TABLE OF CONTENTS

Search the entire text of Peshawar Nights.

Translators' Preface

FIRST SESSION, Thursday night, 23rd Rajab, 1345 A.H.

	Relationship (of Well­Wisher) with the Holy Prophet
	Additional evidence proving that the descendants of Bibi Fatima are of the progeny of the Holy Prophet
	Why Shias combine their prayers

	How the grave of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali, was discovered
	Desecration of graves by Bani Umayyad
	Differences about the burial place of the Commander of the Faithful

SECOND SESSION, Friday night, 24th Rajab, 1345 A.H.

	Misconception about origin of the Shia sect
	Absurd to associate Abdullah bin Saba with Shias
	Meaning of Shia
	Further merits of Shia
	Rank of Salman, Abu Dharr, Miqdad, and Ammar
	Causes of Iranian's receptivity to Shia'ism
	Debates between Allama Hilli and the chief justice concerning the imamate

	Islam forbids boasting about ancestors
	Islam also forbids racism
	Condemnation of the extremists
	Shias separate from Ghalis (Extremists)
	Clarification about reverence towards Imams
	The people of Ya Sin refers to the people of Muhammad
	Salawat (blessings) on Muhammad and Ahle­Muhammad is the Sunna (commendable), and in ritual prayer, it is compulsory

THIRD SESSION, Saturday night, 25th Rajab, 1345 A.H.

	Shias not divided into factions
	The Zaidiyyas
	The Kaysaniyyas and their belief
	The Qaddahiyyas and their belief
	The Ghullat and their belief

	Shia Imamiyya Ithna Ashari and their belief
	Belief in Allah and the Prophets
	Belief in chastisement, reward, hell, paradise, and day of judgement
	Belief in the articles of practice
	Belief in Imams

	Objection on Hadith of Ma'rifa (tradition of knowledge of Allah)
	Absurd reports in Sahihain (the two collections) of Bukhari and Muslim
	Hadith­e­Thaqalain
	Polytheism and its kinds
	Concerning offerings or pledges

	Offerings in the name of Allah
	Hidden polytheism: making a display of prayers
	Polytheism regarding causation
	Why Prophets sought help from people
	The Holy Ahle Muhammad (descendants of the Prophet) are means of divine bounty

	Hadith­e­Thaqalain (Hadith of Two Great Things)
	Bukhari and Muslim have recorded many traditions reported by fabricators
	Many authentic ahadith regarding Ahle Bait scrupulously avoided
	Sources of Hadith­e­Thaqalain
	Hadith­e­Safina

	Seeking means to approach Allah not polytheism
	Du'a­e­Tawassul
	Shias do not malign Sunnis
	Sunni Ulema call Shias infidels
	Shias and the four Sunni schools of law

	Murders of Shias in Iran and Afghanistan
	Martyrdom of Shahid­e­Thalis
	Namaz­e­Ziarat and invocations after the prayer
	Prostration of the brothers of Joseph before him
	Invoking Imams is not worshiping the dead

	The infidelity of Yazid
	Sanction by Sunni Ulema for cursing Yazid
	Desecration of graves
	The descendants of the Holy Prophet are martyrs in the way of Allah and are alive
	The position of Infallible Imams

FOURTH SESSION, Sunday night, 26th Rajab, 1345 A.H.

	Discussion regarding Imamate
	Limitation to four schools of law has no basis
	Shia'ism compared to four schools of law
	The four Sunni Imams have declared each other to be infidels

	The Sunni Ulema's condemnation of Abu Hanifa
	Imamate according to Shias means vicegerency of Allah
	The rank of Imamate is higher than that of general Prophethood
	General and special Prophethood

	Differences in the rank of the Prophets
	Authenticity of Hadith of Manzila from the usual sources
	Amadi unreliable as narrator of ahadith
	The position of single narration in the Sunni sect

	Characteristics of Ali
	Hadith that by order of the Prophet the doors of houses facing the mosque were closed except the door of Ali's house
	While bowing in ritual prayer, Ali gave a ring to a beggar
	Aaron's position as Prophet as well as Caliph

FIFTH SESSION, Monday night, 27th Rajab, 1345 A.H.

