Scholars

Scholars are people who devote themselves to study, particularly to an area in which they have developed expertise. A scholar may also be an academic, a person who works as a teacher or researcher at a university or other higher education institution. An academic usually holds an advanced degree.

125010

Scholars . Evolution

What are the views of Islamic scholars regarding the theory of human evolution by Darwin? Is there any element of it that is considered valid?

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... Answer updated 3 weeks ago

Some scholars have rejected the idea of the theory of evolution as being against the Qur'anic teaching of the creation of the human being, whereas others have accepted it as being compatible with the Qur'an and as being Allah's plan for the human being and how to engage in creation.

It seems that there is some generational factor here - the older generation tended to reject it more, perhaps because they saw the theory of evolution as being associated with colonialism or secularization, and as an attack on traditional Muslim values. This is less of a factor in today's globalized world.

At the same time, the theory of evolution is only a theory and cannot necessarily be said to be true either. It is simply considered an acceptble possibility, pending further evidence, by some scholars.

The idea that life originated from water is supported by the Qur'an.

One could somewhat nebulously suggest that the idea of "nasnas", or prior types of humanoids, which appears in hadith, could also support the idea of evolution, although in my view this may be a stretch in interpreting the hadith.

There is a paper on Shi'i scholars' responses to evolution in the conference proceedings for this conference, if you are interested in reading it. https://www.islamic-college.ac.uk/publications/shiistudies/sixth-shii-co...

124903

Scholars . Knowledge . Ahl al-Bayt

Can you recommend me some books authored by prominent Shia scholars to improve my knowledge and understanding of the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (as)?

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... Answer updated 3 weeks ago

There are hundreds of useful books in many websites e.g. Kitab Al-Irshad by Al-Shaikh Al-Mufeed, The Right Path by Sharafuddin, Then I was Guided by Dr Tijani, Peshawar Nights by Sultan Al-Wa'izeen, and many others.

These websites www.Al-Islam.org

www.shiasearch.og

www.Rafed.net

www.aqaed.com

have also many useful books.

Wassalam.

119088

Scholars

Muslims conquered the Persian empire and also many areas of the Roman empire. Why then was it only the Persians who became great Islamic scholars, and not also the Romans?

There have been great Islamic scholars throughout the Islamic world, including regions which were part of the Persian Empire and the Roman Empire.

Scholars who are from regions that were once part of the Roman Empire include scholars from Al-Andalus, North Africa, parts of the Arabian Peninsula, and some other parts of today's Arabic-speaking world. (I'm sure you can find some examples from each region if you look!)

That said, the centre of the Roman Empire (Rome) and the regions immediately surrounding it (such as most of Italy and Greece) never became part of the Arab-Muslim Empire. Usually the capital or centre of a civilisation has the greatest scholarly output and resources. (That is apart from the conquest of Byzantium. and that happened rather late in Islamic history.) In contrast, the heart of the Persian Empire was absorbed into the Arab-Muslim Empire. So this could be a factor.

It could also be a matter of nomenclature. The regions of the Roman Empire that were integrated into the Arab-Muslim Empire were usually more on the fringes or outskirts of the Empire, and generally the people there did not identify themselves as "Romans"; they were simply under Roman control. For instance, Islamic scholars from Egypt would not have identified themselves as "Roman" despite the fact that Egypt was once a Roman province. In contrast, many people from the Persian Empire were identified as "Persian".

So, perhaps these may be factors.

In any case, there have been Islamic scholars from all these regions.

115371

Narrations . Feet . Scholars . Forehead

Is it true that some narrations say that kissing a person's hands, feet or forehead is not permitted and that it is only for the Prophet or Imams? If so, why do we see our scholars permitting it?

The authentic Hadeeth in al-Kaafi encourages kissing the hands of the Prophet (SAWA) and his Holy Progeny and any one whose hands are kissed for the sake of them. No doubt, kissing the hands of your parents is very good and also the hands of pious scholars who are servants of Ahlul Bayt (AS) and the hands of any believer as far as this kissing his hand is for the sake of Allah and not for worldly matter.

'Wassalam.

Narrations . Feet . Scholars . Forehead

Is it true that some narrations say that kissing a person's hands, feet or forehead is not permitted and that it is only for the Prophet or Imams? If so, why do we see our scholars permitting it?

