1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

98 Questions

Is there any evidence that any of the later Imams sought assistance from Imam Ali (as) by saying "Ya Ali help me"?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Yes, The infallible Imam's were teaching their sincere followers to seek the vasilah of Ameerul Mo'mineen Ali (a.s). Wasalam 
Can you provide the references where the names of all the 12 Imams are mentioned by Prophet Muhammad (s) or Imam Ali (as)?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

The Prophet (SAWA) has clearly mentioned on many occasions that he will be succeeded by 12 Imams or 12 Leaders 12 Successors This has been narrated even in the Bukhari book and Muslim book and Musnad Ahmed Ibn Hambal book and many other books of Hadith.

The names of the 12 Imams were been mention also by the Prophet sawa in many Hadiths narrated from by Ahlul Bayt (AS) as well as hadiths is narrated by Sunni Scholars for Example Shaikh al Islam of his time Shaikh Suleman al Kunduzi who was the head Sunni Aalim of Hanafi Sects of Istanbul in his famous book Yanabi'ul Mawaddah has narrated with continuous chain of narrators the Prophets mentioning the  names of all the 12 Imams From Imam Ali a.s to Imam Hasan a.s to Imam Husain a.s to Imam Zainul Abedin as to Imam Mohammad Al Baqir a.s to Imam Jafar as Sadiq a.s to Imam Musa al Kadhim a.s to Imam Ali Redha  a.s to Imam Mohammad Al Jawad a.s to Imam Ali al Hadi a.s to Imam Hasan al Askari to Imam Al Mahdi atfs May Allah hasten his reappearance.

Another Hadith narrated in Yanabial Mawaddah of Al Kunduzi al Hanafi from Jabir Ibn Abdullah al Ansari saying that the Prophet saws told me that you will live long after me and you will meet the grant son of my grant son Husain a.s His name will be Mohammad Al Baqir a.s when you meet him convey my Salaams to him. This is also in sunni books.

Obviously, the enemies of Ahlulbayt a.s tried the best to omit such hadiths mentioning the names of 12 Imam a.s but still Allah swt had made some of the narrations remain in some of the Sunni books stating the names of the 12 Imams as
Wassalam.
Why did many Sadat, such as Nafs Zakiya, Imam Zayd, and the four sons of Imam Jafar Sadiq, and even Imam Hasan Askari's brother Jafar, claim Imamate?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Not all of the names you mentioned in your question had really claimed Imamate,but it is a fact that some of the children or grandchildren of curtain imams did wrongly claim Imamate.The reasons behind that were mostly political and for gaining worldly benefits. All those who wrongly claimed Imamate had failed,despite the political and financial support from the rulers and governments of their times who were always interested and keen to create dispute between the followers of Ahlulbayt. Being a son or a grandson of the Infallible Imam does not mean that he is also an Infallible,we read in Quran how one of the sons of prophet Adam [AS] did kill his own brother. Al-madeena [5]. We also read in Quran about the son of prophet Noah who disobeyed Allah and his father.Hud[45]. It is worth mentioning that most of those sons of grand sons who did wrong have repented their mistakes.

wasalam.
Are the descriptions of the Imams (as) in Hadiths, such as being referred to as 'the ears of Allah (swt)', among others, to be understood figuratively or literally?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

We believe that Allah The Exalted does not have a physical shape and He is not limited to a place. Allah SWT said in Quran about Himself  ''LAYSA KA MITHLIHI SHAY'E'' Surah 42 Ayah 11, which means nothing at all is similar to Allah SWT. Allah SWT does not have any objective existence, but he is everywhere, and he mentioned that the most humble of his servants hear on His behalf, and they serve Him and implement His orders. '' Ears'' of Allah SWT are those most pious servants who hear on behalf of Allah. ''Eyes'' of Allah SWT are the most humble servants who Seefor the sake of Allah SWT. ''Hands'' of Allah SWT are those most humble servants who implement the orders of Allah SWT using their hands for the sake of Allah. So there is no Literal meaning in these words at all, but these words should be understood as part of understanding the Arabic language, which uses the words as can be understood as the the literal word.

Wassalam