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Surah Al-Ikhlas سورة الإخلاص Sourate Al-Ikhlas

Surah al-Fatiha

Pak scholars achieve top honours in Olympiads

Young Pakistani scholars brought laurels to the country by achieving top honours in International Olympiads of Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics held in different parts of the world.

All four members of the Pakistani team won bronze medals in International Biology Olympiad held in Taiwan from July 10-17, 2011. Two students won bronze medals and two honourable mentions in International Physics Olympiad hosted by Thailand from July 10-18, 2011. Two of the four Pakistani teams won bronze medals while one of them clinched honourable mention in International Chemistry Olympiad held in Turkey from July 10-18, 2011. In the International Mathematics Olympiad held from July 16-24, 2011 in the Netherlands, one student won bronze medal and one honourable mention.

In order to encourage and appreciate the winning students, an award distribution ceremony for the 7th National Science Talent Contest (NSTC) was held at the Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Tuesday. The students groomed under the NSTC participated in International Science Olympiads in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.

The position-holders of International Biology Olympiad included Armaghan-e-Rehman Mansoor, Numra Abdul Aleem, Urooj Imdad Ali and Saneeha Shahid. The position-holders of International Physics Olympiad included Urwa Muaz, Muhammad Umer while the honour of honorary mention has been received by Salman Azmat, Ibrahim Ahmed and Khawaja Zaigham Feroz.

The high-achievers in International Chemistry Olympiad included Syed Muhammad Saad Imran, Marium Ahmed Uqaili while Amna Rashid and Uzair Ijaz Khan received the honorary mention award. The high-achiever in Olympiad of Mathematics included Waqar Ali Syed while Hammad Ali Khan Seyal, Misha Nasir Jamy and Syed Muhammad Ahmed Ghufran received the honorary mention .

Speaking on the occasion, HEC Chairman Dr. Javaid Laghari said that it was encouraging to see that the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Careers programme, a joint venture of the HEC and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, grooms and provides avenues for international competitions for these youngsters.

Pros of Nuclear Energy

The topic of using nuclear energy for civilian use has been a matter of debate in world politics. This form of energy can be used for used for civilian needs, if proper care is taken. However, the history of use of nuclear weapons still poses a threat to modern society. Creating nuclear power in a controlled environment though, is possible for solving the current energy crisis faced by the world. It requires a responsible and efficient government to handle such energy programs. This topic is a controversial one, and has nothing to do with our main course of discussion in the article. However, having an idea about pros and cons of nuclear energy should be useful. For the time being, let us try to understand what are the advantages/pros of nuclear energy. Get more information on advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy.

Advantages of Nuclear Energy

The advantages and benefits of nuclear power are discussed in the paragraphs below. Let us first know about the pros of nuclear energy and then, about nuclear energy pros and cons in subsequent paragraphs.

    * Reduction in the CO2 emissions is one of the most important benefits of using nuclear energy. Nuclear power is a clean form of energy, and holds potential to minimize the problem of global warming (resulting from CO2 emissions) to some extent.
    * The amount of energy generated in a nuclear plant is many times greater than that produced by other, conventional means. Nuclear fission is the reaction which takes place in the production of this form of energy; it is due to this chemical reaction that a high amount of energy is generated.
    * It is not necessary to develop the technology needed for the generation of nuclear energy from scratch. This technology is readily available. Learn more about uses of nuclear energy.
    * Requirement of fuel in the production of nuclear energy is less in comparison to that of other methods. Uranium is the raw material/fuel used in the production of nuclear power. The reserves of uranium in the world would last for next 50-60 years. The demand for uranium should also influence/affect the time taken for complete depletion of the resource.
    * Use of nuclear energy is best demonstrated in space propulsion applications. A relatively less reaction mass is needed in the generation of high mission velocities by the use of nuclear reaction. Higher energy density of nuclear reactions producing this form of energy is the reason why a lesser reaction mass is required. Here are few more facts on the advantages of nuclear power.

Production of Nuclear Energy

A controlled form of nuclear reaction is used in the production of nuclear energy. The nuclear fission reaction which is used in these power plants helps in heating water to form steam. The steam in turn is used to generate electricity.

Nuclear Fusion: The reaction of nuclear fusion is considered to be much safer than nuclear fission. This is because, the nuclear waste generated from nuclear fusion should be lesser than the fission reaction. The technical difficulties have acted as hurdles in the successful implementation of nuclear fusion for energy production on a large scale. Otherwise, the method is said to have great potential. More information on what is nuclear fusion and how does nuclear power work should be helpful.

Cons of Nuclear Energy

No matter how appealing and cost-effective the use of nuclear energy seems to be, there few disadvantages of using it. It is therefore, necessary to understand both the pros and cons of nuclear energy. The nuclear waste created by the power plants emit harmful radiations, if not disposed properly. Radiations produced from these wastes do not get extinguished for thousands of years. Thus, great care is required in handling the nuclear wastes. Let us find out more about nuclear power pros and cons.

The pros and cons of nuclear energy discussed in this article should be useful in understanding the subject from various angles. Along with pros of nuclear energy, the associated dangers need to be understood and tackled properly. Great maturity and responsibility needs to be shown by governments of countries which make use of this form of energy. If nuclear energy in the form of weapons fall in wrong hands, it won't require much time for World War III to begin. Nuclear energy as a tool can be therefore, be referred to as a double-edged sword which needs to be used with utmost care.

Advantages of Nuclear Power

Nuclear power is being pitched as an apt replacement for the age-old fossil fuels, and this success of nuclear power can be attributed to various advantages that it has over the other sources of energy. As of today, nuclear power constitutes for about 16 percent of the total power generation in the world. Several countries, such as Japan and France, have acknowledged the prominent advantages of nuclear power and resorted to it. For example, more than 75 percent of power generation in France can be attributed to nuclear energy. Other countries are expected to follow the suit soon, as their evaluation of advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power plants is in progress. Before we move on to the advantages of nuclear energy, let's have a closer look at how does nuclear power work.

Nuclear Power Overview

Nuclear power is the power generated by nuclear reaction in the controlled environment within the huge nuclear reactors. In these reactors, radioactive elements are used as fuel to heat water to such an extent that the steam created by it rotates the turbines and produces electricity. The radioactive elements used in nuclear power plants include uranium, thorium and plutonium. The atoms of these radioactive elements are allowed to split in a process referred to as nuclear fission. This splitting of atoms produces copious amount of energy which is used to heat water and produce steam. Estimates suggest that the use of nuclear power to generate electricity for civilian use has the capacity to solve power crisis of the entire world.

Advantages of Nuclear Power Plants

Less polluting than coal and petroleum, more efficient than solar and wind energy! Nuclear power has an edge over the conventional as well as alternative energy sources. Basically, the numerous nuclear power advantages can be categorized into two groups - environmental advantages and economic advantages. Given below are the details about each of these groups.

Environmental Advantages of Nuclear Power
One of the foremost advantages of nuclear power generation over fossil fuels is that it is not polluting like the later. The creation of nuclear energy doesn't contribute to environmental issues such as global warming as it doesn't release carbon dioxide in the atmosphere like the fossil fuels do. More importantly, fossil fuels reserves across the world are bound to get exhausted at some or the other point of time. Going by the alarming rate at which we are using them, it is predicted that, the coal and oil deposits across the world are expected to finish by end of this century. On the other hand, the uranium deposits on the planet are to continue for a long time, and even if they end alternative sources in form of plutonium and thorium also exist.

Economic Advantages of Nuclear Power
Among the various advantages of nuclear energy, its efficiency is by far the most important. The amount of energy produced by a single ton of uranium far exceeds the amount of energy produced by burning million tons of coal. Even though the initial investment incurred on building nuclear power plants is quite high, the returns are also quite significant. The nuclear power plants built today are built with keeping safety and efficiency in mind. With time the technology used in these plants is also making progress, which in turn contributes to their efficiency. Yet another economic benefit of nuclear power is the fact that it is very easy to transport.

Both, the disadvantages and advantages of nuclear power plants have to be taken into consideration when determining whether this source of energy is efficient for development of power or not. While the critics of nuclear energy have been citing the various nuclear power plant disasters that have occurred in the past as one of the main reason for refraining from use of nuclear energy, its proponents are confident that it has the ability to sustain the energy requirements of the entire world, in a safe manner.

Nuclear Binding Energy

As per the atomic structure, an atom is made up of protons, neutrons and electrons. Ideally the mass of an atom should be the sum total of the mass of its constituent protons and neutrons (the mass of electrons is negligible), but it has been found that the sum total of the mass of protons and neutrons is higher than that of the nucleus. Physicists call this missing mass or energy as binding energy. In other words, binding energy can be defined as the energy needed to break down the nucleus into same number of free unbound neutrons and protons or inversely it is the energy required to hold the nucleus of an atom together. Nuclear binding energy is measured in kJ/mole of nuclei or MeV/nucleon.

According to the Einstein's theory of relativity
E = mc²
where E is the energy, m is the mass and c is the speed of light in vacuum.

