up Q. Some Stories that are told in the Quran are also proven in other books and/or have historical proofs. But how should we approach the stories which have NO historical proof or in any other books. For example there is a story in the Quran about Dhul-Qarnayn building the Iron Wall, such a wall isn’t really proven to show that this existence.

Answer: In this example, we accept the truth of the matter that this event with Dhul-Qarnayn happened. But if no geographic proof isn’t shown or found then we can just say that we do not know where this event has taken place. Another example is the Battle of Hunayn. There was apparently a crevice in the ground near the Battle, but even with all the historical proof about the crevice, the location of this crevice has yet to be found. Yet again, even though we do not have geographic proof, we cannot say that the Battle of Hunayn didn’t happen! Back to the issue of Dhul-Qarnayn, the latest studies have said that Kurosh was Dhul-Qarnayn. Kurosh has been proven to be Aadil. Allama Tabataba’i accepts this view too. This Iron Wall is rumored to be located in Ahvaz, and Dhul-Qarnayn had built this wall essentially to block out the Mogul Army, which were over time thought of as Gog and Magog (Jooj wa Ma’jooj).

Question: Which books are said to be legitimate books? And why do Shia’s not have great historical books.

Answer: Answering this question is difficult. We cannot introduce any one book and say this is good historical book and there are no problems with it. The legitimacy of books is relevant and many a times bias to the views of the author. But, form a relevant point of view we can say that so and so book is good to help the reader, BUT it has a few problems with it. The second question’s answer is that we DO have historical proof, though few numbers. One of the Shia historical books is Tareekh Yaqoobi, this is a general historical proof that is a very good book. We also have to see this, as a side point that when did Tabari die, author of Tareekh Tabari? In the year 310 A.H. When did Yaqoobi die, author of the Shia historical book Tareekh Yaqoobi? 292. So to a point, Yaqoobi was to a little, ahead of Tabari in closeness to the Prophet. Even so, Yaqoobi wasn’t a Ithna Ashari Shia as we know them, but he is the closest to us that we can tell, because he doesn’t address the first 3 Khulafaa’ as Amir-ul-Mu’mineen, but when it comes to Imam Ali (AS) he DOES address him  as Amir-ul-Mu’mineen.

WFNYS Session Notes 2-10-2012

WFNYS Session Notes 2-10-2012
by: M. Sajjad

Quran: Surah Dukhan (44). Practice and prepare this same surah for next session 2-17-2012.

Br. Hosseini's Discussion:

Topic: The journey from being a Male to Man to Human to Perfect Human

*Introductions*

There is a difference between being a male and a man and a human.

Surah Baqarah Ayah 213

When each individual is alone they are one. Then when they come together they are a nafs. Then when they have a direction they are an Ummah.

After this life, where we spend time together, we are set apart and are again one (alone individual).

Why is there a constant battle within us to be good or to be bad?

Humans have a tendency to use other individuals for their own purposes, whether good or bad.

In the conflicts of men, those who have more always win. More money, more power, more knowledge. We have a tendency to abuse, use, and conflict with each other. Therefore Allah (AWJ) sent Prophets to guide us through life. Codes of Conduct, Laws, or Rules don’t ascend from the low (men) to the high, but rather from the high (Heavenly powers and beings) to the low (men).

Men are intrinsically good, but in groups they tend to use and abuse each other.

Quran is the only direct source of Rules from god to man. 356 time the Word: “Ya” has been used, meaning 356 times God has directly spoken to man.

Back to the Ayah, from this Ayah we have a direct statement that from the beginning Man was One Ummah. Ummah meaning Man was one group, in one direction.

Allah sends us Mubasshir bring good tidings and Munzir to frighten men.

1.       Conflict

a.       Before religion

b.      After religion

After religion: Happens when people use religion for their own selves, as they tried to use men before religion, now they use religion as a tool to do the same thing. Therefore the source of conflict now is people who consider themselves experts in religion.

The people in our time are those few who believe they are such experts. Therefore we should know our country, our state, or community; about the history, the current events, and the attitude or the people and places around us. Awareness highly recommended for the people who are living here.

