Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

THEOLOGICAL INSTRUCTIONS

This book is corrected and edited by Al-Hassanain (p) Institue for Islamic Heritage and Thought

• INTRODUCTION
• TRANSLATOR’S NOTE
• The Translation
• AUTHOR’S PREFACE
• LESSON ONE: CONCEPT OF RELIGION 
• The principles of religion and its branches
• a. Worldview and Ideology
• b. Divine and Materialistic Worldviews
• c. Revealed religions and their principles
• Questions
• LESSON TWO: INQUIRING INTO RELIGION 
• The drive to investigate
• a. The significance of inquiring into religion
• b. Resolution of a doubt
• Questions
• LESSON THREE: THE CONDITIONS NECESSARY TO LIVE AS HUMAN BEINGS 
• Introduction
• The above result depends upon three preliminaries
• a. Man’s perfection is achieved by following the intellect
• b. The practical rules of the intellect require the basis of speculation
• c. Results to be achieved
• Questions
• LESSON FOUR: THE WAY OF RESOLVING FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES 
• Introduction
• The different types of epistemology
• a. Different types of worldview
• b. Criticism and research
• c. Results to be achieved
• Questions
• LESSON FIVE: KNOWING GOD
• Introduction
• Cognition through knowledge by presence and knowledge by acquisition 
• Cognition through intrinsic nature
• Questions
• LESSON SIX: THE SIMPLE WAY OF KNOWING GOD 
• The ways of knowing God
• a. Specialties of the simple way
• b. Familiar signs
• Questions
• LESSON SEVEN: PROOFS OF NECESSARY EXISTENT 
• Introduction
• Text of the proof
• Possibility and necessity
• a. Cause and effect
• b. The impossibility of an endless chain of causes
• c. Affirmation of the argument
• Questions
• LESSON EIGHT: ATTRIBUTES OF GOD 
• Introduction
• The eternal nature of God
• a. Negative attributes
• b. The cause that bestows existence
• c. Peculiarities of the cause that bestows existence
• Questions
• LESSON NINE: ATTRIBUTES OF ESSENCE 
• Introduction
• Attributes of essence and attributes of action
• Proofs for the attributes of essence
• a. Life (Hayāt)
• b. Knowledge (‘ilm)
• c. Power (qudrah)
• Questions
• LESSON TEN: ATTRIBUTES OF ACTION 
• Introduction
• a. Creatorship (khāliqiyyah)
• b. Lordship (rubūbiyyah)
• c. Divinity (ulūhiyyah)
• Questions
• LESSON ELEVEN: ADDITIONAL ATTRIBUTES OF ACTION 
• Introduction
• Will
• a. Wisdom
• b. Speech
• c. Truth
• Questions
• LESSON TWELVE: ANALYSING THE REASONS FOR DEVIATION 
• Introduction
• Reasons of deviation
• a. Psychological reasons for deviation
• b. Sociological reasons for deviation
• c. Intellectual factors for deviation
• Campaign against the elements of deviation
• Questions
• LESSON THIRTEEN: RESOLVING SEVERAL SPURIOUS DOUBTS 
• Believing in an intangible existence
• a. The role of fear and ignorance in belief in God
• b. Is the principle of causation, one universal concept?
• c. Achievements of sociology
• Questions
• LESSON FOURTEEN: THE MATERIALISTIC WORLD VIEW AND ITS CRITICISM  
• The principles of the materialist worldview
• a. Investigating the first principle
• b. Investigating the second principle
• c. Investigating the third principle
• d. Investigating the fourth principle
• Questions
• LESSON FIFTEEN: DIALECTICAL MATERIALISM AND ITS CRITICISM  
• Mechanical materialism and dialectical materialism
• a. The principle of contradiction
• Criticism of the principle of contradiction
• b. The principle of the quantum leap
• Criticisms of the principle of the quantum leap
• c. The principle of negating the negation
• Questions
• LESSON SIXTEEN: ONENESS OF GOD 
• Introduction
• Proofs for the Oneness of God
• Questions
• LESSON SEVENTEEN: THE MEANING OF THE ONENESS OF THE GOD 
• Introduction
• The negation of plurality
• The negation of composition
• a. The negation of attributes as additional to the essence
• b. The unity of Divine actions
• c. Independent effectuality
• d. The two important results achieved
• e. The resolution of a doubt
• Questions
• LESSON EIGHTEEN: FREEWILL AND DETERMINISM  
• Introduction
• The explanation of human volition
• a. The resolution of spurious doubts concerning determinism
• Questions
• LESSON NINETEEN: DIVINE DECREE AND DESTINY 
• The concepts of destiny and decree
• Objective determination and epistemic-determination
• The relation of destiny and decree to human volition
• a. Different types of influences from distinctive causes
• b. Resolution of a doubt
• c. The influence of belief upon destiny and decree
• Questions
• LESSON TWENTY: DIVINE JUSTICE 
• Introduction
• The concept of justice
• a. The proofs for Divine justice
• b. The resolution of certain doubts
• Questions
• LESSON TWENTY-ONE: THE ISSUES CONCERNING PROPHETHOOD 
• Introduction
• 1. The purpose of discussing this section
• a. The method of investigation in theology
• Questions
• LESSON TWENTY-TWO: THE NEED FOR REVELATION AND PROPHETHOOD 
• The necessity for the nomination of prophets
• a. The limitations of human sciences
• The benefits of the nomination of prophets
• Questions
• LESSON TWENTY-THREE: RESOLVING CERTAIN SOURIOUS DOUBTS 
• Resolving certain spurious doubts
• Questions
• LESSON TWENTY-FOUR: INFALLIBILITY OF THE PROPHETS 
• The necessity of the immunity of Revelation
• Other Cases of Infallibility
• Infallibility of the prophets (a)
• Questions
• LESSON TWEWNTY-FIVE: THE REASONS FOR THE INFALLIBILITY OF PROPHETS 
• Introduction
• Intellectual reasons for the infallibility of prophets (a)
• Traditional reasons for the infallibility of prophets (a)
• The philosophy behind the infallibility of prophets (a)
• Questions
• LESSON TWEWNTY-SIX: RESPONSE TO CERTAIN DOUBTS 
• Introduction
• Why does an infallible person deserve reward?
