Ihtiyāt Wujūbī (obligatory precaution) is when a jurist does not issue a fatwa on a specific matter, but mandates a caution that should be followed, while still allowing his followers to refer to another jurist.…
Author: Ali Safdari
How to Study ‘Ilm al-Rijāl
When I was starting my journey of learning the science of hadith and narrators, I found the following guide from the contemporary rijāli scholar, Sh Mohammad Baqir Malekian very useful. Below is the translation of…
The Kalam & Philosophy Disputes
Some academic disputes will probably never end, one of them being the dispute between proponents of falsafah against that of kalām (theology). What makes this debate interesting, at least personally, is that both sides have…
Defining Life: From Theology to Biology
This is not a technical paper, rather, some ruminations for the sake of intellectual benefit and food for thought. Theology and Life Theologians affirm that God possesses the attribute of “life” — that is, God…
Reading List
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم بسم ربك الأكرم الذي علّم بالقلم In the name of your Generous Lord, who taught by the pen This list is predominantly curated for the general audience, not experts or students of…
Is the Quran a guide for all?
In some verses, God makes it clear that his book is descended as “a guidance for the people and clear proofs [that are of] guidance and [a] criteria [for discerning the truth]”. In other verses,…
A small poem dedicated to Sayyida Masumah (pbuh) on the anniversary of her demise:
With you our worries rest and new hope is found With you wills find strength our hearts peaceful and our minds sound You watch us journey through the years The joys and the tears The…
Zayd and Imāmah: Answering Objections
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…
Did Zayd not know the Imāmah of his father?
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).…
9 Recommendations for Ramadan
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These are recommendations attributed to Ayatullāh Kashmirī, an eminent and contemporary teacher of akhlāq. Quality over quantity: Don’t simply complete (khatm) verses and supplications, rather, pursue digesting them. Take in small bites of (spiritual) food…