Islam

Islam is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion teaching that there is only one God (Allah) and that Muhammad is the messenger of God. It is the world's second-largest religion with over 1.8 billion followers or 24.1% of the global population, known as Muslims. Muslims make up a majority of the population in 50 countries.

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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 2 anni fa

Yes definitely. Husband is required to provide all livelihood needs for his wife including home, food, clothing, medication, etc. Even if the wife is rich, still her husband remains responsible in Islam to provide all her livelihood and housing needs for her.

Wassalam.

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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 2 anni fa

Primarily, this is because in the modern secular worldview, religion itself is seen as outdated or, at most, something that should be kept private. In contrast, Islam is a heavily communal and public religion that involves both public and private life.

Also, there are some aspects of the classical Islamic worldview that do not match the current world. For instance, in classical Islamic texts, identity is primarily treated via religious identity, whereas today, one's nationality is considered the primary aspect of one's identity. So there have been some shifts in the world.

Furthermore, one aspect of secular modernity is the belief that human society is always improving, and that modern times are better because we have more scientific discoveries and technology. That is to say, the new is always better than the old, and so anything pre-modern must necessarily be inferior. This belief is perhaps waning, in light of increasing awareness of global inequity surrounding the production of technology, and also environmental concerns, but is not uncommon. 

Perhaps one can also add that after Europe and the West came to power (culturally, politically, economically, and scientifically), a tendency to look down on Islam as backwards developed. This was not found in previous centuries, when Muslim civilization was culturally and scientifically ascendant. 

So these are some reasons why some people see Islam as backwards, although individual people would have to say their own reasons.

It is worth noting that all of these views relate to trends of thought among people today and are not absolutes; for instance, in some eras, classical literature and ideas have been valued, and there wasn't the idea that new things are necessarily better than old things.

As for what to do to counter it, first, one can only control other people's views so much. Although it is good to stand up for one's religion, in the end sometimes the most powerful statement is simply having confidence in your faith and living it. Islam has been a counter-example to the idea that religions will become irrelevant in modernity, because many Muslims hold quite strongly to Islamic teachings in the modern era or in Muslim-minority societies, especially Western countries. When this is seen on a mass scale, it proves that Islam has the ability to flourish in modernity and to provide an alternate path to modernity than secularism.

Also, it is good to keep in mind that every generation has its own ideas of what is new or outdated, but those ideas change quickly. 40 or 100 years ago, some people thought they knew everything, and then came to realize that there were things they were mistaken about, such as quantum physics, the effects of some chemicals, and so on. 

An underlying idea in Islam is that while societies come and go, the underlying human nature does not change, nor does the process of spiritual growth of the human being, the spiritual trajectory of the human being, or the things which nurture the human being versus the things that harm it (that is to say, the halal and haram). It is narrated that human beings from the time of Adam (A) to the end are like teeth on a comb, that is, we are all essentially the same. So, from that angle, the teachings of Islam are relevant in any era. 

Of course there are some matters which are new in Islamic thought, such as how to pray in space, or questions about democracy and political matters, which do relate to new issues and not past issues, and which are discussed via the Islamic sources as well. So from that angle there is room for growth in Islamic thought without deviating from the ideals of the teachings of the Prophet (S).

Lastly, one has to admit that some Muslims hold ideas which could be called "backwards" and ascribe them to Islam. They usually do not have anything to do with the teachings of the Qur'an or Prophet (S) but rather are their own ideas, or else are some very limited interpretations of the Qur'an and hadith. Given that there are over a billion Muslims, it is natural that there is going to be some variation of ideas and some ideas might seem "backwards" (i.e. wrong or unenlightened). Perhaps the biggest form of backwardsness is when some Muslims, perhaps due to feeling defensive in the face of opposition to Islam, do not wish to engage with the intellect in open discussion about Islam, as Allah frequently tells us in the Qur'an to think, reflect, and so on. However, this sometimes results in narrow thinking.

It is a big question - hope that helps! Some others may have some insights as well. 

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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 2 anni fa

There are many websites dealing with similar subjects related to Quran and science, Quran and health etc.

You can also consult experts in these fields as well as in Islamic teachings. You can contact WABIL office in London to discuss the matter.

