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I was at the majlis of Imam Zainul'Abideen earlier today. A lady in her late 40's was sat across from me. My mum then told me that she was from the royal family here and that she had converted a while back. I was well pleased to hear this. She was extremely humble, it was hard to believe that someone of her stature was sat at the smallest majlis in Oman, with such humility, crying so much and doing latom over the Imam.

I love how being a Shi'a bonds you to other Shi'as, when you meet someone new whatever their age or ethnicity you feel a special love for them and being around them is a joy.

Salam. Second Response; Conditions To Debate Sheikh Asrar Rashid!!!I now issue this second video directly to Sheikh Asrar Rashid. I now formally invite you to a series of polemical debates on those topics that separate our two Sects. I have sought to allay your previous excuses not to debate me on account of the fact that:1) I'm not in the UK and you'll only debate me in person 2) I'll turn the sound down to tamper with the debate as it will be run through my channel.There exists no barrier whatsoever to debating via Satellite link, in this day and age it is no different to being in the same room. You can air the debates through any channels of your choice. If you are indeed a true defender of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Aisha as you proclaim you are then kindly come forward and debate me.Thus far, all you've achieved through your status updates is excite your fanbase. It is now time to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.If I can clarify matters any further, please do not hesitate to contact me. Otherwise, I'll look forward to your acceptance of the debates in due course.Now all that's left is for us to agree the conditions of the debate on the uprightness of the Sheikhayn (Abu Bakr, Umar, A'isha ) and all other companions who deviated from the path of Allah (swt). I'll look forward to hearing from you in due course.Ahlbaittv@gmail.com

Innah Lillahi wa Innah Ilayhi Rajioon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taqi_Tabatabaei_Qomi This scholar was one of only three scholars (the other two being sayed sistani himself and Mirza Ali Falsfi) who received written statement of confirmation of Ijtehad by Sayed Khoei. he was also famous among matami for doing matam without his shirt

Muawiyah was going to fight someone who earned the Caliphate the Sunni way, and Imam Hassan chose peace instead of fitnah/division. That doesn't make Muawiyah a rightful ruler, it makes him a violent tyrant. It wasn't "handed over" in any historical sense. I'm not a believer in the 12 infallible Imams system, but I know a tyrannical, unjust ruler when I see one. Muawiyah wasn't even hesitating when he admitted he took the Caliphate by the sword - which is wrong according to our Holy Quran in several places. Which is why among Sunnis, they don't' consider Muawiyah one of the "Four rightly guided Caliphs". Many of those Shia' Imams were 100 times more qualified to be the Khalifa than those who came after "the four rightly guided"

Zaair Guide is now available for download on both android and iOS. The app assists users who wish to travel and learn more about Ziyaraat (Iran, Iraq and Syria), and explore the historic places with little or no hurdles at all. Google Playstore: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vanguardmatrix.zaair_guide Apple App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zaair-guide/id1059137343 Website: http://www.zaairguide.com/

I was into BBM and Facebook, i.e. I was superficial and lost. Don't get me wrong, I am still very much superficial, but not so lost :p

WSWR, It was difficult for me to comprehend when I began my path to the truth, as well. Islamic history has become so white washed over hundreds of years. Please continue to do research into these three personalities: BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER the life of our beloved Rasool kareem, SAW.

How easily people are decieved. Barrel bombs....ask youself this...if an army that is fully equipped..would bother making barrelbombs. Then ask this...would you be happy if it was regular bombs? Then ask this....how would you react if syrian army did nothing and let ISIS take over? Then ask yourself how much you actually know about the situation to finally ask yourself how clueless you really are. Borderline hypocrites. Tell me....do you support liberation of Mosul? If you do, but at the same time are against Syrian coalition, and civilians dying in Syria then you are a hypocrite. if you believe that civilians wont die in mosul from all the mortars, air attacks, shelling etc, then you are also slightly slow. Using Assad as an argument for your lack of basirah and foresight won't work anymore. noone cares about Assad, its the bigger picture that is important.

Something you'll never hear about in the mainstream media.

Okay. I was quoting a different post where you left IF out of your reply. IF is a small word, but it is big in meaning. The ayah 4:66 says IF Allah decreed to kill yourselves. It didn't say Allah commanded to kill yourselves. Allah SWT does not order people to kill themselves. Allah does not wish anyone to harm themselves. If you tell people that the ayah 9:110 says to cut your heart into pieces, Allah SWT might not forgive you for that. Ahlul Bayt AS never sanctioned such a thing. Please stop using the Holy Qur'an to look for an excuse for what you do. If your marja allows it, then that is up to you.

