1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

50 Questions

Why does it happen that when I make an intention to go to the mosque I get a lot of distracting thoughts that lead me to eventually abandon my intention?
Nour Tessie Jørgensen

In the name of God, 

may His light shine on your path of finding truth and good. 

When we intend to do something of good nature, something that will connect the soul to its true purpose of nearness to the Divine, the lowly parts of the Self and its influence by the whispers of evil fight to keep one away from what is good. 
What you experience may be a result of that. That when we want to do good, we are influenced to keep away from what draws us towards His door. 

Sometimes we are kept away from going somewhere or doing something which in its essence is good but done at the wrong time and during wrong conditions may push you away even further. 
We are tested individually and customized to specific times of our lives. One must always check with oneself and find the reason to why one wants to do something. We may experience that we desire to pray, to study, to read, to give (and so on) and then we are redirected from those actions. Later in life we may come to the conclusion that if we had done that at the specific time, we would have done it with riya' (the intention of showing off or gaining worldly positions). 

Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said 

Perfecting an action is more difficult than performing the action itself, and purifying an intention from corruption is tougher for the striving ones than engaging in lengthy jihad. (Bihar al-Anwar, volume 77 page 288 no 1)

You must reflect and contemplate and you will find what is behind this redirection. When you know, and you will know by looking deep within. Look past where it hurts, where the reality of what we hide from ourselves lies. There you will find your reason and then you can change it. 

If it is caused by the whispers of evil - find the strength to fight it and view yourself as victorious. 

If it is caused by the harm of riya' - praise God that He kept you away from it, then fight it and humble yourself by going somewhere no one knows you. 

If it is caused by poor planning - find the motivation to plan your day and keep to your schedule. 

If it is caused by something else - find what is within the depths of your strength that God the All-Mighty has blessed you with. 

That you seek answers, that you search and ask for help is a beautiful trait and a blessing from God. I am sure you will find the reason and the remedy even more efficient than the ones you ask, and ask God to assist you He will open doors of self-recognition for you. 

 
Why does it happen that when I make an intention to go to the mosque I get a lot of distracting thoughts that lead me to eventually abandon my intention?
Abbas Di Palma

as salam alaikum

intentions should be followed by actions. If actions do not follow intentions on a regular basis, it may indicate that the intentions have been not formulated fairly. In fact intentions are the cause and deeds are the effect. A famous prophetic hadith says: "Truly the deeds are only according to the intention and to every man is that which he has intended". It is the intention that defines the action; working on the intention therefore should bring a better and/or more refined action insh'Allah.

You may also make a list of priorities and put the salat in the masjid at the top of your list, then keep vigil and focus on what is most important with Allah's assistance.

With prayers for your success.
When leaving the mosque or Islamic centre, if someone else has worn your shoes, are you allowed to wear shoes which are identical to yours on the assumption that their owner has mistakenly worn yours?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

If there is a common understanding among people who attend the place that those who take shoes of others by mistake, allow using their own shoes by owners of the shoes which they have taken, the matter is solved.

Even if such agreement is not been declared in public but it is been understood as a matter of common sense, the matter is solved also.

Only if you know that the real owner of the left shoes (who is the person who has taken by mistake your shoes) does not allow using his shoes by you, then you need to seek his permission. This case is very rare.

‘Wassalam.
How does one pray the Nafila prayers in a mosque when, in the Zohrain prayers, the Iqama is recited immediately after the Adhan and the Asr prayer conducted immediately after Taqibat of Zuhr?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

In such cases when there is not enough time to recite the full Nafilah of Zoh or Asr, you can pray just 4 or even 2 Rak'ats as Nafilah for each Zohr and Asr. If you could not find time , then you can recite the Nafilah later on as Qadha.

Wassalam.