hi! we're just a small group of shia muslims determined to do our best. come argue with us or ask whatever you want, and we promise to answer in relevant references and structured explanations
we're here to learn, and fulfill a small part of our duty by spreading knowledge others passed down through generations and challenging lies about the one important thing in this transient world- a paramount truth- by doing only what we can for now: using the keyboard pen to answer in other people's words
we have an obligation towards our leaders, and this blog, though small and rather insignificant, is only one of the ways we can try to fulfill that.
so please, go ahead. ask and argue and learn all you can. we're here just for that
Amirul Momineen (as) said: “There is no person except that there are forty shields over him till he commits 40 deadly sins. Thus when he commits forty major sins the shields are removed from over him. Then the Almighty Allah reveals to the angels to shade that person by their wings. So the angels begin to cover him with their wings. Then he does not leave a single sinful act but that he commits it. So much so that he even begins to boast about his sins to people and talks openly about them. So the angels say: O our Lord, this servant of Yours has not omitted a single act of sin and we are very much ashamed of what he has done. So the Almighty Allah reveals upon the angels to remove their wings from him. When this happens this person begins to have enmity towards us, Ahle Bayt.
There is so much beauty and peace in the era of Imam Mahdi (ajtf), that one who reads about it, longs for this era of his reappearance. Many narrations give us a vivid picture of Heaven, and in this case, the narration gives us a peak of the Era of Imam Mahdi (ajtf). Close your eyes for a while, and think of that wonderful era, the time when our Imam (ajtf) will re-appear….
1. Allah (swt) will give us long lives.
2. Our health will be at its best and wholesome.
3. One will not have the opportunity to give charity and sadaqah because
there will be no needy person to give to, during the period of the most
honourable government of Imam Mahdi (ajf)
One should therefore give as much as possible during the major occultation, because later
this opportunity will cease to exist.
4. There will no longer be jealousy and hatred in people’s hearts.
5. Dealings amongst each other will be done through the recitation of ‘Salawaat’
6. There will be intense love and trust between people, so much so that they will be able to put their hands in each other’s pockets and take whatever they want without asking.
The period of zuhur will be encircled with enchanting blessings.
However the hearts will be free from hatred and filled with love, knowledge, light and wisdom and that will be the highlight of that period.
Why and how will this hatred end?
In that era, ignorance and love for this world will not be present anymore in one’s heart and indeed ignorance is the root of all evil.
THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE BEAUTIFUL BOOK WRITTEN BY ALIMA RAZIA BATOOL NAJAFI NAMED FORTY STEPS TO FOREVER.
Since it is moharram and how us Shia Muslims observe Faaqaa on the day of Ashoora , alot of my Sunni friends find it problematic when I share information about how fasting on Ashoora is Makrooh since fasts are observed in gratitude towards Allah. Is there any reference from a Sunni scholar ,I can share with them regarding this matter?
﷽
Thank you for your patience.
"'Ibn Abbas reported that when Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) came to Medina, he found the Jews observing the fast on the day of Ashura. They (Jews) were asked about it, and they said, 'it is the day on which Allah granted victory to Moses and (his people) Bani Isra'ael over the Pharaoh and we observe fast out of gratitude to Him.' Upon this the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said, 'we have a closer connection with Moses than you have,' and he commanded us to observe fast on this day." Sahih Muslim, Book 35, Hadith 2518
Multiple variations of his hadith can be found in many Sunni books. The fact is that many Sunnis have unshaking faith in Sahih books, and anything in Muslim and Bukhari is considered an absolute truth. Moving past that point is usually impossible when it comes to debating with someone with these beliefs, but regardless, we'll try our best to point out the numerous fallacies in this tradition.
First and foremost, the Prophet (saww) didn't learn his religion from Jews.
...we have a closer connection with Moses than you have...
Indeed, Prophet Mohammad (saww) had a closer connection to all the prophets, including Hazrat Isa (as), but he didn't start attending church simply because Christians did. Why would he start fasting on a specific date simply because people of another Abrahamic faith did? This act would also contradict multiple other hadith found in books.