From this equation we can deduce the nuclear binding energy equation, BE
BE = (Δm) c²
where Δm is the difference between calculated mass and actual mass.

Apart from the formula mentioned above, there is another simpler way to calculate the nuclear binding energy of chemical elements. Let us take an example which illustrates how to calculate nuclear binding energy.

Lithium -7 is made up of 3 protons and 4 neutrons.
The mass of Lithium -7 is 7.0160 AMU (atomic mass unit)
The mass of 3 protons is 3 is 3 × 1.0073 = 3.0219 AMU
The mass of 4 neutrons is 4 × 1.0087 = 4.0348 AMU
The mass of constituents of the nucleus = 3.0219 + 4.0348 = 7.0567 AMU
The mass defect = 0.0407 AMU
The nuclear binding energy of Lithium-7 = 0.0407 × 931 = 378.91 MEV

Nuclear Binding Energy Per Nucleon
Nuclear binding energy per nucleon is defined as the average energy needed to remove each nucleon.

Nuclear Binding Energy per Nucleon =

Nuclear Binding Energy Number of Nucleons

There is a relation between the binding energy per nucleon and the stability of the nucleus. That is, the higher the binding energy per nucleon, the more stable is the nucleus. According to the nuclear binding energy table, iron has the highest binding energy per nucleon. Nuclei with smaller mass than iron have lower binding energy per nucleon.

Nuclear Binding Energy Curve
Elements from Hydrogen to Sodium have increasing binding energy per nucleon. Elements are more stable from magnesium to xenon and then even though atomic mass increases the binding energy per nucleon decreases. The binding energy of nucleons is in millions of electron volts. One of the important analysis of the binding energy curve is that elements having atomic mass higher than iron have unstable nuclei, hence they emit energy by nuclear fission. On the other hand, elements with atomic masses lower than iron yield energy by nuclear fusion.

Nuclear Fusion and Nuclear Fission
If two light nuclei are forced together, they will combine to make a nucleus and this process will either release or absorb energy. In nuclear fission, heavy unstable nuclei disintegrate producing free neutrons and protons. Both of these yield enormous amounts of energy.

Nuclear binding energy is an important topic as far as research in the field of nuclear power is concerned. In the 20th century, most of the countries spent huge amounts of money funding research on nuclear physics, but 21st century has thrown different challenges in front of the global community, one of the most important of those being safeguarding nuclear power from falling into the hands of terrorists. While most eminent scientists have stressed on the fact that nuclear energy can be used to generate power, most countries want to tap this energy for defense purposes. In the end, we can only hope that nuclear energy is used for progressive purposes as the benefits of using nuclear power for domestic purposes are immense.

What is Nuclear Energy

The greatest problem facing mankind in the 21st century is that of shortage of energy. As we consume our fossil fuel reserves rapidly, the search for alternative sources of energy which can be effective substitutes is underway. The most powerful alternative today is nuclear energy which is derived from certain radioactive elements like Uranium. The aim of this article is to explain what is nuclear energy and how it is harnessed to provide electrical power to entire cities.

What is Nuclear Energy and How Does it Work?

To understand what is nuclear energy made of, you need to understand the process of nuclear fission. Nuclear energy has a long history and it all began with the discovery of radioactivity at the end of the 19th century. Certain chemical elements like Uranium, Plutonium, Radium and Polonium were discovered to be emitting certain ionizing radiations, which were later classified to be Alpha rays (Helium nuclei), Beta rays (high speed electrons) and Gamma rays (high energy electromagnetic waves). For more, check out the time line and history of nuclear energy.

It was understood that these radioactive nuclei were unstable and therefore emitted ionizing radiation to get transformed into more stable nuclei. This process of transformation of radioactive elements was known to be radioactive decay. When physicists bombarded certain radioactive elements with neutrons (neutral subatomic particles), they discovered the new phenomenon of 'nuclear fission', which was harnessed to create nuclear energy as an alternative source of power. One of the nuclear energy facts to note is that nuclear fission was discovered by Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann in 1938 in Berlin, Germany. Check out the nuclear energy - pros and cons.

When a neutron is bombarded at a fissionable radioactive nucleus like Uranium-235, it's absorbed and a new unstable element is created, which subsequently disintegrates into two stable nuclei, along with the release of tremendous energy. This is nuclear fission.

The mass of the non-disintegrated nucleus is greater than the mass of the two split nuclei put together. The difference in mass is converted into energy. The magnitude of this energy can be estimated by the law - E = mc2, where m is the difference in mass and c is the speed of light (3 x 108 meters per second).

Thus nuclear fission unlocks the energy stored in the atomic nucleus and unleashes it for the use of mankind. So how does nuclear power work? It works through the setting up of nuclear reactors. The energy derived from the nuclear reactor is derived through millions of such fission events that occur within a stack of Uranium-235, which is bombarded by neutrons in a nuclear reactor core.

Nuclear fission within the stack of enriched Uranium-235 is sustained by a chain reaction. Every fission of Uranium nuclei also emits neutrons along with energy, which strike other nuclei to trigger more fission reactions. This chain of fission cascading chain reactions releases a tremendous amount of energy.

So how does a nuclear power plant work, to harness this energy? In the reactor, water is circulated around the Uranium core which gets heated due to the emission of released nuclear energy. This heat transforms the water into steam which is passed through thin tubes to be sprayed on turbines, which are connected to generators. The mechanical energy of the turbines is subsequently transformed into electrical energy by the generator and transmitted to our electrical grid. So if you are curious about what is nuclear energy used for, know that it's used to provide electrical power.

Now that you know what is nuclear energy, I suggest that you study the phenomenon in more detail by studying nuclear physics. As discussed before, nuclear energy created in nuclear reactors is made possible due to controlled fission of certain radioactive elements like Uranium-235. On the other hand, an atomic bomb is an example of uncontrolled fission. It's a great example of how destructive uncontrolled power can be and the same power can be constructive when it's harnessed in the right way!

Nuclear Energy Facts

Nuclear energy is energy or power generated by carrying out controlled chemical reactions. It is one of the most sought after types of energy these days, as it is considered a substitute to the conventional sources of energy. In simple ways, you can note that certain reactions like fusion and fission help in forming this energy. Nuclear energy is formed in a device known as a nuclear reactor, which is used to control chemical reactions. Let us take a look at the following nuclear energy facts to know what is nuclear energy.

Facts about Nuclear Energy

The following are the nuclear energy facts that will help you know how this energy is formed, its history; as well as the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy.

    * Nuclear energy, in the simplest way, can be defined as the energy released due to a nuclear reaction. Uranium undergoes nuclear fission to form this energy.
    * If you take a look at the nuclear energy timeline and history, you will note that the discovery of this energy started immediately after the discovery of radioactive elements.
    * Although it is believed that Henri Becquerel discovered nuclear energy, contributions of several other scientists like Enrico Fermi, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Otto Hahn, Fritz Strassmann, proved invaluable. Their individual contributions in radioactivity and nuclear chemistry helped in production of this energy.
    * Nuclear energy is formed due to the conversion of mass to energy, that takes place due to splitting of atoms. This energy can be calculated using Dr. Albert Einstein’s famous formula E = mc2 (where E is energy, m is mass, and c2 is the speed of light)
    * If you are looking for interesting nuclear energy facts for kids, you can go through the Buzzle article on how does a nuclear power plant work, as you will find it interesting to read.
    * When talking about the nuclear energy pros and cons, it should be noted that this energy creates more energy as compared to other energy sources like wind and tidal energy.
    * Uranium (U-235) is the most widely used fuel for generation of nuclear energy, as its atoms split easily.
    * Around 15-18% of the world's electricity and nearly 20% electricity in the USA comes from nuclear energy.
    * Until the recent data available, there are around 104 nuclear power plants in the USA, and more than 400 all around the world, that produce nuclear energy.
    * One of the other pros of nuclear energy is that no harmful gases are emitted during the production of this energy. Therefore, it is considered as one of the best sources of energy without any air pollution.
    * However, nuclear energy facts also suggest that there are chances of episodes like the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 in Ukraine, occurring again. Although there are large number of safety facilities available today, one cannot totally prevent its re-occurrence.
    * When talking about uses of nuclear energy, production of energy and electricity is the biggest benefits. However, the increasing danger of nuclear weapons also looms over the whole world.
    * Nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors, nuclear submarines, radiation therapy, etc. are also some of the examples of nuclear energy.
    * Lastly, when we talk about the nuclear energy problems and dangers, we cannot ignore the risks and consequences of radioactive exposure, and the never ending problem of radioactive wastes.

I hope you found these nuclear energy facts, pros and cons, and history interesting to read. Nuclear energy is the hottest topic in the modern world and it is in the hands of us, humans, to ensure whether to use it for the betterment of the world, or otherwise! Ciao!

