Doubt

Doubt is a mental state in which the mind remains suspended between two or more contradictory propositions, unable to assent to any of them.

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Knowledge . God (Allah) . Punishment . Doubt

Would Allah (SWT) still punish you eternally if you died without having full knowledge of Islam and, because of that lack of knowledge, got doubts during your lifetime in aspects of Islam that were obligatory to believe in sincerely?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 4 years ago

Ignorance can be unavoidable and can be avoidable. Unavoidable ignorance is of those who have to access to knowledge like those who live and die in far away forests or remote areas with out any access to learning or asking knowledgeable persons. Unavoidable ignorance is not entitled to punishment because it was imposed on the ignorant and he had no choice.
Avoidable ignorance is a result of laziness or not caring to gain knowledge. Such ignorance is not pardoned. The narration states that sinful person will told on the Day of Judgement : Why did you fail to do good? He replies: I did not know. He will told: Why did you fail to learn? Then he will be punished.

'This means that gaining compulsory knowledge is also compulsory and those who were able to gain it,byte they opt to ignore or don't care for gaining the compulsory knowledge are responsible about their ignorance, unlike those ignorant who had no access at all to knowledge.

Wassalam.

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Toilet . Najis . Doubt . Taharah (Purity)

I sometimes get doubts about my state of purity from when I go to the toilet. I try to analyze what happened and try and most of the time come to the conclusion that nothing Najis got on me, but I still get doubts. Am I considered ritually clean?

Simply, everything is Taahir for you unless and until you know for sure that it is Najis. This is a rule in jurisprudence based on a narration of Ammar from Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq (AS) stating : Everything is ritually clean till you know that it is ritually unclean. (Wasaa'il al-Shia, V.2, Section 37 on Nijasah).

Your doubt in this matter does not make any difference. You are ritually clean because you are just doubting and not sure that your body became Najis.

Wassalam.

Toilet . Najis . Doubt . Taharah (Purity)

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 4 years ago

Bismihi ta'ala

We have covered the topic of waswasah and doubts in tahara a few times, and you are able to search in the Q&A on the topic of waswasah and taharah.

The simple rule of thumb is because you are doubting, you consider it all to be tahir. Nothing more.

Please watch this clip, which is a part of a lesson I gave on taharah and najasah. Hope it will be of benefit.

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Woman . Ghusl . Doubt . Sexual

If a woman always doubts whether the liquid coming out of her is due to lustful thoughts, which she doubts she ever had, or a regular discharge, is Ghusl obligatory on her?

Bismihi ta'ala

The discharge a woman experiences is tahir, even if it is due to lustful thoughts, as long as it was not an orgasm.

She does not need to do ghusl, or anything else.

And Allah knows best.

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Islam . Paradise . Doubt

I often get doubts in my mind about Islam. If I stay righteous with my actions, will that be sufficient for me to enter paradise? Or will I be held accountable for whatever crosses my mind?

1. Doubts can come to any one and it does not mean that you believe in it or you are a bad person just because of the doubts or thoughts in your mind as far as you do not believe in it. Doubts are from Shaitan who tries to disturb the believers or at least make them feel uncomfortable.

2. Don't suppress any question comes to your mind and counter it by the strongest evidence which we have we have in every field and in any matter. Never feel frightened from doubts and be sure that it will vanish as soon as you look at the evidence.

3. Put your questions to reliable scholars who are able to respond properly.

4. Your feeling of uneasiness from the doubts is an evidence that you are a good person and you are not happy with these doubts. You just need to counter the doubts with the evidence which we have for every mater.

5. You should never neglect or postpone tackling your doubts to get them cleared as the best way do deal with doubts is to discuss them according to the evidence. You will easily see that doubts are based on misunderstanding or misinformation etc. Usually, those who respond with authentic evidence get out of the doubts with stronger faith and more clear surety in the True Faith of Islam.

6. Good deeds are always good, but it can never be enough if the faith is wrong, as we read in Quran always (Those who believe (in the Truth) and do good).

7. Always seek help from Allah (SW) to protect you from the whispering of Shaitans (And say: My Lord, I seek refuge with you from the whisperings of the devils) (Sura 23, Verse 97). Devils run away when you recite Estighfaar (ASTAGHFIRULLAH RABBI WA ATOOBU ELAYH) and (LA HAWLA WALA QOWWATA ILLA BILLAH) and (LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAH).

