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Zoheir Ali Esmail,
Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD from the University of Exeter in the philosophical and mystical readings of Mulla Sadra in the context of the schools of Tehran and Qum. 354 Answers
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Rebecca Masterton,
Dr Rebecca Masterton graduated with a BA in Japanese Language and Literature; an MA in Comparative East Asian and African Literature and a PhD in Islamic literature of West Africa. She has been teaching for seventeen years through different media, and has also worked in media for ten years, producing and presenting programs for several TV channels. 102 Answers
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Mahmood Abu Maryam,
Trying to make sense of it all... 50 Answers
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Hamid Waqar,
Shaykh Hamid Waqar was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and converted to Islam at the age of sixteen. He started his Islamic studies in the year 2001 in Beirut and, a year later, moved to Qum where he has been studying since. He currently studies at the highest levels of Islamic jurisprudence, translates many books and runs the Muntazar website. 2 Answers
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Faiyaz Jaffer,
Shaykh Faiyaz Jaffer is the Associate Chaplain and Research Scholar at the Islamic Center at New York University. He attained an MA degree in Islamic Studies (UK), with a concentration on early Islamic history, after his undergraduate degree from SUNY Stony Brook University in Political Science and Religious Studies. In pursuing the classical course of Islamic education, Faiyaz has studied in the Seminary of Karbala, Iraq. 1 Answer
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Nour Tessie Jørgensen,
Nour Tessie Jørgensen has an MA in Islamic studies from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark and a degree in Philosophy of Ethics at Al Mustafa International University in Qum, Iran. She works as an Islamic Studies teacher and a counselor in spiritual and female-related issues. 18 Answers
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Mateen Charbonneau,
Sheikh Mateen Joshua Charbonneau achieved a certificate from Harvard University in Islamic Studies. He undertook Howza classes under esteemed scholars since 2013 and has been teaching at Imam Mahdi Howza since 2017. He has compiled and published several books, has filmed several documentaries on Islamic subjects and has also promoted Islamic propagation in US jails. 39 Answers
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In our societies over the last few decades, the pursuit of individual freedom has been promoted and encouraged; but this has tended to lean over into narcissism and selfishness and a lack of awareness about the needs of our fellow human beings around us. furthermore, freedom without knowledge is of no use. We don't have much of a wisdom tradition in our societies anymore. Islam is a wisdom tradition that provides the seeker with the knowledge of how to manage life's challenges.
Islam encourages the fulfilling of rights towards others: the rights of parents, of children, of animals, of plants. Its vision is that we are part of a social network and that interacting with other human beings in a way that fulfils their rights and fulfils the needs of justice requires proper study, learning and practice.
Islam teaches a different kind of freedom: freedom from of the vicissitudes of life. It teaches detachment from worldly desires so that one is not a slave to the world, nor to one's desires.
It teaches the importance of dignity, and also the importance of standing up to tyranny. One can be 'anti-establishment' without destroying oneself.
The banning of all intoxicants prevents the potentially vulnerable from killing themselves or slipping into alcoholism.
It establishes a brotherhood based upon ethical behaviour and spiritual bonds. The bond between Muslims is sacred.
It teaches reliance on the Transcendent, which in turn cultivates courage in the face of difficulties. Shi'i Islam in particular teaches about the importance of cultivating the intellect; of being an intelligent believer. Islam is against blind following of beliefs.
It teaches about a 'deeper way of being' where the spiritual aspect of the human being is central to our life in the world. It has many methods for enhancing our spiritual sense.
It is a disciplined way of life that provides stability in world where, outside of one's working routine, one could otherwise be in total chaos - as social life has often been since the 1970s.
It is about facing the reality of life and death and preparing oneself for a journey into the next world.
It teaches men and women to treat each other with respect; lude jesting is prohibited, as is any touching between unrelated men and women. This means that either sex does not have to tolerate verbal abuse which is often dismissed as 'office banter', or physical abuse either.
Our children today live in an adult's world and are exposed to everything that adults indulge in, and that is because adults have put the pursuit of their freedom first, which has led to an unconsciousness and unawareness of the kind world that has been created for children. The care of and attention towards children is of prime importance in Islam.
These are just some introductory points.
Thank you for your question. Islam sees human beings as endowed with the potential to reach the highest levels of perfection and as such charts a path for them to reach that perfection.
If someone is able to understand and practice the teachings of Islam, it will enable them to rise above their current situation and pursue a path of purity, balance, sincerity, and righteousness, through purification of the heart and the development of the illuminated intellect.
But a human's responsibility to better themselves in Islam is not all that makes them better human beings. They also have a responsibility to help those around them and society at large.
By improving themselves and having a positive effect on those around them they secure happiness in this world and the hereafter.
May you always be successful