Questions Archive
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Can we say “Ya Ali Madad” keeping in mind that Allah (swt) is the one who has given them the power to help us, and can this aid and help be seeked after their martyrdoms and demises?
22924 2009/02/14 TraditionalContinue...
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Why is rabbit meat haram?
53637 2009/02/08 Laws and JurisprudenceThere are hadiths that tell us rabbit meat is haram. Therefore, this is Allah’s ( swt ) rule on the matter, and we have to follow Allah’s ( swt ) orders because they are His orders, not because in som
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In my opinion, the only thing that true reasoning calls for, is for the marjas to be references when it comes to Islamic information,...
6430 2009/01/20 Laws and JurisprudenceTaqlid means for one to refer to an expert in a certain field for enlightenment. The ulema have comprehensively explained all of the reasoning for their judgments in their detailed books. Also, the fa
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Is it permissible to bury Muslims in kafir cemeteries?
8877 2008/12/31 Laws and JurisprudenceAccording to Islamic law, it is forbidden to both bury Muslims in kafir cemeteries and kafirs in Muslim ones, and if such a thing ever takes place, it is permissible to exhume the corpse and transfer
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Why did Allah (swt) create man, considering that He knew many of them would be bad and end up in the hellfire?
8213 2008/12/31 Traditional1 ) Punishment from Allah ( swt ) is a result of man willingly disregarding divine guidance and not listening to the call of the outer and inner messengers.2 ) The knowledge of Allah ( swt ) regarding
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Why do the Shia pray with open hands while the Sunnis pray with their hands closed? How would the holy prophet of Islam pray? Are there any hadiths on this subject?
64005 2008/12/21 Laws and JurisprudenceBecause of the many hadiths they have regarding this matter, the Shia pray with open hands in order to have followed the tradition of the holy prophet ( pbuh ) and the imams ( as ) . These hadiths exp
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Why are apostates executed in Islam? Doesn’t that contradict freedom of belief?
13183 2008/12/10 Laws and JurisprudenceIn Islamic terms, apostasy means for one to openly express and show his/her renouncement of religion and usually ends up in others being encouraged to do the same. The punishment for apostasy doesn’t
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Why doesn’t Allah (swt) guide the fasiqs (wrongdoers/transgressors)?
13948 2008/11/23 TraditionalGuidance can be divided into the following types:1- Existential ( takwini ) guidance ( guidance that has to do with man’s creation ) , which is the nature embedded in all humans by Allah ( swt ) , cau
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What is God’s reason for creating man?
8537 2008/11/22 Traditionala ) His ability to create called for Him to create.b ) The order of creation is one based on aim and wisdom.c ) The ultimate goal and aim of creating all things, is the emergence of man; the reason be
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where did secularism or the belief in the separation of religious and civil affairs emerge from?
7124 2008/11/19 ModernDuring the renascence Christian believers came to the realization that their religion, with all the shortcomings it had, could not meet the modern social and political needs; therefore, secularism too
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What are the signs of Imam Zaman’s (as) dhuhur (reappearance) and which ones are reliable?
12680 2008/11/17 TraditionalAsking about the “dhuhur” ( reappearance ) of Imam Zaman ( as ) and its signs is very good and desirable, yet one mustn’t get so caught up in this matter to the extent that he/she forgets about the tr
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What is meant by the verse: “He (Allah (swt)) guides whosoever he desires, and misguides whosoever he desires.”
19447 2008/11/04 TraditionalIt has been proven in theology that man is of free will and Quranic teachings are in no conflict with this fact and actually emphasize this point. Yet since some Quranic verses interpret and explain o
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How can one explain how the killing of the Egyptian man by Prophet Musa (pbuh) isn’t in conflict with his infallibility?
17173 2008/11/04 TraditionalAll divine prophets, regardless of their different degrees and ranks, are infallible and at the peak of nearness to Allah ( swt ) , and all of them have responsibilities that surpass those of normal p
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What is the theological basis of Mahdiism?
7025 2008/10/22 TraditionalThe necessity of Allah’s ( swt ) grace, the existence of a khalifatullah and vicegerent of Allah ( swt ) and his protection from any calamities and bad incidents can be counted as a portion of the the
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Who is the Dajjal? Can you please give an explanation on him and the hadiths that have mentioned him?
20855 2008/10/21 TraditionalOne of the signs of the reappearance of Imam Mahdi ( as ) , is the coming of a creature gone astray that misleads others by the name of “Dajjal”. In Arabic, any liar can be called dajjal. There are ma
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What is religion?
10715 2008/10/12 Philosophy of ReligionMany different viewpoints and details have been presented regarding the explanation of religion by Westerners. In the holy Quran, the word “din” ( religion ) has been used for two meanings: 1- Any typ
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What are the different stages and levels of religion?
8066 2008/10/12 Philosophy of ReligionThe main stages of religion are as follows:1- The “nafsul-amr” religion: What exists in the knowledge of Allah ( swt ) regarding the guidance of man to his eternal prosperity and salvation, is the “na
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Do we have more than one “nafsul-amr” religion?
