Roads to Paradise: Eschatology and Concepts of the Hereafter in Islam offers a multi-disciplinary study of Muslim thinking about paradise, death, apocalypse, and the hereafter. It focuses on eschatological concepts in the Quran and its exegesis, Sunni and Shi‘i traditions, Islamic theology, philosophy, mysticism, and other scholarly disciplines reflecting Islamicate pluralism and cosmopolitanism. Gathering material from all parts of the Muslim world, ranging from Islamic Spain to Indonesia, and the entirety of Islamic history, this publication in two volumes also integrates research from comparative religion, art history, sociology, anthropology and literary studies. Unparalleled and unprecedented in its scope and comprehensiveness, Roads to Paradise promises to become the definitive reference work on Islamic eschatology for the years to come.

In 1844, a young merchant from Shiraz called Sayyid ‘Ali-Muhammad declared himself the ‘gate’ (the Bab) to the Truth and, shortly afterwards, the initiator of a new prophetic cycle. His messianic call attracted a significant following across Iran and Iraq. Regarded as a threat by state and religious authorities, the Babis were subject to intense persecution and the Bab himself was executed in 1850. In this volume, leading scholars of Islam, Baha’i studies and Iranian history come together to examine the life and legacy of the Bab, from his childhood to the founding of the Baha’i faith and beyond. Among other subjects, they cover the Bab’s writings, his Qur’an commentaries, the societal conditions that underlay the Babi upheavals, the works of Babi martyr Tahirih Qurratu’l-‘Ayn, and Orientalist Edward Granville Browne’s encounters with Babi and Baha’i texts.

The Muqaddama purifies and brightens the heart and soul and strengthens the faith of those who ponder on the proofs regarding Mahdiat (of Imam-e-Huda). It provides some remedy to the fault finders who object on the sublime characters of Imam-e-Huda (As) who is the seal of the vilayet-e-Mohammedia and also is a guide for the research scholars. I pray the Almighty Allah to grant His Blessings to the author of this "Muqaddama" and also to those who are assisting in its safeguarding and publishing. May Allah Make this "Muqaddama" an eternal source of guidance to the followers of the holy Prophet Hazrat Mohammed Rasoolullah (PBUH) till the Doomsday. Amen.

Disease is an expiation of the sins. Every sin is a disobedience to God. The sins involve the evil jinn (demons). When a person commits the sin, a black spot appears on his heart. If he repents, asks for the forgiveness, gives up with the sins, restores the people’s rights and honor, who were wronged, and follows the Qur’an and Sunnah, Almighty Allah will purify his heart. But, if a person continues with the sins, his heart will become black and he will be doomed. “... Indeed, there is in the body a piece of flesh which if it is sound then the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt then the whole body is corrupt. It is the heart.” (Bukhari) “Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.” (Qur’an, Ar-R’ad 13:28) Sins remove God’s blessings: life, health, fertility, wealth, provisions, knowledge, memory... Refraining from the sins is more important than performing good deeds. “Whatever is good is from Allah, while evil and sin are from ourselves and satan” (Fatwas of Ibn Baz) The only one God, Allah, the Creator of the heavens and earth and everything between, seen and unseen, sent the Noble Qur’an and His last messenger to all mankind, as a healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy, and warning about the day of judgment and hellfire. “No calamity has descended except by disobedience, and no calamity is repelled except by repentance.” (Ali Ibn Abi Talib) “Know, for certain, that when you break no one will heal you except you.” (Ibn Al-Qayyim) More than 90% of the diseases are caused by the evil jinn, but doctors have no knowledge. Healthcare needs serious reform as went astray, instead of healing, it contributes to the progression of the disease and death, as it excites the hidden evil jinn and excited jinn spread more the disease. Satan can be cast out only by Ruqya and Negative Ions; both in the Noble Qur’an. The Ultimate Cure from all diseases is with Almighty God: Ruqya, Negative Ions and Prophetic Medicine. “Whoever abandons the Qur’an would abandon treating sickness and seeking healing through it.” (Ibn Al-Qayyim).

The Following is the introduction of the author about the book: I was motivated to write this book because I saw that a large number of people gave themselves the title “Shia” without respecting this title or being aware of its rights. A sensible person is one who knows the value of that which he possesses, so he can honour it if it deserves to be honoured and he can treasure it if it deserves to be treasured, and he can protect it from anything that will ruin it. I intentionally collected the Ahadith that reveal the status of the Shia, the rewards and the honour that Allah has prepared for them in the highest levels of Paradise, and the status of the pious Imams in Allah’s eyes. Therefore, those who read this book will learn with certainty the value of a Shia, and thereby respect and honour this title and stay committed to their obligatory duties that they have as Shia. May those who benefit from the contents of this book increasingly pray for me. This book is entitled Bishāratul Muṣṭafā Le Shī'atil Murtaḍā (The Glad Tidings of Muṣṭafā for the Shia of Murtaḍā) and I have not included any Ḥadīth in it except the most authentic Aḥādith rom the most trusted scholars. I seek nothing but to please Allah and I ask nothing but the prayers of those who read this book. I desire nothing but to attain nearness to the best of the creation (the Messenger of Allah) and his purified family, the Imams of guidance. May Allah’s blessings be on them, to the extent of the number of every (grain of) sand and every stone. I ask Allah for piety and support, for He is the best supporter, who with His generosity, listens to prayers and grants them.

Selection of tradition of Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan Mahdī, b. 869, the 12th Imam.

This book contains one hundred narrations based on the chains of transmission that are accepted by the General Population, about the merits of the commander of the Believers, Ali b. Abī Ṭālib, and his sons, the Imams. This book specifically has had a great impact in the Muslim world because the author has carefully selected the sources from Sunni books, thereby eliminating any question of impartiality. Those who study the history of Islam find that occasionally, paid writers try to create doubt in the peoples’ hearts with their poisonous books. It is our scholars who fight them with precious and authentic publications, such as this one, which is void of any personal opinion. There are two editions of this book. The first is in the library of Āyatullāh Sayyid Muṣṭafā Al-Khūnsārī, and the second one is in the library of Āyatullāh Al-Mar'ashī Al-Najafī.