Muhammad Taqy Jafary Farvardin 21, 1376 (Iranian calendar) April 1997 A.

Muhammad Taqy Jafary Farvardin 21, 1376 (Iranian calendar) April 1997 A.D. Author's Preface In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful I started a series of lectures on the subject of the Islamic family structure in 1984, since a need for this topic was felt in the society.

I conducted these lectures on various occasions such as Muharram, Safar and the Holy month of Ramazan and my lectures were based on the verses from the Holy Quran and traditions from authentic sources of traditions (Hadith). These lectures were warmly welcomed by the people, especially by the youth, and this unprecedented attendance was due to nothing but a display of God's blessing and kindness Who is always supporting the Islamic religious orders.

The video and cassette tapes of those lectures which are about thirty in number were soon distributed all over the country, and the contents of the lectures were published in one of Tehran's evening papers and were distributed for the public.

As expected, the lectures had a reasonable effect upon families since they reflected the contents of the Holy Quran and the knowledge of the Household of the Prophet (Pbuh [1] ) which are in line with man's nature and fulfill all his spiritual and material needs. Concerned friends and religious brothers suggested several times that I convert these lectures into a book so that they could be better used by the heroic people of Iran.

However, the writing of a twelve-volume series on the Islamic Mysticism taking seven years; and the interpretation as well as description of Sahifeh-e-Sajjadiyeh taking five years and other notes together with journal articles left me no time to undertake the task. Another portion of my time was devoted to traveling to various parts of the country for preaching, but my friends still kept on insisting. Mr. Reza Kalhur owns a publishing house.

His brother is a young, enthusiastic and virtuous believer and is working in the religious schools in Qum where I am a student [2] He came to Tehran on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Fatimah Zahra (Pbuh)- Islam's highly respectable Lady who is herself the best model [1] Pbuh is used throughout the book to denote Peace be upon him or her or them. When used for the Prophet, his Household is included. When used for others, it only refers to that person.

[2] Translators note: This is mentioned by the respectable author as an act of humbleness.