السلام عليكم I hope you are all doing well. I would like to ask wether anyone can provide me some Hadeeth referring to Surat Al-Baqara (Cow) Ayas 8 to 12. Many Thanks

Salaam, You can go to quran.al-islam.org, select the surah, pick the ayah range and select " Pooya/M.A. Ali Engl. Commentary ". That should help.

This probably a very good thing. I know it sounds ironical as we all use the internet as it is, but trust me, i know the damage that some sites on the internet have done. The internet as it is, and the sexualised content on it is the cause of probably most of the zina caused by muslims. I have heard of many muslim men/women, that had a pious/good upbringing, and they are good people, and these teens were shown a video or a dating site by some friend, then out of curiosity they checked it out, and then went further, and further, until curiosity (temptation) killed the cat (or in this case killed the soul). I'd say there are millions of muslim youth who have gone through this, and are addicted or deeply in this problem, and even with governments blocking sites, a 12 year old can even know how to use a VPN. ...So it's about time the muslim states start doing something like this, to protect us (from temptation/zina/haraam).

Three wives of the prophet saww have mentioned in their narration that the verse of purification was revealed in her house. These include: Aisha, Umme Salama, and Saffiya.RA. They have not claimed that they are included in Ahl albayat as covered under the verse 33;33. Do you consider them liars? Also the action of the Prophet saww coming to the house of Fatima SAA and imam Ali AS and reciting this verse confirms that this is only revealed for Ahllul kissa and not for wives. Wasalam

Imamat is founded in Quran, and not only that, the way Quran proves Prophets it always does so with proving Imamat at the same time. Therefore it has made it so that justified founded belief in Prophets and Imams go hand to hand, while, if one rejects Imams after Mohammad, he has not grasped the proof of Prophethood the Quran has come with. That is one reason among many people who deny Imamate will never be counted in the Ulil-Albab or believers, and they are not counted among those who truly testify to Prophets because their testification is more so based on zeal to their religion and not on the insight the Quran offers.

I honestly think using snapchat is a legitimate grounds for divorce. Mostly because I don't know what snapchat is but I hear people talking about it. And that makes me scared and angry.

Do be sure to let us all know how she reacts to that suggestion.

Imamate is clearly in the Quran for everyone to see except for blind hearts. If you can't understand a simple poetry by imam sha'fi then how on earth will you understand imamate with that nasbi mind of yours? Where does it say Allah forgave hazrat Aisha and Hafsa? This is only wishful thinking by you. Allah did not order the holy prophet (sawas) to divorce them and the choice was left up to the messenger (s). Indeed, the holy prophet remained patient are the conduct of these two wives and showed us as an example on what to do if a wife troubles a believer. after all the messenger (s) was a perfect example to us and if he exercised no patience with them, then people would have accused him that he is very hard hearted and can't handle his wives. So there are many reasons and wisdom why the prophet (s) would not divorce or even marry a particular person. I guess this is to much for you to comprehend I am saying the holy prophet (s) is including in that ayah because that's why we address them as the panj tan paak. The FIVE pure people. For the second time again mr masbi, The verse does NOT mean that Allah removed all abomination. The verse means to KEEP AWAY all abomination. Unless you mean that these 5 pure people, including the prophet (S), initially had abomination and were not pure? God forbid and forgive you from these ummayad inspired ideas. Rijs has many meanings and this is one of the meanings. This is the sick disease of literalism nearly every nasbi, including you, suffers from. So, for arguments sake, let's take your ummaya influenced interpretation. This would mean that Aisha and hafsa were full of rijs and were impure and filthy until Allah cleansed them. Is this what you really want to accuse ummal momineens by this interpretation? As mentioned to you earlier, Rijs has many meaning and you need to look at it individually case by case basis. For exampe, read ibn kathir tafisr on the 8:11 verse you posted. You just can't digest the fact, and I know this is really angering your brainwashed nasbi mind, that the wives were not part of the purification part. History and your books testify to this fact that rijs was not removed (according to your claim) and Aisha disobeyed Allah and his messenger time after time. In fact, let's forget everything else for a moment, she disobeyed a direct command of Allah in the very ayah of 33:33 (remain in houses) we are discussing! That's (one of the reasons) why ammar yasir said: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ آدَمَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو حَصِينٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَرْيَمَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ الأَسَدِيُّ، قَالَ لَمَّا سَارَ طَلْحَةُ وَالزُّبَيْرُ وَعَائِشَةُ إِلَى الْبَصْرَةِ بَعَثَ عَلِيٌّ عَمَّارَ بْنَ يَاسِرٍ وَحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ، فَقَدِمَا عَلَيْنَا الْكُوفَةَ فَصَعِدَا الْمِنْبَرَ، فَكَانَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ فَوْقَ الْمِنْبَرِ فِي أَعْلاَهُ، وَقَامَ عَمَّارٌ أَسْفَلَ مِنَ الْحَسَنِ، فَاجْتَمَعْنَا إِلَيْهِ فَسَمِعْتُ عَمَّارًا يَقُولُ إِنَّ عَائِشَةَ قَدْ سَارَتْ إِلَى الْبَصْرَةِ، وَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّهَا لَزَوْجَةُ نَبِيِّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ، وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى ابْتَلاَكُمْ، لِيَعْلَمَ إِيَّاهُ تُطِيعُونَ أَمْ هِيَ‏.‏ When Talha, Zubair and `Aisha moved to Basra, `Ali sent `Ammar bin Yasir and Hasan bin `Ali who came to us at Kufa and ascended the pulpit. Al-Hasan bin `Ali was at the top of the pulpit and `Ammar was below Al-Hasan. We all gathered before him. I heard `Ammar saying, "`Aisha has moved to Al-Busra. By Allah! She is the wife of your Prophet in this world and in the Hereafter. But Allah has put you to test whether you obey Him (Allah) or her (`Aisha). Sahih Bukhari. This hadith is a slap on the face on the nasbi's. This narration is showing that aisha and Allah are in opposite directions. Meaning if you want to obey Allah you have to not take the side of Aisha and if you want to take the side of Aisha then you are disobeying Allah!! So if you were there at the time, what would you have done? Would you have sided with Allah or hazrat Aisha? So much for the removal of Rijs eh?

