136 replies to this topic

[Kaniz e Zahra]

al-Irshad, on 03 December 2012 - 07:25 PM, said:

Actually, without him, the Revolution wouldn't have succeeded? He's the one who succeeded in marketing the Revolution to the Iranian youth when Sayyid Khomeini and others seemed so distant from them. He's the one who reinvented Abu Dharr as a social reformer so that the youth enchanted with Marxism could relate to him. He is the one who wrote Fatima is Fatima and linked her struggle to what the Iranians were going through at the time.

But He was never against rituals of Azadari, as it was suggested here, i read his essay, all he has to say was against having focus only on rituals while neglecting the message.
If there was no Aza, there would have been no leader, no revolution at all.

[JawzofDETH]

Kaniz e Zahra, on 04 December 2012 - 09:12 AM, said:

But He was never against rituals of Azadari, as it was suggested here, i read his essay, all he has to say was against having focus only on rituals while neglecting the message.
If there was no Aza, there would have been no leader, no revolution at all.

He wasn't against it. But felt that it must be transformative and I agree.
Look at how Bahrain was for so many years, people came out hundreds of thousands into the streets to commemorate Ashurah, but lived the rest of the year on their knees. Azadari was not a transformative force for them, you should read his short essay 'Red Shi'ism Black Shi'ism'

Edited by JawzofDETH, 04 December 2012 - 09:50 AM.

[Kaniz e Zahra]

JawzofDETH, on 04 December 2012 - 09:48 AM, said:

He wasn't against it. But felt that it must be transformative and I agree.
Look at how Bahrain was for so many years, people came out hundreds of thousands into the streets to commemorate Ashurah, but lived the rest of the year on their knees. Azadari was not a transformative force for them, you should read his short essay 'Red Shi'ism Black Shi'ism'

Yes i read it, and saying so after reading it. I agree with you Aza should be transformative, but i was only alluding towards some of the posts where it was assumed he was against rituals, but he was against 'only' rituals, and no transformation.
Thanks for understanding.

[Fiasco]

To answer the original question, it really depends where you live. As a resident of NY, i can tell you that the younger community here is very active in political and social activism. The 10,000 Souls March, which took place yesterday, with the co-signing of the likes of Noam Chomsky, Reza Aslan and Juan Cole, was organized primarily by mid to late 20 somethings, and it was spectacularly successful.

Alot of us in New Jersey and New York are also involved in food pantries, volunteering, and collecting funds for the recent hurricane, countering Islamophobia through events like "Roses for the Prophet (youtube it), book clubs, and weekly religious discussions, English only Majalis.

So at least from where i'm sitting, i'd say we're probably more socially and politically relevant especially given we are a minority amongst a minority.

The following is a document we've authored, central goals which apply to our community/youth group in Al-Khoei, NY. Give it a read if you like

[Fiasco]

Here's the document i was talking about, which i comically forgot to include.

https://docs.google....mt2N2ZpTzA/edit

[Ali-Reza]

Shia Islam and Sufi Islam (which booth root to Ahlulbayt) are the fastest growing parts of Islam WITHIN MUSLIMS. The way it works is that Saudis and Wahabis work really hard to convert people, then people join their mislead one eyed cult, then they get tired of their nonesense and look elsewhere. Some become Shias and some become Sufis.

By the way if you are in socall area, please join San Diego Shia Meet up I am trying to organize we are trying to expand awareness here. Shokran

[Payam]

Salamun Alaykum,

What an interesting post to run into! Without a doubt, much of the content in this thread resonates with me, particularly the first page. These cultural issues have indirectly caused me to practice Islam independently, and made me hesitant to pick up the Shi'a title. After all, if you do not see or experience anything worthwhile labeled "Shi'a", over the years, it does impact you. It makes you think "Is this Shi'a? Why would I want to be labeled Shi'a?" Even when I am aware of the cultural problems, I cannot help but be negatively impacted by it.

Member Gypsy brought this post's attention to me. I had created a very similar post on the forum:
http://www.shiachat....f-shia-muslims/

Since many of the points have already been mentioned, there is no need to repeat them alongside my frustrations. If you are interested in the cultural division though, have a look at that post. I reference the book "Shi'ism in America" which perfectly captures your struggles, and even mentions the particular Shia nature of it, since the author could not witness it as much in Sunni circles.

Best of luck to you brothers and sisters in maintaining your faith!

P.S. Too bad culture has pushed back the age of marriage eh... "Forever Alone" I remain!

[Aftahb]

that is bc we r no more small n rare. now we r famous like jews.

[Rational Thinking]

Definitley, to an extent, socially irrelevent.

I respect sometimes the lectures are brilliant. However, a lot of the time, it's just a 'personality cult' of the imams to be fair. A lot of fake hadiths stating absurd things praising the Imam are recited on pulpits.

Hardly anything the Prophet Pbuh is mentioned(yes i know the Imams have his sunnah, but why can we not get the sunnah from the man himself?), and hardly anything is there about the Quran.

I am tired about hearing how they died. I want to know how they lived.

[dletoben]

The main problem is simple- Muslims are extremely rude.  I dare you to take a look at our behavior closely. You will see many Muslims being nasty to each other at the masjid.  Especially the so called religious ones.  Sometimes, Muslims act like poor people don't attend the masjid.  Sunnis are less likely to be unaware of the poor Muslins in the masjid in my experience.

[ChattingwithShias]

Wow you guys are really glim. Maybe I am just blessed to be here in Southern California. We have a fantastic Shi'a scene out here. Lots of youth come out and get involved, it's great!

But I do agree that Shi'as in general need to get more into Quran and Prophet and less about Imams.

Maybe this varies by geography? Would you guys who are cynical about Shiism state where you're living and which community you're talking about?

I can vouch for Socal: Shiism is relevant here!

[dletoben]

I'm from southern California too.  Shias are rude here, including the youth.  Good manners is just not emphasized.  There is too much negativity, pointless opinions and advice, alienation, and pride.  If you are sensitive, your best chance is to ignore people.