Sunni-Shi'a

194645

Scholars . Sunni-Shi'a . Abdullah b. Saba

Some non-Muslim historians and Shia scholars claim that Ibn Saba is a mythical figure. However, he is mentioned in works like Al-Khisal and Mu'jam al-Ahadith al-Mu'tabara. Is Abdullah ibn Saba a historical figure?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 11 mesi fa

It is deeply unlikely that Ibn Saba was a real person. There are strong arguments against his existence, and the reports on him are weak and via a questionable reporter.

It seems that these reports may have spread, despite their weakness, because they present a nice and cozy picture of early Islam, in which everyone is getting along and there is a convenient explanation for disagreement in the community by attributing it to a plot. This is desirable to those who want to see all the sahabah as perfect. However, in reality, there was a lot of fighting and disagreement during the first three caliphates, and afterwards, and the real picture is not nearly as comfortable.

The Shi'ite Encyclopedia (which is available on al-islam.org) has a very comprehensive discussion of the sources of these reports and their reliability and other factors.

Among Shi'i sources, Rijal al-Kashshi lists him as a person but rejects him. Anyway, this seems to be responding to the narrative that was popularized. As for the single mention of his name in al-Khisal in a dialogue, there is insufficient context to say anything meaningful about it, except that, were he taken as a real narrator, he would have been rejected, but most Shi'i scholars hold that he didn't exist.

194343

Sunni-Shi'a . Christianity

Is it permissible for me, as a Shia Muslim, to pray for a young Christian who has passed away?

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 11 mesi fa

If you know that he was an innocent person and never against Allah, you can pray for him to get mercy from Allah Who is The Most Merciful.

Wassalam.

194426

Ahl al-Bayt . Tawassul . Sunni-Shi'a

Is it permissible to seek help directly from Hazrat Ali or other Masoom figures instead of Allah using their Waseela? If yes, what evidence exists in Sunni and Shia Islamic texts?

The fact that everything is in the hands of Allah (SWT) is unchangeable and non negotiable whether you ask directly from Allah or request help from Allah's humble servants to get your work done. When you ask help from Allah's humble servants, you are not asking them to get your work done by them with out Allah. You are seeking their help because of their status with Allah. Wahabi claim based in their misunderstanding the real Tawheed, but Quranic Tawheed states that seeking help from Allah;s humble servants is just like seeking from Allah. We read in Sura Al-A'raaf , verse 134: And when the punishment fell on them they said: O Musa (Moses) : Invoke your Lord for us because of His Promise to you, If you remove the punishment from us, we will believe in you and let Israel's children go with you.

When they told Musa ( If you remove the punishment from us) he never object on them, because he knows that Allah and only Allah removes the punishment and they asked Prophet Musa to do that because of his status as a humble servant of Allah.

We are allowed to seek directly from Allah or seek from His humble servants whose supplication to Allah in our favor is more effective that our supplication,v knowing that everything is in the Hands of Allah.

Wassalam.

194414

Community . Ramadan . Sunni-Shi'a

Why do Shias begin Ramadan a day later than Sunnis? What is the reasoning behind this difference? If someone lives in a predominantly Sunni community, is there any issue with starting Ramadan when they do?

There isn't a fixed difference between Sunnis and Shi'is for determining the beginning of the month of Ramadan. However, many Sunnis follow the announcement from Saudi Arabia for the beginning of the month of Ramadan. Unfortunately, sometimes, Saudia Arabia announces the sighting of the moon at a time when it is astronomically impossible to see it. (One can verify this using astronomical software)

Most Shi'is follow local moonsighting (or via a shared horizon; either via the naked eye, as per Ayatollah Sistani, or with the help of an optical aid, such as Ayatollah Khamene'i). Some Sunnis do this also.

Where one is in the world also affects differences in determining the beginning of the month. (You can visit moonsighting.com to see graphs of where the moon is visible and when.)

Anyway it is fine to fast on the last day or days of the month of Sha'ban, but counting the days of the month of Ramadan is useful for observing laylat al-qadr.

193463

Children . Sunni-Shi'a . Marriage

Should my future children adhere to Sunni or Shia teachings since a Sunni boy wishes to marry me, although I identify as a Twelver Shia?

Your responsibility is to teach your children the real Islamic teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and his Ahlul Bayt (AS) and bring them up as sincere followers of the Prophet and his Progeny (AS). If you have a reasonable possibility that this marriage might harm your faith and religious practice, you should then avoid it. You faith in Allah, the Prophet and Ahlul Bayt (AS) is more important your sentiments and emotions.

