The purpose of this section is to provide information about the basic beliefs and practices of Muslims, as well as information about major holidays and events in the Islamic calendar.

Roots of the Religion: The foundational beliefs

The Branches of the Religion: The structure of practice

Four Part Series on Roots of the Religion by Sayyid Mujtaba Musavi Lari (external site)

• God and His Attributes

• The Seal of the Prophets and His Message

• Imamate and Leadership

• Resurrection, Judgment, and the Hereafter

Islamic Teachings in Brief - By Allamah Muhammad Hussayn Tabataba'i (external site)

A Shi'ite Anthology - By Allamah Muhammad Hussayn Tabataba'i

Collection and Preservation of the Qu'ran - By Ayatullah Al-Khui, from al-Bayan fee Tafsir al-Qu'ran (external site)

Prayer: A Means of Drawing near to God

Adab as-Salat: The Disciplines of the Prayer - By Ayatullah Ruh'ullah Khomeini (external site)

Salat al-Lail - A description of how to perform the recommended night prayer and of the benefits of this prayer.  From "Weapon of the Believers" by Allamah Muhammad Baqir Majlisi (external site)

Some Key Texts in English Translation

Some Key Dua'as and devotions

Halal Food and Spirituality

On I'rfan, Tasawwaf, and Islamic Spirituality

On the Ghaybah of Imam Mehdi (as)

Links to the Websites of Major Scholars of Jurisprudence

• Ayatullah Ali Seestani  http://www.najaf.org/english/  http://www.najaf.org/french/ 
• Sayyid Muhammad Hussain Fadlallah http://english.bayynat.org.lb/   http://francais.bayynat.org.lb/
• Ayatullah Ali Khamenai  http://www.leader.ir/  (pages in English and French available)
• Ayatullah Muhammad al-Hussaini Shirazi  http://www.shirazi.org.uk/
• Ayatullah Fadhl al-Milani  http://www.almilani.com/index.html 
• Ayatullah Saanei http://www.saanei.org/page.php?pg=books-view&id=1&lang=en 
• Ayatullah Jannaati http://www.jannaati.com/eng/index.php 

On the Issue of Women Maraja'

The Islamic Calendar and major events in the calendar

• The months of the Islamic calendar

• Ramadan: a time of fasting and drawing near to God

• Muharram: a time of new beginnings and reflection on the past

• Hajj (The Pilgrimmage) - By Dr. Ali Shariati (external site)

Major Islamic figures

• Muhammad: Who was this man?

• Ahlil bayt: the household of Muhammad

• Sahaba: Companions of Muhammad and of Muhammad's household

A Brief Introduction to Islamic History

• Muhammad: his life before the mission

• The early years

• The hijra and the early community in Medina

• Battles and opposition to Muhammad

• The opening of Mecca

• The death of Muhammad and the question of succession

• The early caliphs

• The Islamic civil war

• The tragedy of Kerbala

• The Umayyads

• The Abassids

Major Holidays and Commemorations

• Friday: a day of gathering together

• E'ed ul Fitr: the closing of Ramadan

• E'ed ul-Adha: Commemorating the close of hajj

• Milad an-Nabi: Remembering the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (saws)

• E'ed ul Ghadir: Celebrating 

• E'ed ul Mubahila