upcoming events, May 14-17, 2024

▫️Tuesday May 14, 8:00-10:00 pm (virtual, in Farsi | Eng Subs)
Lecture Series, 3, "The History of the Evolution of Imami Belief", Hassan Ansari, IAS, Princeton.

▫️Friday May 17, 7:00-9:30 pm (in-person, in English)
Special Event, Dedicated to the Birth Anniversary of Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (p)

🔸Please note we don't have our Dua Kumayl program this Thursday due to unavailability of the place. Instead we will have a special event for the birth anniversary of Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (p), on Friday May 17. (details will be announced)

@zekrMIT

Special Event, Birth Anniversary of Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (p)

🌿 يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ يَا عَلِىَّ بْنَ مُوسىٰ، أَيُّهَا الرِّضا 🌿

🌐 In-Person, in English

Date
Friday May 17th, 2024
7:00-9:30 pm (Eastern Time)

Location
MIT Tang Center, E51-376, 2 Amherst St, Cambridge, MA 02142

Lecture:
"Belief in Allah: Part I - How we see Allah?", in English, Dr. Ammar Pabaney

Schedule
7:00-7:15 Ziyarat Imam Rida (p)
7:15-8:15 Lecture and Q&A
8:21-8:45 Prayer
8:45-9:30 Dinner

- About Speaker (Bio)

@zekrMIT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSy5rmE2O-k&list=PLRagz8v-1fF4nCaUjiJKfaYOjKShDX_h3&t=2s

"Dhu al-Qarnayn in the Quran", Lecture 1
speaker: Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi

In the first lecture of this series, the Story of Dhu al-Qarnayn in the Qur'an (Q18: 83-102), first we looked to the structure of the surah 18 al-Kahf and the location and relation of the story of Dhu al-Qarnayn to the other important stories of this surah.

Then we focused on reading the Quranic verses related to the story without pre-framing them through the narrations and classical commentaries. The main intention was to stress that a close reading of the verses of the story of Dhu al-Qarnayn contrary to some other stories in the Qur'an, does not necessitate a miraculous understanding of this story including the nature of the means and powers which was given to him, and his trips were not atypical of the trips of Kings at his time.

In continuation we looked to the other instances of the usage of the words سبب (means, course) and کل شئ in the Qur'an, which are important in the understanding of the story of the Dhu al-Qarnayn.

In the end we discussed other instances of the usage of the concept "Gog and Magog" in the Qur'an and also its usage and evolution in the Bible.

May 5, 2024
#Dhu_al_Qarnayn_in_Quran

upcoming events, May 19-24, 2024

▫️Sunday May 19, 7:00-9:00 pm (virtual, in English)
Special Topics, 3, "A Discussion of the Story of Dhu al-Qarnayn in the Quran", Farhad Ghoddoussi, Wayne State University, Michigan.

▫️Tuesday May 21, 8:00-10:00 pm (virtual, in Farsi | Eng Subs)
Lecture Series, 4, "The History of the Evolution of Imami Belief", Hassan Ansari, IAS, Princeton.

▫️Friday May 24, 7:15-9:30 pm (hybrid, in English)
Quran Study, al-Kahf.

@zekrMIT

تاريخ تحول انديشه اعتقادی اماميه، دکتر حسن انصاری

«بر اساس چند سند از سده دوم و اوائل سده سوم قمری»

جلسه سوم: در اين جلسه سوم از درسگفتارهای تاريخ تشيع امامی در سده های دوم و سوم قمری به بازخوانی بخش های ديگری از کتاب اصول النحل منسوب به جعفر بن حرب پرداختيم. همچنين متن کتاب الإرجای منسوب به حسن بن محمد بن الحنفية را که گفته می شود از حدود سال ۷۰ ق است خوانديم و مورد بررسی قرار داديم و درباره اصالت آن بحث کرديم. در اين چارچوب در اين جلسه از دو موضوع سخن رفت:

۱) درباره سيف بن عمر و خلق شخصيت عبد الله بن سبا. در دنباله بحث های مرتبط با مشروعيت عباسيان که سال گذشته ارائه شد اينجا گفتيم که در حالی که سبئیه در سده اول حضور داشته اند و مقصود از آنان شيعه و به طور خاص کيسانيه و مختاريه هستند شخصيت عبد الله بن سبا ساختگی است و از نام سبئيه ساخته شده.