Wassalam.

193143

Pakistan . Home . Sunni-Shi'a

What is the significance of the holy flag (علم پاک) in Shia Islam? Is raising it considered necessary? What are the guidelines regarding it, and why is it commonly raised in Shia households in Pakistan?

The holy flag is to remind people about the flag of Imam Husain (AS) or the flag if Hazrat Abbas in Karbala. Ebro thing which remind us about Ahlul Bayt (AS) is significant and important in our life.

Wassalam.

192876

Sunni-Shi'a . Marriage

As a Twelver Shia, is it permissible for me to marry a Sunni boy?

If such marriage can harm your faith in Ahlul Bayt (AS) or proper religious practice, you should then avoid marrying this person.

Wassalam.

192789

Sunni-Shi'a . Worship . Imamah . Mayyit . Tawassul

As Shia Muslims, how can we respond if someone accuses us of worshipping Imams or the dead? Are there any authentic hadiths or Quranic verses we can present to counter this claim?

False allegations ere always put on the prophets and their followers by the enemies of the truth, but it did not harm but the liars. We are facing similar false allegations from our enemies. We never worship any one but Allah and our respecting the Proohers and the Infallible Imams can never mean worshiping them as we believe that all the proohers and the Infallible Imams are the best servants and worshipers of Allah.

Respecting and obeying the Prophet (SAWA) is obligatory on every Muslim as Allah Says in Quran (Tell them : If you really love Allah, then follow me) (Sura 3, Verse 31)

Qyran is teaching us to go to the Prophet to seek forgiveness (Sura Annisam verse 64).

Wassalam.(

192426

Imamah . Ahl al-Bayt . Sunni-Shi'a

I am currently exploring Shi'ite Islam and am curious about the 12 Imams from the family of Ahlul Bayt. Are there specific references in Islamic sources that name these 12 Imams, and where can I find evidence for this claim?

All Muslim sects have in their books Prophetic Hadeeths stating that the successors of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) will be twelve. ( Saheeh Al-Bukhari 7222 and Saheeh Muslim 1821).
The names of the twelve Imams are mentioned in many Hadeeths.
Wassalam.

192566

History . Hadith . Sunni-Shi'a . Prophet Adam . Prophet Isma'il

Can you assist me in locating books on the history of Adam and Ishmael, as well as suggesting one Sunni and one Shia Hadith book in English?

God's Emissaries: Adam to Jesus by Shaykh Rizwan Arastu is a nice work on the history of the prophets, according to narrations.

While there are many books of hadith, here are a couple suggestions:

Sunni hadith: 40 hadith by Imam al-Nawawi
Shi'i hadith: The Scale of Wisdom: A Compendium of Shi'i Hadith, compiled by M. Rayshahri

Happy reading!

192500

Life . Hereafter . Sunni-Shi'a . Friendship . Salah (Prayers) . Dunya

As a Shia Muslim, I want to encourage two close friends to pray Salah, but they doubt its importance in daily life. What are effective ways to convey the benefits of Salah for both this world and the hereafter?

Every Muslim who believes in Allah (SWT) will clearly understand from Quran the great importance of praying Salah. Allah (SWT) Says in Sura Al-Room: Estabkish Salah and don't be from the polytheists (Mushrikeen) (Verse 31). Those who don't perform Salah are like the Mushrikeen. The Prophetic Hadeeth says: The difference between us (Muslims) and non Muslims is Salah, anyone who leaves Salah becomes like them.

Salah is the main link between human being and his Creator Allah which must be performed as Allah (SWT) Has ordered as an obligatory worship to remember Allah (SWT) as He Said in Quran (And establish Salah to remember Me) (Sura Taha, verse 14). Those who ignore Salah are ignoring Allah's order and disrespecting Him like telling Him: We have no time to talk to you !!!

Salah is like the Oxygen for our hearts and souls and minds and we can never live a peaceful life with out Salah which is the compulsory link between us and our Clreator Allah (SWT).

There are many Quranic verse and hundreds of Hadeeths about Salah which can help guiding Muslims to the crucial importance of Salah.

Wassalam.

148102

Sunni . Divorce . Anger . Ahl al-Bayt . Sunni-Shi'a

As a Sunni who has divorced my wife multiple times and struggles with anger management, could you provide references from Ahlul Bayt or specific sayings of Imam Ali regarding three divorces or issues pertaining to actions taken in anger?

You could look at this also (Shaykh Mohammed Ali Ismail, Islamic Anger Management)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-MsjDsDB_I