publicizing the precious immortal works of the master scholars of Shiism...

publicizing the precious immortal works of the master scholars of Shiism, is pleased to advance these three precious works, all in one book, to the dear readers and the seekers of the truth. We hope the dear reader would find this work convenient and guide to the human perfection and we implore to Allah, Exalted is He, to grant us success to keep on offering the dear readers with the valuable gems of the Islamic heritage.

ANSARIYAN PUBLICATIONS, 2001 THE REVISER'S WORD All praise is due to Allah, the lord of the worlds. All blessings and peace be upon Mohammed and his family-the pure and immaculate. All mercy and content be upon all their adorers and adherents. The content of Allah be upon the Prophet's companions who honestly followed him.

It is well known that Shiism, as a sect and belief, was not the fruit of the political circumstances that took place after the death of the glorious Prophet (s) when some people usurped the leadership from its legal master in the Saqifa of the Banu Saaida.

It was also not the product of the political circumstances that came about during the reign of Imam Ali (a) when the Prophet's widow (Aisha) mutinied, calling for the revenge on those who shed the blood of the killed caliph after she had provoked all people against that very killed caliph in his lifetime, and history has kept her famous call, 'Kill Naathat1 , for he has converted to atheism.' Shiism, also, was not the product of the political circumstances that occurred when Muawiya mutinied, ____________ 1 The Prophet's widow; Aisha said the name of Naathal to Othman bin Affan when she rallied people against him and accused him of atheism.

The name Naathal, however, refers to a Jewish person who lived in that time. carrying the shirt of Othman1 and calling for the revenge on his killers. That event, however, was the reason beyond the founding of the Khawarij2 one of whose members killed Amir ul-Mu'minin (a) while he was offering a prayer in his mihrab.

Shiism, too, is not the product of the political circumstances that the Muslims had to encounter after the savage massacre of Karbala, which was committed against the Prophet's household (a) at the hands of the Umayyad ruling authorities. It is quite true that Shiism was not the product of any of the previous circumstances, as some please to say. Shiism came to light and appeared on the theater of the political and religious life since the first sparks of the Islamic history.