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 from the University of Exeter in the philosophical and mystical readings of Mulla Sadra in the context of the schools of Tehran and Qum.

96609

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 3 anni fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The Prophets (as) and the Imams (as) are commanded to abide by the outward nature of the divine law and for that reason they cannot punish someone before a crime even if they know that crime will be committed.

On the other hand, as is clear from the verses concerning Khidhr, he is not ordered to conform to the same rules and so his responsibility differs from that of the Imams (as). Khidrs actions were not independent of the Will of God and that is why he is not blamed in the Qur'an.

May you always be successful

97226

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 3 anni fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The general principle in calling towards good and forbidding evil is that it is only applicable if you are sure someone will listen to you. So your duty is dependent on that assessment.

Usually, there is no need to proactively try and convert classmates, but perhaps with your good conduct a person may ask you some questions about your religion and at that point, you may consider the best way to guide them.

May you always be successful

95221

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 3 anni fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. While the traditions from the Infallibles (as) encourage a positive attitude towards sickness and all types of trial, that does not mean that they sought those difficulties and didn't seek well being. Rather, Islam is a religion in which all types of well being are encouraged, and there are plenty of hadith supporting supplicating for good health and the prevention and removal of calamities as well as prescriptions for good health and wise maxims to help a person navigate their lives as effectively as possible. A Muslim is successful in this world and the next, attaining well being in both. Even if their situation is difficult, a Muslim should develop their personality such that they are always in a good state even if the world is falling apart around them.

So the encouragement to have a positive attitude is not the same as seeking problems or having a defeatist attitude. Rather, it is to build a Muslim to be able to progress in every state. For more on the philosophy of test see these short podcast episodes:

https://anchor.fm/zoheir-ali-esmail/episodes/Episode-75-51-261-263-Ordea...

https://anchor.fm/zoheir-ali-esmail/episodes/Episode-76-51-264-268-Ordea...

https://anchor.fm/zoheir-ali-esmail/episodes/Episode-77-51-269-276-Ordea...

May you always be successful

96168

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 3 anni fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. To love Allah is to prefer Him to all else in your life and to be attached to him more than your attachment to other things. Love is a connection that matters to you and as such the love of God can be compared to other types of love. Indeed, Allah compares His love to other types of love in the Qur'an (see 9:24 for example). We are naturally in love with God, but that is sometimes confused by our attachments to other types of love. To develop the love of God, some sacrifice is required. The ordinances of our religion help develop that love and among those ordinances is reflecting on the bounties that Allah has bestowed on us, both continually and at various points in our life. It is natural to love those who are good to us, then what about He who is the source of every good in our lives?

May you always be successful

96641

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 3 anni fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The highest spiritual status for an individual is not defined as a specific station, as in the higher levels of spirituality as well as a vertical progression, there is a realization of a person's individual gifts. There is no competition as all are different flowers in the same garden. The journey to God is unlimited and the highest stations have been expressed as a type of oneness, where the individual ego of the wayfarer is annihilated and they subsist in the subsistence of God. But writers in practical mysticism acknowledge that only so much can be expressed past this level. So in this sense, there is no limit to a person's status as the journey is an unlimited one and a time comes where it is no longer dependent on effort either.

As for our levels compared to the Prophet (saw) and the Infallibles (as), they are the ones who opened the ways for the rest of us to be wayfarers. All that wayfarers experience of true unveiling and station is part of the Full Muhammadan Unveiling. Their (as) status before Allah is something that is unimaginable and a person should seek to fulfill their own path by their (as) help rather than aim to equal or overtake them (as). Perhaps, an individual will be granted a place amongst their (as) most humble servants, in their never-ending journey to the Beloved.

May you always be successful

95219

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 3 anni fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. In itself there is no limit to the amount of temporary marriages a man can contract.

May you always be successful 

95227

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 3 anni fa

Bismillah

The Sayyid title is applied to all of the descendants of Hashim (they are called Hashimis) so it includes all of Imam Ali's (as) children.

May you always be successful 

90673

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 3 anni fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. This is traditionally answered by the using the principle of cause and effect and so for the universe or part of it to exist it would have needed an external cause. As for the hypothesis that the universe created itself, it is completely opposed to the presuppositions of Islamic philosophy and so an argument is not even required to reject it. Rather, the onus of proof is on the person asserting the claim and of course this is something outside of the realm of proof. As a presupposition in itself it therefore can simply be rejected.

May you always be successful 

95329

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 3 anni fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The answer is all three although the believer is never in a situation that is not good for them. Sometimes afflictions are a recompense for our sins which we face in this world rather than the next. At other times we face difficulties because of the actions of others, but in these kinds of tests if we are faultless then our patience is rewarded. And at times we face tests from God in order to raise us to levels that we cannot achieve with our own actions. To understand the philosophy of trial according to our scriptural sources please see these short podcasts:

https://anchor.fm/zoheir-ali-esmail/episodes/Episode-75-51-261-263-Ordeals-part-1-of-3-eb0tbj

https://anchor.fm/zoheir-ali-esmail/episodes/Episode-76-51-264-268-Ordeals-part-2-of-3-eb29it

https://anchor.fm/zoheir-ali-esmail/episodes/Episode-77-51-269-276-Ordeals-part-3-of-3-eb3rb7

May you always be successful 

95226

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 3 anni fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Paradise has levels and the human enjoys an infinite journey in the Infinite.

May you always be successful 

67924

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 3 anni fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. This is not a hadith found in Shii scriptural sources, although it is often attributed to our Imams (as).

May you always be successful 

94540

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 3 anni fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. There is no problem in that. It suffices to pronounce the Takbiratul Ihram without raising the hands at all.

May you always be successful