Seeking Refuge, Seeking Nearness

When Zayd ibn Arqam was harmed and troubled by the hypocrites, and later had the honor of meeting the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), the Prophet said to him:

“Every morning say: ‘I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan 

(أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيطَانِ الجیم).’
So that the All-Merciful Allah may protect you from the evil of the hypocrites, who are human devils, and some of whom pass on false and ugly words to one another.”

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ )الْحَمْدُ للهِ( كُلُّ شَيْء خَاشِعٌ لَهُ، وَكُلُّ شَيْء قَائِمٌ بِهِ: غِنى كُلِّ فَقِير، وَعِزُّ كُلِّ ذَلِيل، وَقُوَّةُ كُلِّ ضَعِيف، وَمَفْزَعُ كُلِّ مَلْهُوف، مَنْ تَكَلَّمَ سَمِعَ نُطْقَهُ، وَمَنْ سَكَتَ عَلِمَ سِرَّهُ، وَمَنْ عَاشَ فَعَلَيْهِ رِزْقُهُ، وَمَنْ مَاتَ فَإِلَيْهِ مُنْقَلَبُهُ

(Praise be to Allah) Everything submits to Him and everything exists by Him. He is the satisfaction of every poor, dignity of the low, energy for the weak and shelter for the oppressed. Whoever speaks, He hears his speaking, and whoever keeps quiet, He knows his secret. On Him is the livelihood of everyone who lives, and to Him returns whoever dies. (K:109) 

1. كُلُّ شَيْء خَاشِعٌ لَهُ

“Everything is in humility before Him.”

Meaning:

• خاشع means humble, submissive, awed, and overwhelmed by the greatness of someone.
• Every created thing—angels, humans, animals, galaxies, atoms, time, space—is in a state of submission to Allah. ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَهِىَ دُخَانٌۭ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ ٱئْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًۭا قَالَتَآ أَتَيْنَا طَآئِعِينَ Then He turned to the heaven, and it was smoke, and He said to it and to the earth, ‘Come, willingly or unwillingly!’ They said, ‘We come obediently.’ (41:11)
• This is not just outward submission; it is inner, natural submission. Even if humans resist Allah outwardly, their very existence is a form of submission.

Why everything is humble before Allah:

• Everything in the universe follows laws set by Allah, whether they “know” it or not.
• Stars, planets, winds, plants, and all creatures move and function according to Allah’s will.
• Even when a person commits sin, their body, breath, and life are still sustained by Allah, meaning they are still under His control.

This is a cosmic humility: everything is bowed before Allah, either willingly (like the angels) or by necessity (like the physical world).

Visionary Parents دور اندیش والدین

رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ;  

My Lord! Make me and those ˹believers˺ of my descendants keep up prayer. Our Lord! Accept my prayers.

امام صادق (ع) الْوَلَدُ سَيِّدُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ، وَ عَبْدُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ، وَ وَزِيرُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ.”   

0-7: Freedom + Love

8-14: Discipline + Teaching  

15-21: Partnership + Leadership 

Why is the second stage called “ʿAbd (عَبْد = servant)” for seven years?

1. “ʿAbd” means someone who is disciplined and trained

In this stage (ages 8–14), the child:

• Is no longer treated as a master who can do whatever he wants (first stage),
• But is now trained in obedience, discipline, and responsibility.
• The word “ʿAbd” here does not mean oppressed or slave—it means a servant who follows rules, learns obedience, and accepts responsibility.

وَنَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنَّ عليا و أبىنائه المعصومين حجج الله ، 

أُوصِيکُمْ عِبَادَاللهِ و نفسي، بِتَقْوَى اللهِ وَطَاعَتِهِ،

Sermon: 2 

اَلْحَمْدُ للهِ وَالْحَمْدُ حَقُّهُ كَما يَسْتَحِقُّهُ حَمْداً كَثيراً وَاَعُوذُ بِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسى اِنَّ النَّفْسَ لاَمّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ اِلاّ ما رَحِمَ رَبّى وَاَعُوذُ بِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ الشَّيْطانِ الَّذى يَزيدُنى ذَنْباً اِلى ذَنْبى وَاَحْتَرِزُ بِهِ مِنْ كُلِّ جَبّار فاجِر وَسُلْطان جائِر وَعَدُوّ قاهِر اَللّـهُمَّ اجْعَلْنى مِنْ جُنْدِكَ فَاِنَّ جُنْدَكَ هُمُ الْغالِبُونَ وَاجْعَلْنى مِنْحِزْبِكَ فَاِنَّ حِزْبَكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ وَاجْعَلْنى مِنْ اَوْلِيآئِكَ فَاِنَّ أولياءك لا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ 

والصلاه والسلام علی حبیب رب العالمین، شفیع المذنبین، رحمه للعالمین ابی القاسم محمد….

