“Knowing the contents of this informative book is a necessity for every Muslim. I believe that the contents of this book can have a huge impact on the lives of many Muslims in the West, and it can be a good start for gaining more knowledge about the religion of Islam. I would also encourage the Muslim community to appreciate and support this work. I want to take this opportunity to thank brother Mateen for his hard work and efforts. May Allah (SWT) increase his blessings and bestow His mercy upon him.”- Sheikh Mustafa Akhound, Imam Ali Center, Springfield VAThe idea that prompted me to write this book was due to the fact that so many new converts to Shia Islam would always ask me why we did things differently than other sects. They would be exposed to different things upon going to various mosques. They would ask me why people pray with their hands by their sides while others would fold their arms, why was the call to prayer different, what is that “stone” we prostrate on, etc.? I used to find myself explaining these things on a daily basis, so I decided to write these questions and answers down and share them with people who came to me. That was the first phase of this project. Later on I decided to add the Usul-e-Deen (roots of religion) and Furu-e-Deen (branches of religion) being that these differ from other schools of thought as well. After I looked at what I had put together I thought that this would be a very beneficial piece of information for new converts to Islam. This was designed to help them not only to learn why Shia believe and practice the way we do, but also to learn with clear proofs from the sources. I then proceeded to add a few other chapters to help give a good basic foundation for one to start in their quest for knowledge.In total this work deals with a variety of topics including:• Usul-e-Deen• Furu-e-Deen• The Word Shia and its Meaning• The 30 rights of a Muslim• Forbidden acts of a Muslim• Some Important Dates and Things to Know• Cleanliness in Islam• Wudhu• Salat• Ahadith showing the importance of knowing the Ahl ul Bayt (as)• Why we say bismillah aloud in salat• Why we say hayya ala khayril amal in adhan• Why we dont fold our hands in salat• Why we takbir 3 times after salat• Why we dont say as-salatu khayrum min nawm in our fajr adhan• Why we say taslim once while looking straight instead of turning our head right and left• Why we prostrate on turbah• Why we say aliyan waliyallah in our adhan and iqamah

Sayyid Amjad Hussain Shah Naqavi’s introduction and annotated scholarly translation of Ayatollah Khomeini’s The Mystery of Prayer brings to light a rarely studied dimension of an author better known for his revolutionary politics. Writing forty years before the Islamic revolution, Khomeini shows a formidable level of insight into the spiritual aspects of Islamic prayer. Through discussions on topics such as spiritual purity, the presence of the heart before God, and the stations of the spiritual wayfarer, Khomeini elucidates upon the nature of reality as the countenance of the divine. Drawing upon scriptural sources and the Shīʿah intellectual and mystical tradition, the subtlety of the work has led to it being appreciated as one of Khomeini’s most original works in the field of gnosis.

[In this book, the author] recounts the lives of the handful of individuals - the first four Caliphs, the Prophet's widows and the conquering generals - who led and influenced Islam after the death of Muhammad. Within this fifty-year span of conquest and empire-building, [the author] identifies the seeds of discord and civil war that destroyed the unity of Islam and traces the roots of the schism between Sunni and Shia Muslims to the rivalry of the two people who best knew and loved the Prophet: his cousin and son-in-law Ali and his wife Aisha. -Dust jacket.

This volume - grown out of an international conference at Freiburg University in 1999 - deals with various aspects of Shiite Islam since the 18th century. It is divided into two major parts, the first of which is dedicated to traditional institutions of theology and learning and their transformation in modern times. The second part treats internal debates and the activities of Shiite dissidents, showing that Shiism is far from being uniform. Ideological and political developments in the 20th century and especially the Islamic Revolution in Iran have shaped the image of modern Shiism more than any other tendencies and are therefore also discussed in greater detail in Parts three and four. This book reflects the state of the art in this field of Islamic studies, its 21 contributions covering three centuries and a vast geographical range.

'Ali ibn Abi Talib is unparalleled in Islam. He was the Prophet Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, the first Shi'i Imam and the fourth of the Rashidun Caliphs. Sunni and Shi'i Muslims alike hold 'Ali in the highest regard owing to his status as a spiritual teacher and his strength as a warrior. According to the mystical tradition of Islam, 'Ali is the embodiment of 'the perfect human being' (al-insan al-kamil). Reza Shah-Kazemi here draws on the insights of the Sufi masters Ibn 'Arabi and Rumi to look beyond the biographical details of 'Ali's life to reflect on the spiritual significance of his actions and teachings. In the spirit of ta'wil or esoteric interpretation, the author identifies how 'Ali's inner spiritual principles can be regarded as transcending the boundaries of time, space, religion and culture. For Shah-Kazemi, it is this mystical interpretation of 'Ali that invites a new, much deeper understanding of his personality and contemporary relevance, outside the confines of history. The book offers vivid examples of 'Ali's conduct and persona--on the battlefield, from the pulpit of the mosque, and in his private teachings to the mystics--exploring the ways in which his actions embodied his principles. An accessible and concise guide, this book is relevant to all those with an interest in the life of 'Ali, Islamic spirituality, religious practice, and the philosophy of religion.