Alternatives to Nuclear Energy

The earthquake, tsunami and radiations in Japan has once again ignited the debate on our dependence on nuclear energy. Critics have slammed the projections of government that nuclear energy is a safe energy source, and have stressed on the need to have suitable alternatives to nuclear energy. Proponents, on the other side, are of the view that nuclear energy has caused lesser damage as compared to other sources of energy like coal, which has caused two major accidents in the past. Nuclear energy was touted to be the future of energy, primarily because it produces a large amount of energy without producing too many wastes. However, there are several pros and cons of nuclear energy, and abandoning it can cause severe losses to nations. So, it is important that we have some safer alternatives to nuclear energy. Let us take a look at some energy sources which can act as a viable alternative to nuclear energy.

Safer Alternatives to Nuclear Energy

Solar Energy
Solar energy tops the list as far as the most effective alternative to solar energy is concerned. It virtually produces no pollution and is a renewable source of energy. Solar energy has been used since ancient times, but the modern use of solar energy focuses on its use on a large scale. It works on the principle that sunlight is concentrated over an area, and then with the help of solar panels the energy from the sun is tapped. The heat produced as a result of this is then used to boil water, which produces steam. The steam is then used to run dynamos, producing electricity. There are some disadvantages though, as in cold countries, the generation of electricity can be seriously hampered due to inclement weather. Also, to use solar energy for household purposes, the initial cost of investment is high, so not everyone can afford it.

Geothermal Power Generation
This form of energy can be looked at as another alternative to nuclear energy. Geothermal energy is present in the earth's core and is tapped by drilling into it. This form of energy considerably lowers levels of greenhouse gases, and once the geothermal plant is constructed, the costs of producing electricity are considerably lower. The challenge in tapping this source of energy lies in the fact that the cost and effort in building a geothermal power plant is immense, and there are selected places where this form of energy is available.

Wind Energy
Wind energy can also prove to be one of the effective alternatives to nuclear energy. Wind energy relies on the use of windmills to generate electricity. The wind energy is used to turn the blades of the windmill which in turn are used to rotate dynamos, producing electricity. The use of wind energy has proved to be beneficial in various countries, but it is still an underutilized energy source. There are some challenges in setting up a wind energy power plant as it needs a large unobstructed area, and the turbines are vulnerable to damage through environmental factors, such as lightning or storms. Another problem that it poses is that the energy produced as a result of wind energy is not consistent due to the varying speeds of wind.

Hydroelectric Power
Hydroelectric power is one of the widely used sources of energy, and accounts for most of the power generated today. It works on the principle that potential energy of moving water is used to run the turbines, which in turn produces electricity. This form of energy has proven to be useful, but in places where there is scarcity of water, this energy option is not productive.

The alternatives to nuclear energy come with their own set of challenges. Researchers believe that nuclear energy has a tremendous potential, and if fully tapped, can put to rest all worries about depletion of non-renewable sources of energy. There has been emphasis on replacing Uranium with Thorium as a nuclear fuel, due to its comparatively safe use, but progress on this is in the initial stage. There is a wide consensus among researchers that nuclear energy cannot be wholly abandoned, and the onus should be to change the approach in which it is used. In the end, we would like to say that nuclear energy is indeed one of the most efficient sources of energy and it is the responsibility of the world leaders to ensure that it is used to its full potential for civilian purposes.

Medical Uses of Nuclear Energy

When we talk about nuclear energy, we are referring to the reactions of atomic nuclei. Although the very mention of nuclear energy reminds us about the different nuclear disasters, which have taken place all around the world, there are many positive uses of nuclear energy as well. One of the fields, where nuclear energy is widely used is the field of medicine. As a matter of fact, nuclear medicine is fast emerging as a specialty branch of medicine. Like I have previously mentioned, it is used both for diagnosis as well as treatment of disease. Radionuclide and the process of radioactive decay are used for the same. The different radionuclides of elements are combined with different chemical compounds or with pharmaceutical compounds, which results in radio-pharmaceuticals. These are later used for imaging, which helps in diagnosing the extent of spread of disease.

Uses of Nuclear Energy in the Field of Medicine

Radiation is used in medicine, which helps in giving information about the functioning of a specific organs in the body. The information given by this method is quick, which helps in accurate diagnosis of the condition of the patient. For treating certain medical conditions radiation dose is given to the patient internally, either using intravenous drips or orally. In some rare cases, external radiation therapy may also be given to the patient. This treatment is often used in treating conditions like hyperthyroidism, cancer, refractory lymphoma, neuroendocrine tumors, palliative bone pain treatment, etc. Certain blood disorders can also be treated using nuclear energy. Painful tumor metastases of the bones can also be treated using radioactive material.

The most common of the medical uses of nuclear energy is its use in both medical and dental imaging. There are different radioactive organic molecules used for different types of imaging. Like for medical and dental imaging Cobalt-60 is used, while Technetium-99m is used as a tracer in the human body to detect diseases. The nuclear energy has a very powerful light force, which helps in taking the pictures inside the body. There are certain image processes with which inside of the body can be seen, which otherwise would be possible only with the help of exploratory surgery. The process helps in understanding the actual processes taking place inside the body.

The medical uses of nuclear energy include:

    * For analyzing kidney function.
    * To scan the blood flow to the heart and its functioning.
    * To scan the lungs to find and assess respiratory problems.
    * To identify infections in different parts of the body.
    * For measuring the functioning of the thyroid glands, which helps in assessing over active as well as under active functioning of the thyroid glands.
    * The different abnormalities in the brain like blood flow problems to the brain, seizures, memory loss can be identified with the help of nuclear energy.
    * It is also used for identifying abnormalities in kidneys, esophagus, intestines, etc., of children as much as in adults.

These were some of the important medical uses of nuclear energy. However, it is important to remember that there are certain medical implications of nuclear power as well. The implications are seen at different stages. They start when the radioactive materials are mined. People working in the field of radioactive milling, enrichment and fuel fabrication, reprocessing, waste storage, meltdown, etc., are known to suffer from the medical implications of radiation of the nuclear material. These implications are severe, therefore, before nuclear energy is used on patients, it is important that the threat to the patients be evaluated as well. Along with the medical fraternity, common people should also think, if they want to be exposed to nuclear energy, which although has positive powers also has repercussions.

Advantages of Nuclear Fission

All energy sources that are used to power our electrical power plants use the heat derived from exothermic reactions. Such a reaction is always accompanied with a net output of energy. Conventional energy sources are based on exothermic reactions like the combustion of gasoline, wood and coal. The phenomenon which can generate a net output of energy which is million times the energy generated through conventional sources is nuclear fission. Rearrangement in the placing of electrons, that are part of a molecular structure result into the generation of heat through combustion, while nuclear fission is based on the rearrangement of the inner structure of the atomic nucleus. This phenomenon unlocks the deep reservoir of energy that is contained within a radioactive nucleus.

In the wake of the twinfold disasters in the form of earthquake and tsunami disrupting the nuclear reactors in Japan, which resulted in dispersion of nuclear waste, people are asking whether nuclear power is really worth the investment. Through this Buzzle article, I have expounded the advantages of nuclear fission as an energy source, to argue in favor of nuclear power plant installation. The disaster which struck Japan, has sent a message to nuclear power plant architects to bolster safety arrangements of these installations. There is no reason to condemn the use of nuclear fission as an energy source. Hopefully, you will see my point, by the end of this article.

What is Nuclear Fission?

Nuclear fission is the phenomenon whereby a bombarded neutron on a heavy radioactive nucleus, causes it to split into two component radioactive nuclei, releasing a tremendous of energy in the process. The difference in the mass of the daughter nuclei and parent nucleus in converted into pure energy. Neutrons are also released through such a fission reaction which further collide with more fissile nuclei to create a chain of fission reactions, that release a tremendous amount of power in totality.

When such a reaction is allowed to continue in an uncontrolled fashion, what results is an atomic bomb. The same reaction when controlled in a nuclear reactor, can be used to heat water and generate steam to drive turbines, ultimately leading to generation of electricity. One radioactive element that is typically used in such a reaction is Uranium-235. That is nuclear fission for you in a nutshell.

Advantages of Nuclear Fission

Why have countries like USA and European countries invested so heavily in nuclear power? The reasons lie in the inherent advantages provided by the phenomenon of nuclear fission, which are as follows.

Million Fold Energy Output
Compared to the energy output of conventional fuels like coal, the energy derived from nuclear fission is million fold. Today, approximately 15% of the world's electricity is supplied by nuclear power plants. France and Japan largely rely on nuclear energy as their prime energy resource, which reduced their dependence on crude oil and coal. Because of the large energy output, the initial costs of setting up a nuclear power plant are well worth it.

No Emission of Polluting Greenhouse Gases
Another reason for choosing nuclear power over conventional fuels is the absence of polluting gases like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, which is a major contributor to greenhouse effect causing global warming. This makes it a comparatively cleaner power generation mechanism, compared to conventional sources. Of course, there is a problem of radioactive waste which needs to be dealt with through proper disposal mechanisms.

If adequate safeguards are put in place and a proper procedure for nuclear waste disposal be created, nuclear fission based power plants can be the cleanest and most efficient energy sources. The immense power locked inside the radioactive atom can be harnessed through a controlled nuclear fission based chain reaction. Hope this article has made a strong case supporting nuclear power as an energy source, based on the inherent advantages of nuclear fission over conventional combustion reaction based energy sources.

