1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

14 Questions

Why do Shia Muslims perform Matam or chest-beating? Did any of the children or descendants of Imam Ali (AS) ever perform it? If not, is there a valid reason, with references, that explains the origin and justification of this practice?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Chest beating is an action to express grief and sadness. It goes back to centuries as we read in Hadeeth books that Aysha daughter of Abu Bakr used to beat her face and chest (Dala'il al-Nobowwah by Al-Bayhaqi V.7, P.213 and Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal V.43, P. 369.

Wassalam.
If a Majlis concludes at Maghrib and Matam occurs instead of performing Salat, does that mean the prayer is not done on time? Is a 15-20 minute delay in congregational prayer considered to still be praying on time?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Imam Husain (AS) never delayed the Salat even when he was in the mid of fighting in Karbala. We are supposed to follow Imam Husain (AS) not our own thoughts. We should plan the timings of the Majlis and Matam both to finish before the time of Salat.

Wassalam.
Did Hazrat Ali provide assistance to people even before his birth? If so, how was that possible?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

All the previous prophets including Adam, Noah and Ibraheem (AS) prayed to Allah (SWT) to Help them by the Waseela of The Prophet Muhammad and his Holy Progeny (AS).

'Wassalam.
Is it appropriate to mourn or conduct Majlis, recite Noha, and perform Matam during weddings and Eid, considering that some Shia believe that Eid coincides with the 10th day of Imam Ali's martyrdom?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'ala

Unfortunately, this is a clear misguided view and practice. In the dua we recite on Eid al-Fitr day, it says it is a day in which Allah ta'ala made it as Eid for Muslims. It is definitely not appropriate to change a happy celebration occasion to mourning and ma'tam. There is a time for each of them. 

As the hadith says, "Our Shi'ah..... they grieve when we grieve, and are happy when we are happy." 

Much more can be said about this, and the most important thing is one follows not what a small fringe group does, but what majority of Shi'ah do, especially our mainstream esteemed 'Ulama.

And Allah knows best