Quran and Etrat Internet University Islamic Ethics 2

Quran and Etrat Internet University Islamic Ethics 2

lesson 1 n n The subject of world and the other world (Donya and Akherah) has its effect on other Islamic Principles (Asool u. Deen). Understanding this subject is a background for a deep understanding of many terms such as sincerity (Ikhlas) that requires a detailed knowledge and trust in God and has many applications in people’s daily life. Two aspects will be considered in studying this subject: the traditional aspect and the rational aspect. God has endowed Imams with the true knowledge, their statements and actions –including those regarding this world (Donya)- serve as an example for us in every life aspect.

lesson 1 n n In the rational aspect, the concept itself -without considering the speaker- will be discussed rationally in order to find out whether it is correct itself or should be acknowledged just because Imams have emphasized it. There are some traditions of Imams which explain the value of this world. It is worth mentioning that since this world (Donya) is such worthless; one shouldn’t take pride in turning away from it. Rather, this is a self-evident…. All holy persons - Ma’soomin- have the same holy nature. Therefore, they have the same constant criteria.

lesson 2 n n This lesson is about the traditional aspect of the subject “This world and the otherworld”. Imam Ali (pbuh) said: O’ Donya!. . . By God, I’ll neither degrade myself that you abase me, nor submit to you that you direct me wherever you like. (Nahj ul-Balaghah, letter no. 45) The Prophet’s policy was not to even look at others’ worldly pleasures. …the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) has abandoned this world (Donya) because it is worthless and paltry itself even not taking into consideration the last world (Akherah).

lesson 2 n n Amir ul-Mo’mineen (peace be upon him) said: …follow the example of your virtuous Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). He is a shining example for the one who follows him and a consolation for who wishes to console himself with him. (Nahj ul-Balaghah, speech no. 160). Amir ul-Mo’mineen (peace be upon him) said: …loving what God and his Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) hated and extolling what they held in contempt is a clear sign of opposition to God and disobedience of his order.

lesson 3 n n Imam Hossain (p. b. u. h. ) has said: If I leave this world (Donya), having nothing -no money, wealth or social position- but this grace, I won’t even care about those things that I don’t have. Our most important request is to go to Heaven and therefore to have such a grace in this short world (Donya) that can grant our request in the eternal last world (Akherah). * How often money, wealth and social positions became an indignation instead of a grace! * Another remark is that the criterion to consider something a grace is that it grants us the everlasting bliss instead of just a temporal pleasure.

lesson 3 n n n So, what is this great grace that Imam is emphasizing? Imam Sadeq (p. b. u. h. ) has said: We are the graces that God has granted his servants. Surely, this grace is nothing but ; )ﻭﻻﻳﺖ ﺃﻬﻞ ﺍﻟﺒﻴﺖ )ﻉ i. e. following Ahl ul- Bait (peace be upon them).

lesson 4 1. There is a special type of deeds that can lead one to Heaven. 2. This world (Donya) is nobody’s permanent residence. 3. One should consider this world (Donya) as a passage way or a guest-house. 4. Since this world (Donya) is temporal and mortal while the last world (Akherah) is everlasting, one should use Donya to supply provisions for his everlasting journey, Akherah.

lesson 5 n n n The most of the Hellfire-dwellers’ moaning and groaning is for their delays. The Devil spares no effort that we postpone doing our duties. This is a wrong mentality that; “At the time when Imam Mahdi (may Allah accelerate his reappearance) reappears, we‘ll benefit from his knowledge, serve him, seek to fulfill his needs…etc i. e. postponing everything until Imam reappears. ” What really gladdens the holy persons’ hearts (infallibles' heart) is to make every effort in fulfilling their followers’ needs. We should bear in mind that these holy persons -the fourteen Ma’sooms- are in authority of the whole universe and all of us should love and obey them.

lesson 6 n n n Amirul Mominin (peace be upon him) has considered this world paltry and worthless based on several factors. One factor is that this world is perishable (transient). one shouldn’t think that only youth, money and good health are to perish. Instead, the whole world is to perish. As a result our lifestyle should match these facts so as not to end at being a loser. From Imam’s letter to Shoraih we deduce that if one falls in the trap of this world-love and self whims, he won’t be able to analyze facts correctly anymore. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said: "So, days, life…etc are all things that we count (countable) and the counting process will stop once & they will perish". What is Islam strategy if we follow, we’ll step by step get ready for death before we face it?

lesson 7 n n n A strong belief in God’s power and full control can solve many problems. We have to obey God when he orders us to do certain deeds and avoid others; say certain statements, and avoid others; …, etc because He has undertaken our daily bread i. e. sustenance. Islam doesn’t urge us to be careless about this world (Donya) and not to fulfill our needs. Islam orders us to provide food and residence that we need for one year. This world (Donya) is very short and our departure (from it) is very soon. So, we have no time for evaluating our activities. An atmosphere of peace and tranquility away from worries and mental disturbance in this world (Donya) is necessary for one to do his religious duties -that lead to heaven- properly.