U.S. relations with Iran have been fraught for decades, but under the Trump Administration tensions are rising to startling levels. Medea Benjamin, one of the best-known 21st century activists, offers the incredible history of how a probable alliance became a bitter antagonism in this accessible and fascinating story. In 1979, the Iranian Revolution brought a full-scale theocracy to the 80 million inhabitants of the Middle East's second largest country, with. The rule of the ayatollahs opened the door to Islamic fundamentalism. In the decades since, bitter relations have persisted between the U.S. and Iran. Yet how is it that Iran has become the primary target of American antagonism over nations like Saudi Arabia, whose appalling human rights violations fail to depose it as one of America's closest allies in the Middle East? In the first general-audience book on the subject, Medea Benjamin elucidates the mystery behind this complex relationship, recounting the country's history from the pre-colonial period to its emergence as the one nation Democrats and Republicans alike can unite in denouncing. Benjamin has traveled several times to Iran, and uses her firsthand experiences with politicians, activists, and everyday citizens to provide a deeper understanding of the complexities of Iranian society. Tackling common misconceptions about Iran's system of government, its religiosity, and its citizens' way of life, Benjamin makes short work of the inflammatory rhetoric surrounding U.S.-Iranian relations, and presents a realistic and hopeful case for the two nations' future.

An Invisible World: Revealing the Mystery Behind the World of Jinn by Salim Ahmad lifts the veils obscuring myth from truth concerning the magical world of the unseen.

The Jewish people have honored the principles of the Torah for thousands of years. Today, the Jewish people make up less than 1% of the world's population. However, their contribution in global affairs is enormous. This book presents a unique perspective about Jewish culture and history. It sets out to investigate the causes of the success of the Jewish people. The History & Mystery of the Jewish People unleashes some core elements and aspects of the Jewish society that have enabled Jews to remain at the helm of affairs in professions and institutions for centuries. It uses a rationalist approach to go over the history of the Jewish people. It examines the individual and collective philosophies that have shaped the thought and mindset of the Jewish people for the past centuries. The book undertakes some comparative analysis between the Jewish society and culture and the African society. It identifies the equivalents of the Jewish culture in the Sub-Saharan African community. This piece ventures into elements of Jewish history from Ancient Israel to the Destruction of the Second Temple. It gives a vivid account about events that led to the creation of the modern state of Israel. This daring quest brings to light some elements of today's society like the root of the War on Terror amongst others. The book is a unique narration by an African writer in an African context.

This book argues that ever since Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979, which established a Shia Islamic government in Iran, that country’s religious and political leaders have used Shia Islam as a crucial way of expanding Iran’s objectives in the Middle East and beyond. Since 1979, Iran’s religious and political leaders have been concerned about Iran’s security in the face of the hostility and expansionism of the United States and other western countries, and the threats from powerful neighboring Sunni leaders and countries. While Iran’s government has attempted to align itself with Shia Muslims in various countries, such as Iraq and Lebanon, against American and Sunni expansionism, the Iranian government has attempted to religiously nourish and politically mobilize those Shias as a matter of principle, not only because of the Iranian government’s desires to protect Iran from external threats. The book analyzes Shia Islam and politics in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon which have among the largest proportional Shia populations in the Middle East and are vibrant centers of Shia intellectual life. The book's clear and jargon-free approach make it especially accessible for students and general readers who would like an introduction to the book's topics.

The continent of Atlantis and Mu-Land, the earliest civilization that disappeared by the great Flood, has never been found, according to my paper presented at an international academic conference in early September 2005: “Mega-tsunami in northeastern Taiwan at least 12,000 years ago”, just to find out the earliest civilization lost by mankind, it can be inferred from ancient cultural relics that these two are one Taiwan Island. Another 6,000 years ago, the explosion Volcano of the Seven-Star Mountain in Taipei lasted for several years, causing Taiwan's ancestors to flee and spread to the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, forming a vast territory of the Austronesian language family. Color version, 18K, 416 Pages, 420 pictures.