۲) درباره آغاز جنبش زيديه و قيام زيد صحبت کرديم و اين بحث را مطرح کرديم که اساسا در زمان زيد بن علي هنوز مسئله ادعای امامت مطرح نبوده و زید اساسا ادعای امامت نداشته. او یک قیام ضد اموی را هدایت و رهبری کرد و در سده دوم قمری الگوی قیام های ضد اموی و عباسی دیگر شد. اندکی درباره جارودیه سخن گفتیم و این را مطرح کردیم که آنان گروهی از شيعيان کوفه بودند که به رهبری ابو الجارود گرد هم آمده بودند و از قيام زيد حمايت کردند. تفصيل بحث درباره جاروديه در جلسه بعد ارائه خواهد شد؛ ان شاء الله. (۱۴ می، ۲۰۲۴)

#تاريخ_تحول_انديشه_اماميه_سده_دوم_و_سوم

@azbarresihayetarikhi
@zekrMIT

Special Topics

🌐 Virtual, in English

🔹Sunday May 19th, 7:00-9:00 pm ET
Lecture (in English), 3, "A Discussion of the Story of Dhu al-Qarnayn in the Quran"
Speaker, Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
About Speaker (Bio)

Zoom Participation (virtual):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/92377466698
Meeting ID: 923 7746 6698

#Dhu_al_Qarnayn_in_Quran

@zekrMIT

درس گفتارهای تاریخ اندیشه و تمدن اسلامی

🌐 بصورت مجازی، به فارسی

«تاريخ تحول انديشه اعتقادی اماميه»
توسط دکتر حسن انصاری

جلسه چهارم، سه شنبه ۲۱ می، ۸:۰۰ تا ۱۰:۰۰ شب به وقت شرق آمریکا

لینک شرکت در وبینار:
Zoom Webinar (lecture series),
https://mit.zoom.us/j/93933325521
Meeting ID: 939 3332 5521

#تاريخ_تحول_انديشه_اماميه_سده_دوم_و_سوم
@azbarresihayetarikhi
@zekrMIT

Quran Study, al-Kahf [18:83-102], Part 1

🌐 Hybrid, in English

Date
Friday May 24th, 2024
7:15 pm to 9:30 pm (Eastern Time)

Location
MIT Tang Center, E51-376, 2 Amherst St, Cambridge, MA 02142

Schedule
7:15-7:20 Ziyarat Ale-Yasin
7:20-8:20 Exegesis (Tafsir), in English, Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi (joining by zoom)
Topic: "Chapter 18, al-Kahf, Verses 83-102, Part 1"
These verses are about Dhu al-Qarnayn and Gog and Magog.
8:20-8:30 Q&A
8:30-8:50 Prayer
8:50-9:30 Dinner

- About Speaker (Bio)

Zoom Participation (hybrid):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/95948516788
Meeting ID: 959 4851 6788

@zekrMIT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLvLc9BOWqg&list=PLRagz8v-1fF4nCaUjiJKfaYOjKShDX_h3&t=2s

"Dhu al-Qarnayn in the Quran", Lecture 2
speaker: Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi

In the second lecture of this series, the Story of Dhu al-Qarnayn in the Quran (Q18: 83-102), we first looked to the hadiths which have been narrated in Shi'i hadith books in relation to these verses using Tafsir al-Burhan compiled by Syed Hashim ibn Sulaiman Al-Bahrani (d. 1107AH). We also looked at the summary of Shia and Sunni hadiths as were listed by Allamah Tabatabai in Tafsir al-Mizan.

Allamah Tabataba evaluation of these hadiths overall is as the following:
"The reader should realize that there is an amazing discrepancy, contradiction, and incoherence in all the particulars of the story and in all the aspects of the oral traditions (hadiths) about the story of Dhu al-Qarnayn, narrated by both the Shia and the Sunni on the authority of the Prophet and, by the Shia on the authority of the People of the Household, and, similarly the sayings narrated on the authority of the companions and successors and treated like sacred hadith by the Sunni. Furthermore, they contain odd things which a sound intellect shies away from, the mind thinks are impossible, and which the real world refutes. A critical researcher, comparing them with each other, would not doubt they are not free of interpolation, fabrication and astonishing exaggerations in the story's description."

This evaluation matches very well and vindicates the approach which has been adopted in this series of lectures, specially Lecture 1, which we looked to the related verses of Quran while not trying to frame or understanding them using the narrated hadiths.

May 12, 2024
#Dhu_al_Qarnayn_in_Quran

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPZ5sjjRvW0&list=PLRagz8v-1fF4nCaUjiJKfaYOjKShDX_h3&t=2383s

"Dhu al-Qarnayn in the Quran", Lecture 3
speaker: Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi

In the third lecture of this series, the Story of Dhu al-Qarnayn in the Quran (Q18: 83-102), we focused on the leading historical candidate for Dhu al-Qarnayn, Cyrus II the Achaemenid King of Persia (d.530 BC). We looked to the arguments advanced by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (d.1898) and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (d.1958) that Cyrus II not Alexander the Macedonian is the best historical candidate for Dhu al-Qarnayn.

There are three important particulars of the Quranic story regarding Dhu al-Qarnayn which any possible historical candidate should match,
1) Nickname Dhu al-Qarnayn and justification for it
2) Dam/barrier which Dhul al-Qarnayn made in a narrow pass to protect people from Gog and Magog and one of its distinguishing features that metal was used in its construction
3) Gog and Magog, their identity, history and location.

We spent some time to discuss these three particulars and also the dream of the Daniel the Prophet (Daniel 8).