The Holy Prophet (saww) said, "fast on the day of ‘Ashura and by doing so oppose the Jews." Al-Sunan al-Kubra, vol. 4, p. 475
And
"Do not resemble the Jews in any way." Al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir, vol. 7, p. 290, hadith 7164
Thus, it wouldn't make sense to claim that this fast was done out of an imitation of the Jews.
This event is said to have taken place when the Prophet (saww) came to Madina i.e. 1 year after hijrah (AH), or 622 AD.
'Ibn Abbas reported that when Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) came to Medina, he...
The tenth of Moharram does not coincide with any Jewish fasting holidays, with a gap of about four months with the nearest Jewish fast. That is true even for 2 AH, if we allow some margin for error in the narration.
According to a research paper by Ibrahim Zein and Ahmed el-Wakil (Hamad bin Khalifa University in Qatar), Tishri, the month of the Jewish fast in celebration of the Pharoah's defeat, does not overlap with Moharram.
... he found the Jews observing the fast on the day of Ashura...
Secondly, ashura was used as a general term for the tenth of a month- not just Moharram. It only gained it's significance as the name of an event after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (as). It's strange that the hadith doesn't specify at any point which month's ashura it's talking about.
Another point to note is that- like we mentioned before- multiple versions of this hadith exist in Sunni books- "most" of which have unreliable chains of narration. In the version we quoted from Sahih Muslim, 'Ibn Abbas is said to have been a direct narrator- meaning he was present at the time of the event. Which is strange, considering the fact that- being born in 619 AD- he was just four years old at the time of the Prophet's (saww) migration. According to Sunni Hadith Science, the narrator "should be at an age where he understands the significance of what he hears and realizes that the slightest change may change the meaning of the hadith" (Cambridge Educational Board). How can you trust the words of a child that barely knows how to string complex sentences together?
Abu Musa al-Ashari is also mentioned in at least one chain of narration. It is also worth noting that Abu Musa converted/reverted to Islam before hijrah, and then went back to his homeland of Yemen to propagate Islam- where he stayed until 628 AD. How would he have been with the Prophet (saww) to narrate this tradition if he was nearly a thousand kilometres away?
Muawiya, another supposed narrator, converted to Islam in 630 AD, and was in Makkah as part of the unbelievers up until then.
Now that it's clear that this tradition is- at the least- a grey area, why are Shias so against fasting on the day of Ashura?
Kulayni narrates from Imam Mohammad al-Baqir ibn Ali (as), "beware! This is a fast about which no Qur’anic verse has been revealed and is not an observed way of conduct. It was only the way of conduct for the partisans of Ziyad when they killed al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali (as)." Al-Kafi, vol. 4, p. 146, hadith 4; Wasa’il al-Shi‘ah, vol. 10, p. 461, section [bab] 21, hadith 5
And:
Kulayni again on his own chain of transmission narrates that 'Abd al-Malik said, "I asked Imam al-Sadiq (as) about fasting on the ninth day of Muharram and the day of Ashura. Imam al-Sadiq said, 'the ninth day is the day when al-Husayn ibn Ali (as) and his companions got besieged and surrounded by the enemy.
It was the day that the mounted soldiers of Sham were enlisted and brought to Karbala where they camped. Ibn Marjanah and Umar ibn Sa'd were very pleased because of the great numbers of mounted soldiers and considered al-Husayn (as) and his companions as weak. They believed that no help would come for al-Husayn (as) because the people of Iraq would not help him.
O my Father! May I be sacrificed for you, O you who were oppressed in a foreign land!' Then, Imam al-Sadiq continued, 'however, the day of Ashura is the day when al-Husayn ibn Ali (as) fell to the ground (was martyred) along with all his companions. Should fasting be observed on such a day? Never at all!
I swear upon the Lord of the Sacred House (the Ka'bah)! Such a day is not a day for fasting. That day is only reserved for sorrow and mourning that has been inflicted on the inhabitants of the skies and the earth altogether. It is a day of happiness and pleasure for the son of Marjanah and Ibn Ziyad's partisans and the people of Sham.
