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Fifty Lectures On The Principles Of Faith For Youth

Author: Ayatullah Makarim Shirazi

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Table of Contents

Preface 10

Prelude 12

[Ten Lectures on God and His Attributes] 13

First Lecture: Searching for God 14

Why Do We Think And Study In Order To Know The Creator Of The Universe? 14

1. The love to be informed about and know the world is deep inside every one of us 14

2. A Sense of Gratitude 14

3. The connection of our benefit and loss to this question 14

THINK AND ANSWER 15

Second Lecture: The Consequences of Knowing God in our Lives 16

1. Theism and the Advancement of Knowledge 16

2. Theism, Endeavors and Hopes 16

3. Theism and the Sense of Responsibility 17

4. Theism and Peace of Mind 17

THINK AND ANSWER 17

Third Lecture: Theism from two Secure Paths 19

The Approach from Within 19

THINK AND ANSWER 20

Fourth Lecture: The Answer to an Important Question 21

The Question 21

The Answer 21

Fifth Lecture: A True Story 23

THINK AND ANSWER 23

Sixth Lecture: The Second Way to Know God 25

A Way from Without 25

The Relation of Order and Wisdom 25

THINK AND ANSWER 26

Seventh Lecture: Some Examples of the Order of Creation 27

Order, purpose and planning are vividly observable in all of creation. Here are some striking examples 27

The Headquarters of the Territory of Man’s Body 27

The Cerebrum, the Most Amazing Part of the Brain 27

Another Astonishing Section of the Brain is the Memory 28

THINK AND ANSWER 28

Eighth Lecture: A World of Wonder in a Small Flying Animal 29

THINK AND ANSWER 30

Ninth Lecture: The Friendship between Insects and Flowers 31

THINK AND ANSWER 32

Tenth Lecture: In the World of Microcosms 33

From atoms we learn Lessons on Monotheism 33

THINK AND ANSWER 34

Further Discussion on the Tenth Lecture 34

How Splendid are the Attributes of Allah 34

His Attributes 34

Divine Beauty and Divine Majesty 35

THINK AND ANSWER 36

Ten Lecures on God’s Justice 37

First Lecture: What is Justice? 38

Why is justice, above God’s other attributes, considered as one of the principles ` religion? 38

To answer this question, we should take the following into consideration 38

During the early days of Islam, a dispute arose over the issue of God’s justice 38

What is Justice? 39

Justice has two distinct meanings 39

The Differences between Justice and Equality 40

THINK AND ANSWER 40

Second Lecture: The Reasons for God’s Justice 41

Rational Goodness and Unseemliness 41

Ignorance 41

Selfishness and Revenge 41

The Qur’an and God’s Justice 42

Invitation to Justice 42

THINK AND ANSWER 43

Third Lecture: The Philosophy behind Disasters and Evils 44

Man’s Relative Judgment and his Limited Knowledge 44

Unpleasant Events and Warnings 45

THINK AND ANSWER 46

Fourth Lecture: The Philosophy behind Unpleasant Events in our Lives 47

Man Matures when he Faces Difficulties 47

Hardships Prepare Man to Return to God 48

THINK AND ANSWER 48

Fifth Lecture: More Discussion on the Philosophy behind Disasters and Evils 49

Hardships and Life’s Ups and Downs Enliven Us 49

Self-made Hardships 49

THINK AND ANSWER 51

Sixth Lecture: Determinism and Free Will 52

The Origin of the Belief in Determinism 52

The Basic Error of the Proponents of Determinism 52

The Politico-Social Factors Involved in the Philosophy of Determinism 53

Political Factors 53

Psychological Factors 53

Social Factors 53

THINK AND ANSWER 54

Seventh Lecture: The Clearest Proof for free will Man’s Conscience Categorically Rejects Determinism 55

The Religious Opposition to Determinism 56

THINK AND ANSWER 56

Eighth Lecture: What is the Intermediate School? 57

Delegation vis-à-vis Determinism 57

The Intermediate School 57

Another Example 57

Determinism and Free Will in the Holy Qur’an 58

THINK AND ANSWER 59

Ninth Lecture: Guidance and Misguidance are in the Hands of God 60

1. Kinds of Guidance and Misguidance 60

A crucial and important question 60

God’s Eternal Knowledge an Excuse for Justifying Crime: 61

THINK AND ANSWER 62

Tenth Lecture: God’s Justice and Eternal Chastisement (khuld) 63

Through a simple example, we may visualize this fact 63

THINK AND ANSWER 64

Notes 64

Ten Lectures on Prophethood 66

First Lecture: Our Need for Divine Leaders 67

The Limitations of our knowledge 67

We Need Prophets for Educational Reasons 68

The Need for Leadership in Social and Ethical Fields 69

THINK AND ANSWER 69

Second Lecture: Prophets are Needed to Provide us with Rules and Regulations 70

Rules could solve three types of hardships 70

The Relation between Monotheism and Prophethood 71

THINK AND ANSWER 72

Third Lecture: Why are Prophets Sinless [infallible]? 73

Immunity against Sins and Wrongdoing 73

THINK AND ANSWER 74

Fourth Lecture: The Best Way to Recognize the Prophet 75

Miracles and supernatural deeds 75

Some Vivid Examples 75

Miracles should not be mingled with Superstitions 76

The Differences between Miracles and Other Extraordinary Acts 76

There are two clear answers to this question: 76

THINK AND ANSWER 77

Fifth Lecture: The Greatest Miracle of the Prophet of Islam 78

The Eternal Miracle 78

The Story of Walid Ibn Mughirah 79

THINK AND ANSWER 80

Sixth Lecture: A Brief Look at the Miracles of the Holy Qur’an 81

Why the Discontinuous letters? 81

Lack of contradiction and unrelated issues 81

Eloquence and Clarity 81

THINK AND ANSWER 82

Seventh Lecture: The world view of the Holy Qur’an 83

THINK AND ANSWER 85

Eighth Lecture: The Holy Qur’An with Respect to the Scientific Discoveries of our Time 86

