The Path of Imam Ali Rajab al-Murajjab - Islamic Education Center

SEPTEMBER 2003 (1 st RAJAB IS EXPECTED TO BE ON 29 th
AUGUST) Subject to moon sighting.
“Do not be a slave of another person, since Allah has made you a free person” – Imam Ali (A.S.)
2313 S. Voss Rd,
P.O.Box 572385
Houston, Tx 77257-2385
Tel : (713) 787-5000
Fax: (281) 754-4430
http://www.iec-houston.org
Resident Alim:
Moulana M. Nasser Biria
alim@iec-houston.org
Board of Directors:
Chairman:
Br. Syed Jaffar Amir
(713) 787-5000 x 52
(832) 876-3159 Cell
chairman@iec-houston.org
Secretary:
Br. Shahid Ali Chawla
(713)-787-5000 x 53
secretary@iec-houston.org
Director of Finance:
Br. Syed Inam Naqvi
(713)-787-5000 x 56
treasurer@iec-houston.org
Director of Programs:
Br. Hasan A. Syed
(713) 787-5000 x 58
director.programs@iec-houston.org
Director of Education:
Br. Imran Dhanji
(713) 787-5000 x 54
director.education@iec-houston.org
Director of Property:
Br. Ghulam Hussain Habib
(713) 787-5000 x 55
director.property@iec-houston.org
Director of Public Relations:
Br. Syed Qamber Jafri
(713) 787-5000 x 82
director.publicrelations@iechouston.org
Director of Youth:
Br. Ahsan Mirza
713-787-5000 x83
director.youth@iec-houston.org
Director of Library and Publications:
Br. Hyder A. Syed
(713) 787-5000 x 57
director.publications@iec-houston.org
To receive IEC programs
information via email please contact
the director of library and
publishing.
The Path of Imam Ali
A simple glance at the personality of Amir al-Mo’mineen gives us an indication of the potential
reach of a human being. From the time he stood up at the gathering of Dawat Dhul-Ashira to
verify his unquestionable support of the Prophet (S) until his uttering the famous salute of
victory “Fuztu wa Rabbil Ka’bah”, in the Masjid of Kufa, and throughout his life in between he
did not flinch from his mission. A fabulous orator, a kind and generous father, a man of superb
physical prowess at the same time a helper of the downtrodden; he was a humble lion of God.
Hence, it is not surprising that friend and foe alike admire this representative of God on Earth.
Those who tread in his footsteps are simply called Shia or ‘followers’. They attempt to follow
the trail of his life’s path. It is not a path of roses. It entails much struggle. He summarized the
secrets of his success in a valuable piece of oratory to a gathering in a mosque. He said….the
God-fearing are the people of distinction…their speech is to the point…dress is moderate…gait
is humble…give ear to beneficial knowledge…bodies are thin…needs are scanty…during night
they are upstanding reading parts of the Qur’an…during the day they are enduring, learned,
virtuous…they have strength in religion…determined and lenient…moderation in riches… in
evening anxious to offer thanks to Allah…forgives him who is unjust to him…gives to him who
deprives him…does not misappropriate what is placed in his custody… does not forget what is
required to be remembered…does not call others bad names…does not cause harm to
neighbors…if he laughs he does not raise his voice…his own self is in distress because of him,
while the people are in ease from him. If one desires to be a Shia then he must travel this path of
Imam Ali (AS).
O he from whom I ask for and expect fulfillment in every good (I do); and in whom I confide to
seek safety from His displeasure for every evil I do! O He who gives much in return of very little
(good deeds)! O He who puts into the hands of the supplicant what he asks for, O He who (also)
let needy, who does not ask for, have what he needs, though he remembers Him not, Feels
Compassion, and takes pity on them! Give me as a gift good in all my objectives in this world
and in the Hereafter, let me free myself from evil in all my activities in this world and in the
Hereafter, because, surely, what Thou gives never goes waste or grows less, and from Thy
bounties let me have more and more O the Generous compassionate!
Congratulations to all
dear Mo’mineen and
Mo’minaat on the
auspicious occasion of
the birth of the Imam
of all eras: Imam Ali
ibn Abi Taleb (AS).
Please see the
programs pages for
details.