Allah's curse be on them and their offspring. The day of Ashura is a day when all the tombs and mausoleums of the earth except the tombs of Sham cry for al-Husayn. Therefore, Allah will unite on the Day of Resurrection anyone who fasts on that day or looks upon that day as a day of celebration with Ibn Ziyad and his partisans, discontent with a transformed heart…' Al-Kafi, vol. 4, p. 147, hadith 7; Wasa’il al-Shi‘ah, vol. 10, p. 459, section [bab] 21, hadith 2
And:
Kulayni also quotes from Ja'far ibn Isa that he said, "I asked Imam al-Rida (as) about fasting on the day of Ashura. I also asked his opinion about what people say about this fast. The Imam (as) said, 'you are asking me about the fast of the son of Marjanah?'" Al-Kafi, vol. 4, p. 146, hadith 5; Wasa’il al-Shi‘ah, vol. 10, p. 460, section [bab] 21, hadith 3
And even non-Shia writer Salih al-Munajjid, someone very outspoken about his disdain for the grieving of Imam Hussain (as), has something to say about the "tradition" of celebration on the day of Ashura.
... Some others — either Nasibis who oppose and have enmity toward Al-Husayn and his family or ignorant people who try to fight evil with evil, corruption with corruption, lies with lies and bidah with bidah — opposed them by fabricating reports in favor of making the day of Ashura a day of celebration, by wearing kohl and henna, spending money on one’s children, cooking special dishes and other things that are done on Eid and special occasions. These people took the day of Ashura as a festival like Eid, whereas the others took it as a day of mourning...
.... "As for the other things, such as cooking special dishes with or without grains, or wearing new clothes, or spending money on one’s family, or buying the year’s supplies on that day, or doing special acts of worship such as special prayers or deliberately slaughtering an animal on that day, or saving some of the meat of the sacrifice to cook with grains, or wearing kohl and henna, or taking a bath (ghusl), or shaking hands with one another, or visiting one another, or visiting the mosques and shrines and so on… all of this is reprehensible bid’ah and is wrong. None of it has anything to do with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) or the way of the Khulafa ar-Rashidun. It was not approved of by any of the Imams of the Muslims, not Malik, not ath-Thawri, not Al-Layth ibn Sa’ad, not Abu Hanifah, not Al-Awza’i, not Al-Shafi’i, not Ahmad ibn Hanbal, not Ishaq ibn Rahwayh, not any of the Imams and scholars of the Muslims." (Al-Fatawa Al-Kubra by Ibn Taymiyyah)
Ibn Al-Haj mentioned that one of the bidah (innovations) on 'Ashura' was deliberately paying zakat on this day, late or early, or slaughtering a chicken just for this occasion, or in the case of women, using henna. (Al-Madkhal, part 1, Yawm Ashura)
According to a widely known Salafi book,
The Prophet (SAW) says for when you are doubtful, "that which is lawful is clear, and that which is unlawful is also quite clear. Between these two is that which is ambiguous, which most people do not know. One who avoids the doubtful safeguards his faith and his honor." Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 588
Some people say they fast on the day of Ashura due to "gratitude towards Allah." Is it gratitude for the defeat of Firon? Ultimately, is celebrating the death of a pharoah more important than giving the Prophet (saww) condolences on the time of his beloved grandson's martyrdom? We are all products of history and time; Sunnis and Shias alike need to reflect on how the bias passed down generations impacts their understanding of religion.
Was your religion inherited or learnt?
Some traditions are found in Sunni books to the effect that the Prophet (s.a.w.) on migrating to Medina found the Jews fasting on the 10th o
There has been much speculation as to the type of calendar that was used by the pre-Islamic Arabs and the early Muslim community. The Hijrī
Salih al-Munajjid's article:
Allah’s sacred month of Muharram is a blessed and important month. It is the first month of the Hijri calendar and is one of the four sacred
This is the shrine of Syeda Zainabس in Damascus. Keeping the sacrifices in mind that she made in Karbala, Kufa, Shaam, pilgrims express their love and respect for her in different ways. Some crawl, some drag themselves (like in the video) and some just say their salam by simply walking to her shrine. Especially the army which is appointed to protect the Holy shrine of Syedaس, the brave soldiers drag themselves to the shrine just to express their love or say thank you to her. This also happens in Karbala. Its only a way to express their feelings.