The Holy Qur’an on Gravity 86

The Discovery of the Rotation of the Earth around Itself and its Orbit around the Sun 87

THINK AND ANSWER 88

Ninth Lecture: Another Proof for the Legitimacy of the Prophet of Islam 89

THINK AND ANSWER 91

Tenth Lecture: The Prophet of Islam: the Seal of the Prophets 92

The Real Meaning of the Seal of the Prophets 92

The Reasons why the Prophet is the Last Prophet 92

THINK AND ANSWER 94

Notes 95

Ten Lectures on Imamate 96

First Lecture: When was Imamate first discussed? 97

THINK AND ANSWER 99

Second Lecture: The Philosophy behind the Existence of the Imams 100

Spiritual perfection with Divine Leaders 100

Protecting Heavenly Laws 100

The Need to Make the Proof Irrefutable 101

The Imam is a Great Medium for Divine Grace 101

THINK AND ANSWER 101

Third Lecture: The Imam’s specific traits 103

1. Infallibility or Sinlessness 103

2. Having Great Knowledge 103

3. Bravery 104

4. Piety and Austerity 104

5. Ethical Attractiveness 104

THINK AND ANSWER 104

Fourth Lecture: Who has the Responsibility to Appoint the Imam? 105

Could the Muslim community appoint the Prophet’s successor? 105

1. Did not the Prophet Appoint a Successor? 106

2. Consensus and Consultation 107

3. `Ali (s) had the Greatest Merit for the Imamate 107

THINK AND ANSWER 107

Fifth Lecture: The Holy Qur’An and Imamate 109

1. The Holy Qur’An considers Imamate as an Appointment by God 109

2. The Verse on Delivery 109

3. The Verse on Obedience to Those in Authority 110

4. The verse on Wilayah: 111

THINK AND ANSWER 112

Sixth Lecture: Imamate in the Prophet’s Tradition 113

The Narration of Ghadir 113

THINK AND ANSWER 115

Seventh Lecture: The narration of Manzilah and the narration of Yawm Al-Dar 116

The content of the Narration on Status 117

THINK AND ANSWER 118

Eighth Lecture: The Thaqalayn and Noah’s Ark Narrations 119

The Recording of the Thaqalayn Narration 119

The content of the Narration of Thaqalayn 120

The Narration of Noah’s Ark 120

THINK AND ANSWER 121

Ninth Lecture: The Twelve Imams 122

The Narrations Concerning the Twelve Imams 122

The Content of These Narrations 122

Distinguishing the Imams by Their Names 124

THINK AND ANSWER 125

Tenth Lecture: Imam Mahdi, the Twelfth Imam and the World’s Great Reformer 126

The End of a Dark Night 126

Innate disposition and the Appearance of the Great Reformer 126

Rational Proof 127

The Holy Qur’an and the Appearance of the Mahdi 128

The Mahdi in the Traditions 129

The Narrations on the Mahdi Relayed by Shi`ah Scholars 130

THINK AND ANSWER 131

Notes 131

Ten Lectures on Eschastology 132

First Lecture: One Crucial Question: Is Death Considered as One’s End or Beginning? 133

The Real Reason Behind This Fear 133

1. An Interpretation of Death as Extinction 133

The Dreadful Record 133

Two Different Points of View 134

THINK AND ANSWER 135

Second Lecture: Resurrection Provides Life With Meaning 136

Belief in the Resurrection: an Important Factor of Education 136

THINK AND ANSWER 137

Third Lecture: An Example Of The Day Of Resurrection within Our Souls 138

THINK AND ANSWER 139

Fourth Lecture: Resurrection with Respect to Innate Nature 140

1. Love for Survival 140

2. Resurrection in History 140

THINK AND ANSWER 141

Fifth Lecture: Resurrection in the Scale of Justice 142

Free will and Freedom in Decision-Making 142

THINK AND ANSWER 143

Sixth Lecture: The Resurrection in This World 144

THINK AND ANSWER 145

Seventh Lecture: The Resurrection and the Philosophy of Creation 146

Many people might ask: Why did God create us? 146

THINK AND ANSWER 147

Eighth Lecture: The Continuity of the Soul as a Sign for the Existence of The Resurrection 149

1. We Cannot Place a Gigantic World Inside a Tiny One 149

2. The Ability of the Soul to Reflect the Outside World 150

3. Empirical Reasons for the Fundamentality and Independence of the Soul 150

THINK AND ANSWER 151

Ninth Lecture: Bodily Resurrection and Spiritual Resurrection 152

Bodily Resurrection in the Holy Qur’an 152

Rational Examples for the Resurrection of the Body 153

Questions Related to the Resurrection of the Body 153

THINK AND ANSWER 154

Tenth Lecture: Paradise, Hell, and the corporealization of Deeds 155

The Corporealization of our Deeds 156

THINK AND ANSWER 157

Notes 159

Preface

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

The precious legacy left behind by the Holy Prophet’s Household [ahl al-bayt] (may peace be upon them all) and their followers’ preservation of this legacy from the menace of extinction is a perfect example of the all-encompassing school [madrasah] that embraces all the different branches of Islamic knowledge.