Short History of Hajj

Hajj literally means 'to set out for a place'. Islamically however it refers to the annual pilgrimage that Muslims make to Makkah with the intention of performing certain religious rites in accordance with the method prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad .

Hajj and its rites were first ordained by Allah in the time of the Prophet lbrahim [Abraham] and he was the one who was entrusted by Allah to build the Kaba - the House of Allah - along with his son Ismail [Ishmael] at Makkah. Allah described the Kaba and its building as follows:

"And remember when We showed Ibrahim the site of the [Sacred] House [saying]: Associate not anything [in worship with Me and purify My House for those who circumambulate it [i.e. perform tawaaf] and those who stand up for prayer and those who bow down and make prostration [in prayer etc.]."
[Surah Al-Hajj 22:26]

After building the Kaba, Prophet Ibrahim would come to Makkah to perform Hajj every year, and after his death, this practice was continued by his son. However, gradually with the passage of time, both the form and the goal of the Hajj rites were changed. As idolatry spread throughout Arabia, the Kaba lost its purity and idols were placed inside it. Its walls became covered with poems and paintings, including one of Jesus and his mother Maryam and eventually over 360 idols came to be placed around the Kaba.
During the Hajj period itself, the atmosphere around the sacred precincts of the Kaba was like a circus. Men and women would go round the Kaba naked, arguing that they should present themselves before Allah in the same condition they were born. Their prayer became devoid of all sincere remembrance of Allah and was instead reduced to a series of hand clapping, whistling and the blowing of horns. Even the talbiah [1] was distorted by them with the following additions: 'No one is Your partner except one who is permitted by you. You are his Master and the Master of what he possesses'.
Sacrifices were also made in the name of God. However, the blood of the sacrificed animals was poured onto the walls of the Kaba and the flesh was hung from pillars around the Kaba, in the belief that Allah demanded the flesh and blood of these animals.
Singing, drinking, adultery and other acts of immorality was rife amongst the pilgrims and the poetry competitions, which were held, were a major part of the whole Hajj event. In these competitions, poets would praise the bravery and splendor of their own tribesmen and tell exaggerated tales of the cowardice and miserliness of other tribes. Competitions in generosity were also staged where the chief of each tribe would set up huge cauldrons and feed the pilgrims, only so that they could become well-known for their extreme generosity.
Thus the people had totally abandoned the teachings of their forefather and leader Prophet Ibrahim. The House that he had made pure for the worship of Allah alone, had been totally desecrated by the pagans and the rites which he had established were completely distorted by them. This sad state of affairs continued for nearly two and a half thousand years. But then after this long period, the time came for the supplication of Prophet Ibrahim to be answered:

"Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger of their own, who shall recite unto them your aayaat (verses) and instruct them in the book and the Wisdom and sanctify them. Verily you are the 'Azeezul-Hakeem [the All-Mighty, the All-Wise]."
[Surah Al-Baqarah 2:129]

Sure enough, a man by the name of Muhammad ibn 'Abdullaah was born in the very city that Prophet Ibrahim had made this supplication centuries earlier. For twenty-three years, Prophet Muhammad spread the message of Tawheed [true monotheism] - the same message that Prophet Ibrahim and all the other Prophets came with - and established the law of Allah upon the land. He expended every effort into making the word of Allah supreme and his victory over falsehood culminated in the smashing of the idols inside the Kaba which once again became the universal center for the worshippers of the one True God.
Not only did the Prophet rid the Kaba of all its impurities, but he also reinstated all the rites of Hajj which were established by Allah's Permission, in the time of Prophet Ibrahim. Specific injunctions in the Quran were revealed in order to eliminate all the false rites which had become rampant in the pre-Islamic period. All indecent and shameful acts were strictly banned in Allah's statement:
"There is to be no lewdness nor wrangles during Hajj."

 [Surah al-Baqarah 2:197]
Competitions among poets in the exaltations of their forefathers and their tribesmen's achievements were all stopped. Instead, Allah told them:

"And when you have completed your rites [of Hajj] then remember Allah as you remember your forefathers; nay with a more vigorous remembrance."
[Surah al-Baqarah 2:200]

Competitions in generosity were also prohibited. Of course, the feeding of the poor pilgrims was still encouraged as this was done during the time of Prophet Ibrahim but Allah commanded that the slaughtering of the animals which was done for this purpose should be done seeking the pleasure of Allah rather than fame and the praise of the people. He said:

"So mention the name of Allah over these animals when they are drawn up in lines. Then, when they are drawn on their sides [after the slaughter], eat thereof and feed the beggar who does not ask, and the beggar who asks."
[Surah al-Hajj 22:36]

As for the deplorable practice of spattering blood of the sacrificed animals on the walls of the Kaba and hanging their flesh on alters, then Allah clearly informed them that:

"It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is Taqwaa (piety) from you that reaches Him."
[Surah al-Hajj 22:37]

The Prophet also put a stop to the practice of circling the Kaba in a state of nudity and the argument that the pagans put forward to justify this ritual was sharply rebutted in Allah's question:

"Say: Who has forbidden the adornment [i.e. clothes] given by Allah which He has produced for His Slaves?"
[Surah al-A'raaf 7:32]

Another custom which was prohibited through the Quran was that of setting off for Hajj without taking any provisions for the journey. In the pre-Islamic period, some people who claimed to be mutawakkiloon (those having complete trust in Allah) would travel to perform Hajj begging for food through the whole journey. They considered this form of behavior a sign of piety and an indication of how much faith they had in Allah. However Allah told mankind that to have sufficient provisions for the journey was one of the preconditions for making Hajj. He said:

"And take a provision [with you] for the journey, but the best provision is at-Taqwaa (piety)."
[Surah al-Baqarah 2:197]

In this way, all the pre-Islamic practices, which were based on ignorance, were abolished and Hajj was once more made a model of piety, fear of Allah, purity, simplicity and austerity. Now, when the pilgrims reach the Kaba, they no longer find the carnivals and the frolic and frivolity that had once occupied the minds of the pilgrims there before. Now, there is the remembrance of Allah at every step and every action and every sacrifice was devoted to Him alone. It was this kind of Hajj that was worthy of the reward of paradise, as the Prophet said: "The reward for an accepted Hajj is nothing less than paradise."
May Allah grant us all the ability to visit His House and perform the Hajj in the manner of the Prophet Muhammad . Aameen.

Short History of Hajj

Hajj literally means 'to set out for a place'. Islamically however it refers to the annual pilgrimage that Muslims make to Makkah with the intention of performing certain religious rites in accordance with the method prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad .

Hajj and its rites were first ordained by Allah in the time of the Prophet lbrahim [Abraham] and he was the one who was entrusted by Allah to build the Kaba - the House of Allah - along with his son Ismail [Ishmael] at Makkah. Allah described the Kaba and its building as follows:

"And remember when We showed Ibrahim the site of the [Sacred] House [saying]: Associate not anything [in worship with Me and purify My House for those who circumambulate it [i.e. perform tawaaf] and those who stand up for prayer and those who bow down and make prostration [in prayer etc.]."
[Surah Al-Hajj 22:26]

After building the Kaba, Prophet Ibrahim would come to Makkah to perform Hajj every year, and after his death, this practice was continued by his son. However, gradually with the passage of time, both the form and the goal of the Hajj rites were changed. As idolatry spread throughout Arabia, the Kaba lost its purity and idols were placed inside it. Its walls became covered with poems and paintings, including one of Jesus and his mother Maryam and eventually over 360 idols came to be placed around the Kaba.
During the Hajj period itself, the atmosphere around the sacred precincts of the Kaba was like a circus. Men and women would go round the Kaba naked, arguing that they should present themselves before Allah in the same condition they were born. Their prayer became devoid of all sincere remembrance of Allah and was instead reduced to a series of hand clapping, whistling and the blowing of horns. Even the talbiah [1] was distorted by them with the following additions: 'No one is Your partner except one who is permitted by you. You are his Master and the Master of what he possesses'.
Sacrifices were also made in the name of God. However, the blood of the sacrificed animals was poured onto the walls of the Kaba and the flesh was hung from pillars around the Kaba, in the belief that Allah demanded the flesh and blood of these animals.
Singing, drinking, adultery and other acts of immorality was rife amongst the pilgrims and the poetry competitions, which were held, were a major part of the whole Hajj event. In these competitions, poets would praise the bravery and splendor of their own tribesmen and tell exaggerated tales of the cowardice and miserliness of other tribes. Competitions in generosity were also staged where the chief of each tribe would set up huge cauldrons and feed the pilgrims, only so that they could become well-known for their extreme generosity.
Thus the people had totally abandoned the teachings of their forefather and leader Prophet Ibrahim. The House that he had made pure for the worship of Allah alone, had been totally desecrated by the pagans and the rites which he had established were completely distorted by them. This sad state of affairs continued for nearly two and a half thousand years. But then after this long period, the time came for the supplication of Prophet Ibrahim to be answered:

"Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger of their own, who shall recite unto them your aayaat (verses) and instruct them in the book and the Wisdom and sanctify them. Verily you are the 'Azeezul-Hakeem [the All-Mighty, the All-Wise]."
[Surah Al-Baqarah 2:129]

Sure enough, a man by the name of Muhammad ibn 'Abdullaah was born in the very city that Prophet Ibrahim had made this supplication centuries earlier. For twenty-three years, Prophet Muhammad spread the message of Tawheed [true monotheism] - the same message that Prophet Ibrahim and all the other Prophets came with - and established the law of Allah upon the land. He expended every effort into making the word of Allah supreme and his victory over falsehood culminated in the smashing of the idols inside the Kaba which once again became the universal center for the worshippers of the one True God.
Not only did the Prophet rid the Kaba of all its impurities, but he also reinstated all the rites of Hajj which were established by Allah's Permission, in the time of Prophet Ibrahim. Specific injunctions in the Quran were revealed in order to eliminate all the false rites which had become rampant in the pre-Islamic period. All indecent and shameful acts were strictly banned in Allah's statement:
"There is to be no lewdness nor wrangles during Hajj."

