ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Role of the in Building the Virtuous Community Book Seven: The Ritual System of the Virtuous Community Prelude A general review of the books of traditions, supplications, and formulas of ziyarah , as well as the actual practices of the ’s followers, gives us a set of major rituals that the (‘a) were concerned about and urged their partisans and followers to practice.

These rituals rally around the ’s confirmations regarding practicing the general rituals of Islam and were also confirmations of the (‘a) themselves. As true defenders of Islam and the natural extension of the Islamic Mission, the (‘a) emphasized the practice of the general rituals of Islam, considering them the most significant foundation in building a virtuous community.

They (‘a) expressly and widely maintained the practice of the general rituals of Islam (including prayers, Hajj Pilgrimage, zakat , and fasting) and commanded their followers to establish them under all circumstances, no matter how difficult it might be. As for the second confirmation, it is founded on the ’s view of Islamic theory which is based on five pillars: prayer, zakat , fasting, Hajj Pilgrimage, and wilayah .

The most important of these five pillars is the wilayah , according to the (‘a) because no confirmation has been made on any of these five pillars that compares with the confirmation made on wilayah , which is the protector of the other four pillars and the wali (authority) is the guide towards the other pillars being conversant with them. Moreover, prayer, zakat , fasting, and the Hajj Pilgrimage depend upon wilayah to be accepted. The (‘a) are the pivot and purport of wilayah .

Many verses of the Holy Qur'an confirm this— the Verse of Mawaddah (love),[^1] the Verse of Tathir (purification),[^2] the Verse of Khums ,[^3] the Verse of Wilayah ,[^4] and many others—in addition to many traditions of the Holy Prophet (S) that were reported without interruption, such as Hadith al-Ghadir,[^5] Hadith al-Thaqalayn,[^6] Hadith al-Safinah,[^7] and many other Hadith.

Hence, expressing love, affection, and loyalty to the (‘a) becomes one of the devotional pillars of Islam and one of the Islamic rituals when and if it is practiced within the legal and reason-based formulas and methods prescribed by the (‘a).