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 Islamic College in London and also the Managing Editor of the Journal of Shi'a Islamic Studies.

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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 8 months ago

The Qur'an says that varieties among people (including colour and language) are part of the divine plan, as one of the signs of God (30:22). However, it does not specify the physical mechanism by which people developed into different appearances.

Even if Adam and Eve were the first parents of all people, there is no reason why all people forever should look identical.

Scientifically, the current explanations are mutation and natural selection over time. (For instance, pale skin is advantageous in northern Europe because it assists in absorbing Vitamin D.) 

However, there may be other scientific or metaphysical mechanisms for the development of variations among people that are not yet discovered or understood. Still, it is acceptable from an Islamic standpoint to refer this question to science. 

Allah knows best.

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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 8 months ago

Both views are narrated. The story that she was the daughter of a Roman (Byzantine) king tends to be more popular, possibly because it is a more developed and engaging story.

This book offers a good discussion of the question. As you can see, it argues against the idea that she was a Roman princess on historical grounds.

https://www.al-islam.org/occultation-twelfth-imam-historical-background-...

Allah knows best.

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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 8 months ago

Kabad in Qur'an 90:4, usually understood to mean "difficulty", is generally taken to refer to the difficulties of physical life that are experienced while living on earth that are the result of the nature of our bodily existence, our need to work and obtain food, and so forth. (Sometimes, it is also understood to refer to difficulties in the afterlife) So it is not referring to Allah experiencing hardship.

Books of tafsir:  A good general book is The Study Quran, edited by S. H. Nasr, which contains a summary of views from many exegetes.

Many people benefit from Tasfir al-Mizan; some of it is available in English online and some other parts can be purchased in print.

If you have an interest in Twelver Shi'i narration-based tafsir, Tafsir al-Ayyashi can be purchased in English, and, God willing, al-Asfa fi Tafsir al-Quran by Fayd Kashani will also be printed in English within this year.

If you have a preference for conventional Sunni tafsir, there are many choices in English. 

Best wishes!

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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 8 months ago

This likely refers to volume 1, page 289.

Frequently, the standard Arabic printing is cited, and so you can find it in that version. If the book was written in Farsi, they may be citing a version in Farsi or with Farsi in it. So you may need to dig to find the exact narration, if they have not given publication information.

Sometimes it is easiest to try to find it by back-translating it and searching online or on library software such as ablibrary.net until you find what you are looking for. This website can also help with seaching: https://hadith.academyofislam.com/

Best wishes!

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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 9 months ago

The nature of Allah, or God, is such that Allah always existed and did not have a creator. However, all (other) things are created and non-eternal. This is why God is sometimes referred to as the "First Cause".

Jews and Christians share this belief.

As for other prominent religions today, I am not sure of their views about the nature of ultimate divinity, but it would be an interesting conversation topic. 

Infinity can be difficult for the mind to grasp. However, the idea that God existed eternally is not more difficult to grasp than the idea that the universe existed eternally without a creator, which is held by some atheists.

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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 9 months ago

No, they still require a cause or designer (a "programmer", if you will); otherwise, something is still eternally pre-existing for no reason. 

We also can't be certain that, if there were a different universe, all of these things would be the same, even if it seems obvious to us here. (Whether or not they would necessarily be the same is, necessarily, speculative.) 

However, it is a good question!

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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 9 months ago

You do not become an apostate or break the third shahadah by speaking with someone who has a different belief or by being present at their gatherings, unless you have the intention of apostasy. (This is true whether they are Sufi, Christian, atheist, or any other group.) 

However, sometimes, when we are solidifying our religious identity, especially after a recent conversion, it is helpful to stay within the confines of our religious group and avoid contact with others. But this is a psychological or spiritual matter, not anything relating to apostasy. 

You are a Shi'i if you wholeheartedly accept the authority and spiritual status of Imam Ali (a), without any competitors, and identify as Shi'i. 

