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Shahadat of Imam Ali Ar Ridha (AS)
29th Safar 1448 AHThursday August 13, 2026
- The lecture commemorates the shahadat of the 8th Imam, Ali ar-Riza (AS), poisoned by Ma'mun in Khurasan (present-day Mashhad, "the place of martyrdom").- Ma'mun had summoned the Imam to Marv, which unexpectedly opened opportunities for scholars and the public to meet the Imam and engage him in theological discussions.- In one such discussion, the ulama asked whether Allah had explained the concept of "selection" (istifa') of the Ahlul Bayt in the Qur'an.- Imam ar-Riza (AS) answered that Allah explained this selection in the exoteric (outward) verses, apart from the esoteric ones, in twelve places.- The lecture focuses on two of those twelve verses, since the exoteric meaning is accessible to the general public.- The Verse of Salawat (33:56): after its revelation, companions asked how to send salawat, and the Prophet taught them to say "Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa Ali Muhammad," a practice on which even Ma'mun confirmed there is no dispute.- The Imam then pointed to Surah Yaseen (36:1-4), where the ulama agreed "Yaseen" refers to the Prophet Muhammad.- Building on this, the Imam noted Allah sends salam only upon prophets — Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa and Harun — but never upon their families ("Al").- Uniquely, Allah says "Salam upon Al-e Yaseen" (37:130), which the Imam identifies as Al-e Muhammad — a distinction given to no other prophet's family.- A clarification: the common recitation reads "Ilyasin" (linked to Prophet Ilyas), but at-Tabari records that the reciters of Medina read it as "Al-e Yaseen," a reading also narrated from Ibn Abbas in Sunni sources.- The Verse of Muwaddah (42:23): while other prophets like Nuh and Hud asked for no reward at all, Allah instructs the Prophet Muhammad to ask only for love of his near relatives.- Imam ar-Riza (AS) explains Allah made this love obligatory because He knew the Ahlul Bayt would never deviate from faith, and because love for the Prophet requires love for his family.- Upon revelation, the Prophet three times announced Allah had imposed a duty; when he revealed it was love for his family, some accepted while others privately doubted, prompting verses 42:24-25 exposing and then pardoning their doubt.- Umm Kulthum's lament after Karbala shows the ummah largely failed this duty of love: even a direct command to harm the family could not have exceeded what was done to them.- The Imam's final days: warned by a sign to his servant Yasir, he suffered in agony without family, and Imam Muhammad Taqi (AS) came miraculously from Medina to perform his final prayer.
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Wafaat of Prophet Muhammad (SAWW)28th Safar 1448 AHWednesday August 12, 2026Here's the summary and titles.- The Prophet Muhammad (s) left two entities of high esteem (thaqalayn) for the guidance of Muslims: the Qur'an and the Ahlul Bayt.- The narrations establishing the thaqalayn have been authenticated in previous majalis on the Prophet's wafat.- The Sunni claim that the Prophet left "the Qur'an and his sunnah" does not appear in any of the six canonical Sunni hadith collections.- Whoever abandons the guidance of the Ahlul Bayt lives in error and confusion; two Qur'anic verses are examined to show how Muslims have implemented them.- The verse of wudhu (5:6) contains two commands: wash (the face and hands) and wipe (a part of the head and the feet).- Ibn Abbas describes wudhu as two washings and two wipings, meaning the feet are to be wiped, not washed.- Shias wipe the feet as commanded, while Sunnis wash them, and the Sunni position itself has shifted over time.- Fakhr al-Din Razi records four differing Sunni views on the feet: wiping obligatory, washing obligatory, combining both, and free choice between the two.- When questioned about Hajjaj's sermon endorsing washing, Anas ibn Malik affirmed Allah's word and declared Hajjaj wrong, then recited the wudhu verse.- Ayatullah Subhani argues the wudhu verse is addressed to all Muslims and applies five times daily, so its meaning must be plain to ordinary people; had another part needed washing, it would have been stated.- Major companions such as Ali, Ibn Abbas, Hasan, Husayn, Hudhayfah, and Anas would not have wiped if the Prophet had washed his feet.- Following the companions produces confusion and contradiction even in a simple matter like wudhu, whereas following the Ahlul Bayt yields unanimity among the Imams.- The verse of salawat (33:56) commands believers to send blessings on the Prophet, its weight underscored by Allah and the angels doing likewise; the Prophet taught that this salawat must include his family (Al-e Muhammad).- The Prophet forbade the "batra" (incomplete) salawat that stops at Muhammad alone, yet many Sunni scholars recite it incompletely or dilute it, while the truth survives even in Imam Shafi'i's poetry affirming that salat is invalid without salawat on the Ahlul Bayt.- Those who call themselves Ahlus Sunnah did not always honour the Prophet's sunnah, as seen in the rejection of his written will and the burning and suppression of his hadith after his passing.Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)