	Hadith of Manzila narrated several times
	Aaron was the ordained successor of Moses
	Similarity between the affairs of Ali and Aaron
	Hadith of invitation to relatives and the Prophet's appointing Ali as his successor
	Clear ahadith about the Caliphate of Ali

	Characteristics of the Companions
	Hadith in praise of Abu Bakr
	Abu Huraira's character and his condemnation
	Ibn Abd Rabbih's slanders against the Shias
	Slanders by Ibn Hazm

	Slanders by Abu Taimiyya
	Abu Huraira's character and ahadith calling for his condemnation
	Reply to the supposed hadith that Allah said "I am pleased with Abu Bakr ­ is he also pleased with Me?"
	Ahadith in praise of Abu Bakr and Umar and their disqualification
	Hadith that both Hasan and Husain are foremost of youth of paradise

	Reply to purported Hadith that Abu Bakr and A'yesha were preferred by the Prophet
	Shafi'i's acknowledgement that love for Ahle Bait is obligatory
	Misconception regarding Holy Prophet's love for A'yesha
	Holy Prophet preferred Ali to all other men
	Hadith of the roasted bird

	"People of the Remembrance" are the Ahle Muhammad, the descendants of the Holy Prophet
	Citation of a verse of the Holy Qur'an about the appointment of the four Caliphs, and a reply
	Argument from the "Verse of Cave" and its reply
	Facts about Abu Bakr's accompanying the Holy Prophet
	Barsisa Abid
	The sending down of peace was on the Prophet of Allah

SIXTH SESSION, Tuesday night, 28th Rajab, 1345 A.H.

	300 Hundred verses in praise of Ali
	Ali first to declare belief in Prophet of Allah
	Ali excelled all other companions and the whole community in merit
	Qur'anic verse in praise of Ali on his sleeping in the Prophet's bed on the night of Hijra

	Evidence regarding Umar's saying "Had Ali not been there, Umar would have been ruined"
	Caliph Umar's bravery was never observed on any battlefield
	Hadith of the standard in the conquest of Khaibar
	Uthman's character and way of life compared to that of Abu Bakr and Umar

	The wealth of Caliph Uthman
	Caliph Uthman encouraged the evildoers among the Umayyads
	Holy Prophet cursed Abu Sufyan, Mu'awiya and his son Yazid
	Uthman did not accept counsel of Ali

	Uthman mercilessly beat companions of Holy Prophet
	Ammar beaten by order of Uthman
	The hadith "all companions are like stars" applied also to Abu Dharr
	Ali bin Abu Talib's kindness and generosity
	Doubts and complications regarding the "verse of guardianship" and their clarification

SEVENTH SESSION Wednesday night 29th Rajab 1345 A.H.

	Difference between assumed unity and real unity
	The Verse of Imprecation (Mubahala) proves the unity of the soul of Ali with the Holy Prophet
	Merits of Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husain proven by the verse of imprecation
	Further narrations and hadith as evidence of the essential unity of the Holy Prophet and Ali

	The mirror of all the Prophets as shown by the hadith of similitude (Hadith­e­Tashbih)
	Consensus for Abu Bakr
	Arguments against validity of Ijma
	Ali was deliberately kept uninformed of the meeting at Saqifa

	'Hadith­e­Thaqalain' and 'Hadith­e­Safina'
	Hadith "Ali is with the truth and the truth is with Ali"
	Hadith of the ark ­ Hadith of Saqifa
	Should Ijma be accepted because of precedent?

	Holy Prophet's ahadith urging the believers to follow Ali
	Forced allegiance by Ali and Bani Hashim after six months
	Ali dragged from his home and his house set on fire
	Twelve arguments in support of the fact that Ali was taken to the mosque at the point of a sword

	Fatima told Abu Bakr and Umar that she cursed them both in every prayer
	Narrations about Fatima's miscarriage
	Real meaning of Bidat (innovation)
	Effects of visiting shrines of the Holy Imams

EIGHTH SESSION, Thursday night, 1st Sha'ban, 1345 A.H.

	Difference between Islam (submission) and Iman (faith)
	Association of Shia'ism with Imam Ja'far Sadiq
	Criticizing the companions does not mean infidelity
	According to Abu'l­Hasan Ash'ari even calling Allah or Holy Prophet by evil names is not infidelity
	Most companions abused one another but not regarded as infidels
	Holy Prophet of Islam knew all good and bad actions of Sahaba

	Merit of being a party to Bai'at­e­Rizwan
	Shias do acknowledge merits of Sahaba
	Hadith of "following companions" examined
	Aqaba affair and design to kill Holy Prophet
	Opposition of companions at Saqifa
	Sa'd bin Ubaida's opposition to Abu Bakr and Umar