 [Surah al-Baqarah 2:197]
Competitions among poets in the exaltations of their forefathers and their tribesmen's achievements were all stopped. Instead, Allah told them:

"And when you have completed your rites [of Hajj] then remember Allah as you remember your forefathers; nay with a more vigorous remembrance."
[Surah al-Baqarah 2:200]

Competitions in generosity were also prohibited. Of course, the feeding of the poor pilgrims was still encouraged as this was done during the time of Prophet Ibrahim but Allah commanded that the slaughtering of the animals which was done for this purpose should be done seeking the pleasure of Allah rather than fame and the praise of the people. He said:

"So mention the name of Allah over these animals when they are drawn up in lines. Then, when they are drawn on their sides [after the slaughter], eat thereof and feed the beggar who does not ask, and the beggar who asks."
[Surah al-Hajj 22:36]

As for the deplorable practice of spattering blood of the sacrificed animals on the walls of the Kaba and hanging their flesh on alters, then Allah clearly informed them that:

"It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is Taqwaa (piety) from you that reaches Him."
[Surah al-Hajj 22:37]

The Prophet also put a stop to the practice of circling the Kaba in a state of nudity and the argument that the pagans put forward to justify this ritual was sharply rebutted in Allah's question:

"Say: Who has forbidden the adornment [i.e. clothes] given by Allah which He has produced for His Slaves?"
[Surah al-A'raaf 7:32]

Another custom which was prohibited through the Quran was that of setting off for Hajj without taking any provisions for the journey. In the pre-Islamic period, some people who claimed to be mutawakkiloon (those having complete trust in Allah) would travel to perform Hajj begging for food through the whole journey. They considered this form of behavior a sign of piety and an indication of how much faith they had in Allah. However Allah told mankind that to have sufficient provisions for the journey was one of the preconditions for making Hajj. He said:

"And take a provision [with you] for the journey, but the best provision is at-Taqwaa (piety)."
[Surah al-Baqarah 2:197]

In this way, all the pre-Islamic practices, which were based on ignorance, were abolished and Hajj was once more made a model of piety, fear of Allah, purity, simplicity and austerity. Now, when the pilgrims reach the Kaba, they no longer find the carnivals and the frolic and frivolity that had once occupied the minds of the pilgrims there before. Now, there is the remembrance of Allah at every step and every action and every sacrifice was devoted to Him alone. It was this kind of Hajj that was worthy of the reward of paradise, as the Prophet said: "The reward for an accepted Hajj is nothing less than paradise."
May Allah grant us all the ability to visit His House and perform the Hajj in the manner of the Prophet Muhammad . Aameen.

Sayings of Imam Hussain

1 - How can a thing the existence of which is dependent on you be taken as a proof for your existence? Is there anything more evident than your "self" disclose you? Are you hidden to need a guide to find you? Surely you are not. Are you far-away to need your footprints to find you? Surely you are not! Blind may the eyes be which do not see you watching and guarding your "self" (Arafa prayer; Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 98 , P. 226)

2 - He who has you , has everything , and he who has deprived himself of you is the poorest in the world. Loser is the one who chooses and be content with anyone or anything other than you. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 98 , P. 228)

3 - Never will be salvaged the people who win the consent of the creature at the cost of the dissatisfaction of the creator. (Maktal Khawarazmi , Vol. 1 , P. 239)

4 - No one will feel secured on the Resurrection Day except those who feared God in this world. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 192)

5 - The Almighty God said : "The believing men and the believing women , they are guardians of each other , enjoin good and forbid evil... "God attaches primary importance to enjoining good and forbidding evil " as a duty for men and women. For he knows that if it were fulfilled all the other duties , easy or hard , will be accomplished. That is because "enjoining good and forbidding evil" is a call for Islam , it regains the rights of the oppressed and opposes tyrants. (Tohaf-al- Uqoul , P. 237)

6 - O' people , the Messenger of God said : Whoever sees an aggressive tyrant legalizes the forbiddens of God , breeches divine laws , opposes the tradition of the Prophet , oppresses the worshippers of God , but does not concede his opposition to God in word or in deed , surely Allah will place that tyrant ( in the Hell ) where he deserves. (Maktal Khawarazmi , Vol. 1 , P. 234)

7 - People are slaves to the world , and as long as they live favorable and comfortable lives , they are loyal to religious principles. However , at hard times , the times of trials , true religious people are scarce. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 117)

8 - One who pursues a goal through sinful ways , will ironically distance himself from that goal , and will approach what he was afraid of. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 120)

9 - Don't you see that the right is not conveyed and the wrong is not prohibited. Let believers wish to die and righteously meet their God. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 117)

10 - To me , death is nothing but happiness, and living under tyrants nothing but living in a hell. (Tohaf-al- Uqoul , P. 245)

11 - Your difficulties are worse than others , because you were deprived of the rank of the scholars - considering your legitimacy and merit -(These difficulties are) because administering the affairs of the society and conveying the ( religious ) rules must be done by scholars who truly believe in God and know what is permitted and what is forbidden by God. But you were deprived from this position and rank for you withdrew from (supporting) the truth. You changed the tradition of the prophet ,despite the clear and disclosed proofs. If you had withstood and were patient against the torture and annoyance ( of the tyrants ) for the sake of God , then the divine affairs would have stayed in your hands , and you were the ones to whom would be referred. But you made the tyrants dominant on you and left the divine affairs in their hands, while they shamelessly do the forbidden and notoriously live a licentious life. Your (fear) from death and attachment to this world have encouraged the tyrants to establish dominance over you. (Tohaf-al- Uqoul , P. 238)

12 - O' God! Surely you know that whatever we did was not a competition to gain worldly positions and not for the worthless physical attractions of the world. But to show the signs of religious ways and to remove corruption from your lands , so that the oppressed feel secured and act according to your traditions and rules. (Tohaf-al- Uqoul, P. 239)

13 - I never revolted in vain, as a rebel or as a tyrant, but I rose seeking reformation for the nation of my grandfather Mohammad. I intend to enjoin good and forbid evil, to act according to the traditions of my grandfather, and my father Ali Ibn Abi-Talib. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44, P. 329)

14 - If the world is counted valuable; surely the house of God's rewards is higher and more worthy. If bodies were created for death; surely being killed with swords in the way of God is a more honorable death. If the share of daily sustenance, of each creature is provided by the creator, surely it is not decent for man to be greedy for gaining and eating too much. If wealth is amassed for one day to be left. Then why a free man becomes so miser on something he has to leave. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44, P. 374)

15 - If you don't believe in any religion and don't fear the Resurrection Day, at least be free in this world. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 45, P. 51)

16 - Those who worship God for the hope of gaining , they're not real worshippers ,they're merchants. Those who worship God out of fear ( of punishment ) , they're slaves. And those who worship God to be grateful towards their creator , they are the free people , and their worship is a real one. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 117)

17 - Beware that the need of people to you is among the blessings of God to you. So do not scare away the needy people when they come to you, as the God’s blessings will return and go elsewhere. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 121)

18 - O' people take a lesson from the advice that God gave to His true believers, among which reproaching the Jewish scholars where he said:" Why do Jewish scholars not prohibit their people from saying sinful words? "And also (the Almighty) said:" Those who turned into atheists, from among the descendants of Israel, were cursed”... his Almighty added:" certainly evil was that which they did. "Surely the God criticized them for they turned a blind eye to what they saw of evil and corruption from the tyrants of their time out of greed or fear. The Almighty God says: " Do not fear people, rather, fear me! “The Almighty said: “The believing men and the believing women, they are guardians of each other; they enjoin good and forbid evil.” (Tohaf-al- Uqoul , P. 237)

19 - Whoever seeks the satisfaction of people through disobedience of God; Then God subjects him to people. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 126)

20 - Avoid oppressing the one who does not have any supporter against you, other than the Almighty God. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 118)

