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 10 months ago

You must keep Qadha Fast for every fast which you missed. If you deliberately broke or missed a fast, then you need to feed sixty poor believers for every missed day.

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 10 months ago

Main quality which brings happiness in life is proper faith and good Akhlaq ( manners).

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 11 months ago

You can request your family or any respected person to talk to her or to her family. There is nothing wrong to contact or write to her directly as far as your keep her respect within the frame of Shariat.

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 1 year ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. It is very important that you recognise that there is a disconnect between the proof in front of you and the way you feel inside. Sometimes it takes the mind time to align but faith is not only in rational proof. The heart and religious experience are just as important and radical skepticism can sometimes act as a barrier to the very real experience of living with faith. Understanding that skepticism is supposed to be a tool to reach truth, but at the same time, can prevent a fair investigation of that very truth can show you that reassessing your epistemology is part of your journey to refinding your faith.

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 1 year ago

If it is necessary or useful for you to make such small alteration to your appearance, then it is permissible but you be sure that it will not harm you in the future. You need to seek a professional medical advice to avoid any expected harm in the future.

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 1 year ago

Drawing is allowed as far as it does not contain drawing of full human beings or full animals. Drawing should also keep the morals of Islam.

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 1 year ago

The adoption of the crescent-and-star symbol for Islam occurred quite late in Islamic history, probably in the nineteenth century AD.

Most likely, this was due to European influence; because the cross symbolized Christianity, Europeans felt there should be a symbol for Islam. So, this symbol was adopted and became popularized.

So there is no inherent connection between the crescent moon-and-star symbol and Islam. However, crescent moons and stars have been used historically in Islamic art, on coins, and on banners as a cultural symbol. (They also appear worldwide on art in general.) 

Of course, the crescent moon symbolises the lunar calendar, especially marking the beginning of the month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, so possibly this is one reason it was accepted. 

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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 1 year ago

Bismihi ta'ala

All you need to do is recite the Nikah ceremony, and there is no need to wait for a three month period. 

If you have a temporary contract between you and her, you must nullify that first, by freeing her for the remaining period. Then you do the permanent Islamic marriage contract with her.

And 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 1 year ago

In addition to the previous response, I would add that, from a faith-based perspective, it seems most important to forge an emotional connection with Allah and the Prophet (S), rather than the religion itself. In addition to the prescribed practices, some people find emotional connection through other expressions, such as Islamic art, nasheeds, or literature.

Being a large religion, there are varying ways that Islam is lived, historically and today. It is possible that what is immediately available to you live doesn't work well for you. For instance, I have found that many Sunni Islamic organizations in the United States tend towards a very dry practice of Islam (probably due to the influence of Salafism, as well as due to leaving behind traditions from varying countries and trying to "modernize" the faith), whereas, in many Muslim-majority countries, the practice seems richer. This is just my view. Sometimes, what is available to women in some places differs from what is available to men, and that may also have an effect (especially if women's gatherings are held privately, and one isn't invited).

In any case, some people do well with the more mystically-oriented practices in Islam, some people do better attending intellectual gatherings, some people greatly enjoy the legalistic side, some people like a strong community feeling, some people flourish with activism, and so forth.

Religious leadership is important too - which religious leaders we benefit from tends to be a very personal and individual thing.

Note that I wouldn't consider every group or religious leader that calls themself "Muslim" to be healthy or an authentic representation of what I believe to be the intent of Allah. There are healthy and unhealthy groups in any large religion. So it is always good to keep your eyes open with any religious group and use your good judgment.

However, with that in mind, you could explore what is available to find what best suits you and what you feel to be true and maybe you will find something that "clicks".

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 1 year ago

More understanding creates more connection with religion. We need to understand that our Creator, Allah, did not Create us with out guidance but Guided us to the proper way of life when He Sent religion to Make our life a real human life which is different from animal life. 

It is very useful to recite Quran, and Du'a especially Sahifa Sajjadia ( Supplication numer 20).

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 1 year ago

Friday Prayer is very important in Shia Islam and it been performed in thousands of Shia Masjids all over the world. Shia Muslims don't join any Prayer which is been misused by wrong rulers as history has proven in many places where Friday Prayer was made to serve the wrong rulers.

'Our leading Maraaje' of Taqleed have issued verdicts about Friday Prayers. Many of them said it is compulsory to join Friday Prayers while other Maraaje; say the it Wajib Takhyeeri (optional compulsory) which means it is compulsory to join Friday Prayer or Dhuhr.

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 1 year ago

If your father is a Sayyed, you will be a Sayyed as well. Your mother alone with out your father will not make you a Sayyed.

Wassalam.