We extend our congratulations and felicitations on the birth of Imam Reza (peace be upon him), the kind-hearted Imam, the eighth shining star in the sky of Imamate and Wilayat, to the presence of Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) and to all Muslims around the world, especially the dear people of Arad. Together, we celebrate this heavenly joy and delight.
The Birth Ceremony of Imam Reza (peace be upon him) ❤️
Date: Today, Sunday, May 19th, at 8 PM
Location: Ghadir Conference Hall, Qom
All of you from Arad are invited to this birthday celebration along with your families.
This ceremony will be broadcast live on Arad Branding site so that those who cannot attend in person can watch it online, God willing.
Imam Reza's Letter to Imam Jawad (peace be upon them)
On the occasion of this blessed birth, we decided to write an article to gain more understanding of the vast knowledge of the Prophet and his household regarding economics.
First, let's read together a famous letter from Imam Reza to Imam Jawad (peace be upon them) to understand whether our Imams were wealthy or poor.
From Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid and Muhammad ibn Yahya, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, from Ibn Abi Nasr:
"My son,
I have heard that your servants are taking people out through the small door of the house because they are stingy about letting any good come from you to others.
I urge you, by the right I have upon you, to enter and exit through the main door, and carry plenty of gold and silver with you. Give to anyone who asks from you.
To your uncles and aunts, give not less than fifty dinars to each uncle and not less than twenty-five dinars to each aunt.
If you give more, it's up to you, because I want God to elevate your status through your generosity.
So give and spend, and fear none but God."
Imam Reza (peace be upon him) tells Imam Jawad (peace be upon him), who at that time was an eight-year-old child, to give money to anyone who asks for it.
And he should not give less than 50 dinars to his uncles and not less than 25 dinars to his aunts, and if he wants to give more, he can do so at his discretion.
He also says to give in charity and fear no one but God, meaning he should not fear becoming poor or running out of money due to this generosity.
The first question is: How much is one dinar worth in today's currency?
One dinar in different Islamic periods had different weights, ranging from 4.25 grams to 4.55 grams of gold, which would be 24 karats in today's terms, though in some regions, the purity might have been lower.
We will calculate the value based on today's price of 18 karat gold as of May 19, 2024, which, according to the TGJU website, is 3,300,000 tomans per gram.
Multiplying this by 4.25 grams to determine the value of one dinar, it amounts to around 14 million tomans.
Now, multiplying this by 50 dinars, which is the minimum amount the Imam should give to his uncles, it amounts to 800 million tomans.
And multiplying by 25 dinars, which is the minimum amount for his aunts, it amounts to 400 million tomans.
The question now is: How many uncles and aunts did Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) have?
We do not have precise information on the brothers and sisters of Imam Reza's (peace be upon him) mother, but it is mentioned that Musa ibn Ja'far (peace be upon him) had between 33 to 60 children, with the most reliable report stating that Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) had 18 uncles and 19 aunts.
Now, let's multiply these numbers:
18 multiplied by 800 million tomans and 19 multiplied by 400 million tomans equals 22 billion tomans.
Here, Imam Reza (peace be upon him) did not specify whether this amount should be given monthly or annually, but what is certain is that it is not a one-time event.
On the other hand, the Imam said not to give less than this amount and that he could give more at his discretion.
And this is just a very small part of the charities of Imam Jawad (peace be upon him).
Imam Jawad, who at this moment is only 8 years old.
Which of our eight-year-old Shia children has such financial power to be able to donate at least 22 billion tomans in a single instance?
Therefore, our Shia Imams were the wealthiest individuals of their time, and to attribute poverty to the Imams is slander, falsehood, and defamation.
As Imam Reza (peace be upon him) said: The poor are humiliated and demeaned among people.
We seek refuge in God from assuming that the Imams, who are the epitome of dignity, were humiliated and demeaned.
Trade and Usury from the Perspective of the Infallibles (peace be upon them)
But the question is, how have we, the Shia of the Ahlul Bayt, fallen into this state and deviated from the economic path and lifestyle of our Imams?
Undoubtedly, there are many roots to this issue, and it cannot be fully addressed in a single article. However, one of the most significant factors in our deviation from the traditions of the Prophets and the Infallible Imams is the issue of usury (riba).
First, we must understand that the Imams encouraged us to engage in trade, as Imam Reza (peace be upon him) states:
"A truthful merchant will be with the scribes and the noble and righteous angels on the Day of Resurrection."
But what caused people to turn away from trade despite all these recommendations?
The answer to this question can be found in the words of the Infallibles.
So we have understood that one of the reasons for our distance from trade and commerce is the prevalence of usury (riba) in our society.
If you don't know what usury is, you can research it, because it has reached the point where even discussing the details of usury is considered dangerous and a crime!
Usury has various forms, but the simplest explanation is that it involves lending money to someone or depositing it somewhere with the expectation of receiving a predetermined and fixed amount of additional money without any effort.
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) says: "First learn the science of trade, then engage in trade. Indeed, usury is more hidden than the footsteps of an ant on a smooth stone."
He also said: "Anyone who enters into trade without knowledge will surely be engulfed in usury."
This is why Arad insists heavily on trade education and urges Arad merchants to take their training seriously, so they do not lead themselves to ruin.
Usury is extremely detestable and abhorrent in the religion of God. According to the current laws of the country, the giver of usury is always subject to criminal punishment, and the receiver of usury can also face criminal charges in certain situations. However, there are differences in translation, interpretation, and the instances of usury.
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said to Hisham ibn Hakam (may Allah have mercy on him):
"Whenever God intends to destroy a people, usury appears among them."
And we seek refuge in God from usury, which the Infallibles unanimously consider a heinous sin, worse than committing adultery with a close relative 70 times near the House of God.
Regarding what usury is and why it leads to destruction, Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) narrated:
"God has forbidden usury because it leads to the loss of wealth and distances people from trade.
When a person has to pay two dirhams for one dirham, the additional dirham paid is unnecessary and unjust.
Thus, usurious trade is harmful to both parties in every situation.
So God forbade usury to prevent the loss of people's wealth."
Dear Arad friends,
We often witness that these practices of lending money for profit have caused people to lose their motivation for trade and effort.
When someone faces financial problems and cannot meet their needs, instead of engaging in trade and commerce to benefit from the vast opportunities provided by their Lord, they turn to taking loans with interest, unaware that this leads to an even greater problem.
If they did not take such loans, how would they cover their expenses?
They would be forced to engage in trade and buy and sell.
They invest their money somewhere to double it without creating any value or engaging in any economic activity.
If they did not invest in such ways, they would inevitably invest in trade, production, or their own profession, thereby growing themselves and their work.
It is truly painful that one cannot even explain the examples, dimensions, and types of usury to their friends.
Where are you, O son of Fatimah?
We are certain that you will come and break the necks of all those who established usurious structures in human societies.
You will dismantle their systems and avenge all the dishonor and humiliation they have caused.
If only our people did not engage in giving and taking usury and instead focused on trade.
They lend their money to others to earn interest, thus easily falling into usury.
Dear Aradi friends,
Avoid usury, for it destroys both your faith and your worldly life.
Usury is contrary to trade and commerce.
God has explicitly mentioned it in the Quran, placing it directly against trade and commerce, stating:
“They say, ‘Trade is just like usury.’ But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden usury.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 275)
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