Shi'a

Shia (شيعة‎ Shīʿah, from Shīʿatu ʿAlī, "adherent of Ali"), also transliterated Shiah and Shiʿah, is a branch of Islam which holds that the Islamic prophet Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor and the Imam (leader) after him, most notably at the event of Ghadir Khumm, but was prevented from the caliphate as a result of the incident at Saqifah. This view primarily contrasts with that of Sunni Islam, whose adherents believe that Muhammad did not appoint a successor and consider Abu Bakr, who they claim was appointed Caliph through a Shura, i.e. community consensus in Saqifa, to be the first rightful Caliph after the Prophet. Adherents of Shia Islam are called Shias of Ali, Shias or the Shi'a as a collective or Shi'i or Shi'ite individually.

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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 4 years ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Counselling is of different types and deals with different problems. There is a plethora of useful information in a number of fields that are relevant to different forms of counselling, however, perhaps some of the most important fields are that of spiritual phychology and practical mysticism where the nature of the human soul, its diseases and the way to purify them offer important insights into solving a variety of problems. The scriptural sources are also replete with information which is understood over a period of time with the relevant issues in mind.

In a description of the Prophet (saw) by Imam Ali (as) found in Nahj al-balagha, the Prophet (saw) is described as a doctor who would go around curing people with his (saw) expertise. That is that he was a spiritual doctor that would bring people out of their misery and dark places with his message. He is also described as someone who never cut a person’s speech, and it can be inferred from this that he would listen before offering solutions.

May you always be successful.

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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 4 years ago

It depends on your level of education and knowledge, but it is good to go through some useful Shia websites like al-Islam.org as a start, then pick up some books which you can digest and go ahead step by step.

We need to know more about : Faith with evidence from Quran and authentic Hadeeth, then Jurisprudence especially the day to day issues bt reading the Islamic practical Laws of the Marja' of Taqleed, then Akhlaaq through the life and sayings of the Prophet (SAWA) and his Holy Progeny (AS).

Seeking knowledge goes along all our life and no one can claim that he needs no more knowledge, so keep seeking knowledge continuously with sincere intention to be real servant of Allah (SWT), the Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS).

Wassalam.

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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 4 years ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. When ijma and the aql are included in the sources of Islamic law in the school of Ahl al-Bayt (as) it is with specific terminological meanings that are not the same as other schools of thought. 

Ijma is a source of law if the view of the Imam (as) is included within the view of the community. Not when the community is agreed without the opinion of the Imam (as) being included.

The aql is a source when specific intellectual principles are used that are certain, such as the necessity (wujub) of something dictates the necessity of its introductory aspects. For example, the wujub to make wudu for prayer dictates the wujub of exhausting all means to find water to perform that wudu. Further details of these principles can be found in the books of usul al-fiqh.

May you always be successful.

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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 4 years ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Muraqabah (sometimes translated as supervising) is a higher state of consciousness in which a person looks over themselves. For each stage of muraqabah a person has to be aware of themselves in the level above the level they are supervising. So, for example, if someone is supervising their speech they need to be aware on the level of their mind to check what they are about to say, to be aware as they speak or to at least be aware of something they just said.

The first stage of muraqabah is where someone watches over their actions and ensures that they are in line with the teachings of the school of Ahl al-Bayt (as). The levels then progress according to the levels and stations of the human. The next stage is muraqabah over intentions and ensuring  that all actions are done for the sake of Allah, including the mundane. Then it is to be aware of the deeper causes behind your actions and intentions. Then to always be in the remembrance of God, and so on. There are many levels of muraqabah and many types of muraqabah depending on what is lacking within the individual. In the literature muraqabah is sometimes classified in the levels of the soul, from the body, to the heart, intellect, spirit, the secret, the hidden and the most hidden. The final stages of this classification  is an expression of ever more delicate levels of the remembrance of God. 

It is also worth mentioning that some scholars have included muraqaba in a system of self improvement, starting with making a condition on ones self (musharatah), followed by supervising ones commitment to that condition throughout the day (muraqabah) and then assessing your success in following the condition (muhasibah)

May you always be successful.

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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 4 years ago

Bismihi ta'ala

The concept of taqleed is indeed something important to look into, and although it sounds complex it is pretty straight forward. 