6999 2008/10/12 Philosophy of ReligionBoth what our minds and intellects and what the Quran and hadiths say are good proof that all humans are common in the “gem of humanity” that they possess ( meaning that they have the potential of rea
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Do different situations have any effect on the nafsul-amr religion?
6942 2008/10/12 Philosophy of ReligionThe nafsul-amr religion has only one way of life for all individuals in every place and time and contains no changing elements.
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Can you explain how one can reach the “nafsul-amr” religion?
7192 2008/10/12 Philosophy of ReligionThere are three ways for reaching the nafsul-amr religion:1- Revelation2- Narration3- IntellectNormal people can only reach true religion using the second and third method, while special people can al
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What are the traits of the “mursal” religion?
7810 2008/10/12 Philosophy of Religion1- The number of “mursal” religions is always in correspondence with the number of messengers sent by Allah ( swt ) .2- The mursal religion is a result of man’s need towards the message of Allah ( swt
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What type of religion is “the seal of religions”?
7781 2008/10/12 ModernThe “seal of religions” is the final “mursal” religion. Meaning that after such a religion, it isn t possible for another messenger or religion to be sent.One of the conditions of a religion being the
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How can there be a religion that contains all of man’s needs for salvation?
7267 2008/10/12 ModernThe first question that needs to be answered is: Is man truly always experiencing change in his life and is it true that every aspect of his life is usually going through alteration? Or can one say th
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Does touching a religiously unclean substance make one religiously unclean? Does one have to perform ghusl to become clean?
9601 2008/09/30 Laws and JurisprudenceWhenever a religiously clean item touches a religiously unclean one and both of them or either one of them is wet enough for the moisture to be transferred to the other item, the religiously clean ite
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Many of the hadiths on the birth of Imam Zaman (as) are weak and unauthentic ones and only a few of these hadiths are authentic. Can one say that the weak ones are strengthened by those that are authentic, thus making the weak ones also dependable, so that all of the hadiths (weak and strong) as a whole make us certain about his birth?
8294 2008/09/23 TraditionalA few points need to made concerning the birth of Imam Zaman ( as ) :1- All of the hadiths on this subject aren’t weak, and there are also “sahih”, “mowathaq” and “hasan” ( terms referring to differen
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What are the different dimensions of Lady Fatimah’s (as) character?
8136 2008/09/21 The infalliblesThe dimensions of Lady Fatimah’s ( as ) character are very vast and can only be understood through deep and profound thought and study. Reading and researching about her spirituality, knowledge and po
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Why is the grave of Lady Fatimah (as) still concealed, while Imam Ali’s (as) has been revealed?
7508 2008/09/21 TraditionalThe reason for why the grave of Imam Ali ( as ) was concealed for a while was the fact that ignorant and abusive individuals who were enemies to him, would possibly disrespect his grave. Later on thou
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Why did Imam Ali (as) say nothing when Lady Fatimah (as) was bothered and offended?
17157 2008/09/18 History of FiqhThere is no contradiction between Imam Ali ( as ) not defending Lady Fatimah ( as ) and her being offended and oppressed and between his courage and strength and being there when it all took place. Th
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Why is polygamy permissible for men in Islam, yet impermissible for women?
11023 2008/09/18 Philosophy of Religion and LawBefore Islam, polygamy was considered normal and lacked any rules or limitations. As one of man’s essential needs, Islam has limited it, giving it specific conditions and terms. Islamic laws are all b
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What are the conditions for one to be considered Muslim or a believer?
12867 2008/09/15 Laws and JurisprudenceIslam and Iman or faith ( which are two terms referring to two different things ) have different levels and degrees. The first degree, which is referred to as “Islam”, can be reached when one says the
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Has the Quran mentioned anything about Khidhr?
11831 2008/09/03 Quranic StudiesThe Quran hasn’t clearly mentioned the name of Khidhr, yet he has been referred to as “One of Our servants whom We had granted a grace from Ourselves, and taught him a knowledge from Our own” [ i ] (
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Who are the infallibles (ma’sum)?
7117 2008/08/23 TraditionalInfallibility is a spiritual power and inner virtue that restrains one from even imagining and thinking of sinning, let alone committing sin and in Islamic terms, means for one to be protected from si
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Does the angel of death take the life of all living things?
14125 2008/08/23 TraditionalTraditions imply the fact that the angel of death ( Isra’il ) is at the top of the list of those divine creatures who take the lives of living things and is the one to take the lives of living things.
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Why aren’t the imams able to protect their shrines from terrorist attacks?
7393 2008/08/21 TraditionalIn addition to Wilayah Tashri’i ( legislative authority of making things haram or halal ) , Allah ( swt ) has given the Prophet ( pbuh ) and imams ( as ) Wilayah Takwini ( the authority and power of m
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What is the correct and easy way of choosing the most learned marja’ for those Muslims who have recently converted to Islam and don’t have access to other scholars?
12640 2008/08/21 Laws and JurisprudenceWhat is meant when it is said that the most knowledgeable marja must be followed, is that those who aren’t experts in fiqh, need to refer to the most learned and knowledgeable fiqh expert and learn th