Please register for the camping trip that is
scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 5-7. Moulana
Biria and Br Sami Hijazi will accompany us. For
details visit
Rajab al-Murajjab
Rajab is one of the four months
declared sacred by Allah in the
Holy Qur’an. Special prayers and
a’maal that can be prayed and
carried out on any day or daily for
this month reached us on the
authority of the Holy Prophet (S),
Imam Ali (AS), Imam Sajjad (AS),
Imam Sadiq (AS) and Imam Al-
Hujja (AS). These are delineated in
the Mafateeh Al-Jenaan (parts of
which are translated into English
in the reference book ‘Prayer’s
Almanac’).
September, 2003 Wahdat, Islamic Education Center Newsletter -1-

Self Development
(The Charter of Rights by Imam Zainul Abedien (A.S.))
A
nd the rights of your relatives are very many,
depending in importance on the closeness (or
remoteness) of the relationship. Thus, the most
important of these is the right of your mother, then of your
father, then of your children, then of your brother, then of other
relatives according to the degree of relation – closer, then the
remoter.
Then there are the rights of the ex-master who has bestowed
favors upon you and of your emancipated slaves on whom you
have bestowed favors; then the right of your benefactor, of the
muaddhin who calls you to prayer, and of the imam who leads
you in prayers; of your companions, your neighbor, your friend
and your partner.
Then there is the right which your wealth has upon you: the
rights of your debtor, your creditor, and your associate; and the
right of a person who lodges a complaint against you and a
person against whom you lodge a complaint.
Then there is the right of the person who consults you, and of
the person who advises you, and of him seeks guidance from
you and of him who guides you.
Then there is the right of the person who you wronged by
words or action, and of the person on whose misfortune you
expressed pleasure by words or action, intentionally or
unintentionally.
Then there is the right of your fellow Muslims in general; and
the right of those non-Muslims who are under the protection of
Islam (Ahlu ‘dhimma); and the other rights which become
obligatory in different situations and by various causes.
Therefore blessed is the person whom Allah helps to fulfill all
the rights which become obligatory upon him.
Fitness and Well-being
A balanced fitness program, aerobic activity improves cardiorespiratory
fitness, stretching enhances flexibility, and weight
training develops muscle strength and endurance. A sample
balanced program of fitness (45 minutes a day):
Monday, Wednesday, Friday:
• 5 minutes of warm up activity
• 30 minutes of aerobic activity
“A Mo’min who is physically fit
is better than a weaker one.”
- Hadith Nabawi
Tuesday, Thursday:
• 5 minutes of warm-up activity
• 30 minutes of weight training
• 10 minutes of cool-down activity and stretching
Saturday, Sunday:
Sports, walking hiking, biking or swimming
Imam Ali: The Leader of Islam
‘Ali b. Abi Talib (A.S.) is the first Imam of the Muslims. He
was appointed as the leader of the Islamic world on the day of
Ghadeer. He became the ruler of the Muslims just after the
death of the Holy Prophet (S). His life could be divided as
such:
1. From the birth of ‘Ali (AS) to the appointment of
Rasul Allah to his prophetic mission.
2. From the appointment of Rasul Allah to his Hijrah
(emigration from Makkah to Madinah).
3. From the Hijrah of Rasul Allah to his death.
4. From the death of Prophet (S) to caliphate of Ali (AS)
5. From the caliphate of Ali (AS) to his martyrdom.
The following will briefly discuss the first four areas:
1. His Holiness Imam Ali was born 10 years before the
appointment of Mohammad (S) to the Prophethood.
He opened his eyes to the world around him in the
Kabah in the 30 th year of the elephant or 600 A.D. He
was only a 5 year old child when the Prophet (S)
brought him home and took responsibility for his
training. Ali (AS) was with the Prophet (S) from his
early childhood years and they performed their
religious services like the daily prayers side by side.
2. Ali (AS) was the first person who believed in the
Prophet’s mission and lived with him in Makkah for
about 13 years. He wrote God’s voice, meaning he
wrote the revelation of God uttered by the Holy
Prophet (S). On the night the Prophet intended to
emigrate to the city of Madinah, ‘Ali (AS) slept in the
bed of the Prophet whose life was actually at stake.
This action proved his faith.