• Why did the infallible Prophets and Imams (a) confess to committing sins?
• How is Satan’s influence on the prophets (a) in agreement with their infallibility?
• Attributing forgetfulness and rebelliousness to Adam (a)
• Attributing lies to some of the prophets (a)
• Moses’ (a) murdering of a Qobti
• Prohibiting the Prophet (s) from casting doubt on his mission
• The Prophet (s) is described in the Qur’an as committing some sins
• Reports concerning the marriage of the Prophet (s) with the divorced wife of Zayd 
• Questions
• LESSON TWENTY-SEVEN: MIRACLES 
• Ways of proving prophecy
• The definition of a miracle
• Extraordinary events
• Divine extraordinary acts
• Characteristics of the miracles of the prophets’ (a)
• Questions
• LESSON TWENTY-EIGHT: RESPONSES TO CERTAIN DOUBTS 
• Responses to certain doubts
• Do miracles contradict causality?
• Do extraordinary acts indicate changes in Divine customs?
• Why did the Prophet of Islam (s) refuse to present miracles to the public?
• Can miracles be accepted as intellectual or convincing evidence?
• Questions
• LESSON TWENTY-NINE: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROPHET 
• The plurality of the prophets
• The number of prophets
• Prophets and God’s Messengers
• The prominent prophets
• Some Points
• Questions
• LESSON THIRTY: PROPHETS AND PEOPLE 
• Introduction
• The people’s reaction against the prophets (a)
• Reasons and motivations behind the opposition of the prophets (a)
• Behaviour towards the prophets (a)
• Contempt
• Slander and unjust accusations
• Dispute and chicanery
• Threats and allurement
• Violence and murder
• Some heavenly approached in ruling societies
• Questions
• LESSON THIRY-ONE: THE PROPHET OF ISLAM  
• Introduction
• The establishment of the prophethood of the Prophet of Islam (s)
• Questions
• LESSON THIRY-TWO: THE MIRCULOUS NATURE OF THE QUR’AN 
• The Qur'an as a Miracle
• The miraculous aspects of the Qur’an
• a. Its eloquence and rhetoric
• b. The illiteracy of its Messenger
• c. Its harmony and lack of contradiction
• Questions
• LESSON THIRY-THREE: THE IMMUNITY OF THE QUR’AN FROM ALTERATION 
• Introduction
• Lack of addition in the Qur’an
• Lack of deletion from the Qur’an
• Questions
• LESSON THIRTY-FOUR: ISLAM IS UNIVERSAL AND ETERNAL 
• Introduction
• 1. The universality of Islam
• a. Qura’nic proofs for the universality of Islam
• The Eternity of Islam
• The resolution of certain doubts
• Questions
• LESSON THIRY-FIVE: THE SEAL OF PROPHECY 
• Introduction
• 1. a. The Qur’anic proofs for the seal of prophecy
• b. The traditional proofs for the seal of prophecy
• 2. The secret behind the seal of prophecy
• 3. The answer to a spurious doubt
• LESSON THIRTY-SIX: IMĀMAH
• Introduction
• 1. The Concept of Imāmah
• Questions
• LESSON THIRY-SEVEN: THE NEED FOR AN IMAM  
• Introduction
• The necessity of the existence of an Imam
• Questions
• LESSON THIRTY-EIGHT: THE APPOINTMENT OF AN IMAM  
• The appointment of an Imam
• Questions
• LESSON THIRTY-NINE: THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE INFFALIBILITY OF THE IMAM  
• Introduction
• The infallibility of the Imam
• The Knowledge of the Imam
• Questions
• LESSON FORTY: IMAM MAHDI
• Introduction
• A Divine World Government
• The Divine Covenant
• a. Examples from the traditions
• b. Occultation and its secret
• Questions
• LESSON FORTY-ONE: THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING DAY OF JUDGEMENT 
• Introduction
• The significance of believing in the Resurrection
• The importance given by the Qur’an to the issue of Resurrection
• Conclusion
• Questions
• LESSON FORTY-TWO: THE DEPENDENCE OF THE ISSUES OF RESSURRECTION UPON THE ISSUES OF THE SPIRIT
• The criteria of unity in a living existent
• The role of the spirit in the existence of man
• Questions
• LESSON FORTY-THREE: THE IMMATERIALITY OF THE SOUL 
• Introduction
• Intellectual reasoning upon the immateriality of the soul
