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The Essence of Life (Ain-Al Hayat)

‘Ain-Al Hayat عين الحياة

The book begins with the biographical descriptions of some of the truest Companions of The Prophet (S), namely, Salman Farsi, Abu Dharr Ghifari and Miqdad Al-Aswad.

Then in each chapter he picks up various themes related to the Existence of Allah SWT, His creation of the universe, the angels, His Attributes, Prophethood, followed by Imamah, The Day of Judgment, the value and rewards of good deeds etc. Allama Majlisi elaborates upon the aqaeed (tenets of beliefs) in their various ramifications and shows us how to attain total devotion to Allah SWT.

One chapter is devoted to the benefits of reciting The Quran as a whole and verses from various chapters. There is also very good advice about dealing with rulers and about helping one’s brethren in faith, examples from the lives of Imam Husain (as) and Imam Zaynul Abideen (as) as well as supplications to be recited after each salaat and before going to bed.

Negative behavioral traits that show the degree of one’s belief and faith are listed and discussed. These include, inter alia, lying, greed, backbiting, false allegations, pride etc. The book also includes various supplications to be recited after each prayer, especially the tasbeeh and its merits. The book concludes with The Prophet’s Will concerning Abu Dharr, the most truthful person.

Author(s): Allamah Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi

Translator(s): Sayyid Tahir Bilgrami

Publisher(s): Ansariyan Publications - Qum

Table of Contents

About The Author 8

Introduction: Profiles of The Benevolent Companions of The Prophet (S) 9

Abu Dharr (r.a.) 9

The Qualities of Salman, Abu Dharr And Miqdad. 9

Abu Dharr Accepts Islam. 11

Salman Accepts Islam. 12

Abu Dharr, The Oppressed. 13

The Prophet’s Will Concerning Abu Dharr 15

Chapter 1: The Steps 17

Step 1: The Meaning Of The Sighting Of The Exalted Creator 17

Step 2: The Reason For Creation Of The Universe 17

Step 3: The Conditions For Prayer 18

Step 4: Total Devotion Of Mind And Heart 25

Chapter 2: The Fundamentals 30

The First Fundamental: Knowledge of The Exalted Creator 30

What is faith? 30

The Second Fundamental: The Faith. 30

1. Knowledge of the Certainty of Existence 30

2. Idrak al-Kunha 31

The Sects of Sufis 32

Discussion On The Concept Of Transmigration Or Penetration. 34

The Third Fundamental: The Stages Of Understanding. 35

The Ranks Of The Knowledge Of The Creator 35

The Fourth Fundamental: Transitory Nature Of The World. 37

The Fifth Fundamental: About The Individuality Of The Creator 38

The Attributes Of Allah. 38

Explanation of A Point 39

The Sixth Fundamental: The Immortality Or Eternity Of Allah. 39

The Seventh Fundamental: The Creator Of The Universe 39

The Eighth Fundamental: Creation of The Firmament 40

About The Angels 40

The Ninth Fundamental: The Meanings Of Tender And Omniscient 42

The Tenth Fundamental: The Omnipotent 43

Chapter 3: The Benefits 45

The First Benefit: Need For The Existence Of The Prophet 45

The Second Benefit: Mu’jizah Or Miracle 45

The Third Benefit: The Prophethood Of The Last Messenger 46

The Fourth Benefit: The Last Of The Prophets Of Allah. 54

The Fifth Benefit: The Excellence and The Qualities Of The Prophet 55

Chapter 4: Refulgence Or Rays Of Light 59

The First Ray Of Light: The Need For The Imam. 59

The Second Ray of Light: The Chastity of The Imams 69

The Third Ray Of Light: The Verse Of Purity (The Ayat al-Tatheer) 70

The Fourth Ray Of Light: The Excellence Of The Ahl-ul-Bayt 72