This school has been able to train many talented personalities by quenching them with this gushing fountain. This school has given scholars to the Muslim ummah who, by following the Holy Prophet’s Household (a.s), have done their best in order to clear away the doubts and skepticisms put forth by any various creeds and intellectual currents both inside and outside Muslim society. Throughout past centuries, they have presented the firmest answers and solutions to these doubts.

Anchored to the responsibilities upon its shoulders, the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s) World Assembly has embarked on defending the sanctity of risalah [message] and its authentic beliefs - truths which have always been opposed by the chiefs and leaders of anti-Islamic sects, religions and trends.

In this sacred path, the Assembly regards itself as a follower of the upright pupils of the School of the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s) - those who have always been ready to refute those accusations and calumnies and have tried to be always in the frontline of this struggle on the basis of the expediencies of time and space.

The experiences in this field, which contained the books of scholars belonging to the School of the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s), are unique in their own right. It is because these experiences have been based upon knowledge [`ilm] and the preeminence of intellect and reasoning,

and at the same time, they are devoid of blind prejudices or whims and caprices. These experiences address experts, scholars and thinkers in a manner that appeals to healthy minds and pure human natural disposition [fitrah].

In a bid to assist those who are in quest of truth, the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s) World Assembly has endeavored to enter a new phase of these worthy experiences by conducting research and translating the works of contemporary Shi`ah writers or those who, through divine guidance, have embraced this noble school.

The Assembly is also engaged in the study and publication of the valuable works of pious predecessors and outstanding Shi`ah personalities so that those who search for the truth may quench their thirst from this palatable fountain which the School of the Prophet’s Household (a.s) offers to the entire world.

It is hoped that the dear readers will not deprive the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s) World Assembly of their valuable opinions, suggestions, and constructive criticisms in this arena.

We also invite scholars, translators and other institutions to assist us in propagating pure Muhammadan (s) Islam.

We ask God, the Exalted, to accept this humble effort and enhance it further under the auspices of His vicegerent on earth and give us success with al-Mahdi (may Allah, the Exalted, expedite his glorious advent).

It is appropriate here to express our utmost gratitude to ayatullah Makarim Shirazi for writing the book and to Dr. Mahmoud Farrokhpey for translating this work. We should also like to thank colleagues who took part in accomplishing this task especially the staff of the Translation Office for fulfilling their responsibility.

Cultural Affairs Department

The Ahl al-Bayt (a.s) World Assembly

Prelude

The most salient feature of our Islamic revolution is its Islamic nature and the most prominent characteristic of Islam is its personality building aspect based on Divine standards.

Our aim is to prepare an interesting, logic-based and rigorous collection of papers for the general public on the one hand, and for the youth in particular so that they could, under existing Islamic conditions, build a sturdy faith which could in the long run influence their behavior and also be used as an impetus for further studies.

This collection which has been prepared with special precision and initiatives could pave the way for those who need to acquire the Islamic principles on faith for both their personal interests or for instruction.

This collection has been written and prepared by Ayatollah Nasir Makarim Shirazi, a profound pioneer and initiator of religious discussions in the Qom Seminary for the last forty years.

The instructors who wish to teach these lectures to their students should make note of the following points:

1. These lessons should be accompanied with historic evidence and interesting observations based on current affairs.

2. The students’ preferences and previous knowledge should be considered in teaching these lessons. A question and answer approach should be used during instruction.

3. The relevant Qur’anic verses on which the lecture is based should be elegantly written on the board and the students should be presented with a literal translation of the verse under consideration. This will lay the foundation for their familiarity with the Holy Qur’an. It is recommended that the relevant verse be recited by one and repeated by the students in unison.

4. If it is not necessary to cover one lecture in one sitting: it could be covered within two sessions.

5. There are subtle and detailed points hidden in each lecture. The lecturer is well advised to study the lecture beforehand in order to bring up those points during the presentation.

6. These lectures are prepared for the students of junior-high school and high school, for both boys and girls, and for the general public who wish to improve their knowledge of the principles of the Islamic faith.

7. Giving prizes to those who successfully pass the exams based on these lectures is highly recommended.

8. Students who are exposed to these lectures might have some theological questions in mind. The following sources could be used as references in order to arrive at appropriate answers: “The Creator of the Universe,” “In search of Allah,” and “Religious Questions and Answers.”

The Hadaf Publication House welcomes any suggestions for the improvement of these lectures.

The Head of Hadaf Publication House,

Qum, 1991

[Ten Lectures on God and His Attributes]

First Lecture: Searching for God

Why Do We Think And Study In Order To Know The Creator Of The Universe?

1. The love to be informed about and know the world is deep inside every one of us

We are interested in knowing whether this lofty Heaven with its shining stars and this wide earth with its wonderful sceneries and colorful creatures, its beautiful and varied birds, its seas, mountains, flowers and blossoms, and its tall trees have come into being spontaneously or have been created by a skillful, mighty and dexterous Creator.

In addition to these questions, all of us are confronted with the following questions:

Where have we come from? Where are we now? And where are we going?

How lucky would we be if only we knew the answers to these three basic questions?

Our inquisitive souls advise us not to sit idle; rather, we should endeavor to find proper solutions to the above questions.

In a car accident, an injured and unconscious victim would be taken to the hospital to get proper treatment. However, as soon as he regained consciousness, he would ask his caregivers why he was taken there, what place it was, and when he would leave. This vividly indicates that man could never be indifferent towards the above questions.

Thus, the first thing which will lead us towards the recognition of the God of The Universe and our existence is our inquisitive soul which always wants to know.

