ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Study in the Philosophy of Islamic Rites General Outlook At Rites If we cast a general look at the rites we have observed in this book, comparing them with each other, we can then derive some general outlooks at these rites. Here are some of these general outlooks. The Unseen In Explaining Rites We came to know previously the important role worship plays in man's life and that it expresses a fixed need in his civilized march.

From another aspect: if we scrutinize and analyze the particulars, in the light of advanced science, to be acquainted with the pieces of wisdom and secrets which Islamic jurisprudence expresses in this regard and which modern science has been able to discover.

This wonderful agreement between the outcomes of modern science and many particulars of Islamic jurisprudence, and whatever rules and regulations it decided, expresses a dazzling support for the position of this jurisprudence, deeply emphasizing its being God-inspired.

In spite of all this, however, we quite often face unseen points in worship, i.e., a group of details whose secret cannot be comprehended by the person practicing worship, nor can he interpret them materialistically; for why must sunset prayer be three prostrations while the noon-time prayer more than that? And why should each rekaa include bowing down once instead of twice, two prostrations instead of one? Other questions of this sort can also be put forth.

We call such as aspect of worship which cannot be interpreted, "unseen." We find this aspect, in one manner or another, in most rites brought forth by the Islamic jurisprudence. From here, we can consider obscurity in the meaning we have already mentioned as a general phenomenon in rites and one of their common characteristics .

This obscurity is linked to the rites and to their imposed role jointly, for the role of rites, as we have already come to know, is to emphasize the attachment to the Absolute and deepen that practically. The bigger the element of submission and yielding in a worship is, the stronger its effect in deepening the link between the worshipper and his Lord.