3. Ali (AS) accompanied the Prophet (S) and his
household in all the battles except the Battle of
Tabuk, at the time of which he was ordered by the
Prophet (S) to remain in Madinah. The army of the
Muslims constantly defeated that of the infidels due to
the bravery and devotion of his Holiness ‘Ali (AS).
4. His glorious and gloomy silence lasted for 25 years.
Although he protested against the ruling government
of the time that had usurped his own right, he did not
give up cooperation in propagating the message of
Islam and its concerned legislation.
• 10 minutes of cool-down activity and stretching
September, 2003 Wahdat, Islamic Education Center Newsletter -2-

Special Programs for the month of September 2003/ Rajab , Sha’ban 1424
Jashne Moulude Ka’ba: Wiladat of Amir-ul-Momineen Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib
****** “Father’s Day” *******
Thursday, 4 th Sept. / 8 th Rajab *: Wiladat of Imam Mohammad ibn Ali al-Taqi (AS)
Maghrib/Isha Prayers
7:59 pm
Dua-e-Kumail
8:30 pm
Qaseedah
9:00 pm
Speech by Moulana Nasser Biria
9:15 pm
Tabarruk
10:00 pm
Friday - Sunday, September 5 -7, 2003
Camp Al-Fajr at YMCA Cullen (2 hours from IEC)
Departure from IEC: 5:00 pm on Friday
Return to IEC:
6:00 pm on Sunday
Activities: Archery, Riflery, Canoeing, Swimming, Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball,
Nature Trails, Hiking, Camp fire, Islamic Lectures and Presentations,
Special Activities for Children under the age of 7
Guest Speakers: Moulana Nasser Biria and Br. Sami Hijazi, Headmaster Al-Hadi Sch.
Wednesday, 10 th September / 13 th Rajab * Ladies Milad Wiladat of Amiral Mo’mineen
Quran Recitation
5.30 pm
Qaseedah
5:45 pm
Speech by Sr. Shaheen
6:30 pm
Tabarruk
7:15 pm
Saturday, 13 th September / 17 th Rajab *:Jashne Moulude Ka’ba / “Father’s Day”
Celebration for the Wiladat of Amir-ul-Momineen Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS)
Guest Speaker: Moulana Zaki Baqri (Canada)
Maghrib Prayer
Dinner
Isha Prayer
Qaseedah
Speech by Moulana Zaki Baqri
7:48 pm
8:00 pm
9:00 pm
9:15 pm
9:45 pm
Saturday, 20 th September / 24 th Rajab *:
Majlis: Shahadat of Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS) & Wafat of Hazrat Abu Talib (AS)
Maghrib/Isha Prayers
7:50 pm
Salam/Marsia
8:30 pm
Speech by Moulana Nasser Biria
8:45 pm
Tabarruk
9:30 pm
Tuesday, 23 rd September / 27 th Rajab *
Celebrations for the Besat-e-Rasool (SAWW) and Meraj
Maghrib Prayer
7:35 pm
Dinner
7:45 pm
Isha Prayer
8:45 pm
Qaseedah
9:00 pm
Speech by Moulana Nasser Biria
9:30 pm
September, 2003 Wahdat, Islamic Education Center Newsletter -3-

Thursday, 25 th September / 28 th Rajab *
Majlis to commemorate the Departure of Imam Hussain (AS) for Karbala
Maghrib/Isha Prayers
7:50 pm
Salam/Marsia
8:30 pm
Speech by Moulana Nasser Biria
8:45 pm
Tabarruk
9:30 pm
Saturday, 27 th September / 1 st Sha’ban *
Celebrations for Wiladat of Imam Hussain, Imam Sajjad & Hz. Abbas(AS)
Guest Speaker: Moulana Syed Abbas Ayleya (Seattle)
Maghrib Prayer
Dinner
Isha Prayer
Qaseedah
Speech by Moulana Abbas Ayleya
7:30 pm
7:45 pm
8:30 pm
8:45 pm
9:15 pm
Monday, 29 th September / 3 rd Sha’ban *
Ladies Milad for Wiladat of Imam Hussain, Imam Sajjad & H. Abbas (AS)
Quran Recitation
5.00 pm
Qaseedah
5:15 pm
Speech by Sr. Farees Khan
6:00 pm
Tabarruk
6:45 pm
* subject to the sighting of moon
September, 2003 Wahdat, Islamic Education Center Newsletter -4-