2. A Sense of Gratitude

Suppose you were taken to an elegant party by your elder brother and suppose you had never met your host. No doubt, your first desire upon your arrival at such a place would be to identify the host and to show him your appreciation and thank him for his kindness for having invited you.

When we look at the expansive table of sustenance spread for us we are anxious to recognize the distributor of these items of subsistence and to thank Him even if He was not in need of our gratitude. We are restless until this appreciation is extended on our part. And this restlessness on our part is an indication of our desire to recognize Allah.

3. The connection of our benefit and loss to this question

Suppose on your trip you arrived at a junction where there was turmoil. Everybody would advise you not to get out of your car at that place due to the dangers looming there. However, one group might advise you to drive east and another group to drive west. Still another might advise you to take an intermediate course which is said to be the safest way towards your prosperity, welfare, and convenience.

But could we allow ourselves to take up a course without much deliberation? Or could we stay at that hazardous location without selecting a right course of action. Definitely not.

Rather, without hesitation, our wisdom would guide us to study the situation and to consider the statements and advice offered by each group and adopt the best course of action.

During our lives in this world, we are confronted with the same dilemma. Each religion and school tries to attract us. However, since our destiny, prosperity misery and our progress or lack of it, depend on the way we choose for our action, we will find it significant to deliberate seriously and to identify the most appropriate solution to our problems and to keep ourselves safe from danger.

This is another reason why we try to identify the Creator of this world. The Holy Qur’an says:

فَبَشِّرْ عِبَادِ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ

Therefore, give good news to My servants, those who listen to the word, then follow the best of it. [Qur’an 39: 17-18]

THINK AND ANSWER

Have you ever seriously tried to know more than what you have heard about knowing God from your parents?

Can you tell the difference between knowing God and searching for Him?

Have you ever felt a spiritual delight deep inside you when you have discovered a need for God or uncovered some mystery concerning Him?

Second Lecture: The Consequences of Knowing God in our Lives

1. Theism and the Advancement of Knowledge

Suppose your friend brought you a book as a present and told you that it was written by an all-knowing and ingenious author…

You would never study such a book indifferently or perfunctorily. Rather, you would contemplate on every single sentence and on every word. If you could not understand the meaning of any sentence at first glance, you would study it once again to have a better comprehension of it. This is because you were told the writer was not a usual one; on the contrary, you were told that he had special talents.

But suppose you had been told that the book was not written by an expert, but rather by a mediocre writer whose judgments were not to be trusted.

Under such conditions you would not take the book seriously and you would attribute any incomprehensibility in the text to the ignorance of the writer.

The world of existence resembles a huge book in which every word stands for a creature. From the viewpoint of every believer, every particle of this universe is worth our serious attention. A believer in God tries, under the light of theism, to delve into the mysteries of existence with utmost curiosity (and this curiosity has led man to improve his knowledge) since he is aware that The Creator of the Universe is The Almighty God who is The Great Knower.

Such a pious man would easily realize that even the minutest part of The Creator’s work has been designed on the basis of a special wisdom. For this reason, such a person would study the universe more deeply in the hope of comprehending more of the mysteries of this world.

A materialist on the contrary, would not feel the need for profound study of the mysteries of the world since he would attribute the whole of existence to unintelligent nature. However, there are some materialistic scientists who are convinced that a god exists but name this creator nature. This is because in their view nature is extremely well-organized.

In sum, theism is a means for the enhancement of the sciences and human knowledge.

2. Theism, Endeavors and Hopes

When man is confronted with worldly complexities and he feels desperate and alone, belief in God comes to his rescue and enables him to face his problems.

Those who believe in God do not envisage themselves as alone; neither do they feel helpless. This is because God’s Power and Might is beyond all obstacles and no hurdle exists for Him.

True believers with their trust in Allah’s Benevolence, struggle against difficulties with all their strength and do so while they are hopeful of God’s Magnificence that He will remove all obstacles.

It is a fact that belief in God is a fortified place for man; good faith is a means for man’s endurance and stamina; faith in God steadily kindles the light of hope in the hearts of genuine believers.

For this very reason, righteous believers never try to commit suicide. This is because the feeling to commit suicide is a characteristic of quitters, losers and desperate people. The true believer neither becomes hopeless or disappointed, nor does he feel failure or boredom.

3. Theism and the Sense of Responsibility

We know some physicians who provide poor, wretched sick persons with money to fill prescriptions without even asking them for the medical fees. They would even stay at a poor person’s dilapidated house if they feel that the person was in danger. Such physicians are truly pious.

On the other hand, there are some physicians who would not do anything for the poor and sick without first receiving the necessary fees. Such physicians suffer from a lack of faith.

A truly religious individual should always feel a sense of responsibility; he is generous and beneficent. He senses an internal policeman within himself at all times who watches his deeds continuously.

Faithless people however are self-centered, despotic and dangerous. They do not assume any responsibility. It is easy for them to hurt others and abstain from doing good deeds.

4. Theism and Peace of Mind

Psychologists and psychoanalysts inform us that mental diseases are more prevalent in our time than at any other time in the past. They add that one of the factors behind such mental problems is anxiety and worry over future events. Worries over death, wars, poverty and failure are also disturbing in our time.

These scientists add that one of the factors that alleviate worries is faith. This is because one’s conviction and faith deter one from anxiety.

The Benevolent, Generous God, Who is familiar with every action performed by His servants, will help them if they ask Him for assistance. Then the servants will feel peace of mind for they know that God looks after them.

