بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of God, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

May Allah shower His blessings on our beloved Prophet Muhammad and his Purified Household. May Allah open our eyes and bestow on us the baseera (insight) to see the truth and an open heart to accept it. May Allah hasten the reappearance of our awaited savior, Imam Mahdi and allow us to be among his humble devoted followers. May we see the time when he will make apparent to everyone the true teachings of Islam as they were taught by his grandfather the Prophet of Allah (S) and not the Islam that was changed by the corrupt rulers and dictators to fit their desires. May Allah continue to bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and may He remove His Mercy from those who bear enmity towards them.

Then I Was Guided author, Muhammad al-Tijani al-Samawi, writes of his discovery to the true path of Islam that of adhering to the teachings of the Ahl Al-Bayt (‘a). In his book he describes what the scholar As-Sayyid As-Sadr relates to him:

As-Sayyid As-Sadr said: “It is inevitable that we pass through difficult times because the path of Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) is a difficult one. A man once came to see the Prophet (S) and said to him, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I love you.’ He replied, ‘Then expect many tribulations.’ The man said, ‘I love your cousin ‘Ali.’ He replied, ‘Then expect many enemies.’ The man said, ‘I love al-Hasan and al-Husayn.’

He replied, ‘Then get ready for poverty and much affliction.’ What have we paid for the cause of justice for which Aba Abdillah al-Husayn (‘a) paid his life and the lives of his family’s members and companions; and for which the Shi’a along the path of history have paid and are still paying up to the present day as a price for their allegiance to Ahl al-Bayt (‘a)? My Brother, it is inevitable that we go through difficulties and give sacrifices for the cause of justice, and if Allah helped you in guiding one man to the right path, it is worth the whole world and what is within it.”

Al-Tijani continues, “As-Sayyid as-Sadr also advised me against isolating ourselves and ordered me to get even closer to my Sunni brothers whenever they wanted to keep away from me, and to consider them innocent victims of distorted history and bad propaganda, because people are the enemy of what they do not know.”

This does not mean agree with their teachings, but rather not to shun them when they come to us. If we reject them when they come to us, make fun of them or are rude with them then how will they ever come towards Ahl Al-Bayt (‘a)?

ادْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُمْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ ضَلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ

“Invite to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for your Lord knows, best who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.” (Qur’an, 16:125).

Many Muslims have never even heard of the events that took place against the Ahl Al-Bayt (‘a). They were taught all their lives one-way, that is all they have seen and the only path that they know. We cannot hold them accountable until we know that they are aware and then, having known, choose to reject Ahl Al-Bayt (‘a).

The idea that prompted me to write this book was due to the fact that so many new converts to Shi’a Islam would always ask me why we did things differently than other sects. They would be exposed to different things upon going to various mosques. They would ask me why people pray with their hands by their sides while others would fold their arms, why was the call to prayer different, what is that “stone” we prostrate on, etc.? I used to find myself explaining these things on a daily basis, so I decided to write these questions and answers down and share them with people who came to me. That was the first phase of this project.

Later on, I decided to add the Usul al-Deen (roots of religion) and Furu al-Deen (branches of religion) being that these differ from other schools of thought as well. After I looked at what I had put together I thought that this would be a very beneficial piece of information for new converts to Islam. This was designed to help them not only to learn why Shi’a believe and practice the way we do, but also to learn with clear proofs from the sources. I then proceeded to add a few other chapters to help give a good basic foundation for one to start in their quest for knowledge.

In total this work deals with a variety of topics including:

• Usul al-Deen

• Furu al-Deen

• The Word Shi’a and its Meaning

• The 30 rights of a Muslim

• Forbidden acts of a Muslim

• Some Important Dates and Things to Know

• Cleanliness in Islam

• Wudhu

• Salat

• Ahadith showing the importance of knowing the Ahl Al-Bayt (‘a)

• Why we say bismillah aloud in salat

• Why we say hayya ala khayril amal in adhan

• Why we don’t fold our hands in salat

• Why we takbir 3 times after salat

• Why we don’t say as-salatu khayrum min nawm in our fajr adhan

• Why we prostrate on turbah

• Why we say aliyan waliyallah in our adhan and iqamah

Note: The use of (S) after the Prophet’s name is an Arabic abbreviation for peace be upon him and his family. The use of (‘a) after the names of Fatimah (‘a) and the 12 Imams (‘a) is an abbreviation for peace be upon him/her/them in Arabic; ‘Alayhi as-Salam. The use of (aj) after the name of Imam Mahdi (aj) is an abbreviation for may Allah hasten his reappearance. The use of (ra) is an abbreviation for May Allah be pleased with him/ her in Arabic; Radi Allahu Anhu.