Friday Juma Khutba22nd Safar 1447Friday August 7, 2026Imām Ḥusayn (a) teaches the importance of responding to every situation with the most appropriate method.The Ummah during Muʿāwiyah's rule suffered from two distinct problems: ignorance in Shām and apathy outside Shām.Different social illnesses required different solutions rather than a single approach.Imām Ḥusayn (a) chose martyrdom to awaken the sleeping conscience of the Muslim community.The captivity and sermons of Bibi Zaynab (a) were essential to dispel misinformation about the Ahlul Bayt in Shām.Bibi Zaynab (a) is called Sharikatul Husayn because she completed the mission of awareness alongside Imām Ḥusayn (a).Muslims today must actively combat ignorance and misinformation about Islam in their own societies.Political engagement and media participation are necessary to communicate Islamic values effectively.Messages intended for non-Muslim audiences should be framed using universally understood principles such as human rights, justice, equality, and respect for minorities.Wisdom in communication means presenting Islamic values in language the audience can understand before connecting them to Islamic teachings.The khutbah highlights the influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups in U.S. elections through substantial campaign spending.California candidate Aisha Wahab criticized AIPAC-backed spending as an attempt to control political representation.Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed won a major primary despite unprecedented spending against him.His victory was presented as an example of perseverance against powerful political interests.Muslims are reminded to uphold truth, wisdom, justice, and taqwā in both religious and civic life.Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)
Thursday Night Majlis22nd Safar 1447Thursday August 6, 2026Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)
Arbaeen Majalis | Night 4Tuesday August 4th, 2026Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)
Arbaeen Majalis | Night 3
Chehlum EveMonday August 3rd, 2026Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)
Arbaeen Majalis | Night 2Sunday 2nd August, 2026Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)
Arbaeen Majalis | Night 1Saturday August 1st, 2026Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)
Friday Juma KhutbaFriday July 31st, 2026Arba'in is only days away, and the Ahlul Bayt (a) placed extraordinary emphasis on the ziyarah of Imam Husayn (a) throughout the year, especially on Arba'in.Imam Hasan al-Askari (a) described five defining signs of a true Shi'a, highlighting both worship and religious identity.The first sign, praying 51 rak'ahs daily, encourages believers to go beyond obligatory acts and embrace recommended worship.Even with modern lifestyles, believers should gradually build habits such as nawafil, shorter recommended prayers, and Salat al-Layl.Wearing a ring on the right hand reflects the Sunnah of the Prophet (s) and serves as a visible expression of Islamic identity.Historical evidence shows some Sunni jurists reversed the Prophet's practice after it became associated with the Shi'a, raising the question of who truly preserved the Sunnah.Reciting the Basmalah aloud is another sign of following the practice of the Prophet (s) and the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (a).Imam Ali's (a) commitment to reciting the Basmalah aloud was even acknowledged by prominent Sunni scholars as a source of guidance.Two of the five signs are directly connected to Imam Husayn (a): prostrating on natural earth and performing the Arba'in ziyarah.Sajdah on earth reflects the practice of the Prophet (s), and the Imams later recommended using the turbah of Karbala because of its unique spiritual significance.Imam al-Sadiq (a) taught that prostrating on the turbah of Imam Husayn (a) carries immense spiritual merit.Imam Hasan al-Askari (a) emphasized Arba'in ziyarah as the community approached the Occultation, ensuring Imam Husayn (a) remained central to Shi'a identity.Despite attempts by rulers like Mutawakkil and later Saddam Hussein to erase Karbala and stop pilgrims, their efforts ultimately failed.The more tyrants tried to suppress the pilgrimage to Karbala, the stronger and larger it became.The millions who walk from Najaf to Karbala each year demonstrate that the message of Imam Husayn (a) continues to outlive every oppressor.Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)
Thursday Night MajlisJuly 30th, 202615th Safar 1448Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)
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