That is why genuine religious people feel tranquil at all times. They are not worried and anxious because they serve God in their deeds. If they lose something in the process, they know they could ask God for compensation. They are delighted even on the war front. The Holy Qur’an says in this regard:

الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُواْ إِيمَانَهُم بِظُلْمٍ أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمُ الأَمْنُ

Those who believe and do not mix up their faith with iniquity, those are they who shall have security. [Qur’an 6:82]

THINK AND ANSWER

Do you know of any historical event which could vividly indicate some features of true faith mentioned above?

Do you know of some people who claim to believe in God but exhibit unethical behavior and display the four characteristics above?

Third Lecture: Theism from two Secure Paths

Since antiquity, books about theism have been published and debates have been conducted constantly among experts.

Each scholar has adopted his own special technique and approach to the problem. However, there are two approaches which could safely guide us towards the Great Creator:

1. The way from within (which is the shortest way);

2. The way from without (which is the most enlightened way).

Through the first approach, we will come in contact with our consciences and listen to the call of monotheism from our inner selves.

Through the second approach, we will search in the wide world of creation and observe every sign of God on the forehead of every creature and any particle. Each one of these two approaches calls for a lengthy discussion. However, we will try to briefly discuss each approach.

The Approach from Within

Let us ponder over the following points:

Scientists inform us that anyone who thinks, from whatever race or class, if he himself examines without any special instruments, even to the extent of not hearing about the debate between the believers and the materialists, he would realize that there is a great power supervising the universe which is beyond the material world.

In the bottom of his heart, such a person will feel a delicate call inviting him towards an awesome source of knowledge and power that we call God. This is the call of our pure and flawless conscience.

A person might get distracted by the flashy, material aspects of life and might not hear this call. His involvement in worldly things might hinder him from listening to his own conscience. However, if this person were confronted with natural calamities such as earthquakes and floods, or a wrecked airplane in a hazardous climate, his inner feelings would overwhelm him and would drive him towards the Almighty God whose power lies beyond all other powers.

There are only a very few people in this world who would not resort to such a power at the time of disaster and misery. Of course, this innate feeling is always within us but it is amplified during calamities.

History has repeatedly shown us that those powerful statesmen who would normally abstain from calling God’s name have resorted to God when they felt the very pillars of their power and strength shaky and vulnerable.

Islamic history gives the account of Pharaoh, that when he found himself in the middle of the billowing waves crashing down upon him and realized that the very water which was the basis of the prosperity of his land and of his people was ordered to destroy him, he shouted out in his time of misery, confessing, “Now I admit that there is no God except for the God of Moses.” This cry emanated from his very conscience. Pharaoh and other people hear this call of conscience in the time of misery.

If you look within yourself and search your heart, you will acknowledge the presence of a light deep inside your heart which constantly leads you towards God. You might have repeatedly been faced with delicate problems the solution to which might have been beyond your power. Under such hard conditions you might definitely have resorted to the Supreme Power.

Under such circumstances, a hope mingled with love for that power encompasses your turbulent soul and puts aside the gloomy rays of despair.

However, there remains this touchy question: Is it not possible that we resort to God only because we have been conditioned by environmental factors and parental influence, and that the inner conscience is not the crucial factor?

One is justified to make such an assumption. However, we will present you with a solution in the following lecture. For the time being, let us hear what the Holy Qur’an says regarding this issue:

فَإِذَا رَكِبُوا فِي الْفُلْكِ دَعَوْا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاهُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ إِذَا هُمْ يُشْرِكُونَ

So when they ride in the ships they call upon Allah, being sincerely obedient to Him, but when He brings them safe to the land, lo! They associate others with Him. [Qur’an, 29:65]

THINK AND ANSWER

Try to memorize the number of the above verse and its meaning so that you might get acquainted with the language of the Holy Qur’an.

Have you ever found yourself in a hopeless situation in which you last resort had been God’s Grace?

Why have we called this approach the shortest way?

Fourth Lecture: The Answer to an Important Question

The Question

In the previous lecture, we discovered that we always hear the call of monotheism and theism from the bottom of our hearts, and that this is more strident at the time of danger. Under such conditions, we inevitably remember God and resort to His infinite Benevolence.

At this juncture, we might assume that this call which we have named the call of conscience is nothing more than the result of the indoctrinations to which we have been constantly exposed through our close interactions with the environment, school, and parents or through habit.

The Answer

A few things need to be said prior to answering this question. Habits and customs vary constantly among nations and are always at the mercy of change. We could never come across a habit or custom which has been unchanging and constant throughout the history of a nation. That is why customs and mores are idiosyncratic features of a specific nation during a particular era.

Thus, if we find a common feature in the customs among different nations and peoples we could safely deduce that this is an innate disposition built in the very soul of man.

For instance, a mother’s affection towards her child could not be the result of indoctrination or habit formation. This is because it has never been the case among any culture for a mother to deprive her child of her love and care.

Of course, due to mental illness, a mother could destroy herself or a father could have buried his daughter alive during the period of Arab Ignorance. But such examples are rare in the history of mankind.

This introduction now sets the stage for a look at the issue of God-worship among people both in the past and in the present. Since this discussion is a little hard to follow, more attention is required on the part of the reader.

According to great sociologists, religion and faith have always existed. Throughout history, man has always had some form of religion. This is a clear indication for the innate nature of God-worship in the depths of the human mind and soul. This has not occurred through indoctrination or instruction. If it were a result of imitation or habit formation, God-worship would not have been so enduring and ever-lasting in the conscience of man.

There are even clues to the fact that man has had a form of religion even during pre-historic times. [By the pre-historic era, we refer to the time when writing was not invented and man could not transfer much of his culture to future generations.