If you had any belief which is incompatible with Shi'ism, you may reject that belief and remain Shi'i. Similarly, if you gave bay'ah to someone other than Imam al-Mahdi (A) (for Twelver Shi'a), you can declare your ultimate bay'ah to Imam al-Mahdi (A). If you acknowledged the authority or lineage of someone (living or deceased) who is incompatible with your allegiance to Imam 'Ali (A) and Imam al-Mahdi (A), you may choose to reject that authority.

Sufis differ from one another, and some are closer to Shi'ism than others. 

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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 9 months ago

Personally, I try to keep it simple and say that it is for (a) modesty, and/or (b) because Islamic law says to do it. You could also say that (c) because it is something you want to do and is important to you. 

The aforementioned statements may also be suitable for you to say, however it is  important to say them in such a way that would not imply that you are criticizing your mother. (For instance, if you say that hijab adds dignity, you would not want to say it in such a way which would imply that your mother has less dignity, because she does not wear hijab.) It is often how we say things that is as important as what we actually say!

However, if they are religious Catholics, mentioning the Virgin Mary might be a helpful way to connect. 

I am sure that in your heart, you know what is best to say for your situation - what comes from the heart reaches the heart. 

Best wishes!

 

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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 9 months ago

This website (al-islam.org) has an in-depth library, and you can find materials which are both introductory and advanced. So, I recommend starting here!

You could also look online for taught classes, since sometimes it is useful to have a human teacher. 

Beyond that, there is also ample material on YouTube - as a hint, if you want to find a discussion of a subject, search for Muharram majlis followed by your subject, and those are almost guaranteed to be presented by Twelver Shi'a. 

Best wishes!

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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 11 months ago

I am sorry to hear about your situation.

I wanted to add that it would not be a good thing if, after the marriage, the man holds onto this idea and becomes obsessed with it or brings it up in every argument or uses it as an excuse for other behaviour. You have already suffered and don't need someone to make you continue to suffer for the rest of your life. Plus, you deserve someone who will appreciate you for all you are, not someone who is having hesitations! Perhaps he will mature later in life, since, when we judge people unfairly, life has a way of teaching us lessons.

Meanwhile, there are other fish in the sea!

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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 11 months ago

It sounds like there are a lot of factors to take into consideration (including what country you want to raise your children in and their educational opportunities in each place).

I can understand not wanting yourself or your children to be around negativity towards your religion, especially if they are living in a country where Muslims are the minority, and it is already difficult to be a practising Muslim/raise children as practising Muslims. From that angle, since you would not be receiving religious support from your family, it is good to consider whether there is a supportive, healthy, and welcoming Muslim community there to offer support for yourself and your children, especially in teaching children about Islam in a positive and appealing manner.

Probably there are pros and cons to staying where you are, or moving. There may be some hidden blessings to moving there but also some challenges. So it is good to consider all aspects (financial, religious, educational, social, emotional, etc) and make the best decision.

Possibly this may be situational, for instance, if your mother is at an old age and if you are concerned that she will pass away while you are not present and you would regret that, that might be a factor.

There is probably no rush to make a decision and sometimes when we give something time, Allah decides for us by changing the circumstances of our life to go one direction or the other. When unsure, it is good to pray for guidance, as it often comes clearly.

In any case, silat al-rahm can be done regardless of where you live and does not require living nearby especially these days when travel and communications are much easier.

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I am sorry to hear about your loss.

It is your decision whether or not to remarry. Now that your husband has passed on, I am sure he would want you to be happy and more secure for the rest of your life.

However, possibly you are still going through the mourning process and aren't ready; maybe if you meet the right person and it is the right time, you will feel inside that it is the right time. Maybe the way you are seeing things right now suggests that it isn't quite the right time.

Religiously speaking, there is no benefit to putting extra restrictions on ourselves or making ourselves suffer more than our circumstances require. Sometimes people do this with a sense that Allah rewards difficulty. However, life is difficult enough without putting extra restrictions on ourselves!

People in jannah can be with whoever they want, whether or not they remarry.

With duas