• First Neighbor
    • bor At that night, he was listening to the words of his mother standing in the direction towards Ka’aba in a corner of the room. He was observing his mother praying to Allah prostrating, bowing, standing and sitting...
    • Behavior towards Oppressors
    • ors Hasan ibn Husayn Anbari said, "For fourteen years I corresponded with Imam Reza (pbuh). I asked his permission to work for the government. In my last letter, I reminded him that I was afraid that they would cu...
    • Angelic Appellation
    • ion It was five years after the Muslims had accompanied the Prophet (PBUH&HF) and his family in the migration (Hijrah) to Medina, when the Holy Prophet's daughter, Hazrat Fatima (pbuh), gave birth to a little girl....
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • which is to the south of Iran, was ruled by Saum, the Pehliva, girt with might and glory, and, but for the grief that he was childless, his days were happy. Then it came to pass that a son was born unto him, beautiful of face...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • ot;Anon it came about that Zal desired to see the kingdom. And he set forth, and there followed after him a goodly train, and when they had journeyed a while they marched with pomp into Cabul. Now Mihrab, who was descended fr...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • u "Dire was the wailing among the army of Iran at their sore defeat, and they turned them back discomfited. And they came before the Shah, their hearts torn with anguish. And their hands were crossed upon their br...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • uot;Give ear unto the combat of Sohrab against Rustem, though it be a tale replete with tears. It came about that on a certain day Rustem arose from his couch, and his mind was filled with forebodings. He bethought him there...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • ot;Kaiumers first sat upon the throne of Persia, and was master of the world. He took up his abode in the mountains, and clad himself and his people in tiger-skins, and from him sprang all kindly nurture and the arts of cloth...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • certain day it came about that Tus, Gew, Gudarz, and other brave knights of Iran went forth to chase wild asses in the forests of Daghoui. Now when they were come into the wood, they found therein a woman of surpassing beauty...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • When a little while had been passed in feasting, Isfendiyar came before Gushtasp, his father, and demanded the fulfilment of the promises that he had made unto him. And he recalled unto Gushtasp how he had mistrusted him an...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • e the son of Zal was born, Rudabeh was sore afflicted, and neither by day nor night could she find rest. Then Zal in his trouble bethought him of the Simurgh, his nurse, and how she had given unto him a feather that he might ...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • "In a little time it came about that there was born unto Ferangis, in the house of Piran, a son of the race of Saiawush. And Piran, when he had seen the babe, goodly of mien, who already in his cradle was like unto...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • "Kai aous seated him on the crystal throne, and the world was obedient to his will. But Ahriman was angry that his power was so long broken in Iran, and he sware unto himself that happiness should no longer smile u...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • "Now it came to pass as Kai Khosrau foretold. For Afrasiyab, when he learned the death of Piran, was beside himself with grief. And he lifted up his voice in wailing, and he spake, saying- ""I will no l...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • ollies "Whilom the fancy seized upon the Shah of Iran that he would visit his empire, and look face to face upon his vassals, and exact their tribute. So he passed from Turan into China, and from Mikran into Berber...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • rasp reigned in wisdom upon the crystal throne, and Iran was as wax under his hands. And men were content under his sway, save only Gushtasp, his son, who was rebellious of spirit. And Gushtasp was angered because his father ...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • little while had Kai Khosrau sat upon the throne of Iran, yet the world resounded with his fame, and all men bare upon their lips the praises of his wisdom. He cleansed the earth of the rust of care, and the power of Afrasiya...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • hundred years did Feridoun rule the world, and might and virtue increased in the land, and all his days he did that which was good. And he roamed throughout the kingdom to seek out that which was open and that which was hid, ...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • "How shall a man escape from that which is written; How shall he flee from his destiny? There stood a slave in the house of Zal, and she was fair to see, so that the heart of the aged man went out to her. And there ...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • uot;Peace reigned again within the borders of Iran, and P the sword slept in its scabbard, and Kai Khosrau ordered the world with wisdom. And men rejoiced that the glory of Turan had been brought low, and the Shah feasted his...
    • The Epic of Shahnameh Ferdosi
    • "Mourning and sorrow filled the heart of Afrasiyab because of his defeat, and he pondered in his spirit how the fortunes of Iran might be retrieved. So he sent messengers unto all his vassals that they should unshea...
    • The Death of Rustam
    • tam The last part of Ferdowsi’s Shahname Translated by Helen Zimmern How shall a man escape from that which is written; How shall he flee from his destiny? There stood a slave in the house of Zal, and she was fair ...
    • The Thief and His Mother
    • her By Aesop A Boy stole a lesson-book from one of his schoolfellows and took it home to his Mother. She not only abstained from beating him, but encouraged him. He next time stole a cloak and brought it to her, and she...
    • Imam Hasan Askari’s Marriage
    • age A detailed account of the marriage of Imam Hasan Askari (pbuh) was told by Majlisi in Biharul Anwar. His father Imam Ali Naqi (pbuh) entrusted this important matter to his friend Bashir bin Sulaiman. First the I...
    • Pray for Rain
    • In the time of our 11th Imam, Imam Hasan Askari (pbuh) there lived a Christian priest, who could make it rain by raising his hands up to the sky. The Muslim king began to get worried because the Muslims' faith started to...
