A Shi'a Anthology


Foreword 1
Introduction 2
On the Unity of God 10

A. The Prophet 12
1. Profession of Faith 12
2. God's Attributes 13

B. Ali (as), the First Imam 15
1. The Transcendent Lord 15
2. Via negativa 18
3. Firm Rooting in Knowledge 20
4. The Fairest of Creators 26
5. Oneness 28
6. Discernment 29
7. The Vision of the Heart 30

C. al-Baqir, the Fifth Imam 33
The Incomparable Lord 33

D. Ja'far al Sadiq, the Sixth Imam 34
1. Seeing God 34
2. The name that can be named ... 35

E. Musa, the Seventh Imam 36
God's Might and Majesty 36

F. Ali al-Rida, the Eighth Imam 37
1. Profession of Unity 37
2. The Veil 43

The Ruler and Society 46
'Ali's Instructions to Malik al-Ashtar 47

Part One: Introduction 48
Part Two: Commands and Instructions Concerning Righteous Action in the Affairs of the State 48
Part Three: Concerning the Classes of Men 52
Part Four: Commands and Prohibitions in Malik al-Ashtar's Best Interest 60

The Spiritual Life : Prayer and Supplication 66

A. al-Husayn, the Third Imam 67
Prayer for the Day of Arafah 67

B. 'Ali Zayn al-'Abidin, the Fourth Imam 90
1. In Praise of God 90
2. Prayer for the Morning and Evening 95

C. Muhammad al-Mahdi, the Twelfth Imam 101
Prayer for the month of Rajab 101
A Shi'ite Anthology 104