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The Historical Reading of Religious Thought

By Shaykh Haider Hobbollah Traditional mentalities were accustomed to eliminating the distinction between thought and reality in a sense, between the self and the other, between the subjective and the objective, between the mental and the external etc. in their perception and conception of human knowledge. When a researcher or thinker addresses a topic to … Read more

The Nail in the Door & the Conference of Baghdad’s Scholars

By Shaykh Mahdi Masaeli The ‘nail in the door’ detail in eulogies recited during Fatimiyyah has become popular in the last hundred years. There are two references for this story, neither of which have any historical credibility. One is a line of poetry by Shaykh Muhammad Husayn Gharavi Isfahani, also known as Shaykh Kumpani (1296-1361 … Read more

Integrating Game-Design Elements to Teach Propositional Logic & Logical Fallacies

The Philosophy for Children Co-operative (P4C) is a pedagogic approach developed by Mathew Lipman that centres on teaching thinking skills and the ability to question and reason. It is a student-led, inquiry based approach to learning. The curriculum and pedagogical approach is practiced in over 60 countries, including many schools in Iran. The underlying principle … Read more

Why Teachers Need to Learn Philosophy of Training & Education

This is an abridged translation of a paper published in 2008 by Dr. Shaheen Irwani, Dr. Mohammed-Reza Sharafi and Murad-Yari Dehnawi, from Tehran University. The original Farsi paper can be accessed directly here. For the sake of brevity, no footnotes, the abstract nor the bibliography have been translated, and the literature review section in the … Read more

God of Mysticism and the God of Philosophy

By professor Abolghasem Fanaei This paper aims to comparatively study mystical theology and philosophical theology in Islamic culture. The main claim of the author is that the disagreements between Muslim mystics and philosophers regarding theology stem from a deeper difference in their definition and perception of God. Particularly, the rationality of belief in the existence … Read more

Systematic Hadith Studies Program: Seven Valleys, Forty Stations

By Sayyid Mohammad Kazem Tabatabai Abstract: Hadith studies or the study of Hadith literature is one of the essential requirements for an Islamic scholar, which has historically been formally present in religious seminaries. Nowadays, these studies are mostly pursued individually. In this article, after explaining the criteria for selecting appropriate texts, a practical and systematic … Read more

Confrontation with Orientalism: Origins, Trends, and Outcomes

By Rasul Jafariyan The selection of this title is due to the noteworthy attention given to scholarly exchanges among researchers, both domestic and foreign, in the aforementioned summer classes. In my history of written activities, I have concurrently engaged in authorship, editing, and translation. Some of the translations have pertained to works produced in the … Read more

The Jurisprudence of Ashura (Part 2)

In the previous article, we made some prefunctory remarks regarding the challenges of extracting jurisprudential discussions from the tragedy of Karbalā. We also explained how the question of whether fiqhī implications can be drawn out of ‘Āshūrā’ is intimately tied with one’s viewpoint regarding the underlying motives of Imam Ḥusayn’s (as) uprising. We furthermore elaborated … Read more

The Jurisprudence of Ashura (Part 1)

By Muhammad Jaffer[1] Despite the relatively short span of time in which its events transpired, the fateful tragedy of Karbalā is arguably one of the most recounted, analyzed, and appraised events in human history. Whether it be in the domain of Islamic history, theology, sociology, literature, or art, the movement of ‘Āshurā’ as led by … Read more

Exegetical Trends of the Shi’a During Imam Baqir’s Era – Exploring the Dialectical of Exoteric vs Esoteric (Zahir & Batin) and Revelation vs Interpretation (Tanzil & Ta’wil)

Exegetical Trends of the Shi’a During Imam Baqir’s Era – Exploring the Dialectical of Exoteric vs Esoteric (Ẓāhir & Bāṭin) and Revelation vs Interpretation (Tanzīl & Ta’wīl) Original in Persian Written By Dr. S.M. Hadi Gerami Translated by Muhammad Jaffer and Sayyid Burair Abbas Abstract Studies exploring the historical development of exegesis abound in the … Read more

The Theory of Quranic Interiors (Butun al-Quran): A Study and Analysis (Part 2)

By Shaykh Ḥaydar Ḥubbullāh and transcribed by Muḥammad Ṭarrāf Translated by Muhammad Jaffer[1] II. The Proposed Postulates for Understanding the Quranic Interior If we submit that the Qurān does have interior dimensions, taking our springboard the aforementioned ḥadīth or any of the other prior arguments discussed (aside from the claim that the Qurān contains all … Read more

The Theory of Quranic Interiors (Butun al-Quran): A Study and Analysis (Part 1)

By Shaykh Ḥaydar Ḥubbullāh and transcribed by Muḥammad Ṭarrāf Translated by Muhammad Jaffer[1] In the previous two articles, we discussed the various views on vernacular and transcendental language of the Qurān. We discussed that in general, there are three major camps: a group that believes that the Qurānic diction is purely vernacular, a group that … Read more

The Language of the Quran (Part 2): Between The Vernacular (al-lughah al-urfiyyah) and Transcendental (ma fawq al-urfiyyah)

By Shaykh Ḥaydar Ḥubbullāh[1] Transcribed by Muhammad Jaffer In the previous article, we explained the vernacular theory of Qurānic language as espoused by a wide range of exegetes, tradents, and jurists.[2] In this discussion we will expand on the opposing perspective, which posits that the language of the Qurān transcends the bounds of human communication. … Read more

The Language of the Quran (Part 1): Between The Vernacular (al-lughah al-urfiyyah) and Transcendental (ma fawq al-urfiyyah)

By Shaykh Ḥaydar Ḥubbullāh[1] Transcribed by Muhammad Jaffer I. Introduction What is meant when we discuss the vernacular and common rational language of the Holy Qurān? Does the Qurān utilize a language that is supposed to be understood by all? Or does it seek to be inscrutable and inaccessible to the common man so that … Read more

Quranic Evidence for the Impermissibility of Tawassul Through the Awliya – An Overview and Critique

The topic of Tawassul is something that has been constantly debated since the time of Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728/1328) who seems to be first Muslim scholar to question this practice. The below is a translation of a paper written by Dr Fathullah Nijarzadegan, who is a professor at the university of Tehran and has hundreds … Read more

Some Remarks on the Authenticity of Supplications in Shi’a Hadith Literature

By Dr. Hassan Ansari Questions and doubts occasionally arise regarding the authenticity of certain supplication or ziyarat texts in the Shi’a hadith literature. However, two crucial aspects are often overlooked in such discussions: 1) Most supplication and ziyarat texts are, in fact, combined and merged versions of supplications and ziyarat taken from older and earlier … Read more

The Hegemony of Knowledge and Academic Terrorism vs. Desire of the Aspirant In the Etiquettes of the Teacher and Student

Translation & Editing: Sayyid Burair Abbas Proofreading & Review: Dr. Muhammad Jaffer Introduction Some Western researchers have adopted an interesting academic perspective on the question of why Europe progressed during the Dark Ages while the Muslims, who were previously ahead of Europe by several centuries, precipitously declined. How did the Europeans come to carry the … Read more

Intermarriages between Ahl ul-Bayt (a) and Companions & Caliphs

Translated & Edited by:- Sayyid Burair Abbas Annotated by:- Dr. Muhammad Jaffer Q: How do the Muslims explain the widespread phenomenon of intermarriages between the Ahlulbayt (a) of the Holy Prophet and the Companions/Caliphs and their children throughout history? Can you present for us the currents of thought in this matter in your usual elegant … Read more

A Study of Matn Criticism Amongst the Imamiyyah

Originally written in Arabic by Shaykh Dr. Haider Hobbollah, to read the original click here. Translated by Salim Salhab  From the very first centuries, the Shīʿī Imāmī Ḥadīth movement engaged in Matn criticism, with a primary focus on doctrinal and historical literature, and less so with regards to the milieu of narrations and traditions belonging to … Read more

Principle of Human Sacredness (Hurmah) & Nobility (Karamah)

These are edited transcripts of khārij lessons given between December 15th 2018 to December 29th 2018, on the topic of Citizenship Law and Religious Minorities by Shaykh Haider Hobbollah. In the context of religious minorities living under an Islamic government, there are various jurisprudential principles that can be cited to manage the rights of such … Read more

Interview with Ghulam Reza Fayyazi | Theologian or Philosopher? | Critique of Sadrian Philosophy | Philosophy and Religious Texts

Below is an interview conducted by Hadi Al Lawati on his show Hira (حَيْرَة) with contemporary Iranian philosopher Ustad Ghulam Reza Fayyazi. Some of the opinions and works of Ustad Fayyazi have been published on Iqra Online in the past such as: The English translations of the first few transcripts of his explanation of Bidāyah … Read more

Does the Maqasid-Based Framework for Ijtihad Result in Secularism?

