Faith-based and Ethical Books for the Young Generation

According to the Fekr-o-Farhang Mobalegh website, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Javadan, in his book “Rahnamay-e Tariq” (Guide to the Path), responded to questions from some young people who sought to be introduced to a study plan and useful books in various religious and historical fields. Some of these recommended books are as follows:

Principles of Religion

According to IRNA, Ayatollah Javadan, in response to the question “Which books should we use for a correct understanding of the principles of religion?”, wrote: For middle school and early high school levels, study the book “50 Lessons on the Principles of Beliefs for Youth” written by Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi. For late high school, “Principles of Islamic Beliefs” by Hujjat al-Islam Mohsen Qara’ati. For higher levels, “Teaching Beliefs” by Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Mesbah Yazdi, “An Extensive Discussion on Teaching Beliefs” by Mohammad Reza Gholami, Mohsen Ghoravian, and Mohammad Hossein Mirbagheri, and “Philosophical Theology” by Mojtaba Mesbah and Abdolrasoul Oboudiyat.

This seminary scholar, in response to someone seeking to strengthen faith with rational and scientific evidence, recommended studying “The Creator and the Created” by Mohammad Sadeghi Tehrani, “The Proof of God’s Existence” by John Clover translated by Ahmad Aram, “How Do We Know God?” by Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, and “Life and Purposefulness” by Abbas Sheybani.

Interpretation of the Quran

This ethics teacher, in response to an engineering student who had some brief interpretive studies and decided to study a complete course of Quranic interpretation, and also had high school level proficiency in Arabic, wrote: First, learn Arabic well. As an introduction, you can study “Tafsir Nemooneh” (Sample Interpretation), compiled by a group of scholars under the supervision of Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, and “Tafsir Noor” (Light Interpretation) by Hujjat al-Islam Mohsen Qara’ati. If you study logic well, you can also benefit from “Tafsir Tasnim” authored by Ayatollah Abdullah Javadi Amoli.

Prayer

Javadan wrote regarding studying books on prayer: Study “From the Depths of Prayer” by the Supreme Leader, “What is Prayer?” by the martyred Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Beheshti, “114 Points about Prayer” by Hujjat al-Islam Mohsen Qara’ati, “Secrets of Prayer” which is a translation of “Asrar al-Salat” by Ayatollah Abdullah Javadi Amoli by Ali Zamani Qomshe’i, and “Towards Him” authored by Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Mesbah Yazdi.

History of Islam

This student of Allameh Askari wrote for the study of Islamic history: For a correct understanding and knowledge of Islamic history, a thorough study of Allameh Seyyed Morteza Askari’s book collection is very useful. Also read “Sirat Javdaneh” (Eternal Biography) and “Imam Ali (PBUH) and the Kharijites” authored by Allameh Seyyed Jafar Morteza Ameli.

Allameh Seyyed Morteza Askari

Also, the study plan for Allameh Askari’s books, as recommended by Ayatollah Javadan, is as follows:

• Hadith Kasa’
• Wilayat Ali (PBUH)
• Aisha’s Role in Islamic History
• Saqifa
• The Prophet’s (PBUH) Last Prayer
• Maqtal
• Abdullah ibn Saba’
• Aisha’s Role in Islamic Hadiths
• Within the Scope of the Book and Sunnah
• The Role of Imams in Reviving Religion
• Martyr of Religious Revival
• Islamic Beliefs in the Quran
• 150 Fabricated Companions
• Translation of Ma’alem al-Madrasateyn

Contemporary History

Javadan wrote, regarding the introduction of books for studying Iran’s past hundred years of history: Since most works are mixed with false information, one must proceed with great caution. In this regard, you can refer to “History of Iran’s Political Developments” by Mousa Najafi and Mousa Faqih Haqqani, “The Rise and Fall of the Pahlavi Monarchy” authored by Abdullah Shahbazi, “Steadfastness Until the Gallows,” as well as “Sheikh Ebrahim Zanjani: His Life; Memories,” “Beyond Trial and Error” by the late Ali Abolhassani (Monzer), and the eight-volume book by Hossein Makki titled “20 Years of Iran’s History.”

In response to the question, “What study plan do you suggest for acquaintance with and responding to doubts about Baha’ism and Judaism?”, he wrote: Many books have been authored for acquaintance with Baha’ism; including “Trial and Investigation in the History, Beliefs, and Rulings of Bab and Baha” by Allameh Seyyed Hassan Mostafavi in three volumes, “Fitna-e Bab” (The Sedition of Bab) by Etezad al-Saltaneh with explanations and articles by Abdolhossein Noorai, and “Baha’ism as It Is” by a group of authors and writers.