Since primitive man could not visualize God as a super-natural Being, he would search for God in natural objects and would make idols from them to satisfy his innate need for God. With the rapid development of his mental capacities, man could gradually identify the truth and could dispense with his idols which were material beings and become familiar with the great power of The Almighty God.

2. Some famous psychologists contend that the human spirit has four dimensions or four main senses:

a) The sense of knowing which causes man to acquire types of knowledge to satisfy his curiosity. This knowledge may or may not be materially useful.

b) The sense of doing good, which is the main source for ethical and human issues.

c) The aesthetic sense, which is the source for the creation of poetry, literature and art in their true sense.

d) The religious sense, which invites man to recognize God and to carry out His commands. Thus, you can see that the religious sense is one of the most profound senses of the human soul. This sense never leaves man alone.

3. In our future discussions, we will find that most materially-oriented scholars and atheists have somehow implicitly confessed to the existence of God despite the fact that they have avoided calling Him so by name. They have preferred to use the concept of nature for His real name. However, all the features they have designated for nature coincide with those of God.

For instance, these scholars maintain that the reason why nature has provided man with two kidneys is that in the event of the failure of one kidney man could continue his existence with the other one. But is this giving in harmony with life-less nature? Or does it imply a God whose Knowledge and Power is beyond imagination no matter under what name He is referred to?

From our discussion in this chapter, we have arrived at the following conclusions:

The love for God has always and will always be in ourselves.

Belief in God is an eternal flame which will keep our hearts and minds warm forever.

In order to recognize God we do not have to go a long way. If we delve into the depths of our very being, we will find there the love for God.

The Holy Qur’an says:

وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ

And We are nearer to him than his life-vein. [Qur’an, 50:16]

Fifth Lecture: A True Story

We have already mentioned the fact that those who deny the existence of God do so only superficially: there is faith in God deep in their very souls and consciences.

No doubt, worldly success could create false pride in shallow, superficial individuals and this pride then leads to negligence to the extent that at times man ignores his true innate nature. However, when he is faced with terrible events he puts aside his false pride and his natural monotheism and God-knowing nature comes over him.

Human history reveals to us many such examples of people one of whom is presented below:

There once lived a powerful and despotic minister who had everything under his scrutiny and control. Once he attended a great gathering of religious scholars. Addressing them, he asked them rudely, “How much longer will you claim that there is a God? I can prove the opposite of your claim in a thousand ways.”

He put forth his proposal with a special pride. Since those scholars knew well that he was not a man of logic and that he was under the complete influence of his own power, they remained silent and ignored him in a humiliating way.

Not long after this event, the minister was accused of some wrongdoing and was arrested and sent to jail.

One of the religious scholars who was present at the session on that day thought it was the right time to pay a visit to the imprisoned minister. He thought that since he was no longer in power, and he was no longer arrogant, and he could offer him some advice. The scholar saw the former minister involved in great contemplation, reciting the following two lines of poetry:

All of us are like the pictures of lions which are drawn on flags. When the wind blows the lion on the flags moves here and there with the wind and seems to be attacking its enemies but in fact, it is not the lion which moves; rather, it is the wind which makes the movement. He was confessing that he himself was nothing in contrast with the power of the Almighty God who could take away any power He has bestowed upon us at any moment He deems appropriate.

The scholar observed that the former minister had turned into a religious, God-Fearing individual. Greeting him, the scholar asked him: Do you remember you said you had one thousand reasons not to believe in God. I have come to nullify those thousand reasons through one reason: God is the one who took away your power from you. The former minister became ashamed and did not say a word since he had realized his errors.

Concerning Pharaoh, The Holy Qur’an says:

حَتَّى إِذَا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ آمَنتُ أَنَّهُ لا إِلِـهَ إِلاَّ الَّذِي آمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ

Until when drowning overtook him, he (pharaoh) said: I believe there is no God but He in Whom the children of Israel believed. [Qur’an 10: 90]

THINK AND ANSWER

Give the ethical lesson you learnt from this story.

Why were the children of Israel called by that name?

Who was pharaoh, where did he live and what was his claim?

Sixth Lecture: The Second Way to Know God

A Way from Without

A cursory look at the world will lead us to acknowledge this fact that chaos does not reign over it; rather, every phenomenon is in motion on a specific trajectory and the system of the universe, based on special order is moving towards a definite destination, like a great army.

The following points will clarify our intention:

For the creation and existence of any organism there should be some special conditions. For instance for a tree to come into existence, the proper soil, temperature and heat are crucial. If anything goes wrong, there will be no tree. The creation of these conditions calls for wisdom and knowledge.

Each creature has its specific features. Water and fire have their unique traits which are part and parcel of their very being. These features and traits follow specific laws.

All the organs of an organism work harmoniously with one another. Take the human body as an example. All the members, limbs and organs coordinate with each other in a human body. If anything threatens our bodies, all the organs unite in defending our bodies. This coordination is another sign of the order in the universe.

A glance at the world of creation will vividly show us that all creatures work in harmony with one another. For instance, for the growth of living things, the sun shines, the clouds release rain, the wind blows, and the soil cooperates. All these show the existence of a definite organization in the existing world.

The Relation of Order and Wisdom

Every conscientious person would realize that order in any organization implies wisdom, thought, and planning.

This is because man looks for a source of knowledge and power wherever he notices that order and law prevails. Man does not need any reasoning to arrive at this conclusion.

Man knows that a blind or illiterate man cannot use a typewriter to write a good composition or prepare a critical essay. Neither can a two-year old child create a masterpiece just by randomly moving his pen on the paper. Rather, we would deduce the intelligence of the Creator when we come face to face with a critical essay or a good composition. At a museum, we would appreciate the talent of the creator of a masterpiece even if we did not have the chance to see the artist in person.