    • The least I could do
    • do Iranian Folklore Long long ago, an old mother had a son who had disobeyed the then ruler. The ruler was so angry that had sentenced her son to death. The son was supposed to be hanged in the village center in fron...
    • A Holiday Task
    • ask Hector H. Munro Kenelm Jerton entered the dining-hall of the Golden Galleon Hotel in the full crush of the luncheon hour. Nearly every seat was occupied, and small additional tables had been brought in, where fl...
    • The Japanned Box
    • Box Sir Arthur Conan Doyle It was a curious thing, said the private tutor; one of those grotesque and whimsical incidents which occur to one as one goes through life. I lost the best situation which I am ever lik...
    • Declaration at Ghadir Khumm
    • umm O MESSENGER! MAKE IT KNOWN THAT WHICH HADITH BEEN REVEALED UNTO THEE FROM THY LORD, FOR IF THOU DO IT NOT, THOU WILL NOT HAVE CONVEYED HIS MESSAGE. ALLAH WILL PROTECT THEE FROM MANKIND. LO! ALLAH GUIDETH NOT THE DISBELIE...
    • THE WELCOME
    • ME Mostafa Rahman doust Translated and Edited by: K. Najafi Abdollah shouted, "I know, I know! I know better than all of you. Be quiet, and leave my sight!" His spies who worked for him, backed away, leavi...
    • Rewarding Superstitions
    • ons Fernando Sorrentino Translated by Clark M. Zlotchew I live off the superstitions of others. I don't earn much and the work is pretty hard. My first job was in a seltzer plant. The boss believed, who can say why...
    • The Cask of Amontillado
    • ado Edgar Allan Poe THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I...
    • A Miraculous Act of Imam Sadiq
    • iq A man fromDamascus was given a meeting with Imam Sadiq (pbuh) and said that he had come for a discussion with one of his students. Imam said, "Introduce him to Hisham." Hisham was the youngest of his stude...
    • The Nightingale and the Rose
    • ose Oscar Wild She said that she would dance with me if I brought her red roses,' cried the young Student; `but in all my garden there is no red rose.' From her nest in the holm-oak tree the Nightingale heard him, an...
    • Rescue the Moon
    • oon As he was returning home late and tired one night, Nasreddin Hoja [i] stopped at the village well to draw a drink for himself. He was horrified to see the full moon reflected in the dark water at the bottom of t...
    • To Tell the Truth
    • uth Lori looked glum as she came in the door. "Problems, honey?" asked Mom. "Oh, I just get tired of Marie bossing me around!" complained Lori. "Sometimes I wish I'd never tried to make frien...
    • Imam Ali's beseech to Allah
    • Zirar bin Zamra Zibabi, known as Zirar Suda'i, was a companion of Imam Ali. When, after the martyrdom of Imam Ali, he went to Damascus, Muawiya called him and asked him to say something about Imam Ali. Zirar, knowi...
    • Treachery's Necklace
    • Ibn Abi Rafe' has narrated thus: I was the administrator of the public treasury during the period of the caliphate of Ali and was also his scribe. The property received from Basra for the public treasury included a pe...
    • Muhammad and the Holy Quran
    • ran Muslims believe that during the month of Ramadan, the Holy Quran "was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation" One day Muhammad was sitting alon...
    • Samarqand and Bokara
    • ara There is a story that the invader Timur angrily summoned Hafez and demanded if he was the poet who would exchange two of Timur’s great cities, Samarqand and Bokara, for the mole on his mistress’s cheek. “Yes, sir...
    • Butterflies
    • ies Roger Dean Kiser There was a time in my life when beauty meant something special to me. I guess that would have been when I was about six or seven years old, just several weeks or maybe a month before the orph...
    • King M
    • g M Crispin Oduobuk A humorous African parable Hey friend, I tell you a story. A good story. With a moral in it. I tell you about a king. I tell you about King Mmefiokmma. See, King M, he living long time ago wi...
    • An old man's advice
    • One day, in the pride of youth, I had traveled hard and arrived perfectly exhausted in the evening at the foot of an acclivity. A weak old man, who had likewise been following the caravan, came and asked me why I was sl...
    • First Day of School
    • ool (A true story) On the way home from the first day of school, the father asked his son, "What did you do at school today?" The little boy shrugged his shoulders and said, "Nothing". Hoping to d...
    • THE Sad Nettle and the Beautiful Butterfly
    • fly Jan Luthman It was one of those summery days when the air is heavy and warm and nobody wants to do very much. Jonathan and Robbit were resting on top of one of Moley's hummocks; relaxing and watching the rest of th...
    • The Miracle Of Imam Hossein ( pbuh)
    • uh) When Imam Hosein (PBUH) was born, Allah sent down the angel Gabriel to congratulate the family. On the way down from the heavens angel Gabriel passed an island, on which the angel Fotros was sent to by Allah bec...
    • Mr. Wolf Makes a Failure
    • ure Joe Harris “I LAY yo’ ma got comp’ny,” said Uncle Remus, as the little boy entered the old man’s door with a huge piece of mince-pie in his hand, ’en ef she ain’t got comp’ny, den she done gone en drap de cubbe...