	Talha and Zubair confront Ali at Basra
	Mu'awiya and 'Amr As used to curse and abuse Ali
	Sources of hadith "my companions are like stars" are weak
	Companions were not infallible
	Taking wine by ten companions in a secret meeting
	Companions' breaking pledge

	Ghadir hadith and its nature
	Some of companions were slaves to their wishes and turned against truth
	Imam Ghazali's view about companions breaking the pledge taken on the day of Ghadir­e­Khum
	Reference to Ibn Iqda's status
	Reference to Tabari's death
	Nisa'i's murder

	Sunnis' doubt about meaning of Maula
	Meaning of Maula as "guide", "master" in light of the verse "ya ayyuha'r­rasul baligh"
	Revelation of verse "This day have I perfected for you your religion" at Ghadir­e­Khum
	Ali's argument based on Hadith of Ghadir in the mosque at Kufa
	Sad plight of those who did not confirm Hadith of Ghadir
	Companions' breaking their promise made on the day of Ghadir

	Companions' breaking their promise at Uhud, Hunain, and Hudaibiyya
	Shias condemn only those companions whose acts were unjust
	Fadak and its usurpation
	Argument from hadith 'la nuris' ­ we do not leave legacies
	Fadak was a gift ­ not a legacy
	Fatima's arguments rejecting hadith 'la nuris'

	Hadid's surprise at Abu Bakr's abusing Ali and Fatima
	Tormenting Ali is tormenting the Holy Prophet
	Hadith "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is it gate"
	Hadith about the vicegerency
	"Allah selected Ali from among all men to be my vicegerent"
	Ahle Bait endowed with seven matchless qualities

	Mahdi to fill the earth with justice
	At the time of his death, the head of the Holy Prophet was on the chest of Amiru'l­Mu'minin
	Inquiring about immediate succession or vicegerency
	Holy Prophet's will concerning Ali's vicegerency exists in all authentic books
	Holy Prophet was prevented from writing his will at the time of his death
	Holy Qur'an also asks us to consult Ahle Dhikr, that is, the Ahle Bait

	Abu Bakr was not prevented from writing his will
	So it is clear that Ali was Holy Prophet's immediate successor
	Caliphate belongs to the heir of knowledge
	Ali's verdict concerning a woman who gave birth to a child after a six­month pregnancy
	Hadith 'la nuris' not applied to other properties
	Abu Bakr's returning fadak to Fatima and Umar's intervention

	Caliph's returning Fadak to descendants of Fatima
	Proof that Fadak had been given to Fatima
	Contention that Abu Bakr acted according to "verse of evidence" and its reply
	To demand witnesses from occupants was against religious law
	Rejecting witness of Fatima was against religious law
	'Truthful Ones' refers to Muhammad and Ali

	Caliph Abu Bakr did not follow law of evidence in other cases
	Ali and Fatima were referents of the verse of purification
	Proving that the verse of purity was not in praise of the Prophet's wives
	Wives of Prophet are not included in Ahle Bait
	Numerous hadith concerning "Verse of Purity" being in praise of Holy Five
	Hadith of Umme Salma about 'harrira' (a sweet liquid food) of Fatima and revelation of "Verse of Purity"

	Fadak was taken away for political reasons
	Khums interdicted
	Caliph may not pass an order in violation of a clear ordinance of Allah and the practice of Holy Prophet
	Fatima remained indignant with Abu Bakr and Umar until her death
	Fatima's distress is Allah's and Prophet's distress
	Allegation about Ali's intending to marry Abu Jahl's daughter

	Fabricating of hadith during Mu'awiya's period
	Misunderstanding about Fatima's indignation being non­religious
	Fatima was free from worldly attachment
	Fatima was buried at night, a proof of her lasting displeasure with Abu Bakr and Umar

NINTH SESSION, Friday night, 2nd Sha'ban, 1345 A.H.

