Zoheir Ali Esmail

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The concept of Wahdat al-Wujud refers to how there is only one essentially real being which is God. There are many differing views on the specifics of this theory which need to be fully explained within their field of study. As a conception in theoretical mysticism the theory doesn't have a sectarian bias. There have been Sunni and Shii intellectuals who have found the theory useful, as well as Sunni and Shii intellectuals who have rejected it.

May you always be successful

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. As people of faith, we connect to our sacred history and the personalities that represent the values of our religion. Thus, while events may have happened a long time ago, the personalities that these events happened to are important to us, so naturally, when recounting the tragedies that befell them, we cannot help but be brought to tears. Such acts of devotion have a positive effect on the soul and this has been indicated in the copious praise for crying over these events in our scriptural sources. Simply put, we cry because it matters to us and we recount the events so that we remember and develop those feelings and are revitalized by the strengthening of our bond with those we love.

May you always be successful

Bismillāh 

Thank you for your question. There is a metaphysical realm which comprises of a number of levels and in scriptural terms is called the Malakut. As for other universes in the physical realm, the discovery of that is the realm of science.

May you always be successful 

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. In the period of occultation, most jurists in the modern period have ruled that a person has a choice whether to pray jummah or zuhr on a Friday. Jummah is better but zuhr is also sufficient for a person go have fulfilled their obligations.

May you always be successful 

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. While God cannot be compared with His creation, His creation manifests His perfection. To try to completely empty the mind and heart is a nigh impossible task as humans are limited beings and even their conception of emptiness or limitlessness is faulty. There is no harm in images as long as they are not the subject of your worship.

May you always be successful 

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Jurists have come to different conclusions on the permissibility of playing chess based on traditions that indicate its impermissibility. For those that allow chess, the main thrust of the arguments I have seen is that while at the time these scriptural sources were proclaimed and recorded, chess was a tool for gambling and that is no longer the case. So chess was not forbidden as a game in itself, but that it was associated with gambling. 

May you always be successful 

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The need to follow the fatwa of a jurist stems from the requirement to act on knowledge. In a world of imperfect knowledge it is natural that different experts will come to different conclusions. For the person acting on rulings their responsibility is to try their best to act on knowledge by acting in correspondence with the conclusions of those they believe are in a better position to ascertain what their stance should be on a particular issue and that is what they will be judged on. And Allah is the All Knowing.

May you always be successful 

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. This is an interesting thought experiment, if no humans remained on the earth there would presumably be nobody to test, but more importantly no purpose in testing beings that don't exist on the material plane.

May you always be successful 

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. There is no requirement for the hands to be together.

May you always be successful

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Sins are like something which has a beautiful appearance but are bad for you. Like an enemy who smiles only to slit your throat. A lie to convince you until it's too late. The way to deal with them is to not fall for it and to not be taken the fool. A man who buys flowers to take a woman innocence. A woman who is after your wallet. A person who buys something at a high price is happy until they realise they have been ripped off. When you realise you have been ripped off all that happiness fades and turns into anger. So too with sinning a person gives up so much and keeps making the same mistake as they don't realise what they have done. Don't sin because it is below you. Sinning is for fools that haven't understood the game.

Those temporary pleasures that are not sins should be enjoyed as part of life within the bounds of wisdom.

May you always be successful

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Jurisprudence according to the school of Ahl al-Bayt is sometimes referred to as Ja'fari fiqh due to its basis primarily in the copious traditions narrated from Imams al-Baqir and al-Sadiq. While Imam al-Sadiq (as) did not write any books, he expounded jurisprudence in many reports that are narrated from him in mos matters of jurisprudence.

May you always be successful

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Just keep trying and don't lose hope in the day in which you will overcome these relapses. Some sins are sticky. They may be habitual or you may not have truly realised the damage that they are causing. If you keep trying you will succeed eventually. Learn to disparage your sins, to see them as stemming from ignorance and understand that their pleasure stops you from having a healthy soul and fulfilling your potential as a human. Sins are like poison that take time to get rid of, and every new sin is a new dose and more time lost.

May you always be successful