نشریه معرفت - موسسه آموزشی پژوهشی امام خمینی (ره) - الصفحة ١١
Other Manifestations of Love for God (١)
Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Misbah
Abstract
The love which God's friends ask from Him is pure love. When it
blossoms, man's attention is entirely directed to God and by seeing
God's manifestations, glory and omnipotence, he feels boundless pleasure
unequalled.
Man is a perfection-seeker and pleasure-seeker. All the perfections,
pleasures and beauties in the world are ascribed to the Most High God.
Therefore, when man succeeds to understand the manifestations of the
real object of worship and beloved, he feels deep love for God.
A beloved's good pleasure and nearness bring utmost joy to the lover,
which is the outcome of his pure love for God. From the effects of pure
love for God are lack of inclination to this world and inattention to
its attractions. Those who know God full well, are devoted to Him and
seek his nearness remember Him all the time. The lifestyle of infallible
Imams is a vivid example for this.
Key words: love, pure love for God, manifestations of love, God's friends, God's satisfaction.
Selection of Israelites in the Quran and in Prophet Isaiah's Book
Delara Ne'mati Pirali
Abstract
The supremacy and selection of a nation by God depend on some criteria
and standards. One of the most important issues which makes one attain
the real doctrines of religions on the one hand and makes clear those
interpretations which are based on one's preferences and interests is
the extraction and review of these criteria and standards and
identifying the real instances of selection according to the sources
confirmed by religions and comparing between them.
Prophet Isaiah's book which is one of the latter prophets' books in the
Old Testament not only includes doctrinal issues and prophecies but
also details about the characteristics of Israelites. These
characteristics which completely conform with those found in Quranic
verses, describe Israelites as aggressive people who, contrary to the
thrust of divine covenant (that is, their adherence to motheism and
righteous deeds) have turned away from God, Musa's religion and the
prophets after him and got involved in personal and social sins due to
their doctrinal and moral deviations. Those who commit these sins
receive punishments in this world and the next. Accordingly, it may be
admitted that the selection of Israelites is limited to time, contingent
upon practical and doctrinal criteria, and cannot be generalized to
this people at any time and with any belief and practice.
Key words: Israelites, selection, Prophet Isaiah' book, the Glorious Quran.
Imam Ali's View about the Meaning of Awareness of Death and Its Effects
Baksh Ali Qanbari - Mohammad Ali Mashayekhipoor
Abstract
All the creatures in this world are destined to death and man is no
exception. He, also confronts death like any other creature. However,
because mankind has certain characteristics and qualities, he is aware
of his death. All divine religions have paid particular attention to
death, awareness of death, and thinking of death their doctrines.
Referring to Quranic verses and traditions and focusing on Nahjol
Balaghah, the present paper tries to elaborate on the meaning of
awareness of death and identify its causes. This article also reviews
the contexts, effects and obstacles of awareness of death in order to
prepare the ground for its emergence and manifestation in man's life,
which can direct our acts towards what is the best in the world and
hereafter.
Key words: death, awareness of death, thinking of death, this world, hereafter, Imam Ali (peace be upon him), Nahjol Balaghah
Pathology of Reuven Firestone's Research on Prophet Ibrahim
(peace be upon him)
Hassan Rezaii Haftador, Morteza Valizadeh
Abstract
It is undeniably necessary for us as Muslims to precisely know what
orientalists' views on Islamic sciences are so that we can criticize
them scientifically. Therefore, the main concern of the present paper is
to shed light on Firestone's research on Prophet Ibrahim and see what
problems it has. The research uses a documentary method and
analytical-critical approach, but this does not mean that descriptive
methods has been neglected. Although the main focus in this research is
on Firestone's views on Prophet Ibrahim, Muslim scholars' views have
been considered whenever necessary. Firestone's research indicates that
he has made a thorough enquiry into Islamic sources, but the mistake, he
has committed and which cannot be overlooked, is that he has not
examined all valid Islamic sources, especially Shiite sources. He has
not investigated the views of the Twelvers' school on Prophet Ibrahim
and his referring only to Sunni resources has undermined the validity of
his research.
Key words: Reuven Firestone, Ibrahim, offering, having
scriptures, idolatry of Ibrahim's father, Aazar, Quran's quotation from
the
Testaments.
