Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

8 Questions

The shrine of Imam Husain (AS) in Karbala has number of religious scholars who supervise all the work, services and operations of the shrine and they very well what is their Islamic duties. Different symbols can have different meanings in different places.

Wassalam.

Sometimes it is better not to worry too much about what other people are thinking.  Sometimes, Shi'a are especially concerned about seeming strange to Sunnis or on the world stage. While this is understandable out of fear of killing or persecution, most, if not all, of the world's religions have practices that seem bizarre to others.

At the same time, many types of practices are similar across world religions because they serve a same function with respect to our psychology and spirituality, especially involving sound, recitation, and movement. Sometimes these things are also what keep a person in the religion in difficult times, rather than formal and serious things like formal scholarship.

So sometimes it is better just to let people do things how they would like to do it, when it comes to optional (non-wajib) religious ceremonies and commemorations, even if it doesn't match one's own preference; one can always abstain and do something else.  

Quranic verses in Sura Yousuf are the strongest evidence in this matter.

Prophet Yousuf told his brothers: Take this shirt of mine and cast it on the face of my father, he will turn clear-sighted. (12:93).

'We have many authentic narrations on the blessings which can be obtained by touching (Masah) of blessed items like Black stone, Zareeh of most humble servants of Allah, Quranic text, etc.

Wassalam.

The direction of Karbala from India is very near to the direction of Qibla from India. You can refer to local Ulama in your area for more details.

Wassalam.