Thus, wherever there is an organized system, there exists intelligence and wisdom behind it.

In order to infer the existence of the intelligence as the source for any organized system, man at times uses the laws of probability and reasons in the following fashion: It will take millions of years for an illiterate man to press the right buttons on the type-writer so that he may randomly type out an essay or a piece of poetry (For more details, refer to the book entitled “The Creator of the World” or to the book entitled “In Search of God”)

The Holy Qur’an states:

سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ

We will soon show them Our signs in the Universe and in their own souls, until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth. It is not sufficient as regards your Lord that He is a witness over all things? [Qur’an 41: 53]

THINK AND ANSWER

Provide some examples of industrial machinery which lead you to assume the existence of a learned and intelligent creator.

What is the difference between the macrocosm and the microcosm [the horizons and one’s own soul]? Give some instances of God’s signs in the macrocosm and the microcosm.

Seventh Lecture: Some Examples of the Order of Creation

Order, purpose and planning are vividly observable in all of creation. Here are some striking examples

Luckily, the doors of knowing God are open to us today due to the great advances in the physical sciences, the uncovering of the mysteries of the world, the vast knowledge of man’s anatomy and the structure of the bodies of animals and plants and our vast knowledge about the stars and galaxies.

Now we could claim that all the books and resources dealing with the physical sciences are books on monotheism and on knowing God. These sources teach us the magnanimity of God. This is due to the fact that these books reveal the very nature of creatures in this world. They show us the Grandeur and Power of the Great Creator.

The Headquarters of the Territory of Man’s Body

The inside of the skull is filled with a gray matter called the “brain” which is the most important organ in the body. This is because it commands all the activities of the organs of the body.

To appreciate the function of this vital organ, let us give you a piece of medical news:

Recently it was reported in the newspapers that an Iranian University student from Shiraz received a blow to his brain in a driving accident. All his organs seemed to be in good condition except for the fact that he had forgotten his entire past. He could not recognize his parents. He was taken to his house in Shiraz, but he was unable to remember any of the items he had worked with in his room. He declared that he could not recognize any of those items.

It was revealed by physicians that a blow to one specific location in his brain had deprived him of his recollections and memories.

Perhaps the damaged section in his brain was the size of the head of a pin but the impact was tremendous.

Our brain and nervous system consists of two distinct sections:

The sympathetic nerves have control over all the voluntary movements of our bodies, such as walking, looking, speaking, and the like.

2. The parasympathetic nervous system, controls the involuntary functions of the heart, stomach, and the like.

The Cerebrum, the Most Amazing Part of the Brain

The cerebrum is the center of intelligence, will, and memory. It is the most amazing section of the brain. It controls most mental reactions, such as anger, fear and the like. If an animal’s cerebrum is removed but the nerves remain intact, it will continue to live, however it will lose its intelligence. The cerebrum of a pigeon was once removed, and then the pigeon was given seeds. It could not distinguish them despite the fact that it was hungry. When it was given the opportunity to fly, it continued to fly up to the point where it confronted an obstruction in its path.

Another Astonishing Section of the Brain is the Memory

Have you realized the significance of memory in our lives? Have you realized how miserable we would be if we were deprived of our memory even for one hour?

The memory center, which forms a small section of our brain, files all the memories of our lives. It records all the features and traits of the people we have come in contact with during our lifetime. As soon as we come across a person we have already met, we will recognize him instantly. Then our mind tells us how to react towards him. If he happens to be a friend, we are told to respect him and if he is an enemy, we are told to keep our distance. However, all these reactions are spontaneous.

If we are asked to describe through pictures what we will have in our memory, we need to use hundreds of pages. Our memory, however, has done this filing with the easiest mechanisms available to it.

How Could Unconscious and Unintelligent Nature Create Intelligence?

Hundreds of books have already been written about the miracle of the human brain. Could we believe this highly delicate, precise, complicated and mysterious organ to be created by an unconscious nature? Nothing would be more amazing than to assume unintelligent nature to be the creator of human wisdom. Concerning this The Holy Qur’an says:

وَفِي أَنفُسِكُمْ أَفَلاَ تُبْصِرُونَ؟

And in your own souls too; will you not then see?” [Qur’an, 51:21]

THINK AND ANSWER

Do you know anything else concerning the wonders of the human brain?

What apparatus has God created for the protection of man’s brain against accidents?

Eighth Lecture: A World of Wonder in a Small Flying Animal

Now we wish to leave the territory of our bodies and search for other signs of miracles in the wonderful creatures in our world.

If we gaze into the dark sky at night, we might be able to see a flying creature courageously searching the sky for its prey.

This creature is the bat which exhibits very strange behaviors, especially its flight during the dark and gloomy night.

The bat’s swift movement in the dark without striking any obstacle is wonderful indeed. The more we study this creature, the more the mysteries of this animal become apparent.

This animal flies in the dark sky with the same speed and courage as a pigeon in the daylight. If the bat knew it would collide with any obstacle, it would be more cautious, however, it has an apparatus which informs it of any imminent danger.

If a bat is left in a dark, winding tunnel, the walls of which are covered with soot, it would pass through the tunnel walls without having its wings blackened. A bat has a built-in apparatus like radar which helps it to find its way during the night.

Now let us think a little about this radar system to see how the bat makes use of it.

One of the subjects of physics is ultra-sound waves. These waves have frequencies that are inaudible to the human ear. For this reason they are called ultra-sound waves, for they are beyond the range of sound audible to the human ear.