21 - One who reveals your faults to you like a mirror is your true friend, and one who flatters you and covers up your faults is your enemy. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 128)

22 - Wisdom will not be complete except by following the truth. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 127)

23 - Associating with corrupt people makes you subject to suspicion. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 122)

24 - Crying out of fear from God is salvation from the hellfire. (Mustadrak al- Wasael, Vol. 11, P. 245)

25 - A man came to Imam Hussain (Master of the martyrs) and said: I am a sinful man and can't avoid doing sin, please advise me. Imam (as) said: If you can do these five things, then commit sin as much you like. First of all: don’t eat the sustenance of God and commit sin as much you like. Second: go beyond the domain of God and commit sin as much you like. Third: seek a site where God can not observe you and commit sin as much you like. Fourth :if the Angel of death comes to you to take away your soul, expel him away from yourself and commit sin as much you like. Fifth: If the Angel of Hell was about to throw you into the hell-fire, stop him and commit sin as much you like. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 126)

26 - Avoid doing what makes you obliged to apologize for it. True believers never do anything for which they have to apologize. Fake believers , on the contrary , keep doing wrong and say they are sorry in the aftermath. (Tohaf-al- Uqoul , P. 248)

27 - Hastiness is foolishness. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 122)

28 - Do not permit anybody (to come in) before saying Salam (greetings). (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 117)

29 - Among the signs of ignorance is arguing with irrational people. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 119)

30 - Among the signs of a learned man is criticising his own words and being informed of various viewpoints. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 119)

31 - Imam Hussain (as) was asked: O 'the son of the prophet how is life going on? Imam replied: Life is going on , in such a way that I have a God over me, the hell-fire in front of me , death is looking for me, there is no escape of the Day of Judgement, I am taken as a hostage by my own deeds, things do not turn out to be the way I like , I cannot repel what I hate, the affairs are in someone else's hands. He tortures me if he likes and he forgives if he wishes. Therefore, is there anybody poorer than me? (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 116)

32 - Whoever becomes generous becomes a noble; and whoever becomes stingy becomes vicious and mean-spirited. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 121)

33 - The most generous person is the one who offers help to those who do not expect him to help. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 121)

34 - Whoever sorts out a problem of a believer, God sorts out his difficulties of this world and the here-after. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 122)

35 - If you heard a person discredits the dignity and the honour of people ,then try not to get introduced to him. (Balagatol Hussain ( as ) , P. 284)

36 - Never raise your need except to three ( kinds of people ): to a religious , to a brave man or to a nobleman. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 118)

37 - Seventy rewards are for Salam ( Islamic greeting ) ; sixty nine for the starter and one for the one who replies. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 120)

38 - Act like the one who believes in punishment for sin and reward for good deeds. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 127)

39 - Should poverty , illness , and death not exist , man would not bow to anything. (Nozhatol Nadher wa Tanbeehel Al - Khatir , P. 80)

40 - You deserve the Paradise , don't sell yourself for anything less. Whoever is content to the worldly pleasures , has sufficed to something base and low. (Balagatol Hussain ( as ) , P. 308)

41 - Being thankful for a grace of God makes God reward you with another grace. (Nozhatol Nadher wa Tanbeehel Khatir , P. 80)

42 - Never trust anybody but those who fear God. (Balagatol Hussain ( as ) , P. 292)

43 - Imam (as) was asked: What causes noble & eminent personality. He replied : " controlling your tongue and doing good deeds. (Balagatol Hussain ( as ) , P. 332)

44 - O' people do compete in good deeds and haste in grabbing the good chances. By delaying good deeds , you reduce their value. By gaining victory win the respect and praise of others , and do not let others blame you for being lazy. If one does a favour to another but he does not thank him for it , be sure that God will reward him instead , and surely God's reward is greater and more generous. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 121)

45 - Beware that the need of people for you is among the graces of God, so do not neglect the needy as the graces will turn into difficulties. Do know Good deeds bring you people's respect and praise and God's rewards. If you could personify and visualise good deeds as a human being you would see him as kind and good looking , whose sight is pleasant for everyone to see. And if you could picture evil acts , you would see him ugly and disgusting , hearts detesting him , and eyes closing to his sight. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 121)

46 - The most merciful person is the one who forgives when he is able to revenge. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 121)

47 - Your best relation is the one who comes to you and helps you when you have severed relations with him. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 121)

48 - Whoever sorts out the difficulty of a believer God will sort out his difficulties in this world and in the hereafter. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 122)

49 - Tolerance is man's ornament , keeping promises is a sign of nobility , and bonding with others is a grace. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 122)

50 - Arrogance is a sign of selfishness rashness is a sign of foolishness and foolishness is a sign of weakness and exaggeration causes destruction. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 122)

51 - Thinking of war is spine-chilling and its taste is extremely unpleasant. A true warrior is one who steps into the scene of war, fully armed, with no fear of the enemy. Whoever starts fighting at an inappropriate time , or when he is not fully equipped and prepared , or without having made plans about it , he will not be helpful for his people and he will die in vain. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 32 , P. 405)

52 - I advise you to keep piety and chastity and warn you of the days of Resurrection and death , and hoist you his ( threatening ) flags : Imagine death with its terrible frightening looks , its unwanted arrival, and its bitter taste has clawn at your soul and has made an obstacle between you and your deeds. Still you care more about your body ( rather than soul ). I can see the calamity of death grabs you suddenly and drags you from the surface of the earth to its depth and from the heights of the earth to its lower places and from the joy and familiarity of the earth to the horror of the grave , from the prosperity and illumination of earth to the darkness and pitch blackness of the grave and from the vastness of the earth to the tightness of the grave. It takes you to that prison to which your nearest relative is not allowed to visit you , to a place where patients have no right to be visited , to a place where there is no response to any cry or scream. May the Almighty God save us from the difficulties and problems of this day and salvage both we and you from the punishment of that day , and makes us deserving his great rewards. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol.78 , P.120)

53 - I advise you to keep the divine piety. Surely the God has ensured for the one who keeps his piety to transfer him from what he dislikes to what he likes ;and provides him with sustenance form an unexpected way. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 121)

54 - Beware not to be among those who fear that people might face punishment for their sins but they feel secured from their own sins. Surely the glorious God can not be cheated and no reward can be achieved from him except by his obedience ; God willing. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 121)

55 - O' the son of Adam ! Think for a while and ask yourself : Where are the kings and emperors of the world ? Where are those who re-built the ruins , dug ditches and wells , planted trees and set up habitable towns ? Where are those who gathered wealth ? They had to part with their wealth and properties and leave them to other reluctantly. We, too, will have the same fate. (Ershadol Kuloob , Vol. 1 , P. 29)

56 - O' the son of Adam! lmagine your death bed , your grave , imagine the Day of Judgement when all parts of your body will testify against you ; the day when knees will tremble , hearts will be squeezed inside tight chests ;the day secrets will be disclosed , people will be unmasked , some will come out victorious and dignified and some will be disgraced , and the divine justice will gauge people's deeds. (Ershadol Kuloob , Vol. 1 , P. 29)

57 - O' the son of Adam! Remember the death of your fathers and your children ,where they were , and to where they went. I can foresee that you , too ,will join them very soon and provide a lesson for others. (Ershadol Kuloob , Vol. 1 , P. 29)

58 - We are the victorious party of God , we are the household of the Messenger of God and the relatives of him. We are the dignified and chaste family of the prophet , we are one of the two great weights of which the prophet of God has appointed us as the second to the book of God ( which is the first of the two weights ).The book in which there are explanations for everything. There is no wrong init. The Holy Koran for which we have been trusted to interpret. We will never be helpless in its interpretation. In our interpretation , we follow the facts of the Holly Quran. O' people do obey us, because obeying us is compulsory for you, and is tantamount to obeying God and his Messenger. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 205)

59 - A person asked Imam Hussain (as): " O' the son of the messenger of God, how can we know God Almighty? " Imam replied : " By knowing and obeying the Imam of your time. "(Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 5 , P. 312)

60 - Divine laws and Islamic principles must be carried out only by us Imams , the divine scholars , who have thorough knowledge of the permitted and forbidden things by God. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 97 , P. 80)

61 - O' God! , you know my revolt against the rule of Bani Omayah did not stem from any greed for power, or for taking revenge. I stood against the tyrant of my time to reveal the genuine image of your divine religion , and to make social reforms in order to save the oppressed and pave the way for them to act according to your rules. And you people ! If you don't support us and treat us fairly , tyrants and oppressors will dominate you to blow out divine illumination. Surely God Almighty is our strong supporter , upon whom we rely , from whom we seek help , and towards whom is our return. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 97 , P. 80)

