ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Self Building Instructions Some of the enlightened gnostics have recommended the following instructions for a wayfarer before starting his spiritual journey: First: Before every thing else a devotee must purify his self from sins and moral abjectnesses by means of repentance.

In the beginning with the intention of repentance ( towbah ) take a bath ( ghusl ) and during bathing, think about your past sins and esoteric contamination and then with a feeling of shame, present your self before the Most Merciful and Most Compassionate Lord saying: Oh Lord! I have repented and have returned to you. I have taken a firm decision never to sin again. As I cleaned my body with water, I have also cleaned my heart from sins and moral abjectnesses.

Second: Consider yourself all the time under the presence of God-Almighty. Try your best to remember God in all circumstances and if once in a while negligence overtakes you try to return to the previous state immediately. Third: Must be strict in guarding his self against contamination with sins. During a period of twenty four hours he must fix a time for self scrutiny and with extreme accuracy should review his daily deeds and should seriously remonstrate his self.

Fourth: Should remain silent and should speak whenever it is absolutely necessary to speak. Fifth: Should eat moderately to meet his physical needs and should strictly avoid over-eating and becoming a slave of belly. Sixth: Should maintain his ablution all the times i.e. whenever he terminates ablution he should perform it again.

The Holy Prophet (S) narrated a tradition: قال النبى صلى الله عليه وآله: قول الله تعالى: من أحدث ولم يتوضأ فقد جفاني, ومن أحدث وتوضأ ولم يصلِّ ركعتين فقد جفاني ومن أحدث وتوضأ، وصلى ركعتين، ودعاني ولم أجبه فيما سألني من أمر دينه ودنياه، فقد جفوته.. ولست برب جاف.

“God-Almighty said: 'Whoever after termination of ablution does not perform it again has been unfaithful to me,' whoever after performance of ablution does not offer two units of prayer has done oppression, and whoever after performance of ablution offers prayer and requests for his worldly and spiritual needs -if I don't grant them, I have oppressed him.