Lives of the Infallible Imams

This seminary scholar, for studying about Ghadir or the Seerah of Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (PBUH), recommended that those interested in the Seerah of Imam Ali (PBUH) refer to “Furoogh-e Welayat” (Light of Guardianship) by Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani, “Attraction and Repulsion of Ali (PBUH)” by the martyred Professor Morteza Motahari, “Life of Amir al-Mu’minin (PBUH)” by Ayatollah Seyyed Hashem Rasouli Mahallaati. Regarding Ghadir, they should study “Imam Shenasi” (Imamology, volumes seven and nine) by Allameh Mohammad Hossein Hosseini Tehrani, “Bi’that, Ghadir, Ashura, Mahdi (AJ)” as well as “Hamaseh-e Ghadir” (Epic of Ghadir) by Mohammad Reza Hakimi, “The Most Sensitive Part of History or the Story of Ghadir” by a group of teachers, and “The Meaning of Mawla” written by Hujjat al-Islam Javad Mohaddesi.

Javadan, in response to the question “Which is the best available Maqtal book?”, wrote: “Nafas al-Mahmoum” by Sheikh Abbas Qomi, translated by Ayatollah Abolhassan Sharani, is a useful book in this regard.

Regarding the life of Imam Reza (PBUH), he wrote: Benefit from “The Intellectual and Political Life of the Shiite Imam” by Hujjat al-Islam Rasoul Jafarian, “The Biography of Leaders” by Hujjat al-Islam Mehdi Pishvaee, “The Political Life of the Eighth Imam” by Seyyed Jafar Morteza al-Alami translated by Mohammad Sepehri, “The Life of Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (PBUH)” by Abolqasem Sahab, and “The Life of the Eighth Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (PBUH)” authored by Ahmad Moghnih translated by Jafar Ghasban.

Javadan, in response to the question about which sources to refer to concerning Mahdaviyat, End of Time, and Signs of Appearance, introduced these books: “Imam Mahdi (AJ); The Promised One Present” by Ayatollah Abdullah Javadi Amoli, “The Just Ruler of the World” by Ayatollah Ebrahim Amini, “Mahdi (AJ); A Great Revolutionary” by Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, “Sun of the West” and “Age of Life” by Mohammad Reza Hakimi, “Najm al-Thaqib” by Mirza Hossein Tabarsi Nouri, “Al-Ghaybah” authored by Sheikh Tusi, “Al-Ghaybah” by Sheikh Mohammad ibn Ibrahim Nomani, and “Muntakhab al-Athar fi al-Imam al-Thani Ashar” by Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani.

Ethics

This ethics teacher wrote about studying ethical books: Many books have been authored in the field of ethics, from which you can benefit; “Starting Points in Practical Ethics” by Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani, “Forty Hadiths of Imam Khomeini (RA),” and articles by Ayatollah Mohammad Shojaei.

Religions and Sects

Javadan wrote about acquaintance with Judaism: Refer to “Acquaintance with Major Religions” by Hossein Tavassoli, Samt Publications and Ma’aref Ahl al-Bayt Publishing.

Regarding the knowledge of Islamic sects, he also recommended: For the topic of Islamic doctrinal sects, refer to “Bohouth fi al-Milal wa al-Nihal” (Research on Religions and Sects) by Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani.

Marriage and Child Rearing

This seminary scholar recommended to young people for studying about marriage, family, and child rearing to study “Investigation of Educational and Psychological Aspects of the Engagement Period” by Mohsen Imani, “The Art of Life Satisfaction” by Abbas Pasandideh, “Nasim-e Mehr” (Breeze of Affection) in three volumes by Hujjat al-Islam Hossein Dehnavi, and “Rayhaneh Beheshti” (Heavenly Basil) by Sima Mokhber.

Javadan also mentioned “Ethics at Home” by Ayatollah Mazahiri, “Ethics in the Family” by Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Akbar Hosseini, “Acquaintance with the Duties and Rights of Women” by Ayatollah Ebrahim Amini, and “Rulings on Husband and Wife Relations and Their Social Issues with the Views of Grand Marja’s of Emulation” compiled by Seyyed Masoud Masoumi, for greater acquaintance of young people with the rights of spouses and children.