In the name of God the compassionate, ever merciful
It is one of the most important things for a human being to have goodwill towards other human beings. As believers we need to focus on helping other believers but also should not forget that the rest of humanity should be treated with goodwill as well.
Imam Ali (AS) had said:
“Remember that the citizens of the state are of two categories. They are either your brethren in religion or your brethren in kind.”
The above advice was given to a leader, Malek-Ashtar, and it is most applicable to the areas where Moslems are a majority and in control, but each one of us as believers should consider that statement in our daily life.
Before discussing what is good and helpful for the believers, first we should understand and acknowledge what has already been done and is being done presently in that regard by dedicated believers and respect their work and effort.
We as believers should appreciate all the work and effort already in place all over the world by the followers of Ali (AS) via the donation based or public supported entities such as television stations and religious centers and websites and any other. Those that we see are helping the cause of Islam in the way of Ali (AS) need to be supported and helped by the believers if they are to be able to continue their honorable work.
The biggest problem people have with supporting a public or donation based organization that they favor is the money they have to spend. If the believers would treat the public supported organizations who are promoting the true Islam through the Household of the Prophet (SAWW) like any other public supported organization then their effectiveness would be at a minimum or non-existent.
What if the support of the organizations who promote true Islam through the Household of the Prophet (SAWW) is considered an important religious duty? If that is the case then clearly it would be a good enough reason to support them and not necessarily because we like to attend to them or not?
To determine that, first we have to see what it is that they do and if that qualifies them for religious support.
For a follower of Ali (AS) this should not be too difficult to figure out that those who help promote Islam through the Household of the Prophet (SAWW) are not only engaging in a worthy cause, but also doing work in the way of God. If we understand that they are truly engaged to function in the way of God, and no other, by need of public support, then the following verse in the holy Quran would validate the cause for their required support to be provided by the believers:
Sureh Al-Baqara, Verse 195 indicates:
“And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.”
It is the responsibility of the believer to determine whether any organization that they are going to support qualifies for that. If so, then any kind of financial, material or volunteer support to them, on a regular basis and as much as one can afford, can help their organizations and will be considered spending in the way of God. It should be noted that this support is only so that the organizations engaged in promoting Islam through the Household of the Prophet (SAWW) can function effectively and is not to be a charity to any individuals.
To be appreciated is the work of the individuals from the world over who put in their time and effort to produce what is presented in order to help defend the faith of the followers of Ali (AS) and spreading the cause of Hussein (AS) and the rest of the Household of the Prophet (SAWW).
These people are among the many who provide good knowledge to other believers, those who tell us about Namaz (Salat) and its benefits in many sessions, those who stand up and challenge the opposition of Ali (AS) and the Household of the Prophet (SAWW) as the legitimate Islam, those who create translated material on the internet that is useful to the public or the ones who spend their own time helping people with important subject of family psychology especially in the context of Islam, those teaching the proper reciting of the holy Quran in Arabic or those telling us with detailed research why for example eating pork is bad for humans and show us possible evidence of the miracle of splitting of the moon by the Prophet (SAWW), those who do the informative and usefully entertaining competition shows with their knowledgeable and enthusiastic hosts providing us the roots of the information that is helpful in the area of our faith and those who do children’s programs and others too. At last but not the least is to mention all those true blessed individuals who support the faith by the love of Household of the Prophet (SAWW) and by open hearts and minds and religious knowledge that is very useful and educational to all the believers.
An important thing to do for the community of the believers would be teaching their children to be able to recite Quran from the very young age so that they get familiar with the language of the holy Quran. Whenever one hears their young voices reciting it is good, and their displayed love is well acknowledged and heartwarming.
Later in life when younger people gain full understanding, they should also read the holy Quran in the language that they understand but in the context and interpretation of the Household of the Prophet (SAWW), in order to learn it correctly. Doing so will create strength in their faith and provide the needed guidance for their lives. In reading Quran in a translated language, one must be careful to do so from a reliable source and have more than one translation at hand to make sure that they get the correct information.
Sureh Al-Anfal, Verse 2:
“The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases the faith in them; and upon their Lord they rely –
Sureh Al-Araf, Verse 204:
“So when the Qur’an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.”
Upcoming future writing topics include; discussing poverty and hunger as well as more helpful ideas for the believers.
Thank you for reading this.
