معرفت

The Manifestation of Remembering God
 and Humility of the True Shi'ites before God
Ayatollah Allameh Mohammad Taqi Misbah

Abstract
This paper expounds on the words of Amir al-Mu'minnān (peace be upon him) regarding the attributes of the true Shi'ites. The humility of the heart before God and continuity in remembering Him are the other characteristics of the true Shi'ites; «خَاشِعاً قَلْبُهُ‏ ذَاکِراً رَبَّهُ». Any believer should be humble when remembering God and listening to the divine verses of the Qur'an. Remembering God leads to humility and flexibility in the heart, and submission and humility of man before the greatness of God, which manifests itself in prostration before Him, is necessary for humility of the heart and the influence of God's word on the heart. Real Shiites always remember God and practice humility before God's words and His greatness. They are accustomed to practicing good deeds and worshiping; they do righteous deeds passionately and enthusiastically, and it is difficult for them to leave those deeds. God has provided those who seek to do good deeds with the needed means. We have to prepare the ground for remembrance of God and tenderness and humility of our hearts before the divine verses and words, so that we constantly get attracted to good deeds , become interested in them and get away from evil deeds.
Keywords: humility, real Shiites, God's remembrance, callousness.

A Review of the Doctrine of the Trinity and Incarnation in Christianity; Based on the Qur'an and Narratives

Jalil Parvin / Assistant Professor at Quran and Hadith University College of Tehran    jalilparvin@yahoo.com
Mohammad Asaee / MA in the Quran and Hadith Sciences, Quran and Hadith University College of Tehran    asaee1379@gmail.com
Received: 2018/01/06 - Accepted: 2018/07/16

Abstract
Although the two doctrines of the trinity and the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ are the most fundamental doctrines of Christian theology, the Qur'an and Ahlul-Bayt's narratives have introduced them as blasphemy, and argued for their invalidity through different statements. Accordingly, the purpose and scope of the topic of this research has been determined to cover following issues: the explanation of the two doctrines of the trinity and incarnation in Christianity, their critique based on the Quran, the Shi'a narratives and some of the works of the Muslim scholars, and, finally, the analysis and critique of two doubts:    " the difference between the trinity criticized by the Qur'an and the trinity believed by Christians” and "the similarity between incarnation in Christian theology and manifestation in Islamic sources". The research results indicate that the trinity and incarnation conflict with some definite principles of monotheism, and have many flaws including contradiction, the combinability of the essence of God, the defect of the attributes of perfection in the three essences, change and passivity in the essence of God.

Keywords: trinity, incarnation, knowing Jesus, New Testament, Christianity.

A Comparative Study on Shi'ite and Catholic Prayer Types

Mohajer Mahdavi Rad / MA in Religious Studies IKI     ali1945reza@gmail.com
Received: 2018/03/10 - Accepted: 2018/07/02
Abstract
In terms of content, presentation and audience, a research on prayer and its characteristics is a necessity in prayer studies, which is considered as a typology of prayer. The importance of prayer in Shiite and Catholicism, its constructive effects on happiness, the necessity of research on its kinds and types, and the importance of a comparative investigation between these two religions led the author to conduct a comparative study on the types of prayer from the viewpoint of Shiism and Catholicism and present the similarities and differences. Using an analytical -descriptive method, the paper reviews the types of Shiite and Catholic prayers based on presentation, content and audience. The most important findings of this study include the similarity of the content of the Shi'a and Catholic prayers in some cases such as glorification of God and asking Him for the fulfillment of wishes. The findings also show some differences in the monotheistic or trinity-related glorification, invocation or intercession. The audience of the Shi'a's prayer is God, and longitudinally the prophet and the Imams, but Catholic prayer addresses the three beings, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit independently.
 Keywords: typology, prayer, Shiite, Catholic, trinity.