Seyed Ali Shobayri, Seyed Ali Shobayri is of mixed Iranian and Scottish descent who found the path of the Ahlul Bayt (a) by his own research. He holds a BA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University through the... Answered 6 months ago

Bismillah,

Asalamu Alaykom,

We have narrations like this however some scholars do ta'wil of these narrations and state that if kissing someone's hand such as a righteous scholar, is done with the intention of glorifying Ahlul Bayt (as), then it is permitted. This is because many respect the righteous scholars due to them being those who spread Ahlul Bayt's (as) teachings, and there narrations from the imams (as) themselves emphasising on respecting the righteous ulema as well as keeping away from the evil ones.

May Allah grant you success

114268

Scholars . Wilaya Takwiniyya

What is meant by the concept of Wilaya Takwiniyya? What are the views of the Shia scholars about it?

Al-Wilayah al-Takweeniyyah الولاية التكوينية is a new term used by the recent scholars which means the gift from Allah to His most humble servants enabling them to do things which are impossible for others, e.g. the ability of reviving a dead to make him alive, which was granted to prophet Easa Jesus (AS) (3:49), the ability to make the pieces of dead birds come together alive which was granted to prophet Ebraheem (AS).(2:260), the ability to travel from Macca to Al-Quds then from their to the skies and return back in the same night which was granted to the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) etc.

The gift of Wilayah Takweeniyyah is used by the most humble servants of Allah (SWT) to serve the message of Allah to guide people to the Truth.

All Muslim sects believe in extra ordinary acts done by humble servants of Allah. It is something gifted by Allah (SWT) similar to Wilayah Takweeniyyah.

Wassalam.

113534

Scholars

As different scholars and Ayatollahs have different Fatwas on certain issues, how will Allah judge between the Muslims acting upon the different rulings?

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 7 months ago

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

112973

Scholars . Ilm al-Rijal . Hanbali

Who is the most important Hanbali scholar of the Ilm al Rijal?

Ahmad ibn Hanbal is considered among the Hanbali sect as the most important in Ilm al-Rijaal.
There is famous book ( Tabaqaat al-Hanaabilah)طبقات الحنابلة لابن أبي يعلى complied by Ibn Abi Ya'la who classified the Hanbali Ulama in to six degrees.

Ahmed Ibn Hanbal died on 241 Hijri. His sons Abdullah and Salih are considered prominent after him.

'Wassalam.

105722

Narrations . Scholars . Qur'an . Ilm al-Rijal

Do we have evidence from the Quran and narrations that supports the use of Ilm al-Rijal by our scholars?

Yes of course. Ilm al-Rijal is the knowledge which makes us know the trust worthy person from others. Allah orders us in Quran to verify any information or news and not to take it blindly. Sura 49, Verse 6. With out proper verification things will be mixed and we will not know which narration is authentic and one is not. Liars in history till today are too many. Thousands or more narrations were fabricated for political reasons and other worldly reasons. Ilm al-Rijal enables us to verify and avoid false narrations and take and act upon authentic narrations narrated by pious trustworthy persons.

Wassalam.

103489

Son . Catholic . Girl . Scholars . Marriage . Sunni-Shi'a . Mut'a (Temporary marriage)

My Shia son wishes to marry a Catholic girl which some scholars allow while others only allow temporary marriage. Is reciting the Nikah necessary in this case?

Muslim man is not allowed to permanently marry a Non Muslim woman from people of Book. Temporary marriage is permissible under some conditions.

Nikah is the recitation of the marriage agreement whether permanent or temporary which is must.

Wassalam.

102609

Scholars . Qur'anic Exegesis (Tafsir)

There are several commentaries of the Quran by acclaimed Islamic scholars. Can these be accepted completely as authentic? If not, how does one distinguish between what is credible and otherwise in these Tafsir works?

Not all of the commentaries are completely authentic. Many commentaries contain unauthentic narrations or incorrect views or opinions. You need to seek guidance from sincere and knowledgeable scholars before taking any commentary fore granted. You can take the commentaries written by our big scholars according to the authentic narrations from the Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS).

Wassalam.

100525

Istikhara . Scholars

I got Istikhara done from two scholars. One of them gave me a negative outcome and the other a positive one. What should I do now?

It was wrong to do second Istikhara after you have done the first one. Istikhara is one time only for one matter and there is no meaning to second Istikhara unless the matter has changed and became another matter.

'You are advised to act upon the first Istikhara.

'Wassalam.