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 2 anni fa

You need to be sure about your future and never take risk on your faith.

If he claims to be a Shia, why does he pray on the way of others? How can you trust him claiming being a Shia when he is not practicing Shia Islam in the most important worship which is the daily prayers?

You should not hurry in accepting his proposal until you have enough evidence that his claim of being a Shia Muslim is authentic. 
Marriage between Muslims is allowed provided that there is no risk on your religious practice in the future.

Wassalam.

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 2 anni fa

Bismihi ta'ala

Irrespective of what maddhab he may be, it is extremely important to recognise and affirm good qualities for your potential spouse, especially in being honest and truthful.

It is permissible for a Shi'i to marry a Sunni, as long as he/she is able to preserve their Shi'i identity and practice their Shi'i ways without pressure or backlash. 

If he is interested in the Shi'i madhhab, then that will be his choice, but he needs to make it clear to you as to why he is saying he is Shi'i, but, might be doing certain things the Sunni way.

Is it because he is in fear of his life, and therefore he needs to do taqiyah? Is it due to lack of understanding, and what slight differences there are between the Shi'i method of praying and the 4 Sunni methods? 

Or, is it him trying to please you and make your hear what you wish to hear only, which means he is not be honest to you? 

This is a conversation that needs to happen.   

With prayers for your success.  

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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 2 anni fa

There are many Hadeeths from the Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS) mentioning benefits of wearing Aqeeq e.g. the Prophetic Hadeeth: Wear Aqeeq ring,  as it removes poverty. 

Another Hadeeth says: Wear Aqeeq rung, as it protects you from depression and sadness.
A Muslim complained to the Prophet (SAWA) that he was robbed. The Prophet replied him: Did you wear Aqeeq? It protects from every evil.

Hadeeths stated that the Reward of prayers is multiplied seventy times or more if you pray wearing Aqeeq ring or even any ring.

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 2 anni fa

They must pray facing the direction of the earth because Ka'bah is on the earth.

Timings of prayers are either according to the nearest point to them which has day and night in 24 hours, or to perform the five prayers in approximate timings in every 24 hours. Fasting is the same like the timings of prayers. 
Wassalam.

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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 2 anni fa

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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 2 anni fa

Ayatullah Sistani and Ayatullah Khoei and Ayatullah Sayyed Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr and most of our great scholars say that playing chess is forbidden, based on very clear evidence from the Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS). In Wasaa'il al-Shia , Volume 17, page 323 , you can see at least eight authentic Hadeeths stating that chess is forbidden,bwhile no single Hadeeth allowing chess. Some people claim that sime Ulama said that chess is allowed. That claim is not correct. Those Ulama never said that chess is always allowed but only if it is used and understood in the society as a mean to activate thinking. That is a conditional permission only under such situation and for those who do their Taqleed.

Every Mo'min after all must follow the verdict of his Marje' of Taqleed.

The question of : Why? Is the same for all the Islamic rules. All Islamic rules are based on the benefit for the human beings. Every forbidden act is very harmful whether we know the details of the harm or not. Why men are not allowed to wear gold or pure silk? Allah and His messenger and Ahlul Bayt know the harm. We believe in whatever Allah ordered the Prophet (SAWA) to convey to us.

People's opinions differ from time to time and due to different reasons, but true religions does not change.

Wassalam.

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 2 anni fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Jurists have come to different conclusions on the permissibility of playing chess based on traditions that indicate its impermissibility. For those that allow chess, the main thrust of the arguments I have seen is that while at the time these scriptural sources were proclaimed and recorded, chess was a tool for gambling and that is no longer the case. So chess was not forbidden as a game in itself, but that it was associated with gambling. 

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 2 anni fa

Doubts come from our worst enemy, Shaitan. Shaitan wants to disturb the believers and deceive us. Doubts should never harm the believer who thinks in a proper way. You write that some of the doubts are very nonsensical. This means that you know that it is nonsense. Such nonsensical doubts need no effort to refute as you know that it is nonsense. Any doubt which you think it disturbing you, needs to be refuted with evidence. You can ask authentic scholars or refer to authentic books or websites.

We in Shia Islam don't have any question with out proper answer, and no doubt is left with out logical reply.

Wassalam .