The Conformity between God' Knowledge of the Particulars and His Invariability Demonstrated in the Works of Famous Philosophers and Theologians
Mohammad Hussein Faryab
Abstract
God is a constant and invariable Being who is not influenced by time
and place or spatial-temporal existing objects or creatures. On the
other hand, He is fully aware of the particulars which are variable and
whose change will, at the first glance, lead to change in God's
knowledge and then in His essence. The present paper is mainly concerned
with whether or not God's knowledge of the particulars is compatible
with invariability of God's knowledge and essence of God.
The researcher tries to examine how the works of famous philosophers
and theologians consider God as an invariable Being on the one hand and
as aware of the particulars, on the other hand. The most important
research findings show that famous philosophers have proposed different
solutions based on different approaches. It seems that Avicena's view is
the most challenging view of these philosophers. Furthermore, Fazil
Miqdad's view should be considered a new headline in the subject of
God's knowledge in Islamic theology.
Key words: knowledge, philosopher, theologian, God's knowledge of the particulars, invariability.
An Inquiry into the Concept and Nature of Religious Experience in Iqbal Lahori's View
Ali Parimi
Abstract
Iqbal Lahori looks at religion from the angle of religious experience
and regards religions experience as the basis of religious knowledge.
Therefore, his theological approach is governed by religious experience
and regards religion as a branch of knowledge which results from a kind
of experience. He sees that religious knowledge is an interpretation of
religious experience and, like the other experiences of man, it is
insightful. Iqbal is the first scholar who maintains that religious
experience is identical to revelation, and talks about the
transformation and reduction of Islamic revelation to religious
experience. This view entails the negation of the linguistic nature of
revelation, negation of the infallibility of prophet hood, the
fallibility of revelation, looking at religion as non-divine and man
made, rejecting that idea that there is a seal of prophets, and
expanding prophetic experience. Using a descriptive- analytical
method, the present paper explains and describes the nature of religious
experience and makes explicit Iqbal's methodological, epistemological
and theological approach and religious experience. It also reviews and
criticizes Iqbal's view to expound its effects and shortcomings.
Key words: Iqbal Lahori, religious experience, religious knowledge, experience, religion, revelation.
A Comparative Analysis of the Definition and Components of Religion according to the West and Islam
Mahmud Namazi
Abstract
There have been completely different views about religion. Some believe
that religion is a spiritual and internal state, which is experienced
only by the individual. Others consider religion not more than a set of
beliefs. Such a view entails that rules, rituals and practical decrees
are considered as separate from religion. Some others believe that
religion is but a number of acts some individuals do in the name of
religion, and which have nothing to do with beliefs. On the contrary,
others consider religion as an abstract idea consisting of such things
like the domain of religion and economic, legal and political behavior.
Accordingly, religion cannot be a mere personal experience because
treatment of these issues is beyond the capacity of personal experience.
Anyway, the different views about religion and its components
necessitates investigating whether or not there can be a strict
definition of religion with specific components. The question that
arises is whether the rich resources of Islam- Quran and Sunna can
contribute to providing a definition of religion and its real
components, not because of the authenticity and authority of these
sources but because the deep meanings in these sources are provided by
unique sages. Discussing and criticizing the prevalent western views on
religion and taking an overall look at this issue, the present paper
tries to provide a strict definition of religion and its main
components.
Key words: religion, the West, Islam, anti-arrogance, happiness.
Christianity in Modern Latin America
Yasir 'Asgari
Abstract
The immigration of the Spanish and Portuguese to Latin America and the
complete domination over, and brutal colonization of this region turned
it into a Christian territory. This continued for five centuries so that
nearly ninety percent of its population follows Christianity today and
the followers of other religions and domestic faiths are only few.
Catholicism has been unrivaled religion in Latin America for the last
few decades as result of the immigration of Latin groups contemporary
with the rulers and kings were in favour of Vatican Church. The
Protestant Church and different denominations, which had no opportunity
for propagation and free activity, and which constitute a small part of
its population have recently witnessed a significant growth.
The present paper aims at investigating Christianity in Latin America
in modern time. To this end, this article is mainly concerned with the
latest condition of Catholics and Protestants and most important
challenges they face, and it uses a library method and makes use of the
latest news about Christian activities in the region. Among the
important results of the research is identifying the strengths and
weakness of different Christian denominations of the region. This can be
of some help to Muslim leaders and statesmen, those in charge of
Islamic centers and policy makers of Islamic seminaries, both Shiite or
Sunni.
Key words: Latin America. Brazil, liberation theology, Evangelists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses.