Muslims

Muslims (Arabic: مُسلِم‎) are people who follow or practice Islam, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion. Muslims consider the Quran, their holy book, to be the verbatim word of God as revealed to the Islamic prophet and messenger Muhammad, may peace be upon him and his family. Muslims also generally follow the teachings and practices of Muhammad (sunnah). Those who obtain these teachings primarily from his Companions (sahaba) are called Sunni, and those who take them from his family (ahl al-bayt) are called the Shi'a.

94466

Muslims . Imam al-Mahdi

Does Imam al-Mahdi (AS) see us and know of our deeds? Can I assume he is present if I feel like a stranger among non-Muslims?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 18 hours ago

Yes, Imam Al-Mahdi is granted from Allah ( SWT) the knowledge about our deeds and he feels happy for our good deeds and vice versa. We are encouraged to talk to Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) whenever we want and seek his help, prayers and blessings. Allah (SWT) makes our voice reach to him. We read in the Ziyarah of Ahlul Bayt (AS): I bear witness that you see my place, hear my talk, and reply my Salaam.أشهد أنكم تشهدون مقامي وتسمعون كلامي وتردّون سلامي

Lovers of Allah, the Prophet and Ahlul Bayt never feel lonely. Imam Al-Mahdi is never far away from his lovers and they are always able to talk to him.

Wassalam.

107550

Muslims . Mosque

Are non-Muslims allowed in mosques?

Non Muslims are different types;

1. People of Book who are Christians and Jewish etc who have different rules in entering Masjid. The obligatory precaution prevents letting them inside a Masjid.
2. Non Muslims who are not People of Book e.g Mushrik or denying religion etc, are definitely not allowed to enter any Masjid.

Wassalam.

108742

Eyebrows . Muslims . Sunni-Shi'a

Is plucking your eyebrows allowed for Shia Muslims?

Yes it is allowed according to authentic evidence from Quran and Hadeeth from the Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS) being studied and researched by Shia scholars.
Non Shia Muslims have little access to the most authentic Prophetic Hadeeths narrated by Ahlul Bayt (AS) , that is why many of them have misunderstood narrations and matters including this matter as well as Wudhu, temporary marriage, Divorce, daughters inheritance, photography etc.

Wassalam.

Eyebrows . Muslims . Sunni-Shi'a

Is plucking your eyebrows allowed for Shia Muslims?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 3 weeks ago

Yes.

Shi'i Muslims do not accept the prohibition on it found in some Sunni sources. They also do not see these things as "changing the creation of Allah" which is condemned as an act of Shatan in Qur'an 4:119.

107526

Muslims . Jews . Christians . God (Allah)

Is it more worthy of reward in the eyes of Allah and more deserving of a person's focus to nurture fellow Muslims or to preach to non-Muslims such as the Jews and Christians?

Both are required depending on your surroundings. If you are living among Muslims who need to be nurtured to be better Muslims, you should then focus on that. If you are living among non Muslims who do not know enough about the facts of Islam being the last and final message to all human beings, you need to try to enlighten them and help them know the facts then leave to them to think and decide. No doubt, the reward of enlightening non Muslims is very great, nevertheless,BT he reward if nurturing Muslims to make them better Muslims is also very great.

You can do both as our Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and his great successors the infallible Imams did. It depends on the need of your surroundings and your abilities.

'Wassalam.

106667

Muslims . Hijri

Which calendar, if any, was in use by the Muslims during the lifetime of the Prophet (saw)?

It is generally held that, immediately prior to Islam, there was a lunar calendar in use in Mecca and Medina with twelve months and seven days per week; however, extra days were added each year so that it would match the solar calendar instead of being shorter than it (so the months would not move around the solar year). The Prophet (S) made the lunar calendar strictly lunar (without any extra days).

Additionally, years were referred to by events (such as "aam al-fil", or the Year of the Elephant), and this continued during the lifetime of the Prophet (S).

It generally held that, during the caliphate of 'Umar, at the suggestion of Imam 'Ali (A), the decision was made to count the years in the Islamic calendar beginning with the hijrah, instead of referring to the years by important events that happened to them, to make things easier for the expanding bureaucracy of the Arab-Muslim Empire, and thus it became the hijri calendar as we know it today. Some people hold that the Prophet (S) himself mandated the first year of the Islamic calendar be the year of migration, but this view is not very common.