lesson 8 n n n It can be deduced from the before lessons that this world (Donya) is too short for us to think of, care about or evaluate our affairs because at every moment, it is liable to come to an end. Amirul Mominin emphasized that this world (Donya) is not worth being attached to. Narrations explain that remembering death is a solution for two problems: extreme joy and extreme sadness. What should we do to comply with these instructions? One of the practical and effective ways is to remember death. Three of Imam Ali’s remarks for remembering death more easily, : 1) Running away from death is useless 2) God is so merciful and magnanimous that he would never will bad luck for His creature.

lesson 8 n n 3) God will definitely help whoever tries to become obedient and please him. Other practical ways for a better understanding of death, besides trusting in God and His vicegerent, are to expect death at any moment, pay a visit to the graves of the dead people, participate in escorting funerals and have a ready shroud at home. Another practical way is to read Imam’s expressions describing death time carefully.

lesson 9 n n The institution of Imamah and Welayah is just an approach, Establishing justice depends on sending the Book and the Balance which refers to Amirul-Mominin and the other Imams (peace be upon them) based on the narrations. Imam is such dignitary that in order to gain a true knowledge about him, one needs to be submissive to the religious teachings first. This is the only way to establish a spiritual relationship with God’s appointed Guardian on the earth (Imam). Two incorrect understandings about our relationship with Imams: 1) To consider them the origin (basis) instead of God 2) To abandon them (lay them aside) because they are merely a means and seek another means instead of them.

lesson 9 n n The actual problem is that people seek more pleasure. So, they get more attached to this world. Therefore, their problems get doubled that they feel that they can not tolerate anymore. The nature of this world is such that unless one is contented and not greedy, he won’t be happy. Having a quick look at history, we can find many examples of famous people who had great wealth and high social ranks but lost them all in a while. Since youth stage is transient, one should make the most of it by doing good deeds and taking provisions for the last world (Akherah) before this world takes youth back and gets me ready for death.

lesson 9 n n Being careless about this world or getting busy with the worldly pleasures are not virtues They are ways of escaping from this world’s facts instead. Imam Musa Bin Ja’far-peace be upon him- said to Hisham Bin Al Hakam: This world (Donya) is similar to the seawater. The more you drink, the thirstier you get. A similar narration is mentioned in Bihar ul-Anwar, vol. 1, p. 152.

lesson 10 n n n Imam Sadiq -peace be upon him- said: ﻟﻴﺲ ﻣﻨﺎ ﻣﻦ ﺗﺮﻙ ﺩﻧﻴﺎﻩ ﻵﺨﺮﺗﻪ n None of us abandons this world (Donya) for the sake of the last world (Akherah) The best application will take place during Imam Mahdi’s government when people will be interested only in values and a balanced state between this world and the last world (Donya and Akherah) will be accomplished. The prophet’s Progeny-peace be upon them- have repeatedly emphasized: “Do not curse this world or hold it in contempt because it is one of God’s creatures where God is worshipped and his lover’s work and do business”.

lesson 10 n n We should utilize world correctly following the Islamic teachings i. e. God’s orders, it will be our best way to build the last world. Actually, doing good deeds and helping people are two characters of people who are not attached to this world (Donya). Poor people can be considered among this world’s lovers by concentrating only on this world ignoring God orders. We can conclude that the borders between this world’s love and the last world’s love are God’s orders (Dos and Don’ts or Halal and Haram) since following them ensures us that we are on the right track.

lesson 11 n n The period of the Time made known is the day when Imam Mahdi (may Allah accelerate his reappearance) reappears and the Devil’s respite comes to an end…. Therefore, he spares no effort in making people forget about praying for the acceleration for Imam’s reappearance and awaiting for him so as to delay it as much as possible. It is worth mentioning that the Devil’s first enemy is (Welayah) i. e. following the Prophet’s progeny. If he succeeds in depriving someone from this great grace, he’ll leave him alone because he has achieved his most important goal. The only way to build the last world is to be existed in this world and follow God’s orders in utilizing it. So, this world itself is not an evil. This world has never hidden its calamities and disasters from us.

lesson 11 n n Those people who look at this world i. e. spend their lives and all what they have merely for the sake of this world, it makes them blind and they become unable to see the facts. God has given us the chance to live in this world. Our capital is this life…these minutes that pass. . . Whatever we utilize here correctly (i. e. not for the sake of this world), will be saved for us forever. So, we can eat, drink, sleep, exercise, make money, etc but not for the sake of eating, sleeping, etc; however; for the sake of God i. e. in order to maintain a healthy body and spirit so as to worship God. One should actually seek God’s help and requests Imam Mahdi – may Allah accelerate his reappearance - to have such a lifestyle.

lesson 12 “Take what you really need” n n n n Spending time planning for work and making money in the way of God and for the sake of worship is never an evil deed like some people may think. Spending time with one’s aged parent, chatting with him/her or fulfilling his/her needs is one sort of worship that is mostly hypocrisy-free. Narrations urge us to use an economic volume of the worldly utilities. Loving this world means that one enjoys the worldly pleasures just for the sake of satisfaction of his own soul. The criterion for loving this world is to have a correct reasoning about this world and to follow God’s rules. The Prophet’s progeny –peace be upon them-used to take only what they really needed from this world, not more. All worldly pleasures than one can enjoy during -let’s say- 600 years, aren’t worth a single death pressures or a single death punishments.

Take what you really need