1. Read about this topic from reliable sources, and educate yourself about the basics of taqleed.

2. Consult with a reputable qualified scholar about the selecting of a Marja'.

3. It should not take more than a few minutes for you to make the intention and follow the correct criteria for following a Marja' taqleed.

4. Do not complicate things by politicising your choice, or being influenced by hearsay, or looking for an "easy" Marja'.

5. Stick with mainstream, and do not be diverted to other ways.

Wassalam

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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 4 years ago

Tashahhud is an obligatory part of Prayers we are been ordered to perform Prayers exactly as the Prophet (SAWA) performed صلوا كما رأيتموني أصلي

We are not allowed to add on obligatory Tashahhud any word.

Tashahhud contains mentioning Imam Ali (AS) and all the Infallible Ahlul Bayt (AS) in saying ALLAHUMMA SALLI ALA MUHAMMADIN WA AALI MUHAMMAD. 

It is allowed to recite any Du'a during any part of Prayer (Salah) so it is allowed to say ALLAHUMMA SALLI ALA ALIYYIN AMEERIL MO'MINEN or any supplication like that as Du'a which is not part of Tashahhud.

Our greatest scholars the Maraaje' of Taqleed have said that any deliberate adding to obligatory Tashahhud invalidated the Salah.

I advise you if you are still in doubt to seek the Fatwa of the Marje' of Taqleed.

Wassalam

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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 4 years ago

The question of how many daughters the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his Progeny) had, has come from some people, who wanted to attribute the lineage of the Prophet’s fostered daughters to the lineage of the Prophet’s real daughter.

The people in Jahiliyah (Before Islam) had the same way of thinking as these people do. The people in Jahiliyah also used to attribute the lineage of fostered children to the lineage of their guardians, and mistakenly claim they all equal children.

That’s why it is well known that Prophet’s fostered son, Zaid Bin Harithah , used to be called “Zaid ibn Muhammad” by some people, even though Zaid was never the Prophet’s son at all but son of Harithah.

It was for that very reason that Allah ordered the Prophet to get married to Zainab bint Jahsh, who was the ex-wife of Zaid. This was to correct the Jahili thinking that the fostered son is like the real son.

“O Prophet, remember when you said to the one (Zaid) whom Allah as well as you had favored: "Keep your wife in wedlock and fear Allah". You sought to hide in your heart what Allah intended to reveal; you were afraid of the people whereas it would have been more appropriate to fear Allah. So when Zaid divorced his wife, We gave her to you in marriage, so that there remains no hindrance for the believers to wed the wives of their adopted sons if they divorced them. And Allah's Command had to be carried out.”

-Surah Al Ahzab, Ayah 37

From the same origin of misunderstanding, some people claimed that the Prophet had 3 daughters prior to Fatima being born. However, this is a misconception as these 3 daughters were his fostered daughters while Fatima was his real biological daughter.

Here are some facts to clarify this misunderstanding;

1. Lady Khadijah had a sister by the name of Haala bint Khuwailid. Haala had 3 daughters whose names were Zainab, Rukhaiya & Umm Kulthum (Manaaqib aal Abi Talib, volume 1, page 162).

Even some of the historians have stated that Zainab & Rukhaiya were the daughters of Haala's husband from another wife (not Hala), but both mother and father died, so Khadijah adopted them (Al-Istigatha by Al-Kufi, volume 1, page 68).

All of the authentic evidences make it very clear that all of the Prophet’s children were born after The Bi'atha/declaration of Prophet hood (see Al Bad' Wal Tarikh البدء والتاريخ , volume 5, page 16, Nasib Quraysh نسب قريش Volume 21, Al Mawahib Al Laduniyya, المواهب اللدنية volume 1, page 196, Tareek Al Khamis تاريخ الخميس , volume 1, page 272, Majma Al Zawaid مجمع الزوائد , volume 9, page 217, Al Bidaiya Wal Nihaiya البداية والنهاية  , volume 12, page 294, Al Seerah Al Halabiyyah السيرة الحلبية , volume 3, page 308)

Zainab & Rukhaiya, the fostered daughters of Khadija were married to 2 sons of Abu Lahab, then they got divorced from them. One of them eventually got married to Uthmaan.

That proves that they were not the real daughters of the Prophet because all of the Prophet’s children were born after Bi'tha/declaration of Prophet hood.

