11 replies to this topic

[alhasa]

Hey everyone,

Salam aleykum

My name is khalid for al Hasa Saudi arabia. It's the region with the biggest Shia population....we are about 15-20percent of the population of this region but in some areas it can go up as big as 30-40 percent ( some cities and villages )

So I am wondering if I am Shia or not. My tribe is about 6000 this is a subgroup of larger tribe. Both of my parents are Shia tho they are as the case with both of my grandparents are Shia-atheist. As in they don't believe in Allah or any Shia thing but they are okay with iran and some of them support hizballah.

30% my 6000 tribe are Shia by name. They don't believe in Allah bs they consider being a Shia as a sort of a nationality. So they are shia-atheist as well.

About 30-40 percent became Sunni. There was a big dawa in my area in the 1980s and all schooling in religion is Sunni so the only Shia education you can get is in Qatif area which far ( this is where the protests happen ) Shia in Qatif are much fewer in number than Shia in Hasa but a considerable group practices Shia religion unlike shia in Hasa which has more Shias.

I have started mixing with a somewhat a religious Shia family in my tribe. They consist of 30 percent. But this particular family does not view Omar bin al kattab or Abu baker negatively, just view yzeed in a negative way. Believe in 12 imams but they don't believe they are infallible. Are they still considerd Shia?


Also I don't like nor do I believe in hitting myself. I don't curse or think negatively of the sahabah or ahlu al baytvor that imams are infallible. My family wanted me, like my brothers/uncles...etc away from religion as possible so I don't become a wahabi....but they are atheist so they even view religious Shia negatively. What I am concerned is am I shia? Sunni? Or what?

Thanks please help and don't ignore the post!

[Asr]

An athiest shia from saudi. You are a rare breed. Welcome.

Do you believe in God? His prophets the quran?

[amira_786]

Don't worry about what you are by name or label, or what anyone else thinks. You know what you believe and that's what matters most

[Follower]

Also I don't like nor do I believe in hitting myself.

This isn't a problem, because it isn't a requirement.

I don't curse or think negatively of the sahabah or ahlu al baytvor that imams are infallible.

In terms of the sahabah, there are some who were loyal and others who weren't. Furthermore, some respected the ahlulbayt , others oppressed them. InshaAllah, if you read a little bit about islamic history this matters will become more clear.

Regarding the status of the aimmah and their 'isma, perhaps you might also want to read about the doctrine of Imamah (which I assume you already believe in).

My family wanted me, like my brothers/uncles...etc away from religion as possible so I don't become a wahabi....but they are atheist so they even view religious Shia negatively. What I am concerned is am I shia? Sunni? Or what?

It's up to you. Which fiqh do you follow? Sounds to me like you are a Shia with some doubts about certain issues. These can be cleared up by reading about these issues and gaining more knowledge about them, inshaAllah. Feel free to ask any questions you have on this forum, maybe we can help or point you in the right direction.

[Hot hot]

If you elieve on Allah swt and his prophet mohammed saww and his wali ali a.s andIf you beleive that ahlulbayt a.s are infallible then you are already shia

[wonderer]

7asa has few good 7sniat, it would be good to start from there, maybe attend more programs, and get to know your faith and God
plus u can always read and learn about how to be a better shia

[alhasa]

Hussiniat in hassa are not very helpful. They can hardly influence people. Cause in school Shias take a lot of Sunni Islamic subjects . Like my tribe were all Shias 40 years ago. Now, Shias are a minority, especially after the must8ella debates. In Saudi alhamdullah we get education p, scholarships etc as Shias but no religious independent at all!


I do believe in Allah when I said Shia atheist I was talking about my grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters. They don't believe in Allah they dislike ayatollah a lot and think its crazy to hit urself etc. they say they are Shia because they dislike religious Sunnis and are supportive of Iran.


Hmm I have read a lot about sahabah and ahlu al bait in school and elsewhere. I hold the Sunni view regarding sahabah. I mean I was with Shias before and the way they talked about Omar and Abu baker was disgusting calling them gay and cursing them. I could never stand or do that. I have a positive views towards all sahabah.

The only infaliable is the prophet. I don't believe in imams having special powers as I have stated. I don't know what Ali being wali Allah means but I also take the Sunni view regarding ali.

I don't like Yazid and really love Hassan and Hussine. But Sunnis here love Hassan and Hussine too....i don't know their view of Yazide. Regarding mwaya ãÚÇæíÉ I believe Ali was the right one. But I don't curse or think negatively of ãÚÇæíÉ.

When mixing with religious Shias here I wasn't welcomes cause I refused to curse Omar and Abu baker. That was Last week, some of them called me *mutasnin* it is a name given to Shias who become Sunnis and they said I should just be an atheist like th rest of my family, as it is better than being a Sunni. I have always considerd myself a Shia. But now I'm starting to doubt it. The encounter last week was really intense.


You have to know that the religious Shia families here are really closed and they try to isolate themselves from Sunnis, atheist Shias and Shias that became Sunnis. So, when someone outside of their family joins them they get very suspicious, which is very understandable considering the circumstances but it makes it difficult to feel welcomed :/. That's why I'm not sure if I am Shia anymore or not.

[Asr]

Well atleast you believe in Allah swt. That is more important than being sunni/shia.

Secondly, you believe in imams.. And that Imam Ali as was right..So You are leaning towards shia tendecies. Dont worry about the mixture in your beliefs, because due to the athiest background and sunnis islamic education in a shia-hostile country, that much is understandable. So dont compare yourself to the religious shias.. They come from totally different mindset and background.

However, dont judge yourself based on wether you curse sahaba or not or wether you hit yourself or not. They are not mandatory nor the essense of shiaism.

Instead focus on learning more about shia history and ahadith and sunnah of the Imam as. The essense of shia beliefs.

Do you believe in the 12 Imam to be in ghayaba? Which way do u perform wudhu and salah? Do you follow any shia marja in fiqh issues?

[alhasa]

Well atleast you believe in Allah swt. That is more important than being sunni/shia.

Secondly, you believe in imams.. And that Imam Ali as was right..So You are leaning towards shia tendecies. Dont worry about the mixture in your beliefs, because due to the athiest background and sunnis islamic education in a shia-hostile country, that much is understandable. So dont compare yourself to the religious shias.. They come from totally different mindset and background.

However, dont judge yourself based on wether you curse sahaba or not or wether you hit yourself or not. They are not mandatory nor the essense of shiaism.

Instead focus on learning more about shia history and ahadith and sunnah of the Imam as. The essense of shia beliefs.

Do you believe in the 12 Imam to be in ghayaba? Which way do u perform wudhu and salah? Do you follow any shia marja in fiqh issues?

Well, in school they taught us that Ali was right. Sunnis here also believe Ali was right.

Wudu and salah? Same way I learned in school I guess it is a Sunni way.

Ghayaba? What's that?
Marja? Dunno what that is

[John Al-Ameli]

So whats ur point out of this thread?

You want to know what u r, and what is Shia, go ask a Sheikh or search on the internet for good sources...

Ur thread smells a bit fishy..wa Allah a'lam

Edited by RoAcHy, 14 August 2012 - 11:47 PM.

[alhasa]

So whats ur point out of this thread?

You want to know what u r, and what is Shia, go ask a Sheikh or search on the internet for good sources...

Ur thread smells a bit fishy..wa Allah a'lam

Okay sorry I will ask a sheikh.

Sorry for any troubles.

[John Al-Ameli]

Your welcome