The Fifth Ray Of Light: Prayer And The Love Of Ahl-ul-Bayt 76

The Sixth Ray Of Light: The Qualities Of The Imam. 76

Chapter 5: The Objectives 96

The First Objective: Good Deeds 96

1. Procrastination in doing good deeds 96

2. Avoiding repentance (Tark al-Tawbah) 96

3. Avarice for accumulating wealth and riches 96

4. The callousness of heart and forgetting about the Hereafter 96

The Second Objective: Dajjal Attacks 101

The Appearance of Daabbat Al Ardh. 102

The Third Objective: About Mi’ad-The Resurrection. 103

About The Spirits Of The Mu’mins -The Pious 103

About The Horn (Soor) Of Israfeel 104

Confirmation Of The Mission Of Prophet hood. 106

About The Maidan-il-Hashr: The Place Of Resurrection. 107

About The Bridge Of Sirat 108

The Accounting Of Deeds On The Day Of Judgment 109

About Intercession. 110

About The Cistern Of Kawthar 110

Shi’as Go To Heaven. 111

Liwaa al-Hamd: The Standard. 113

Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali’s Authority. 114

Chapter 6: The Maxims Or Regulations 116

The First Maxim: The Superiority Of Knowledge 116

The Scholars And The Superiority Of Learning. 116

Rewards For The Seeker Of Knowledge 117

The Second Maxim: The Types Of Knowledge 118

The Symbols of A Scholar 119

The Third Maxim: The Norms of Knowledge and Action. 119

Example Of Religious Learning. 120

About The Heart And The Faith. 120

The Heart Explained. 121

About Iman. 122

The Fourth Maxim: The Qualities of Scholars 123

The Fifth Maxim: Action Without Knowledge 124

The Sixth Maxim: Repudiation Of Edicts Of The Inept 124

Chapter 7: The Traits, Qasail 126

The First Trait: Pride Over One’s Piety. 126

The Second Trait: Thankfulness For The Bounties 127

The Third Trait: Penitence and Crying For Mercy. 128

Penitence From Sinning. 129

Types Of Sins 131

The First Type 131

The Second Type 131

The Ways of Asking For Sustenance 132

Making Supplications To Allah. 133

The Company Of Scholars 134

Do Not Belittle Sin. 134

Tawbah Wa Istaghfar: Penitence and Asking Forgiveness 135

The Superiority Of Prayer 136

Chapter 8: Lamaat, The Rays of Light 138

The First Ray of Light: About Prayer 138

The Second Ray of Light: Differences In Jurisprudence And Censure Of Hypocricy  138

Innovation Explained. 139

The Tale Of A Seeker Of The World. 140

The Identity Of The Ulema 142

The Third Ray of Light: About Celibacy. 143

Celibacy Condemned. 143

The Fourth Ray of Light: Reclusiveness Condemned. 144

The Fifth Ray of Light: Honest Livelihood, Kasb al-Halal 145

Those Whose Prayer Is Not Answered. 145

The Sixth Ray of Light: Beautification, Ornamentation And Nutrition. 147

About Elegance and Adornment 148

The Seventh Ray of Light: Purity And Cleanliness 149

The Eighth Ray Of Light: About Delicacies 149

Shunning Good Food and Mystic Seclusion, Tarke Lazaez Wa Chilla Kashi 150

The Ninth Ray of Light: About Prohibition Of Music 151

Song and Music 151

The Tenth Ray Of Light: About Invoking Allah’s Name—Dhikr Allah. 152

Loud Invocation, Dihkr al-Jalee 153

The Sufis Get Enraptured, The Haal 154

The Sufis Are Innovative, Bidati 154

The Silent Invocation, Dhikr al-Khafi 154

Respect For The Mosques 155

Sweeping In The Precincts Of The Mosque 155

The Eleventh Ray of Light: Charity And Alms 157

The Reward For Charity and Alms 157

About The Sufferings Of The Pious In The World. 158

Crying for Fear of Allah. 160

Chapter 9: The Fruits 162

The First Fruit: About Fear And Hope, Khauf Wa Raja 162

The Second Fruit: Some Tales 162

The Lament Of Prophet Yahya 167

The Prayer of The Chief of Imams, Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali 169