	'Shias' accusing A'yesha of adultery' and its reply
	A'yesha's exoneration from the charge of adultery
	A husband and wife do not necessarily share the same level of attainment
	Meaning of faithlessness of Noah's and Lot's wives
	Faithlessness of wives does not imply impurity
	A'yesha grieved the Holy Prophet
	No such reports about other wives of the Holy Prophet
	Ummu'l­Mu'minin Suda did not go out even for Hajj or Umra

	A'yesha goes out to fight against Ali
	Hadith in praise of Ali's virtues
	Authors who narrate Holy Prophet's hadith about hypocrites' hatred of Ali
	Slaughter of Sahaba (companions) and innocent believers in Basra by order of A'yesha
	Shias say about A'yesha exactly what history shows
	No evidence that A'yesha repented
	A'yesha prevents burial of Imam Hasan near the Holy Prophet
	A'yesha's prostration at martyrdom of Amiru'l­Mu'minin

	Contradictory statements of A'yesha about Uthman
	Hadith of mending shoes is the greatest proof of the Imamate and Caliphate of Ali
	Difference in mode of appointment of the first three Caliphs is proof of invalidity of their Caliphate
	Other proofs for invalidity of consensus (Ijma')
	Holy Prophet's nomination of Ali ignored and Abu Bakr's nomination of Umar held invalid
	Objection to Majlis­e­Shura (consultative body)
	Objection to Abdu'r­Rahman bin Auf being arbiter
	According to the Holy Prophet, Ali should be followed in preference to all the others

	Ali's creation from light and his association with the Holy Prophet
	Ali's physical ancestry
	Azar was Abraham's father
	Fathers and mothers of the Holy Prophet were not polytheists but they were all believers
	Ali's forefathers were equally free from polytheism
	Misunderstanding about Abu Talib's faith clarified
	Shia consensus regarding belief of Abu Talib
	Misunderstanding about concocted Hadith of Zuhzah clarified

	Evidence for Abu Talib's belief
	Abraham's announcement of Prophethood and his conversation with Azar
	Abu Talib assures Holy Prophet of full support and also recites couplets in praise of Islam
	Abu Talib was a supporter and guardian of the Holy Prophet
	Not proper to call Mu'awiya 'Khalu'l­Mu'minin'
	Mu'awiya pronounces Takbir at Imam Hasan's martyrdom
	Muhammad bin Abi Bakr was killed thirsty and burnt to ashes for love of Ahle Bait
	Mu'awiya was not a scribe of Wahi (revelation) but only of letters

	Evidence for Mu'awiya's infidelity
	Mu'awiya and Yazid are cursed
	Murder of prominent believers like Imam Hasan, Ammar Hajar bin Adi Malik Ashtar, Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, etc by order of Mu'awiya
	In the words of the Holy qur'an Sahab and Sahaba, meaning "companions", have no reverential significance
	Holy Qur'an praises good companions but also condemns bad companions
	Abu Talib was a firm believer
	Additional proof of Abu Talib's belief
	Abu Talib concealed his faith while Hamza and Abbas proclaimed theirs

	Mut'a marriage and Hajj Nisa were lawful up to Abu Bakr's time but made unlawful by Umar
	Sunni's are really Rafizis and Shia are Sunni's
	Arguments for lawfulness of Mut'a
	Ali's birthplace was the Ka'ba
	The origin of Ali's name was the unseen world
	After the names of Allah and the Holy Prophet, Ali's name is written on Arsh'
	Words used by Adam for acceptance of his repentance were the names of the five pure ones
	Wahi (revelation) and Ilham (intuition) bestowed on persons other than Prophets, even on animals

	Abu Talib was guided by Allah to name his son Ali
	Revelation of Lawh (tablet) to Abu Talib
	Ali's name is not a part of the Adhan and Iqama (call for prayers)
	Ali's piety
	Abdullah bin Rafi'i's report
	Suwaid bin Ghafla's report
	Ali's abstaining from eating Halwa
	Ali's dress

	Zurar's conversation with Mu'awiya concerning Ali
	The Prophet's recognition of Ali's piety
	Allah and the Holy Prophet called Ali Imamu'l­Muttaqin (chief of the pious)
	As Imamu'l­Muttaqin Ali had no inclination for self­indulgence or authority
	Ali's refusal to pay allegiance to Abu Bakr proves the method of his appointment as Caliph was not right
	Silence of Holy Prophets
	Ali's situation similar to Aaron's
	The Holy Prophet could not effect drastic changes for fear of people

	After the death of the Holy Prophet Ali's patience was for the sake of Allah
	Amiru'l­Mu'minin's letter to the people of Egypt explaining his silence when deprived of the Caliphate
	Amiru'l­Mu'minin's sermon after martyrdom of Muhammad bin Abi Bakr
	Sermon of Shiqshiqayya also explains Ali's silence
	Doubt about the sermon of Shiqshiqayya
	Seyyed Razi (compiler of Sermons of Ali)
	Sermon of Shiqshiqayya recorded long before the birth of Seyyed Razi

TENTH SESSION, Saturday night, 3rd Sha'ban, 1345 A.H.