Some people claim that these 3 daughters were Khadijah’s own daughters from a previous marriage. However, this claim of a "previous' marriage is doubtful because the narrations which state that Khadijah had a husband before she was married to the Prophet, were fabricated by supporters of Bani Ummaiya in an attempt lower the status of Lady Khadijah.

The authentic evidence shows us that Lady Khadijah refused all marriage proposals from the leaders of society at that time and that she was only ever married to the Prophet, peace be upon him and all his noble family.

Many authentic historians and scholars like Ibn Shar Ashub ابن شهر آشوب , Ahmed Al Balathoreeأحمد البلاذري , Abul Qasim al Kufi أبو القاسم الكوفي , Al Mortatha السيد المرتضى in his book “Al-Shaafi” and Abu Jafar in his book “Al-Talkees”التلخيص , have confirmed that Lady Khadijah got married to the Prophet when she was a virgin.

In the well-known authentic sermon of Fatima a.s, in the Masjid of the Prophet, in front of a big number of Muslims, she said “The Prophet is my father and never the father of any other woman”. This means that she was affirming that she was the Prophet’s only real daughter.

In the book Sahih Al Bukari, volume 3, page 68, there is a clear evidence that Ali was the only son-in-law of the Prophet and Uthmaan was not.

These are a few points to confirm that Fatima a.s was the only real daughter of the Prophet.

No need to mention the emphasis of the Prophet in telling the people to be just when dealing with their daughters and sons and to treat them fairly and equally. Seeing as this is the case, why would the Prophet focus only on Fatima, in all of the Hadith that have been recorded about his gifting Fadak to her and only her? There is no mention of these other fostered daughters.

This itself is a further evidence that Fatima was the Prophet’s only daughter while the others were fostered by him and his wife Khadija.

Wassalam

       

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When we recite Durood (Salawaat) we mention the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and his Progeny (Ahlul Bayt)(AS) and Hazrat Ali (AS) is the head of Ahlul Bayt (AS) after the Prophet (SAWA).

Imam Ali (AS) was brought in Mubahala as Nafs of the Prophet (SAWA) while Hasan (AS) and Husain (AS) where brought as the sons of the Prophet (SAWA).

Imam Redha (AS) when Al-Ma'moon asked him about he greatest tribute of Ali in Quran, said : Mubahala when Allah mentioned Ali as Nafs of the Prophet (SAWA).

Wassalam

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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 4 years ago

This narration is not authentic at all, not only among our Shia Ulama but even among many Sunni Ulama like Maalik Bin Anas and other leading Sunni Ulama , who denied the existence any such Hadeeth. 

Wassalam

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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 4 years ago

This claim is untrue. Zayd Ibn Ali himself was a follower of Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq . He never claimed that he is the Imam. Even when we was asked because he was more aged than Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq, he replied that he is a follower of the Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq (AS). 

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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 4 years ago

Gender transition is not allowed when it means a male trying to become a female or a female trying to become a male just for desire.

If a person is really female in her chromosomes and body but has some abnormal male signs in her body , she can then remove the abnormalities and become full female. Same with a male who is male in his chromosomes and body but has abnormal female signs, he can remove that abnormalities and become perfect male.

Rectification which makes the person remove any abnormality is allowed but changing the gender is not allowed.

It must be mentioned that such operations must not allow unlawful looking or touching.

WAssalam

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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 4 years ago

The reply depends on what you mean by adoption. If you mean looking after and bringing up a child, then it is great deed of reward. The Hadeeth says: Best of the homes is a home where an orphan lives with honor. Also it is narrated from the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA): I and orphan sponsor are in the Paradise together.

But if you mean to look after the child and deprive him from the name of his real father , mother and original family, then it is unlawful in Islam to deprive the child from the name of his father, mother and original family.

Allah says in Quran (Call them by their fathers' name)(ادعوهم لابائهم)Al-Ahzaab,5.

Also it is not allowed to deprive the child from his real mother (إن أمهاتهم إلا اللائي ولدنهم  )(Their mothers really are who gave birth to them) Al-Mujadalah ;2.

Claiming the adopted child as a real son or daughter is forbidden in Quran (وما جعل أدعياءكم أبناءكم ذلك قولكم بأفواهكم  ) (Allah did not make your sponsored/ adopted/ fostered children as your children, that is what you say in your mouths).

So, it is very good to adopt a needy child with keeping his father's, mother's and family name with him always.

Wassalam