62 - Thanks to God , whatever God wills will happen , there is no power except stemming from Allah ( God ). Death has been written on the son of Adam( human being ) in such a suitable way like the elegance of a necklace around the neck of a young girl. I am so eager to meet my ancestors like the enthusiasm of Jacob to see Joseph. The divine fate has destined for me a place of killing to which I have to go. As if ( I can see ) my body parts and members are torn by the hungry wolves of a district between Nawawis and Karbala to quench there thirst and hanger by killing me. There is no escape from such a divine fate. We , the household of the Prophet , are subservient to whatever God has destined us. We will be patient on this calamity which he has planned for us. Of course his Almighty will give us the reward of the patients. We are ( as ) the body parts of the Prophet and his body parts will not separate from him. We will be surrounding the Prophet in the Paradise. By our departure from this world the Prophet will be delighted. The promises that have been given to us will be fulfilled. Now , whoever among us is ready for martyrdom and has prepared himself for death and is fond of meeting God , will move with us. We will set out tomorrow ; God willing. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 366)

63 - O' people do know that this world is a mortal/house. (Nasikh At'tareekh , Vol. 6 , Part. 2 , P. 243)

64 - I do not know companions more loyal and better than my companions ,neither do I know a household more honourable and passionate than my household. May the Almighty rewards you for the favors you have done me. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 392)

65 - The Almighty God elevates His worshippers for their patience in enduring difficulties. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 45 , P. 90)

66 - Know that Surely the world's sweetness and bitterness are all ( nothing but )dreams. Awareness is solely in the hereafter. The winner is the one who wins the other world and the wretched is the one who becomes wretched in it ( the hereafter ). (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 45 , P. 91)

67 - Praise to God who created the world and made it a mortal, unstable and uncertain house the residents of which keep changing and under going ups and downs , wretched and miserable are those who are deceived by the fleeting and transient pleasures and attractions of this world. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 45 , P. 5)

68 - No way ! By God I will never surrender to them like a humiliated person and never pledge allegiance to them like slaves." I seek refuge to my God from you stoning me to death ". " I seek refuge to my God and your God from any arrogant who does not believe in the day of Resurrection ". (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 45 , P. 7)

69 - Be patient O ' the son of the nobles. Death is only a bridge which takes you from misery and loss to the vast Paradise and the eternal graces. Then , is there anyone among you who dislikes to be transferred from a prison to a palace? For your enemies death is the opposite , it is like being transferred from a palace to a prison to be tortured. As my father quoted the Prophet assaying : " Surely, this world is a prison for the believer and a Paradise for the infidel." Death is a bridge to take some to their Paradise and some to their hell. I have never told lies and never was told lies. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 297)

70 - Yazid , the natural son of an illegitimate has placed me in a dilemma , drawing my sword and fighting or being humiliated by allegiance to him. But it is impossible for us to be humiliated , God , his messenger , the believers, my respectable family would not prefer obedience to mean people. To dying with glory. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 45 , P. 83)

71 - Those who seek to win God's favor and satisfaction, no matter if it evokes people's wrath , God will make them dispense with people. But those who win contentment of people at the cost of enraging God , the Almighty will make them dependent upon people. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 126)

72 - Best of wealth is that with which one protects his fame and dignity. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 195)

73 - Swear by God , I did not rise against the tyrannical rule of Bani Omayah out of selfishness or with the aim of oppression or corruption. My revolt only aimed at reviving the religion of my grandfather , the holy Mohammad and the traditions of my father Ali ibn-Abi Talib , to enjoy good and forbid evil. So, whoever accepts me by accepting the truth , surely God rewards him for supporting the truth. And whoever rejects me , I will be patient until God judges between me and these people justly. Surely , His Almighty is the Best Judge of the judges. (Bihar al- Anwar Vol. 44 ", P 329)

74 - ( Since the world is mortal,) imagine as if there has been no world from the beginning ; and ( since the here after is eternal ) as if it has ever been existing. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 45 , P. 87)

75 - Swearing by my own soul : Imam can be nobody except the one who rules according to Koran , rises for justice, affiliates to the true religion and contains himself to all that for the sake of God. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 334)

76 - Those who worship God sincerely will be rewarded far more than what they had wished and even more than what they deserve. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 71 , P. 184)

77 - Association with the wicked people is evilness , and association with the corrupted people brings doubts to oneself. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 122)

78 - Imam Hussain(as) said : " whoever comes to us will find at least one of these four : he will hear sound reasoning , will see fair judgement , will face a helpful brother , and will enjoy the company of learned men."(Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 195)

79 - Imam Hussain (as) said to a man who was backbiting someone in Imam's presence : " Stop this evil act , for your backbiting will be the food of dogs in the hell." (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 117)

80 - Sometimes God Almighty showers a man with grace and favor , instead depriving him of the blessing of being grateful , this is how God tests his mortals. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 117)

81 - "Those stingy people who economize on even greeting are real misers." (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 120)

82 - Addressing his son Ali, Imam Hussain said : " O ' my son be afraid of oppressing the one who has no defender except God. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 118)

83 - A man from the Ansaar group came to Imam. He had a request. Imam told him to write his request if he was too shy to say it. The man wrote :" I owe someone 500 dinars and he is pressuring me for returning it. Please talk to him and ask him to give me more time. " When Imam read the request , he bestowed the man a purse. The purse contained 1000 dinars. He said , " 500 to pay your debts , and the rest for improving your living conditions. "Then Imam said , " Avoid asking for help from anyone but three types of people : the religions , the generous , and the noble ;The religions for their fear of God , the generous for their charitability ,and the noble for their dignity, will not let you down. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 118)

84 - Among the signs of having won the approval & acceptance of God Almighty is keeping the company of the learned. Among the signs of ignorance is fighting with true believers. And among the signs of a learned person is his thinking before saying, and his being well informed of the scientific facts of his day. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 119)

85 - Avoid doing what you might later be asked to apologise for it! Because the believer does not harm and does not ask for apology , while the hypocrite always harms and apologizes. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 120)

86 - When a poor man begs for your help , his pride is hurt. Then you don’t deal another blow to his pride by letting him down. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 197)

87 - Imam(as) said : "Whoever likes us for the sake of God , we will join the Prophet(pbuh) together like these two ( and stuck two of his fingers together ). And whoever likes us for this world he will be rewarded only in this world which contains both good and evil people." (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 27 , P. 84)

88 - When you are frustrated and do not know a way out , only flexibility and moderation towards difficulties will save you. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 128)

89 - Shifter are the orphans of Mohammad's household. Whoever takes an orphan of ours under his protection and guides him , the Almighty God Will tell him , O My generous mortal , you deserve my grace. Then he will order his angels to give him one thousand palace , for each word he how taught. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 2 , P. 4)

90 - If it were not the realization of the Moslem brothers' rights , for whatever evil you did ; you would have been punished. But the glorified God says :" Whatever affliction befalls you , it is on account , of what your hands have wrought , and (yet) He pardons most (of your faults)". (Bihar al- Anwar Vol. 75 , P. 415)

91 - A man told Imam Hussain: O' the son of the Prophet! I am your Shi’a (follower)! Imam replied: "Fear God and don't claim this, otherwise God will tell you : You are a liar in what you claimed. Surely our Shi’as ( followers ) are those whose hearts are pure and free from insincerity and treason , you had better say you are an admirer and friend". (Bihar al- Anwar Vol. 68 , P. 156)

92 - Brothers are of four kinds : A brother who cares both about you and about himself , a brother who is only concerned about you , a brother who is only after harming you , and a brother who benefits neither you nor himself. When asked to clarify this , Imam said , " A brother , who cares about you and himself , is beneficial for both you and himself. such a brother maintains friendship with you , as in a perfect friendship , the two friends live together happily , but in a deficient one relations sour soon. The brother who is only concerned about you, he does not seek any material gains in his friendship with you. Rather , he will make every effort to help , and that is true friendship. The brother who constantly seeks to harm you : such a brother is in fact an enemy disguised and masked. He looks for an opportunity to harm you. He cleverly hides his real face from you. He lies about you in your absence , and he is jealous of you. May he suffer eternal damnation : And the brother who benefits neither you nor himself , he is a truly stupid person. Avoid making friends with his type. Such a friend seeks superiority to you and plots to possess whatever you have. (Bihar al- Anwar Vol. 78 , P 119)

93 - Imam Hussain (as) said to one of his followers : Which one is preferred to you? Saving the life of a weak man who is being killed by an oppressor , or saving a poor believer from among our Shi’as , who is being misled by an unbeliever and an enemy to the household of the prophet , through false reasoning and arguing ?Then Imam himself replied : Certainly saving the poor believer , as God Almighty says. " Reviving a misguided man by enlightening him , is tantamount to reviving all the world's people. "(Tafseer Al - Askari or Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 2 , P. 9)

94 - For a king , the worst characteristics are three :fearing enemies , oppressing the weak , and being ungenerous. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 189)

95 - "Avoid embarking on a task that is beyond your tolerance."(Aaian Ashi'a , Vol. 1 , P. 621)

96 - " Do not try for what you cannot win. "(Aaian Ashi'a , Vol. 1 , P. 621)

97 - " Spend as much as you earn , not more. "(Aaian Ashi'a , Vol. 1, P. 621)

98 - "Do not expect to be rewarded more than you deserve." (Aaian Ashi'a , Vol. 1 , P. 621)