	Assessment of Umar's knowledge of Islamic law
	Confiscation of any portion of Mehr is unlawful
	Umar's denying the Prophet's death proves that he was ignorant of several verses of the Holy Qur'an
	Umar's order to stone five people and Ali's intervention
	Umar's ordering a pregnant woman to be stoned to death and Ali's intervention
	Umar ordering an insane woman to be stoned and Ali's intervention
	Umar's ignorance concerning Tayammum (substitute for ablution)

	All knowledge was clearly visible to Ali
	Mu'awiya defending the position of Ali
	Umar's admission of his ignorance concerning difficult problems and his declaration that if Ali had not helped him his difficulties would not have been solved
	Ali was most suitable for the office of Caliphate
	Ali's "allegiance" to Caliphs was forced
	There should be no "blind faith" in religion
	Faith should be based on reason and honest inquiry

	Prophet's order to obey Ali
	No Hadith exists designating other Caliphs as the "guides of the community" or "gates of knowledge"
	Prostration on dust by Shia's objected to by others without reason
	Differences among the four schools are ignored but Shias' are not tolerated
	Verdicts by Sunni scholars in contradiction to Qur'anic injunctions
	Washing of the feet in Wuzu' is against the Qur'anic ordinance
	Wiping over the socks against the explicit ordinance of the Holy Qur'an

	The wiping over the turban is against the Qur'anic ordinance
	Shias alone blamed for such differences
	According to Sunni ulema prostration on dry excrement and dung is lawful
	Prostration on floor coverings instead of the ground is against Qur'anic injunction
	Shias do not consider prostration on dust of Karbala compulsory
	Old age is no criterion for the Caliphate
	Ali appointed for conveyance of verses of Sura Bara'a (the immunity) of the Holy Qur'an

	After the Holy Prophet Ali was the guide of the community
	Ali hated corrupt politics
	Rebellion during Amiru'l­Mu'minin's Caliphate was due to enmity against him
	A'yesha was largely responsible for the revolt against Ali
	Ali's battles of Jamal, Siffin, and Nahrwan were like the battles of the Holy Prophet against the infidels
	Ali possessed knowledge of the unseen world
	Vicegerents of Prophets also had knowledge of the unseen

	Holy Imams were true Caliphs and had the knowledge of unseen
	Sunni ulema who have narrated the hadith of "city of knowledge"
	To narrate Ali's merits is worship
	Hadith "I am the House of Wisdom"
	Elucidation of the hadith of "Gate of Knowledge"
	Holy Prophet opened 1,000 chapters of knowledge in Ali's heart
	Jafr­e­Jami'a and its nature

	Gabriel brought a sealed book for Wasi (successor) of the Holy Prophet
	Ali's announcement of Saluni (ask me) and the reports of the Sunnis
	Ali's claim that he could judge cases according to the Torah as well as the Gospels
	Prophesying that Sinan bin Anas was the murderer of Imam Husain
	Foretelling the standard bearing of Habib bin Ammar
	Foretelling Mu'awiya's oppression
	Foretelling of Dhu'th­Thadiyya's murder

	Prophecy about his own martyrdom and about Ibn Muljim
	"City of Knowledge" proves Ali's right to be the first Caliph
	According to the Holy Prophet Ali excelled all others in knowledge
	Description of zones of space in agreement with the modern science of astronomy
	Ali mastered all sciences
	Ibn Abi'l­Hadid's admission of Ali's superior knowledge
	Imam Husain's birth and the angels' congratulations
	Nawab Sahib's acceptance of Shia'ism

LAST SESSION, Sunday, 3rd Sha'ban, 1345 A.H.

	Birthday of Imam Husain
	Genuine liberty
	Sunnis' belief concerning the meaning of "Those vested with authority" (Uli'l­amr')
	Leaders of Israel selected by Moses were considered worthless
	The words Uli'l­amr' do not refer to rulers
	Infallibility of the Holy Imams generally reported
	Knowledge of the Ahle Bait
	Why the names of the Imams do not appear in the Holy Qur'an
	No mention of units (Rak'ats) of prayers in the Holy Qur'an
	Uli'l­amr refers to Ali and the Imams of the Ahle Bait
	Names of the twelve Imams and their number
	The number of Caliphs after the Holy Prophet is twelve