RADIANCE OF VICEGERENCY

About the Book

“During his retirement Imam Ali (AS) devoted himself to the study of the Master’s percepts by the light of reason. ‘But for his assassination,’ to quote the language of a French historian, ‘the Muslim world might have witnessed the realization of the Prophet’s teaching, in the actual amalgamation of Reason with Law, and the impersonation of the first principles of true philosophy in positive action.’ The same passionate devotion to knowledge and learning which distinguished the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) breathed in every word of his Disciple. With a liberality of mind─for beyond the age in which he lived─was joined a sincere devoutness of spirit and earnestness of faith. His sermons, faithfully preserved by one of his descendents, and his litanies or psalms, portray a devout up looking toward the Source of All Good, and an unbounded faith in humanity. The accession of the Umayyad to the ruler ship of Islam was a blow to the progress of knowledge and liberalism in the Muslim World. Their stormy reigns left the nation little leisure to devote to the gentler pursuits of science; and to this, among the sovereigns, was joined a characteristic idolatry of the past. Their thoughts were engrossed by war and politics. During the comparatively long rule of a century, the House of Umayyad produced only one man devoted to the cultivation of letters; and this man was Abu Hashim Khalid ibn Yezid─‘the philosopher of the Merwanian family’─as he has been called, who was set aside from the succession on account of his learning. The jealous suspicion and the untiring animosity of the children of Abu Sufian and Hind had obliged the decedents of the Holy Prophet (SAW) to live a life of humble retirement. ‘In the night of misery and unhappiness,’ they followed truly and faithfully the percepts of their ancestor, and found consolation in intellectual pursuits.” ─Radiance of Vicegerency, p-185.

About the Author

Sayyid Hussein Alamdar, P.E, holds a MSCE from the University of South Carolina, at Columbia, S.C. He worked for Duke Power Company, Charlotte N.C (1971-1982) and served as Project Manager, Hydroelectric Projects at the Water & Power Company, Tehran, and (1983-2003). During his 20 years stay in Tehran, besides attending to his professional duties, he availed of the opportunity to meet with the eminent Scholars and erudite Ulama. Among other things, he had the fortune of attending Islamic Seminary under the able tutorship of Grand Ayatollah Seyed Mohammad Taqi Hakim and Hajj Aghai Ali Solemani in Tehran. He also founded Ahl al-Bayt (AS) Islamic Cultural Services of USA to disseminate and impart the learning and knowledge of Ahl al-Bayt (AS). Imam Rida (AS) is reported to have said to one of his followers: “May Allah bless the servant who keeps our vicegerency alive through publication of our learning and knowledge.” Alamdar has translated following classical and famous books of the most eminent Iranian Islamic scholars from Persian into English namely: 1. Self-Building: Ayatollah Ibrahim Amini 2. Truth and Falsehood: Martyr Allameh Murtaza Mutaheri (RA) 3. The Discourse on Patience: Grand Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenie 4. Profundities of the Prayer: Grand Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenie 5. Spiritual Journeys of the Mystics: Grand Ayatollah Javad Agha Malaki Tabrizi (RA) 6. Radiance of the Vicegerency: Grand Ayatollah J’afar Sobhanie 7. The Story of Karbala: Ayatollah Ali Nazari Munfarid 10. How to Bridge the Generation Gap? Grand Ayatollah Seyed Muhammad Taqi Hakim 11. Every Body Must Know: Ayatollah Ibrahim Amini 12. The Biography of Sayyid Sharif al-Radi (RA): Muhammad Ibrahim Nejad 13. The Life of Imam Zain al-A’abedin (AS): 14. The Life of Imam Baqir (AS) 15. The Life of Fatimeh Zehra (SA): 16. The Life of Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS): Sayyid Mundhir Hakim.