This is a transcript of lesson 103, March 3rd, 2020 from Shaykh Haider Hobollah’s classes on legal theory. Maqāṣid-Based Ijtihād and Secularism There is a major critique that says Maqāṣid-based ijtihād results in secularism, since all you are left with are these higher vague principles, and everything else becomes a mere medium to reach those … Read more

Allamah al-Hilli on Reward, Punishment and Intercession in his Kashf Al-Murad

Translated by Ali Retha Translators Introduction: Allamah al-Hilli (d. 726Hijri / 1325 C), one of the most famous scholars and prolific writers of his time, has written the first commentary of his teachers work: Tajrid al-I’tiqad (Abstract of Doctrines) by Khawajah Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (d. 672/1274). The full title of Allamah al-Hilli’s commentary is Kashf … Read more

Occultation and Mahdawiyyat in the Writings of Shaykh al-Mufid (Part 1)

Originally written in Arabic by Sayyid Muḥammad Riḍā Ḥusaynī al-Jalālī and translated into Persian by Dr. Jūyā Jahānbakhsh[1] Translated and Annotated into English by Muhammad Jaffer Edited by Sayyid Burair Abbas The question of the Twelfth Imām’s (as) ghaybah (occultation) features widely in the writings of Shaykh Muḥammad bin Muḥammad bin Nu’mān al-‘Ukbarī al-Mufīd (336-413 … Read more

Analyzing the Disparagement of Unorthodox Scholars (Part 2)

Translated by Sayyid Burair Abbas Edited and annotated by Muhammad Jaffer As a continuation of the previous discussion regarding the delegitimization of non-orthodox Shī’ah scholars, we have translated the following Q&A found in the writings of Shaykh Ḥaydar Ḥubbullāh. For the sake of clarity, we have added some explanatory footnotes of our own to highlight … Read more

The Foreknowledge of Imam Husayn (as) Regarding His Death: Was it Suicide?

Translated by Sayyid Burair Abbas & reviewed, annotated, and edited by Muhammad Jaffer One of the major questions that has come up since antiquity regarding the revolution of Imām Ḥusayn (as) pertains to the perceived conflict between the steps he took towards his death and his occult foreknowledge about his impending martyrdom. In the below … Read more

From the Narration of Ghadir to Eid of Ghadir

By Rasul Jafarian The ḥadīth of Ghadīr or the day of Ghadīr is a reference to an event that took place in 10th hijri on the 18th of Dhi al-Ḥijjah, near a location called Ghadīr Khumm. As historical reports transmit, the Messenger of Allah was returning to Medina after completing his Hajj Tamattu‘ and asked … Read more

Abortion: An Overview of Considerations in Ja’fari Fiqh

Abortion – prematurely and proactively ending a pregnancy – is an extremely sensitive issue in the religious sphere. Approaching it theoretically requires a very fine balance between empathy for special circumstances and preserving sacred principles. Within Muslim academic discourse, by being linked to life, abortion automatically demands the right to be handled with the utmost … Read more

A Critical Analysis of Religious Discourse Today: Rescuing Our Youth

Translated by Muhammad Jaffer and edited by Sayyid Burair Abbas Religious adherents of Islām today struggle to maintain a strong sense of traditionalism while living amidst an ever-evolving modernity that may challenge their values. Unfortunately, religious discourse in the current era has arguably seen a decline in popularity, as evidenced by the new generation’s dwindling … Read more

An Abridged History Regarding the Shrines of the Imams at Jannat al-Baqi’

The following is a translation of an originally Persian article written by Dr. Aḥmad Khāmehyār regarding the history of Jannat al-Baqī’. The original article has been linked, published on the popular Persian blog site Kātebān.[1] Dr. Khāmeyār is a prominent historian specializing in the history of Islamic sanctuaries. The tombs at Jannat al-Baqī’, which subsume … Read more

Answering Objections: Zayd and Imamah

A reply was written by Muhammad Sharifi, a Zaydi brother, to my recent article on Zayd b. Ali (peace be upon them). I am happy to see intellectual exchange take place, but etiquette should always be observed. Offensive language against figures of the Imamī tradition, highly respected companions such as ‘The Believer of al-Ṭāq’ (al-Aḥwal), … Read more

Tahrif or Not? A Shi’i Perspective on the Seven Ahruf Reports (Pt. I)

Originally posted on Shiitic Studies. Introduction Did the companions all recite the Qur’an in the same way? If not, did this variation go back to the prophet (he taught it differently to different companions) and ultimately the Divine Author, or was it a result of the natural human condition (they tried their utmost to remain … Read more

Did Zayd b. Ali Not Know of His Father’s Imamah?

Zayd, the son of Imam al Sajjād (peace be upon them), is a landmark figure in Islamic history. He led an uprising against the government to avenge the blood of his grandfather, Imam al-Husayn (p). A theological school known as the Zaydiah separate from other Shīʿī denominations by their belief in the Imamah of Zayd. … Read more