99 - Do not be pleased save to what you have got of Allah's obedience. (Aaian Ashi'a , Vol. 1 , P. 621)

100 - Do not assume responsibility for a task , unless you are sure you can handle it competently. (Aaian Ashi'a , Vol. 1 , P. 621)

101 - Do not prescribe a medicine for a king , because if it cures him he will not thank you , and if it worsens his condition, he will blame you. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 127)

102 - Referring to a follower who had refrained from joining a war and then had apologized for it and sought to bring an excuse to justify it , Imam said :Apologizing for a sin committed consciously is worse than the sin itself. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 128)

103 - If you gather wealth but do not use it , you are not the owner of your wealth , rather , you are owned by it. So benefit from your possessions and do not let them benefit from you. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 127)

104 - Whoever accepts your grant , he has helped you with your generosity. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 127)

105 - Telling the truth brings about honor. (History of Yakoobi , Vol. 2 , Najaf prees , P. 246 , line 9)


106 - Telling lies , is a sign of weakness. (History of Yakoobi , Vol. 2 , Najaf prees , P. 246 , line 9)

107 - " People's secrets are properties held in trust with you." (History of Yakoobi , Vol. 2 , Najaf prees , P. 246 , line 9)

108 - "Your neighbours are like your relatives." (History of Yakoobi , Vol. 2 , Najaf prees , P. 246 , line 9)

109 - Aiding ( others ) is ( a sign of ) truthfulness. (History of Yakoobi , Vol. 2 , Najaf prees , P. 246 , line 9)

110 - " Working grants you experience. "(History of Yakoobi , Vol. 2 , Najaf press , P. 246)

111 - Good manner is ( counted as ) a worship. (History of Yakoobi , Vol. 2 , Najaf press , P. 246 , Line 9)

112 - Silence is an ornament ( for man ) (History of Yakoobi , Vol. 2 , P. 246)

113 - Greediness is poverty. (History of Yakoobi , Vol. 2 , P. 246)

114 - Generosity is prosperity. (History of Yakoobi , Vol. 2 , P. 246)

115 - Moderation is wisdom. (History of Yakoobi , Vol. 2 , Najaf press , P. 246 , Line 9)

116 - Once Imam(as) advised Ibn- Abbas :" Do not talk about something which does not concern you , because I fear that you commit a sin , and do not talk in what concerns you unless there is an occasion for it. Very often a speaker is criticized for telling the truth (for it was not on the right occasion.) (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 127)

117 - Do not argue with two types of people : the patient and the stupid; the former will beat you , and the latter will bother you. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 127)

118 - In your friend's absence , speak of him the way that you like him to speak of you in your absence. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 127)

119 - Death with dignity is better than life with humility. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 192)

120 - Continuous experience increases intellect , honour and piety. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 128)

121 - Contentment causes the comfort of body. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 128 , Line 9)

122 - Imam (as) was asked why the Almighty God made it compulsory to fast. He replied. " To make the rich taste hunger and be merciful towards the needy. "(Manakib Aal Abi-Talib by Ibn Shahrashoob , Vol. 4 , P. 68)

123 - Imam Hussain (as) was asked : How great your fear of God is? He said : "Nobody will be safe in the Day of Judgement except those who fear God in this world. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 192)

124 - Imam was asked about Jihad, striving in the way of God, recommended or compulsory ? He said , " Jihad in Islam is of four kinds : two of them on compulsory , one of them is recommended but cannot be performed except with a compulsory one , and one is solely recommended. One of the first two compulsory ones is striving of a man with himself to avoid committing sins which is greatest kind of Jihad. The second compulsory Jihad is fighting infidels. The third kind of Jihad which is recommended but cannot be carried out unless with a compulsory Jihad , is Jihad of the Islamic nation against their enemy which is compulsory on all the Muslim nation. If they live it away ,God's punishment will come , and this is a sort of nation punishment. But this Jihad is recommended for the Imam , leader of the Muslims , alone.
He is to come to the nation , and they together. Go for striving against the enemy. The fourth Jihad which is recommended is when a good tradition is initiated or revived by a person who strives for safeguarding it or improving it. This is among the best deeds , as it is reviving a good tradition. Surely , the Prophet( Peace be Upon Him and his Family ) said , " Whoever establishes a good tradition , he will be rewarded for it , and in addition , he will be rewarded for every other individual who has followed his tradition. (Tohaf-al- Uqoul , P 243)

125 - O' the son of Adam ! Your life comprises of passing days , with each day passing , a part of you goes away for good. "(Ershadol Kuloob by Dailami , P. 40)


126 - The Holy book of the Almighty contains four items : words , implications, esoteric points, and realities. Words for common people , implications for special people , esoteric points for divine leaders, and realities for the prophets ( May peace be upon them all )(Jame-ol Akhbar by Sadook , P. 47)

127 - Those who are reduced to tears after hearing sufferings of my family , their tears will protect them from hell and God will place them up in Paradise. (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 279)

128 - Tears of the eyes and fear of the hearts are among graces of the Almighty God. (Mustadrak al- Wasael vol. 11 , P. 245)

129 - Do not try to find fault with others. Instead , when someone makes a small blunder , try to cover up for him and justify his mistake. (Nozhatol - Nodhir wa Tanbihol - Khater , P. 80)

130 - Endure difficulties when you walk on a divine path , and resist the temptation of worldly pleasures. (Nozhatol - Nadher wa Tanbihol - Khater , P. 85)

131 - Aban Ibn Taglib said he once heard the martyred Imam (as) as saying:" Whoever likes us ( the household of the Prophet ) he becomes from us the house hold " ( of the prophet ).He had asked Imam: " From you the household ? " Imam answered," From us the household," and repeated it three times. Then Imam went on to say, "Did you not hear the saying of the prophet Ibraham( in the Holy Koran ) : " And whoever follows me , he is from me? "(Nozhatol Nadhir wa Tanbihol - Khatar , P. 40)

132 - Nothing is more disgraceful for old people than being slaves to their worldly desires. (Kefayatol Athar fi An - nass Ala Al - Aemma Al - Ethnai - Ashar , P. 233)

133 - Nothing is more disgraceful for rulers than treating their subordinates cruelly. (Kefayatol Athar fi Al - Nas Ala Al - Aemma Al - Ethnai Ashar , P. 233)

134 - Nothing is more disgraceful for noble people than telling lies. (Kefayatol Athar fi Al - Nass Ala - Al - Aemma Al - Ethnai Ashar , p. 233)

135 - Nothing is more disgraceful for the learned than greed. (Kefayatol Athar fi Al - Nass Ala Al - Aemma Al - Ethnai Ashar , P.233)

136 - Amir al-Mo'menin ( leader of believers ) asked his son Hussain :" O' son ! what is being honorable " ?He replied : " Benevolence to family members , and bearing their losses. "(Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 102)

137 - Imam (as) was once asked : what is affluence ?He said : " Decreasing your wishes , and being satisfied with what is enough for you. "(Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 102)


138 - What is poverty ?" Being covetous and hopeless. "(Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 102)

139 - What is being low and base ?" Saving yourself but leaving your spouse to grapple with difficulties at hard times. "(Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 102)

140 - What is stupidity? " Hostility to one's powerful and efficient commander , or to someone who can harm you or benefit you." (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P.102)

141 - A man told Imam Hussain (as): "I have built a new house. I like you to enter it and pray to God for me. Imam accepted. After entering the house, Imam had a look at it and said,” You have demolished your house and have built a larger and more luxurious house. People on the earth admire you and respect you for that house , while those up in the Heavens despise you. (Mustadrak al- Wasael , Vol. 3 , P. 467)

142 - The Holy Koran has an elegant outward and a profound inward (Jame- ol Akhbar by Sadook , P. 47)

143 - The intelligence of Muawiyah was being discussed when Imam said :" Man's intelligence would not be perfect unless truth is followed". (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 127)

144 - Imam Hussain (as) said : " Our enemy is the enemy of my grandfather Mohammad "(Ihqaqol Haq , Vol , 11 , P. 592)

145 - Habeeb Ibn Madaher narrated that once he asked Imam Hussain : "What were you before the creation of Adam ? ". Imam replied : " We were spiritual lights orbiting the highest Heaven , and teaching the angels praising and glorification. "(Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 60, P. 311)

146 - Twelve Mahdis are to be from us. First of them is Amir al-Mo'menin Ali Ibn Abi Talib , and the last is the Imam who rises by justice. Through him, God will revive the earth after its death , and let the real belief overcome other beliefs , in spite of the polytheists' dislike. He has a long occultation ,during which some will abandon their faith , and some will firmly stay in their belief. Then, they will be annoyed and asked : " When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are telling the truth ? " Truly , whoever withstands annoyance and denial of others during the occultation of Mahdi is like the one who fights by sword alongside the Prophet (pbuh ). (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 51, p. 133)

147 - Imam (as) was asked what virtue is. He said : " Holding your tongue, and good deed." Then he was asked what defect is. He said : " Involving yourself in a futile task." (Mustadrak al-Wasael , vol. 9 , P. 24)