The Third Fruit: Confronting The Psyche 170

The Fourth Fruit: Censuring The World. 170

The Fifth Fruit: What The World Means 172

About The Ungratefulness Of The World. 173

The Way To Get Relief From The World. 173

Futility Of The World. 173

The Sad End Of The World. 173

The World And The Hereafter Cannot Come Together 173

The Tale of Balohar and Yuzasaf 173

The Sixth Fruit: What The World Means 193

The Love For Worldly Gains 194

The First Trait 195

The Futile Beliefs Of The World, The Second Trait 196

The Seventh Fruit: Superiority Of Humility. 197

The Humility of Najashi 199

Humility and Lowliness 200

The Humility Of The Prophet Of Islam. 201

The Humility Of Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali 201

The Eighth Fruit: Penury, Both Contemptible and Praiseworthy. 203

Penury and Opulence 203

The Tale Of A Faqir and An Opulent Person. 204

Sincerity Of Action. 206

The People Of The Hell 208

About The Hell 209

The Food Of The Inmates Of The Hell 210

The Stages Of The Hell: Ghassaq, Jaheem Etc. 210

The Saqar 211

About Hur al-’Ayn. 214

The Doors Of The Heaven. 214

Laughter and Jest 220

The Ninth Fruit: Laziness In Offering Prayers 221

Dedication Of Heart In Prayer 221

Humility and Faith. 223

The Tenth Fruit: Legitimate Livelihood. 224

Guarding Ones Private Parts 224

Abstaining From Ill-gotten Sustenance 225

The Eleventh Fruit: About Adultery. 226

The Retribution For Adultery, Pederasty and Suhaq(Monosexuality) 226

The Twelfth Fruit: Protecting One’s Eye 228

Chapter 10: The Stars 229

The First Star: The Superiority Of Supplication. 229

The Second Star: The Etiquette Of Supplication. 229

The Third Star: Non-Acceptance Of Prayers 234

Reasons For Delayed Acceptance Of Prayers 235

The Advantages Of Prayer 237

Those Whose Prayers Are Answered. 238

Beware Of The Curse Of The Oppressed. 239

The Benefits Of Mu’anaqah Or Embrace 243

The Qualities of A Mu’min. 244

The Shi’as Of ‘Ali 245

The Reward For Adhan and Iqamat 247

The Reward of Reciting The Qur’an. 249

Feeding The Muslim Brothers 252

Chapter 11: The Yanabeeh or Streams 255

The First Stream: About Aged Muslims 256

The Second Stream: About Superiority of The Holy Qur’an. 257

The Superiority of Bearers of The Holy Qur’an. 257

The Qualities of The Reciters of The Qur’an. 258

The Etiquette of Reciting The Holy Qur’an. 260

About Isti’adha: Seeking Allah’s Protection From The Satan. 261

Facing The Kaaba Or Qibla While Reciting The Qur’an. 261

About Khatam al-Qur’an or Finishing A Recitation of The Holy Book. 261

The Reward For Learning, Teaching and Memorising The Qur’an. 262

The Benefits of Reciting The Qur’an. 262

The Superiority Of Reciting The Holy Qur’an Looking At Its Words 264

The Benefits Of Certain Verses Of The Holy Qur’an. 264

The Benefits of Other Verses of The Holy Qur’an. 266

The Third Stream: About Dealing With The Kings 276

Behavior Of People In Power 277

The Rights Of The Rulers And The Ruled Over Each Other 278

About Helping Mu’mineen And Keeping Them Contented. 279

The Felicity Of Coming To The Help Of Mu’mins 280

Censuring, Belittling Or Harming The Mu’mins 282

Frightening A Mu’min. 282

The Rights Of The Rulers 284

The Disadvantage Of Nearness To A Ruler 285

Helpers Of The Cruel People 286

Meeting The Men In Authority. 287

About Good Morals 287

Discourtesy. 288

The Benefits Of Congregational Prayer 290

Piety and Abstinence 291

The Affability of The Imams (as) 294