@Rasul Salam brother. Can you please keep us updated with all the latest updates regarding this Shia scholar's challenge to asrar rashid. Jazak Allah.

Salam Brother @The One , your post made me comment after a while of being away from this site. I do not mean to upset you, or anyone who sees the world in the same way you do, but you possibly have the most ignorant post in this thread. Please let me explain why and please read my words properly. You say: "How is this any different to the Jews cursing Allah's Prophets?" Answer: It is very different. Companions of the Prophet (sawa) are very different to prophets of Allah. They are no where near the status of a prophet, so I ask you to please stop elevating the companions to such a ridiculous degree. You say: "I'm sure they were much better Muslims than any of you." Answer: That's your opinion. Some companions committed murder and other such things which sunnis are not allowed to talk about. I have not committed any murders. Maybe I am better. But Allah is the judge. However, it is very bold to claim that they are better muslims than anyone else without knowing the person you are belittling. You say: " They were real muslims, who fought alongside the Prophet in battles and were ready to die for the sake of Allah." Answer: So what are your opinions of the family and companions of grandson of the Prophet (sawa)? They were slaughtered worse than animals in the struggle against oppression. You say: "until any of you have suffered half as much as them, the only hypocrites are you." Answer: Actually, the Allah warns the Prophet (sawa) about hypocrites in the Quran. Was Allah talking about casper? There were hypocrites with him at the time! You say: "Not because you label yourself as a Shia but because you have the nerve to belittle them or even worse curse them." Answer: Cursing them is a hot topic in the shia community as well, however, maybe you should study the history on Mu'awiya and how he used the act of cursing to character assassinate Imam Ali (as). You say: "The only one we should be saying Labbaik to is Allah. No body else. You do not see anything wrong in calling out to a dead person? Allah knows best, but I don't think Hussayn (RA) can hear you calling out to him. " Answer: The Quran says that people who died in the way of Allah are alive and being sustained in Heaven. Also, when people say Labbaiyka ya Hussain, it is more of a chant to keep the message of Hussain (as) alive. Please give more thought to the practices of people and reflect more on their actions. Stop assuming that everyone is a leyman idiot who does not know what he or she is doing. You say: "Another question that comes to my mind regarding this is that....this event, the martyrdom of Hussayn took place after the Prophets (SAW) death. After Allah had already perfected and completed his religion.....why then do you give this incident so much importance?" Answer: In Hadith al Thaqalain, Allah is reminding people of their duty to the progeny of his household. That holy and divine command by the Prophet (sawa) was desecrated in the worst possible way on Ashura. Please contemplate the severity of Ashura and what the event actually means and stands for. Although the religion was complete, the majority of muslims at the time were not on the straight path. Islam was nearly dead because of open sinners like Yazid as Ameerul Mu'mineen. Think deeply about the reason of why this event took place. What really caused it. You say: "Where is the need to bring in something new to the religion after Allah has already declared his religion complete?" Answer: When the Prophet asks us to follow the Quran alongside the progeny of his household, we will then follow what those members interpret to us as time modernises our lives. Otherwise, I can make silly and ridiculous arguments like 'you cannot pray on marble because when the religion was completed, no one used to pray on marble'. This is a silly question on your part. You say: " If mourning Hussayn's (RA) death in the manner that most of you Shia's do has not been prescribed by Allah or his Prophet (SAW)...then surely that is Bid'ah...no? And if mourning the martyrdom of Hussayn (RA) is so significant to Islam....then why do you not mourn the death of Muhammad (SAW) or Ibrahim ('Alaihisalaam) or Musa ('Alaihisalaam)." Answer: Firstly, understand that not only Shias mourn Imam Hussain (as). Sunnis, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and other sects all mourn him. Secondly, mourning a dead person is not Bid'ah, it is human nature. Lastly, in the verse of Mubahala, the Prophet (as) takes Imam Hassan (as) and Hussain (as) has 'his sons'. If the deaths of the sons of the Prophet (as) does not motivate you to cry or be sad in general, you should revisit your outlook on Islam. You say: "Surely it doesn't really get any bigger than being a Nabi or Rasul?" Answer: The Quran states that the title of Imam is greater than both. He made Prophet Ibrahim (as) an Imam only after all the trials and tribulations very late in his life. He was already a Nabi and Rasool. A Nabi is one who receives revelation. A Rasool is one who delivers revelation. An Imam is one who guides people in their every day lives based on the revelation that is delivered. You say: "My apologies if I have upset anybody on my 2nd point (I'm not apologising for the 1st point even if I have upset someone - coz you seriously do need to think about that)" Answer: You are not really sorry otherwise you would apologise for both points, Either way, if you took offense to anything I said, it's your problem not mine. I did not insult you or curse you. That's enough for me.