The Great Flood in the Sumerian and Babylonian Mythologies and Comparing them with the Torah and the Qur'an

Jamshid Jalali Shijani / Associate Professor of Religions and Mysticism, Islamic Azad University, Yadegar, Imam Khomeini Branch, Shahr Rei     jalalishey@gmail.com
Received: 2018/12/28 - Accepted: 2018/06/12
Abstract
Despite the various narratives about the Great Flood, this story has many similarities and differences in the Sumerian, Babylonian, Jewish and Qur'anic mythologies. The differences are mainly manifested in the type of each nation's perception of this event in numerous narratives. The existence of different and numerous narratives from this story make the occurrence of this event undeniable. This study aims to express and compare four famous Sumerian, Babylonian, Jewish and Quranic narratives, and analyze their content comparatively. The research findings show that differences are found only in their religious and moral attitude, and the narratives on the Great Flood are quoted based on the same confirming foundations. In terms of historical analysis, the course of the story also undergoes an evolutionary and epistemological process. This paper analyzes this story using a descriptive-analytical and comparative method.
 Keywords: the Great Flood, Ziusudra, Utnapishtim, the Torah, the Quran.

An Investigation into the Multiplicity of Human Spiritual Forces in Zoroastrianism

Seyyed Mohammad Hajati Shorki / PhD Student of Religions IKI    Hajati65@chmail.ir
Received: 2018/02/02- Accepted: 2018/06/28
Abstract
It seems unlikely to find someone who does not believe in the two-dimensionality of human being; because this is a matter of conscience and innateness. Accepting the issue in its totality, all divine religions, in order to explain the issue of man's two-dimensionality, have come up with some evidence that has been manifested in their sacred books. Zoroastrianism is one of the religions that, in its sacred scriptures Avesta, has mentioned remarkable words on the second
dimension of man, i.e. the spirit and the soul. Using a descriptive- analytical method, this paper discusses the five Minooyee (spiritual) forces, which include Ahou, Deena, Ba'o'z, Orvan and Farvashi, and offers definitions and documents of their holy texts. It expresses the views of the writers and scholars of Zoroastrianism and some minor differences in this field, and analyzes the various assumptions about the singularity or multiplicity of these forces. Five assumptions have been made in this regard and each has been analyzed separately. In the end, according to the evidence found in the sacred texts of Zoroastrianism and the views of the Zoroastrian scholars in this regard, the paper confirms the multidimensionality of these forces from the Zoroastrians' view point.
Keywords: Zoroastrianism, Avesta, soul, spirit, Foruhar, the unity of spiritual forces.

Moral hierarchy of Hinduism; challenges and Correct model in Islamic perspective

Mohammad Reza Asadi / Ph.D. Student of Religions and Mysticism at IKI    reza.shaer@gmail.com
Received: 2018/02/02- Accepted: 2018/06/28

Abstract
Morality is a system that governs its followers and directs their behavior on a particular path. But the question of whether the ethical orders are fixed or variable in relation to the sexes, the different strata and the ages, and in the case of variability, what is the task of each group, is a controversial matter between religions. By identifying some ranks called "Principles of Ashrama", Hinduism considers morality as an Hierarchy, and introduces some groups with specific tasks for each time. This article seeks to analyze this Hindu doctrine from the standpoint of Hinduism itself and then examine it from the point of view of Islam and then provide a correct model in this regard. The essay concludes that the Hindu hierarchy is faced with some serious challenges, and the generality and stable principles of ethics for all and at all times and places, is acceptable. Of course, these principles are strong or weak in relation to the ability and capacity of individuals and individuals can implement them in accordance with their capacities.
Hinduism, Principles of Ashrama, Vanaprastha, sannyasi, moral hierarchy, Islam, Monasticism.

Blind Imitation; Blight on Religiosity

Hassan Akhundi / PhD Student of Interpretation, Al-Mustafa University     amiramin809@gmail.com
Received: 2018/01/15 - Accepted: 2018/06/01

Abstract
Man’s history has always witnessed the reference of a non-specialist to a specialist; it is what wisdom directly orders, and the holy Shari'ah confirms. Also, the greatest blight on religiosity is blind imitation, which has caused great tragedies throughout history. Using a descriptive- analytical method, this paper analyzes the types of imitation and expresses its correct and incorrect characteristics through the Quranic and narrative criteria. It is understood from the Qur'an and narratives that forbidden imitation does not merely mean the blind imitation of the culture and costumes of the ancestors; the imitation of the ignorant from the scholar and the reference of lay people to the jurisprudent are of two kinds: prohibited and legitimate. Intellectual immaturity, blind imitation of the predecessors, retrospection, great interest in ancestors and predecessors, prejudice and group-orientedness are among the factors and motives behind blind imitation.
Keywords: the Quran, blind imitation, religion, blight on religiosity.