Anyway, calendars can be quite complicated - people today often take them for granted because we have digital devices and communication by which we can all agree on the date and time, but for much of human history, it was a big challenge and responsibility to keep up with the calendar!

107143

Wealth . Muslims . Poverty . God (Allah)

Why does Allah SWT provide wealth to non-Muslims while there are so many Muslims living below the poverty line?

Allah (SWT) created all creatures and He provides all of them whether they believe and obey Him or not. That is from His Great Mercy. Some believers suffer from poverty because of injustice of oppressors or any other reason. Poverty can also in certain cases be a test to purify the believer or elevate his degree.

Poverty is not degradation and wealth is not an honor. Both are tests.

Many enemies of Allah were granted wealth like Firaon ( Pharaoh) and Hamaan and Qaroun (Korah) while many Prophets were tested by poverty and illness like Prophet Ayyub (AS).

Wassalam.

103634

Muslims . Hell . Sunni-Shi'a

Will all the non-Shia Muslims go to hell?

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... Answered 2 months ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Please see the short video below where I answer this question more generally:

https://youtu.be/srNsJ_0dRow

May you always be successful

105007

Muslims

How should the Muslims rightly and effectively respond to the issue of the French cartoonist?

The best response can be from Muslims in France by practicing the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad in their life and with their neighbours. That will show people the real teachings of Islam and will give practical evidence that the cartoonist is wrong.

Muslims in the world should not give business and profit to those who attack Islam and Muslims.

Wassalam.

102506

Muslims . Sunni-Shi'a

Is it true that Shia Muslims pray three times a day? If so, how is that possible?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 3 months ago

Bismihi ta'ala

The obligatory daily prayers for all Muslims are the same times: Fajr, Dhuhr, 'Asr, Maghreb, 'Isha`.

The timing for these prayers are extremely similar for all Islamic schools of thought at as well. The point of difference as far as timing is in two aspects:

1. 'Asr,

2. 'Isha`.

The difference here is that in the Ja'fari fiqhi view, the timing for these two prayers is not as distant away from Dhuhr and Maghreb as the Sunni fiqhi view states.

In fact, for 'Asr and 'Isha`, one is able to pray them once their finish the previous salat. Yes, it is recommended to pray nawafil, and do duas, etc, between Dhuhr and 'Asr, and Maghreb and 'Isha`, but these are not obligatory to do.

So, basically, from the Shi'i perspective, it is permissible to join Dhuhr and 'Asr, and Maghreb and 'Isha`, and pray them one after the other.

In Sunni jurisprudence, this is not prohibited as well. One Sunni view is that this can be done only when travelling, with a valid excuse or in emergencies. Another Sunni view is that it can be done with a valid excuse or without.

We do know that in Sunni hadith books, there are numerous authenticated hadiths that mention the holy Prophet (s.a.w.) joined these prayers together and prayed them one after the other, without any excuse.

Therefore, what the Shi'a do in combining between these two prayers is not something heretical or far fetched, or bad. Each madhhab is entitled to have their own jurisprudential view on certain things, especially when we see that there are many Sunni scholars who also approve of it as well.

And Allah knows best.

100628

Muslims

Are Alawites considered Muslims by Shia scholars?

Yes, Alawites are Muslims like all other Muslim sects.

'Wassalam.

96167

Muslims . Mosque

Are non-Muslims not supposed to be allowed inside a mosque? If true, what are the Islamic references supporting this position?

This matter has different opinions among the Maraaji' of Taqleed who are the highest in Islamic knowledge. Many of them e.g. Ayatullah Sistani and Ayatullah Sayyed Sa'eed al-Hakeem say that non Muslims are not allowed to enter Masjid according to obligatory precaution but they are allowed to inter all other religious places like Islamic centers and Husainiyya and Imam bargah etc.

'Other Scholars e.g. Ayatullah Kho'ee and Ayatullah Waheed Khurasani say that non Muslims are allowed to enter usual Masjids "except Masjid al-Haraam " if they don't carry with them any item which can make the Masjid Najis.

Wassalam.