ভূমিকা
Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Jurisprudence Made Easy Preamble In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful Today, I have completed my fifteenth birthday. When I awoke, I had no idea what was in store for me. A day of surprises, conceit, and apprehension that was, nevertheless, tampered with joy, love, and enjoyment of discovery. A day that heralded the closing of one chapter of my life and the beginning of another. As usual, I woke up early.
No sooner had I finished my morning routine between my waking up and sitting to have my breakfast, I saw a different expression on my father’s face. Something made me guess that a matter of a kind that concerns me he needed to address. His eyes were wide open as if they were gazing in a vacuum. His tight lips indicated that he was about to say something of great importance. His fingers were tapping rhythmically on the dining table.
It seemed that his heart was filled with great tidings so much so that it could overflow. As I sat on the opposite side of the table, he took the initiative, with a glow of joy filling his eyes, and said: Oh my son! Today, you have rolled up a phase of your life and are on the threshold of a new one. In the eye of Islamic law, you have become a fully fledged man capable of being obligated to observe the dictates of religion.
On this day, Allah, the Exalted, has bestowed upon you the favour of showing to you that which you should obey and that which you should shun. Until yesterday you were, in the eye of Islamic law, a child. Thus, you were left alone. As of today, everything has changed. You are a man like other men. You are capable of behaving responsibly. That is why Allah has addressed you. * Sorry, I do not seem to understand what exactly you mean. How can Allah grace me with His bounty by ordering me?
Is command a type of grace? How can this be? Let me give you an example. You are now a student. Among your class mates, there are those who are bright, diligent, committed, hard working, the conscientious and others. The headteacher sends for you to come to his office. The moment you walk in, with a smile, he breaks the good tidings to you that you have been chosen for a certain task. This is so because what you have achieved sets you in a different league from your peers.
Do you not feel a sense of achievement and self confidence for the special treatment accorded to you by your headteacher? Would this not fill you with zeal to carry out the task?