Zoheir Ali Esmail

Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD from the University of Exeter in the philosophical and mystical readings of Mulla Sadra in the context of the schools of Tehran and Qum.

152521

Doubt . Faith (Iman)

What should people do to eliminate doubt from their hearts? Is it sufficient to ignore the doubt and rely solely on rational thinking, or is it necessary to have faith in order to be considered true Muslims?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 2 years ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The journey to eliminate doubt is different for different people. Instead of ignoring doubt, try holding doubt until you find answers that will satisfy those doubts such that your heart can follow. Having doubts does not take you out of the fold of Islam.

May you always be successful.

151480

Niqab . Modesty . Faith (Iman)

Should I prioritize wearing the Niqab for modesty after experiencing discomfort from a man's comment about my lips, or should I focus on improving my faith as suggested by another Muslim sister?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. An inappropriate comment from someone else doesn't necessitate a change on your behalf unless you think there is something genuinely pointed out that you need to address. The onus of the inappropriate comment lies on the one that made it. Niqab is not obligatory for women according to most jurists in our current times.

May you always be successful

151687

Islam

I have stopped believing in Islam, even though there is overwhelming proof from all sources. It is not Waswasa but radical skepticism and I cannot seem to regain my belief. Can you please help me?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. It is very important that you recognise that there is a disconnect between the proof in front of you and the way you feel inside. Sometimes it takes the mind time to align but faith is not only in rational proof. The heart and religious experience are just as important and radical skepticism can sometimes act as a barrier to the very real experience of living with faith. Understanding that skepticism is supposed to be a tool to reach truth, but at the same time, can prevent a fair investigation of that very truth can show you that reassessing your epistemology is part of your journey to refinding your faith.

May you always be successful

141895

Istikhara

Is there any rule that at a given time we can do Istikhara for only one decision at a time? Can a single Istikhara be done for various matters?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Istekhara doesnt have codified rules as it is one of the occult sciences. Rather, it has recommendations for best practice.

When istekhara is performed with the Qur'an or other means it is usually to clarify a situation and so if there are multiple matters that confuse the result of the istekhara then it would be wise to separate the matters and take separate istekharas for each. If there are lots of factors that a person wants to include in the intention and doesn't want to specify each one, but then uses a question that incorporates all of them while leaving the result of the istekhara clear that would be alright.

May you always be successful

145550

Number . Forgiveness . Sin . God (Allah)

Is there a limited number of times that you can ask Allah for forgiveness for a sin that is hard to get rid of? How do you know if Allah has given up on you?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question.

There is no limit to the number of times we ask forgiveness for something we are struggling with. Allah doesn't give up on us, but we sometimes give up on ourselves.

May you always be successful

135051

Sin . Repentance (Tawbah)

Is it required for someone who sinned openly or in front of someone that he should repent in front of that person, whereas if done secretly he should repent secretly?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Repenting openly is not a condition for the acceptance of repentance for sins committed openly.

May you always be successful

144338

Istikhara . Marriage Proposal

After my initial Istikhara for a marriage proposal turned out negative, new positive information has surfaced about the same proposal. Should I redo the Istikhara or consider accepting the proposal?

Bismillah

Alaykum Salaam

Thank you for your question. If the new information is such that you are no longer confused about the decision you can make your decision based on that new information. If even with the new information you are still confused you can take out another istekhara.

May you always be successful

143500

Sunnah . Wudu (Ablution)

If we decide to do Sunnah acts of Wudu do we have to do every single one for our Wudu to be valid or can we do some Sunnah acts and not others?

Alaykum salaam

Thank you for your question. You can so some recommended acts and not others but you must perform all of the necessary acts for wudu to be valid (intention, washing the face once, washing the right hand from the elbow to fingertips once, washing the left arm in the same way one, wiping the front part of the head, wiping both feet) according to Jaffari jurisprudence.

May you always be successful

128170

Salatul Layl . Mobile phone . Tasbih

Can I count the 300 Al-Afuw during Witr prayers on my mobile phone using a Tasbeeh app?

Alaykum salaam

Thank you for your question. There is no problem with using the tasbih app on your phone to count

May you always be successful

132389

Imamah . Divine Knowledge

What is the evidence for the concept of Ilm-e-Ladduni of our Prophet Muhammad SAWA and the 12 Imams?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The idea of knowledge which comes from Allah through metaphysical means, rather than through normal means of acquisition has been derived by Muslim thinkers reflecting on verse 18:65 in which Khidr is described as having this trait.

If the definition of ilm al-ladunni is as mentioned above then revelation is the highest form of this type of knowledge, followed by hadith qudsi and then other types of mystical experience. We have plentiful reports about such types of mystical experiences occurring in the life of the Prophet (saw) and the Imams (as). If it seems incoherent that the knowledge of the Imams (as) is only acquired from their study of the Prophetic sunna, then a reasonable explanation would be some level of ilm ladunni. Some commentators have explained ilm al-ladunni as prophethood, and Allah knows best.

May you always be successful

127742

Sin . Hijab . Women . Western Society

Is it compulsory to frown in the face of sin or express displeasure when witnessing a sin, even if it will not have any effect, especially in cases like the Hijab where a lot of women in the West do not observe it?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. One of the conditions for amr bi al-ma'ruf and nahy an al-mukar is that it should have an effect. So if you are sure certain actions will not have an effect the conditions to carry out that action have not been fulfilled.

May you always be successful

124252

Property

Is space an object of existence or a property of existing objects? So if two existing objects were at a distance, and there was space between them, is that empty space an object of existence?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The space between two objects is not an object, while at the same time it is filled with tiny objects such as atoms, microbes etc. An object is a 3 dimentional body, and the space between objects is the space between their limitations. However, just because it is not an object doesn't mean that it doesn't exist as part of the corporeal world. Existence is reality and so since the space exists it is real, even if we do not classify space as a body or an object.

May you always be successful