Shahdat of Imam Baquir a.s: 

Born in Madina on Ist Rajab 57 Hijri, died in Madina on 7th Zilhijja 114 Hijri (31.1.733AD) at the age of 57 years. Period of Imamate 19 years.

On the evidence of the most authentic Hadith narrated by Sunni and Shia historians, one of the companions of the Holy Prophet Jabir Ibn Abdallah Ansari was in the presence of the Holy Prophet. He asked the Prophet about the names of descendants from his daughter Hazrat Fatima and ‘Ali (as) . The Prophet told him,

“O Jabir, you will have a long life, and although you will go blind, but you will meet the 5th in line of my descendants whose name will be my name, who will walk like me and who will be the 5th Imam of the time. When you will meet him, give my salaams to him”.

As predicted by the Holy Prophet Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari had a long life and became blind in his old age. But he devoutly waited for the time when he would meet the 5th Imam. Each morning he would come out from his house, sit by the road side and wait for the sound of the footsteps to recognize the 5th Imam.

One such day while he was waiting in the street of Madina, he heard someone walking towards him, the sound of footsteps reminded him of the way Holy Prophet used to walk. Jabir stood up, stopped the man and asked his name. He replied, “Muhammad”, Jabir asked, whose son?, he replied “‘Ali Ibnul Husayn”.

Jabir immediately recognized the man he was talking to was the 5th Imam. He kissed his and told him the message from the Holy Prophet and that the Prophet sent his salaams to him. Imam took him to his home, asked his friends to gather as many people as they can. When they all assembled in his house, the Imam asked Jabir to tell the whole story again.

Jabir narrated the story, they all cried and attested in unison of the Imamate of the Fifth Imam and also the names of the other Seven Imams in his line up to the Twelfth Imam.

Day of Arafa and Shahdat of H. Muslim a:

the Day of ʿArafah is one of the greatest days of the year and a major spiritual station for duʿāʾ, repentance, self-knowledge, and divine mercy.

Core significance

For the Ahlulbayt (a.s.), ʿArafah is not only the day of standing on the plain of ʿArafāt during Hajj; it is also a day when Allah’s mercy, forgiveness, and nearness are especially open to the believer. It is a day of turning the heart completely toward Allah through humility and recognition of one’s dependence on Him.

Duʿāʾ of ʿArafah

One of the most important legacies of the Ahlulbayt (a.s.) for this day is Imam Husayn’s (a.s.) Duʿāʾ of ʿArafah, which is a profound text of theology, gratitude, self-awareness, and intimate conversation with Allah. Scholars emphasize that it should be recited with presence of heart, because its meanings are spiritually rich and deeply reflective.

Recommended amaal

The Ahlulbayt (a.s.) teach that ʿArafah should be marked by:

• abundant duʿāʾ,
• istighfār,
• praise of Allah,
• reflection on one’s creation and blessings,
• and sincere longing for divine forgiveness.

Shahdat of H. Muslim a:

1. Wilayat-peziri (ولایت‌پذیری الاستسلام للولاية (القبول والرضى))

Wilayat-peziri means acceptance of Wilayah (guidance/authority):

• Accepting divine leadership (from the Prophethood of the Prophet ﷺ, to the Imamate of the Infallibles (a.s.), and in our time, acceptance of the divinely appointed leadership).
• Accepting obedience and submission to the Wali (the Guardian, the Imam) as the Wali of Allah and the Hujjatallah (Proof of Allah) over creation.
  
• Heartfelt and practical readiness to obey the Wali in all religious and moral matters.

2. Wilayat-madari (ولایت‌مداری الالتزام بالولاية (العمل بها))

Wilayat-madari means being guided by and committed to Wilayah in practice:

• All actions and behaviors revolve around Wilayah (around obedience to the Wali).
• Wilayah becomes the center of all decisions and actions in individual and social life.
• Loyalty and sincerity to the Wali and continuing his path even in hardships.

Wilayat-madari means:

Wilayah is the axis of your life; everything is done according to Wilayah. 

Eid al-Adhha

It celebarates the profound faith and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (ع) when Allah commanded him to sacrifice his son Ismail (ع). When Ibrahim was ready to fulfil this divine command, Allah replaced Ismail with a great ram (ram of sacrifice), fusing the test of faith.