Because The minorities are not muslims and we shouldn't budge in what they can eat and drink and what they cannot. Allah has banned alcohol for The muslims for a good reason and Its enough, The government does not need to.

No man, I don't think you are crazy but there will probably be always be a tatbir supporter and scholars who support tatbir. I don't support it and I don't have to do it, but at the end of the day, the Shia who do it are my brethren in faith and I mustn't violate their right to do so. That being said, the hadith they use to support tatbir are Dhaif, incredibly weak according to our scholars and not even from the Shia corpus- the few I've read sound like Umayyad propaganda. Not to mention, it might be of Alevi origin actually. I really look down on the adults who do it to the small kids, Waseem. I've seen the pictures, I am disgusted with them. It would be one thing if a thirteen year old boy wanted to do it so he could be like Dad but why cut the scalp of a four or five-year old? There's a less traumatic way to do Azadari for the kids, it ain't tatbir. The kids should just do poetry recitation and donate blood,something beneficial and useful like you said.

Draw a visual representation of the word "weekend" #tgit

Walaw anna katabna AAalayhim ani oqtuloo anfusakum And if [that] We (had) decreed on them that, "Kill yourselves" It says if.

Taqiyya isn't lying, it is hiding your beliefs in a situation where you can get hurt by being Muslim. I don't know why you are so caught up about this, you are really wasting people's time with your repetitive arguing and circular logic. This is all I am going to say on this thread; I hope you ponder on what I just said, you aren't doing anything productive. None of your previous threads achieved anything, they didn't add anything new nor were they your ideas. You're just copying Zakir Naik and Abdur Rahman Green ad nauseum and spreading fitnah. Are you proud of yourself?

I am against such kind of debates and argumentation. Its not the matter of who is truthful, rather mostly its matter of turning your opponent down. A kind of Nafs Parasti. Their is enough light for one who wants to see. Let the people find the truth. Its not preaching at all. Just wsstage of time and creating hatred and discord between Muslims. I disagee with this idea very strongly.

Salam. Alhamdulillah your disability (prosthetic leg) is less noticeable to people who don't know you. It's certainly something that your prospective bride should know about you before the wedding day. There are thousands of amputees in Iran after the war with Iraq and those men have found spouses with the help of organizations. You should look for a strong woman who is ready to be your wife, not some teenager who her parents will say no you are not the prince charming they want for a son-in-law. Be glad that you won't marry into such a family. You need in-laws who will be positive people who can help you and your wife, not people who will look down on you and think you are not capable. I am sure there are Muslim sisters who would marry you. Please focus on your education and inshaAllah you meet a strong woman who will not care that you have a disability.