5 reasons you should fast on "Ashura" & why you should spend generously on your family.
1. The Prophet ﷺ said:"[By] fasting the day of 'Ashuraa', I hope Allah will thereby forgive the year that came before it" [Muslim]
2. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best fast after Ramadan is the month of Allah Muharram." [Muslim]
3. Ibn Abbas (r) said: I never saw the Prophet so keen to make sure he fasted any day and preferring it over another except this day, the day of Ashuraa', and this month- meaning Ramadan. [Bukhari]
4. If you are unable to fast for a legitimate reason (such as severe illness, a woman's monthly cycle, etc.), but you intended to do so in advance and were prevented, Allah (swt) will reward you based on your sincere intentiorns. The Prophet ﷺ said: "If a person falls sick or travels, he will have a reward recorded for him like that of what he used to do when he was at home and was healthy" [Bukhari]
5. If you are able to, then the Sunnah is to also fast the day before Ashuraa, or the day after. Some scholars, like Ibn al-Qayyim, opined that the best of fasting Ashuraa' is to fast the 9th, 10th, and 11th; the next best level is to fast the 9th and 10th, and the least of fasting 'Ashuraa', but still massively rewarding, is to the fast only the 10th.
Additionally, many scholars recommend spending on one's family generously on the day of 'Ashuraa.
Ibn Mansur asked Imam Ahmad (r): "Do you know of a hadith that says, 'One who generously spends on his family on the day of Ashuraa, Allah will be generous to him for the entire year." He replied, "Yes. It was narrated by Sufyan b. 'Uyaynah . that the following had reached him: 'One who generously spends on his family on the day of 'Ashuraa, Allah will be generous to him for the entire year." Sufyan said, "I have practiced this [i.e. spending on the family] for fifty or sixty years and have found nothing but good in it." Jabir said, "We have practiced this and found it to be so," and the same was reported about Abu al-Zubayr, Shu'bah, and Yahya b. Sa'id.
The 10th of Muharram is Aug. 18 or 19 depending on the.calendar you follow. May Allah accept from you and us.
Jafar Sadiq ibn Mohammad Baqir is reported to have said, "beware! This is a fast about which no Qur’anic verse has been revealed and is not an observed way of conduct. It was only the way of conduct for the partisans of Ziyad when they killed al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali." (Kulayni)
Mohammad Baqir ibn Ali ibn Hussain is reported to have said, "this is a fast which was discontinued after the Qur’anic verse enacting the fast of the holy month of Ramadan was revealed. Doing that which is abandoned is an act of innovation." (Kulayni)
There are deep and intense divisions among jurisprudents about fasting on the day of ‘Ashura. Some jurisprudents believe that it is highly r
Islam isn't a religion, it's a political ideology of conquest that explicitly opposes, and is incompatible with, liberal democracy.
No, not all Muslims support this. The ones who don't are good people, but - and because - they're not good Muslims. Because they reject what the teachings of the quran and the ahadith specifically prescribe.
Believe them when they tell you what they're up to.
i don't think so. the problem arises when you can't differentiate between islam and the people. since you're clearly passionate about this, if you studied the history of islam in proper depth, you'd understand this divide better; whether it's about the politics or the conquests.
for one, it's ironic how these people who so vehemently hate democracy are the product of a group of men who thought one of them would be a better leader after the prophet's (s.a.w.w) death than the person he announced- and decided that through manipulation and contrived voting, despite the absence of many people who technically should've been a part of that decision but were excluded because they held views the men didn't want to encourage.
oddly similar to "liberal democracy" too, isn't it?
this, however isn't about the muslims, or "not all muslims", since you specifically brought up the religion itself. if you take quranic verses out of context without any in-depth understanding of the multi-layered meanings, of course you're going to end up thinking the worst things about it. if you hear "hadith" that come from narration chains of people well-known for being liars and hypocrites in their time, you're obviously going to find preposterous, completely stupid quotes.
this may be useless advice, since people who irrationally despise something hardly ever hold more than surface knowledge about it, but if you're going to hate something, why not fully understand it first? there are many impartial sources and references i could offer, or just answer with.