Wassalam.

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Salah (Prayers) . Doubt . Dhuhr

While praying Zuhur prayer I doubted whether it was the third or fourth Rakat. I considered it the third and offered another Rakat after that. Was my prayer valid?

If you doubt between third and forth Rak'ats, you must take it as fourth then pray one Rak'at of Salat al-Ehtiyat which is performed immediately after Salaam, by reciting Sura Al-Hamd only, then Rokoo' and two Sajdas, then Tashahhud and Salaam.

Wassalam.

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Atheism . Doubt . Faith (Iman)

As a student in the UK I have come across some material promoting atheism and as a result I have begun doubting everything. How can I get the doubts out of my mind and strengthen my faith?

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 5 years ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Both sides of the God debate have their own arguments and rebuttals and so if a certain argument has caused confusion you should seek its response from those who have been well trained in the intellectual sciences. It is also important to consider the role of religious experience when forming the presumptions to your intellectual framework and to realize that atheists also recognize the validity of theist arguments based on the presuppositions of theists.

May you always be successful.

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Doubt . Salah (Prayers)

I got a doubt during Sajdah, while praying my Asr prayers, about whether I was in my third or fourth Rakat. What should I have done in that situation?

You should take it as forth Rak'at and complete the Salaah accordingly but you must pray immediately after Salaam, one Rak'at of Salatul Ehtiyat in which you recite Sura Al-Hamd only then do Rokoo' and Two Sajda then Tashahhud and Salaam.

Wassalam.

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Doubt

I cannot control my emotions causing me to overthink and that leads to doubts and then the realisation that I have doubted which then leads to a feeling of guilt. How can I stop this cycle from repeating?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. To break the cycle of doubt you have to ignore your doubts. Sometimes emotions cause our imaginations to run wild, but its important to realise that such a thing is natural and to seek the knowledge that will do away with unwanted or persistent doubts. When a person is firm in knowledge their emotions will not cause them to doubt.

May you always be successful.

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Doubt . Atheism . God (Allah) . Faith (Iman)

There are many atheists whose words have created doubt in my mind about God. What should I do to strengthen my faith?

Rebecca Masterton, Dr Rebecca Masterton graduated with a BA in Japanese Language and Literature; an MA in Comparative East Asian and African Literature and a PhD in Islamic literature of West Africa. She has been... Answered 6 years ago

There are many scientists (particularly physicists), who, on a scientific basis, conclude that there must be a conscious transcendent being behind creation. If we look at the work of scientists and why they conclude that there is a God, this can help to strengthen our UNDERSTANDING (and not just our faith). The work of Wolfgang Smith is interesting. He is a scientist who has pointed out the philosophical errors that form the basis of today's (mainly post-Enlightenment) science. His books include 'The Quantum Enigma' and 'Cosmos and Transcendence'. It is also useful to explore a range of theodicies (arguments that tackle the question of the suffering of the innocent and the justice of God). For those that argue that there is no life after death: there are millions of anecdotal accounts that testify to people encountering those that have died in one way or another - and these cut across all cultures. There is certainly evidence that some way of existing continues after our bodies have expired. So far I haven't come across good explanations for this by atheists.

Doubt . Atheism . God (Allah) . Faith (Iman)

There are many atheists whose words have created doubt in my mind about God. What should I do to strengthen my faith?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. It is important to be well equipped to deal with the arguments of atheists especially if their arguments and opinions have an effect on your faith. In order to do this you should seek out scholars who specialise in the intellectual sciences and speak to them about the issues and questions that remain unanswered for you. They should also be able to help you construct a framework for your beliefs as well as show you the weaknesses in the presuppositions of atheistic beliefs. In the modern study of the philosophy of religion it is well accepted that religious belief is justified.

May you always be successful

Doubt . Atheism . God (Allah) . Faith (Iman)

There are many atheists whose words have created doubt in my mind about God. What should I do to strengthen my faith?

The claims of atheists are based on their misunderstandings. If you analyse their claims carefully, you will see how their claims are false.
1. You can discuss their claims with any trusted scholar who can explain to you more facts.
2. You may read on the internet or in the library some books written to counter the misleading claims or doubts of atheists.

3. It is very useful to repeat reciting Sura al-Tawheed and LA ILAAHA ILLALLAH, and ASTAGHFIRULLAH WA ATOOBU ELAYH.

Wassalam.