The Affability of Imam Husayn (as) 297

The Affability of Imam Zain-ul-’Abidin (as) and Others 298

Trusting On Allah. 300

Abiding By Allah’s Will 302

Types of Forbearance 302

Lies Condemned. 304

Contentment and Opulence 304

Abstain From Untruths 305

Chapter 12: The Status 306

Backbiting Condemned. 306

Meaning Of Backbiting. 307

Justification For Backbiting. 307

Giving Ear To Backbiting. 308

Expiation For Backbiting. 308

False Allegations Condemned. 309

Jealousy. 309

The Talebearer 310

Pride 311

Chapter 13: Masabeeh, The Lamps 312

Condemning Pride 312

The Types Of Pride 313

The Cure For Pride 314

Reforming The Esoteric Self (Baatin) 314

Wearing The Woolen Blankets 315

Chapter 14: Invocations 319

The Superiority Of Invocations; The superiority of Tasbeehat or Sanctification of Allah  319

The Reward For Tahleel Or Declaration Of Allah’s Unity. 320

The Superiority Of Adhkar Or Invocations 321

The Superiority Of Tasbeeh Or The Rosary. 321

Superiority of Tahmeed Or Praising Allah. 323

The Superiority Of Astaghfar-Seeking Allah’s Forgiveness 324

Miscellaneous Invocations 325

The Timings For Special Invocations 327

The Invocations After The Mandatory Prayers Of The Mornings And Evenings 328

Supplications After Every Mandatory Prayer 330

Invocations After Zuhr Prayer 332

The Supplication After Asr Prayer 333

The Invocations After The Late Night Prayers 333

Sajda al-Shukr- The Prostration Of Thanksgiving. 333

The Supplications Before Going To Bed. 335

Appendix: The Prophet’s Advice To Abu Dharr 338

Reference 369

About The Author

Allama Muhammad Al-Baqir Majlisi was a scion of a very erudite family. His ancestor was Maqsood ‘Ali Majlisi who migrated from Jabal Aamil to Isfahan city in Iran. He had two sons, Muhammad Taqi and Muhammad As-Sadiq. Both of them received instruction in Islamic Studies from Allama Abdallah Shustari. Allama Muhammad Taqi Majlisi, himself an erudite Islamic Scholar, was the father of Allama Muhammad Al-Baqir Majlisi. Allama Al-Baqir was born in the year 1037 H (1616 AD).

He opened his eyes in a scholarly atmosphere. His two elder brothers, Mulla Azizullah and Mulla Abdallah were scholars of high repute and his sisters too were ladies of high learning. Within no time, the young Muhammad Al-Baqir acquired mastery in logic, philosophy, mathematics, hadith(traditions), fiqh(jurisprudence), literature and Qur’anic commentary.

Allama Muhammad Al-Baqir Majlisi’s tutors too were of very high repute. Among them were Hasan ‘Ali bin Abdallah, Sayed Muhammad Haidar Tabataba’i, Mir Muhammad Mu’min and Allama Muhsin Faid. When the scholarly atmosphere honed his capabilities, Muhammad Al-Baqir commenced his authorship. The work that the erudite scholars did in a millennium, Allama Majlisi achieved in a short span of 77 years.

It is a fact that what Allama Muhammad Yaqub Kulaini commenced, Allama Majlisi took up capably as a rena’Isance to his efforts. Bihar Al Anwar is Allama Majlisi’s monumental work consisting of 25 volumes. Mirath ul Uqool fi Sharh el Kafi is a commentary on authentic and weaknarrations.

Allama Majlisi had hundreds of disciples studying under him. His prominent students were Allama Sayed Nematullah Jazairi, Mirza Abdallah Affendi, Mulla Abdallah Ardabeli, Mulla Muhammad Fadil, Mulla Muhammad bin Hasan Isfahani and Mulla Muhammad Husayn bin Yahya Noori.

This great luminary of Islamic learning passed away at the age of 77 years in 1111H (1690 A.D.).