• Proofs from the Qur’an
• Questions
• LESSON FORTY-FOUR: PROVING RESSURRECTION 
• Introduction
• Proving Resurrection through Wisdom
• Proving Resurrection through Justice
• Questions
• LESSON FORTY-FIVE: RESSURECTION IN THE QUR’AN 
• Introduction
• Denial of Resurrection is baseless
• Phenomena resembling Resurrection
• a. Plant life
• b. The sleep of the people of cave
• c. The coming back to life of certain animals
• d. The coming back to life of certain humans
• Questions
• LESSON FORTY-SIX: THE QUR’ANIC RESPONSE RESSURRECTION TO THE DOUBTHS CONCERNING
• The argument for the return from non-existence
• The argument for the material body having the ability of new life
• The argument with respect to the strength of a creator
• Questions
• LESSON FORTY-SEVEN: GOD’S PROMISE REGARDING THE RESURRECTION 
• Introduction
• The inevitable promise of God
• Examples of intellectual arguments
• Questions
• LESSON FORTY-EIGHT: CHARACTERSTICS OF THE NEXT LIFE 
• Introduction
• Characteristics of the next life from an intellectual viewpoint
• Questions
• LESSON FORTY-NINE: FROM DEATH TO RESURRECTION 
• Introduction
• All men will die
• The one who takes the soul at death
• Dying with difficulty or ease
• The non-acceptance of faith and forgiveness at the time of death
• The value of returning to the world (dunyā)
• Questions
• LESSON FIFTY: THE IMAGE OF RESURRECTION IN THE QUR’AN 
• Introduction
• The conditions of the earth, sea and mountain
• The condition of the sky and stars
• The trumpet of death
• The trumpet of life and the beginning of resurrection
• The Divine court of justice
• Towards the eternal residence
• Paradise
• Hell
• Questions
• LESSON FIFTY-ONE: A COMPARISON BETWEEN THIS WORLD AND THE HEREAFTER 
• Introduction
• The finiteness of this World and infiniteness of the Hereafter
• Isolation of Blessing from Punishment
• The nobility of the Hereafter
• Questions
• LESSON FIFTY-TWO: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS WORLD AND HEREAFTER 
• Introduction
• This world is the fertile land for the Hereafter
• The worldly benefits (blessings) will bring no prosperity in the Hereafter
• Worldly benefits (blessings) will not lead to adversity in the Hereafter
• Conclusion
• Questions
• LESSON FIFTY-THREE: THE TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS WORLD AND THE HERE AFTER
• Introduction
• True or conventional relationships
• Qur’anic Evidence
• Questions
• LESSON FIFTY-FOUR: THE ROLE OF FAITH AND BLASHEMY IN ONE’S ETERNAL PROSPERITY OR ADVERSITY
• Introduction
• The nature of faith and disbelief
• The norm of faith and disbelief
• The effect of faith and disbelief on eternal prosperity or adversity
• Evidence from the Qur’an
• Questions
• LESSON FIFTY-FIVE: THE INTER-RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAITH AND DEEDS 
• Introduction
• The relationship between faith and disbelief
• The relationship between deeds and faith
• Conclusion
• Questions
• LESSON FIFTY-SIX: SOME IMPORTANT POINTS
• Introduction
• Man’s true perfection
• Intellectual clarification
• The role of motivation and intention
• Questions
• LESSON FIFTY-SEVEN: THE MISCARRIAGE BY EVIL ACTS (Habt) AND REMITTANCE OF SINS AFTER GOOD DEEDS (Takfīr)
• Introduction
• The relationship between faith and disbelief
• The relationship between good and evil deeds
• Questions
• LESSON FIFTY-EIGHT: PRIVILEDGES OF THE BELIEVERS 
• Introduction
• Increase in reward
• Forgiveness of minor sins
• Receiving benefits from the deeds of others
• Questions
• LESSON FIFTY-NINE: INTERSSESION 
• Introduction
• The concept of intercession
• Conditions of Intercession
• Questions
• LESSON SIXTY: RESPONSES TO CERTAIN SPURIOUS DOUBTS 
• Doubt 1
• Response 1
• Doubt 2
• Response 2
• Doubt 3
• Response 3
• Doubt 4
• Response 4
• Doubt 5
• Response 5
• Doubt 6
• Response 6
• Doubt 7
• Response 7
• Questions
• Glossary of Terms
• Epestimology
• Endnotes