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Today, Narges becomes a first grader. For Iranians, first grade is the start of many eventful days to come. Thus, students are invited to the “Festival of Blossoms” to celebrate this milestone with their parents the day before school starts. For Narges, this celebration will only be another reminder of her father’s absence.

 After her first day in school, she find herself back at her father’s grave, who was martyred in Halab, Syria. Even the first day of school wasn’t enough to give up her routine. It seems that Narges’ little heart only finds peace in embracing her father’s gravestone. For us, its just a cold stone with an aura of death. For her, it’s the whole world.

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الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَنَا مِنَ الْمُتَمَسِّكِينَ بِوِلاَيَةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْأَئِمَّةِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ❤️

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🚩Reflection #2

I remember back when I lived  in Qum. I enjoyed visiting the graves of the Shahids often. One day someone I knew laughed and asked me ; why would u go to a cemetery? I remember responding to her "when I visit the cemetery, especially the shohadas, I am able to reflect on the akhera". I am able to get a break from the donya, whether it's for 10 minutes or an hour. I mentioned to her that Imam Ali (as)  has taught us to reflect on our akhera, because one can get lost in the donya very quickly.

"To separate oneself from things of time and to connect oneself with things of eternity is highest wisdom."

~Imam Ali (as)

#lessonsofGhadeer #Aliappreciationday

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🚩Reflection #1

I recall back in senior year of high school running for MSA vice president. For a good amount of time I worked on preparing an elaborative speech on my qualifications to be vice president…..only to lose the position to this guy who didn’t even come to give a speech. Why? Because he was a charismatic figure in our high school.

🚍On my way to the bus station, I could feel every bone in my body shake out of anger and disappointment. Amidst all this emotional chaos, I remembered Imam Ali and his active role in society even after being denied his rightful leadership.

Eid Mubarak everyone! I now understand why Islam became complete on this day.

#lessonsofGhadeer #Aliappreciationday

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Eid Mubarak!

Eid mubarak to everyone from our MSA-PSG family to yours! On the occasion of this grand and blessed day, throughout today, we will be posting reflections of some of our youth about how Imam Ali has influenced their life!  

We hope you enjoy!

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O Allah, (please) make my satisfaction in my conscience, اَللَّهُمَّ ٱجْعَلْ غِنَايَ فِي نَفْسِي certainty in my heart, وَٱلْيَقِينَ فِي قَلْبِي sincerity in my deeds, وَٱلإِخْلاَصَ فِي عَمَلِي calarity in my vision, وَٱلنُّوْرَ فِي بَصَرِي and insight in my religion.

Imam Hussain, Dua Arafeh

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He who obeys Allah is a lover of us, and the one who disobeys Him then he is an enemy for us (Ahlul-Bayt)"

~Imam Baqir(a.s.) [Al-Kafi, Vol.2, P. 75]

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I have decided to be a good person from now on, stop myself from sinning, submit my heart to God entirely, and let go of the worldly things. I shall only and only consider God's pleasure. I have spent my childhood in nobility, honor, asceticism, and piety. I have been a good person, I should decide to change myself from now on [to become even better]. Life's circumstances makes a person mature; and even regretful of previous sins that burn the human being just like a fire.

Mostafa Chamran, Summer 1959 [United States]

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A believer is in need of three characteristics: Tawfiq (favor) from Allah(swt), Guidance from the inner self, and Accepting advice from others.

Imam Jawad (a.s.) [ Bihar ul-Anwar Vol. 42, Page 65]

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  يَا ابَا جَعْفَرٍ يَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ ايُّهَا ٱلتَّقِيُّ ٱلْجَوَادُ يَا بْنَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ يَا حُجَّةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَىٰ خَلْقِهِ يَا سَيِّدَنَا وَمَوْلاَنَا إِنَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا  ٱسْتَشْفَعْنَا وَتَوَسَّلْنَا بِكَ إِلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ وَقَدَّمْنَاكَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ حَاجَاتِنَا يَا وَجِيهاً عِنْدَ ٱللَّهِ إِشْفَعْ لَنَا عِنْدَ ٱللَّهِ

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At the end of verse 22 of Sura Hadid (57:22) there is one point: "Allah does not like those who dreams** and those who are proud." All of our problems are routed in our excitement dreaming we will become someone important. This will wreck the purity of our imagination power and make us snobbish. Ostentation is for a person who constantly dreams, thinking he is so great, so intellectual, or so spiritual. All these different illusions beget snobbish being and pomposity. ** Worldly dreams

Haj Agha Qasemian

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Try your best to wake up before dawn (at suhoor). If you don't feel like it, you don't even have to pray! Drink some tea [or do something else instead], just to get used to being awake at night, my dear brothers! "When a slave is alone with his Sustainer in the depth of the night, his Master will fill his heart with light." It is impossible to travel on the path to Allah unless you are awake at night [worshipping Him]. Take this lesson to heart. All the Awliyaa' [those close to Allah], esteemed scholars, and luminaries of this religion would spend their nights in worship. You wake up in the mornings and exercise; wake up, occasionally, before dawn and practice spiritual exercise. My dear brothers, if you don't wake up, and you only pay attention to physical exercise, you will gain nothing except ignorance and misguidance.

Ayatollah Mirza Abdul Karim Hagh-shenas

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The youth have asked many times for advice on how to grow spiritually. What I have heard from great scholars is this: refrain from sin. Another recommendation is to do what Allah has obligated, the most important being to perform the daily prayers (salaat) on time, with presence of heart, and if possible in congregation (jama'at). If you do this, you will become like angels, even higher than angels.

Ayatullah Khamene

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Entering the first night of Ramadan according to Ayatollah Mojtaba Tehrani

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Cherish the last few days of the month of Rajab. If you need to make up missed fasts, try to complete them before the end of Rajab. This way, they will receive both the reward for a Mustahab fast and the reward for a make-up fast. There are several illustrious duas pertaining to the month of Rajab that are present (or described) in the Mafatih. I have noticed great scholars reciting these during the Qunoot of their prayers. Do not deprive yourselves of these blessings. I advise that during these last few days of Rajab, you devote greater attention to the prayers and munajaat of this sacred month.

Haj Agha Javedan

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A revolutionary lens into Imam Musa al-Kadhim (as) immamah

The imamate of Imam Musa al-Kadhim (as) proved to be a very difficult struggle, as he worked to carry forward the political movement in secrecy. It was this very system that triggered animosity in the Abbasid Empire, because they feared continuation of the movement of the Ahlul Bayt (as). They were aware of the stronghold they had in establishing the Islamic government, as they gained representatives throughout the empire. And, they were also aware of the threat that this posed, because the lifetime of the movement did not perish, through the slaying of the leader, in fact the movement only grew stronger, because there always came a successor to lead the movement. Imam Musa al-Kadhim (as) spear headed by a very revolutionary mindset, was very tactful in how he carried out his responsibilities, amidst a climax of power struggle and deviant ideologies. It was by the grace of Allah (swt) that even in though Imam (as) was inflicted with many forms of torture and imprisonment, his movement became a well-established phenomenon.

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The most beloved deed on the earth with Allah, Almighty and Glorious is invocation, and best worship is modesty and piety.

Imam Ali (علیه اسلام)

[Bihar-ul-Anwar], Vol. [93] P. [295]