May 19, 2024
#Dhu_al_Qarnayn_in_Quran

The 4th (and last part) of this series will be Sunday June 2nd. The focus will be on the relationship between the story of Dhu al-Qarnayn and the late antique Syriac text titled "Neṣḥānā d-Aleksandrōs" (literally “the victory of Alexander") which western scholarship often refer to as the Syriac Alexander Legend, and its implications.

upcoming events, May 28-30, 2024

▫️Tuesday May 28, 8:00-10:00 pm (virtual, in Farsi | Eng Subs)
Lecture Series, 5, "The History of the Evolution of Imami Belief", Hassan Ansari, IAS, Princeton.

▫️Thursday May 30, 7:15-9:30 pm (in-person, in English)
Dua Kumayl & Lecture.

@zekrMIT

تاريخ تحول انديشه اعتقادی اماميه، دکتر حسن انصاری

«بر اساس چند سند از سده دوم و اوائل سده سوم قمری»

جلسه چهارم: در اين جلسه با بازخوانی بخش هایی از متن کتاب اصول النحل به تاریخچه شکل گیری و اندیشه گروه های مختلف شیعی پیش از قیام زید بن علی (ع) پرداختيم و گفتيم که جاروديه يکی از اين گروه ها بود که با زاويه گرفتن نسبت به جريان تشيعی که به عنوان رافضه بعدا شناخته می شدند از قیام زید حمایت کردند و بخشی از قیام زید بن علی را شکل دادند. برخلاف تصور کتاب های ملل و نحل تأکيد کردیم که جارودیه گروهی بودند که قبل از زیدیه وجود داشتند و عقاید آنان و ديگر گروه های زيدی مانند بتريه را نبايد با تشکیل زیدیه خلط کرد. در این جلسه همچنین درباره تحولات اندیشگی زیدیه در سده های دوم و سوم صحبت کردیم. (۲۱ می، ۲۰۲۴)

#تاريخ_تحول_انديشه_اماميه_سده_دوم_و_سوم

@azbarresihayetarikhi
@zekrMIT

درس گفتارهای تاریخ اندیشه و تمدن اسلامی

🌐 بصورت مجازی، به فارسی

«تاريخ تحول انديشه اعتقادی اماميه»
توسط دکتر حسن انصاری

جلسه پنجم، سه شنبه ۲۸ می، ۸:۰۰ تا ۱۰:۰۰ شب به وقت شرق آمریکا

لینک شرکت در وبینار:
Zoom Webinar (lecture series),
https://mit.zoom.us/j/93933325521
Meeting ID: 939 3332 5521

#تاريخ_تحول_انديشه_اماميه_سده_دوم_و_سوم
@azbarresihayetarikhi
@zekrMIT

Dua Kumayl & Lecture

🌐 In-Person, in English

Date
Thursday May 30th, 2024
7:15 pm to 9:30 pm (Eastern Time)

Location
MIT SidneyPacific, MP room, 70 Pacific St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Schedule
7:15-7:20 Quran Recitation
7:20-7:45 Dua Kumayl
7:45-8:30 Lecture, in English, Dr. Ammar Pabaney
Title: "Belief in Allah: Part II - How Allah sees us?"
8:30-8:35 Q&A
8:35-8:55 Prayer
8:55-9:00 Ziyarat Warith
9:00-9:30 Dinner

- About Speaker (Bio)

@zekrMIT

upcoming events, June 2-7, 2024

▫️Sunday June 2, 7:00-9:00 pm (virtual, in English)
Special Topics, 4 (last), "A Discussion of the Story of Dhu al-Qarnayn in the Quran", Farhad Ghoddoussi, Wayne State University, Michigan.

▫️Tuesday June 4, 8:00-10:00 pm (virtual, in Farsi | Eng Subs)
Lecture Series, 6, "The History of the Evolution of Imami Belief", Hassan Ansari, IAS, Princeton.

▫️Friday June 7, 7:15-9:30 pm (hybrid, in English)
Quran Study, al-Kahf.

@zekrMIT

Special Topics

🌐 Virtual, in English

🔹Sunday June 2nd, 7:00-9:00 pm ET
Lecture (in English), 4 (last), "A Discussion of the Story of Dhu al-Qarnayn in the Quran"
Speaker, Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
About Speaker (Bio)

Abstract: In this last session we will discuss the relationship between the story of Dhu al-Qarnayn and the late antique Syriac text titled "Neṣḥānā d-Aleksandrōs" (literally “the victory of Alexander").

Zoom Participation (virtual):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/92377466698
Meeting ID: 923 7746 6698

#Dhu_al_Qarnayn_in_Quran

@zekrMIT

درس گفتارهای تاریخ اندیشه و تمدن اسلامی

🌐 بصورت مجازی، به فارسی

«تاريخ تحول انديشه اعتقادی اماميه»
توسط دکتر حسن انصاری

جلسه ششم، سه شنبه ۴ جون، ۸:۰۰ تا ۱۰:۰۰ شب به وقت شرق آمریکا

لینک شرکت در وبینار:
Zoom Webinar (lecture series),
https://mit.zoom.us/j/93933325521
Meeting ID: 939 3332 5521

#تاريخ_تحول_انديشه_اماميه_سده_دوم_و_سوم
@azbarresihayetarikhi
@zekrMIT