Allah (SWT) sends books to guide people to guide people. Allah (SWT) also promises that He WILL guide anyone who wants to be guided, despite all divisions.

Don’t aim your goals or academics for an occupation, but rather for your life time. This life is you picking up what you need FOREVER.

Ali Reza's Discussion:

Topic: Importance of Repenting and Asking for Forgiveness and Mercy.

We always slip up and mess up so we should always reconnect with and ask forgiveness from Allah (SWT).

Benefits of Istighfar, asking for forgiveness:

1.       “When a Muslim on one side of the world is oppressed, another Muslim on the other side of the world is depressed and distressed over that.” One of the best ways to get of distress and depression is reconnecting with Allah (SWT)

2.       During times of Financial difficulty, reconnecting with God will help you when you feel there is no one else you can turn to.

3.       When you feel threatened and unprotected physically or mentally, Istighfar (asking for forgiveness) will shelter you. What better than the shelter of God and the Ahl-al-Bayt.

4.       God will send you your Rizq from the most unexpected places that you did not think of, not only money but a good community, a good spouse, a good family, good friend, etc.

From Fi Mostadreke Safeenate Bahar V. 3 P. 179 Imam Reza said many times “May God Bless the person who rejuvenates our words.” Haravi asked “How can someone rejuvenate and resurcet your words” Imam Reza said “By reading and learning our words and Hadiths and teaching them to others.”

(Islamic) Educational Resources

General
Islamic Teachings: An Overview - ‘Allameh Tabatabaei
Shia - ‘Allameh Tabatabaei
Islam and Religious Pluralism - Mutahari

Usule Din (Principles of Religion)
God and His Attributes - Mousavi Lari
Knowing God - Mousavi Lari
Seal of the Prophets - Mousavi Lari
Imamate and Leadership - Mousavi Lari
Resurrection, Judgement, and the Hereafter - Mousavi Lari

Theological Instructions - Mesbah-Yazdi

Our Philosophy - Baqir AlSadr
The Revealer, The Messenger, the Message - Baqir AlSadr
Logical Basis of Induction - Baqir AlSadr

Other PhilosophicalPhilosophy of Islam - Beheshti
Fundamentals of Islamic Thought - Muttahari

Historical AspectsA Restatement of the History of Islam and Muslims - Razvy - http://www.al-islam.org/restatement/
Jesus Through Shia Narrations - http://www.al-islam.org/jesus_shiite_narrations/
Story of Holy Ka’ba and its People - Shabbar
The Message - Subhani
Fatima is Fatima - Shariati
Kitab Al-Irshad - AlMufid
Ashura: Misrepresentations and Distortions - Muttahari http://www.al-islam.org/al-tawhid/ashura/
Shia Sects - AlNawbakhti

Aspects of ReligionThe Principle of Ijtihad in Islam - Muttahari
Jihad - Mutahari
Martyrdom- Shariati
Hajj - Shariati
Khums - Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi
Fast of the Month of Ramadhan - Jibouri
Adab us-Salat - Khomeini
Greater Sins - Dastgheib
Marriage and Morals in Islam - Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi

GnosticismIslamic Gnosis and Wisdom - MesbahYazdi
Light Within Me - Khomeini/Tabatabaei/Muttahari

Sunni-Shia DialogueAl-Murajaat - http://www.al-islam.org/murajaat/
Peshawar Nights - Shirazi

Quran, Hadith, and SupplementsTanzil.info for Quran
Tafsir of some surahs from Al-Mizan: http://www.shiasource.com/al-mizan/
40 Hadiths- Khomeini
Selections for Kitab Al-Kafi : http://al-kafi.wikispaces.com/
Nahjul Balagha
Suhuf asSajjadiyya
Mafati Al-Jinan

Social/Economic StuffsIslamic Government: Governance of the Jurist - Khomeini
Our Economics - Baqir AlSadri
An Islamic Perspective of Political Economy: Views of Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr - Aziz
Marxism and Other Western Fallacies - Shariati
On the Sociology of Islam - Shariati
Religion vs Religion - Shariati
Shi’ism in Amerca - Liakat Takim

More Sourceshttp://www.al-islam.org/alpha.php
http://www.shiamultimedia.com/englishbooks1.html