When these waves are emitted from a strong transmitter, they travel in a straight line, but when they strike an obstacle such as an enemy airplane or other obstacle, they reflect back like a ball which bounces back if it strikes a wall. The time it takes for a beam of sound to strike an obstacle and then bounce back could be measured accurately.

Most military and commercial planes and ships use radar systems to identify the position of other planes and ships in the vicinity.

Scientists tell us there is an apparatus like a radar system built in the body of a bat. The presence of such a system could be shown by the following experiment. Let a bat fly in a room, then let a microphone change the ultra-sound waves into audible ones. Under these circumstances, the bat would emit ultra-sound waves with the frequencies between 30 and 60 hertz.

Now we would like to know which of the bat's organs are responsible for the creation of such waves.

Scientists inform us that these waves are produced by the strong muscles of the bat’s larynx and are sent out through its nostrils. Its rather large ears are the receivers for the in-coming waves.

Thus, a bat owes its nocturnal excursions to its large ears. A Russian scientist called Julian, has shown in some experiments that if the bat’s ears are removed, it could never fly without hitting obstacles. But if its eyes are removed, it could still skillfully move around. Thus, a bat “sees” with its ears, not with its eyes. This is strange indeed.

Now reflect on this question for a moment: who has installed this delicate apparatus inside this tiny animal? Who has taught the animal how to use this apparatus?

Could unconscious nature accomplish such a feat?

Imam `Ali (s), talking about the creation of bats in Nahj al-Balaghah says:

لاَ تَمْتَنِعْ مِنَ الْمُضِيِّ فِيهِ لِغَسَقِ دَجْنَتِهِ... فَسُبْحَانَ البَارِئِ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلَى غَيْرِ مِثَالٍ

Never does the bat stop flying due to extreme darkness…Noble and immaculate is the God Who has created everything without previous models. [Nahj al-Balaghah, Sermon 155]

THINK AND ANSWER

What else do you know concerning the creation of the bat?

Do you know that the bat’s wings, its method of reproduction, and sleeping are different from other animals and that it is a completely unique creature?

Ninth Lecture: The Friendship between Insects and Flowers

One spring day, when the weather becomes warm, pay a visit to a garden or a green field. You will observe swarms of small insects, bees, flies, butterflies and tiny mosquitoes flying here and there, from one flower to the next, and from one branch to the other.

They are so involved in their activities it seems as if a stern supervisor commanded them to move about. Their wings and feet smeared with yellow-colored pollen, these insects resemble factory workers who diligently work in their own workshop. But their mission is so worthy that professor Leon Burton writes on their job and function:

“Few people realize that without insects our baskets would remain empty.”

We would like to add to his statement the following observation: “And during the next generations our gardens, orchards, and fields would lose their freshness and vigor.”

Thus, we could say that insects are the true growers of fruits and patrons of flower seeds.

You might ask for the reason. Insects are deemed crucial for one of their most vital functions related to plants, i.e., fertilization. You probably know that flowers, like most animals, have either male or female organs. Without the contact between these two organs, seeds and fruits would not be produced.

But have you ever thought how these two organs together contact each other when plants themselves cannot move? How does the male pollens which acts like sperm integrate with the little seeds that act like ovules and bring about their fertilization?

This is done, in most cases, by insects and at times by the wind.

But the issue is not to be taken lightly. This auspicious marriage, which is initiated by insects, has had a long and interesting history and background.

According to the findings of two scholars of the natural sciences, plants and flowers were created during the second half of the second geological age, i.e. during the Mesozoic period. Strange to say, insects were also created during this era. These two creatures have lovingly lived side by side as two intimate friends during the whole history of creation and have always completed each other.

To attract their friends, flowers have produced a delicious juice inside their rosebushes. And when insects try to move the male pollen to the flowers’ female organs in order to let fertilization take place, they get some of this juice free of charge. This precious juice is so palatable for insects that they are involuntarily attracted toward it.

Some botanists contend that the beautiful color and scents of flowers play a significant role in attracting insects. Experiments on bees have shown that they can distinguish between the different colors and scents of flowers.

In fact, it is the flowers that decorate themselves for the insects. In this way, they attract the magnificent butterflies and bees. In this transaction, both sides benefit.

The sweet nectar produced is the most perfect food for insects. When concentrated, this juice is called honey. This is because when insects come to visit the flowers they drink some of this juice. When they leave, they take most of this reserved juice and store it in their nests. This friendship, which is based on mutual benefit, has always been and will continue to exist between flowers and insects.

A Lesson from Monotheism:

When we see these wonderful aspects of the life of insects and flowers, we might be tempted to ask ourselves the following question: Who has arranged this contract of friendship between flowers and insects?

Who has provided flowers with this special nectar? Who has given them these breath-taking colors and scents?

Who has provided these insects, butterflies, and bees with such delicate legs to carry the pollen from the flowers?

Why is it that bees have become fond of a special flower? How is it that the life histories of flowers and insects coincide with each other?

Could anybody, however obstinate he might be, believe that all these events have occurred haphazardly without any planning? Could we believe that these wonderful natural sights have been created by an unconscious nature? Never could this have happened!

The Holy Qur’an states:

وَأَوْحَى رَبُّكَ إِلَى النَّحْلِ أَنْ اتَّخِذِي مِنْ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتاً وَمِنْ الشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ. ثُمَّ كُلِي مِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ فَاسْلُكِي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلاً

And your Lord revealed to the bee saying; Make hives in the mountains, in the trees, and in what they build: Then eat of all the fruits and walk in the ways of your Lord submissively. [Qur’an 16: 68-69]

THINK AND ANSWER

What are the uses of the sweetness, the scents and the colors of flowers?

What do you know about the amazing life of bees?