Salam. I was a guest at ShiaChat from 2002 - 2010. I was part of the silent majority here and also watching my favorite state and local news sites. In 2005 I started reading at another invision power board forum called CrimeandJustice.us where people were discussing crimes and amber alerts, but it closed down unexpectedly, maybe December 31, 2009. In January 2010, I decided to join my fellow Shias here at ShiaChat. It's great to be on a site where you can talk about your religion and politics without people insulting you. I love SC.

Alexandra Palace London. No post-production, this is 'as is' off the camera.

Yeah I'm over it. Now, i just smile and maintain eye contact with with everyone who comes in. So, whoever did it will think i know they did it haha. What should I do if I see people stealing when I'm out and about? Snitch?

A newly invented act has even gotten zealous shia's who support or perform it invoking curses on their own shias who disagree with it. It is like a rabid cancer, destroying everything, the school of thought from the inside out.

I'm gonna make up a new way to mourn for Imam Hussein, I'm gonna take bricks and smash my knees!

On that note: -Dr Shomali in his Familiarity with Islamic Ethics, chapter 8: Morality and Ethics.

Fellow BB fan? I have had almost every BB phone out there. On Priv now.

new rule: only people who have actually gone to zainabia to defend the shrine have the permission to question others why they have not been

Your imam made it clear along with the Quran. You have brothers in Yemen fighting injustice, brothers in Palestine fighting injustice, brothers in burma, etc. Etc. plenty of places for you to spill your blood. It doesn't take a genius to know whose oppressing innocent people. If you don't know who to fight, spilling your own blood isn't the answer. In Quran we are forbidden to kill ourselves and are the slaves for Allah swt. He provides good and bad, you don't provide it to yourself. That body of yours is not yours, it's Allah's swt, and you don't have a right to slice it up and mutilate it. It's as though God provided you a ship, a vessel to exist in this world for him, and your damaging the Ship Allah GAve you. That's ungrateful and a bad image for the Shia. You don't attract others to your faith this way. The prophet SAW calls blood a dirty/unclean substance.. yet you want to be inconsiderate and spill it on the floor for others to walk on and spread it. It seems your heart is a stone in this matter and no amount of convincing from me will help you. You reject the advise of many scholars over a few who say to bloodlet, and I bet it without question when in the Quran you are taught to question and not follow men blindly. From 17:36 And 2:170 21:53 - 21:54 May Allah SWT guide you to better judgement and reason. I'm saying this out of concern and for your benefit, know that.

good luck man - keep us posted! I've always done stand up so my background is western boxing - taekwondo (didnt stick with it very long) - muay thai. brother @repenter is your man for wrestling/MMA as is @IbnSina

As I ask you again and again. The Jews had to pay the blood price Shirk the ultimate sin. What sin have the Shias done that they need to pay a blood price. Are you sure you arent really a Wahhabi trying to convince people that Shias need to pay a blood price for killing Imam Hussain(as)

So we are in agreement that true Caliphate only comes from Allah?

I wouldn't mind at all if one of my children married someone who uses a prosthetic limb. You will find the right person at the right time inshallah, if you keep your eyes open.

Proof is in the thread Shia and Ashura . Unlike you I dont waste time writing long diatribes. If anybody is interested in the truth. If they arent interested in the truth thats there loss so who cares. Truth remains truth regardless of how long an essay you right to cover your deficiencies. Advantage is all posts remain on here

We are ready to serve you, ya Aba Abdillah. We are ready to obey you, Yabna Ameeril momineen We are ready to die for you, Yabna Zahra. This blood is witness, we are saying the truth. Our wounds are witness, we will never leave you. Accept our love, Ya Syeda Shababe Ahlul Jannah.

I mistakenly read your post again. This not about tools or where the bleeding occurs. This is about dishonesty and defense of dishonesty. Problem will only be solved when you stop alliances with fatwa forgers and become an Usooli rather then use it as a cover for your activities. Dishonesty of the highest order to question what is written in black and white

Wa alaikum assalam. I suggest You pray salat Al-istighfar aka tawbah prayer. You'll feel much better Insha'Allah.

Salam, Ya Ali (as) Madad, Lanat upon the enemies of the Ahlulbayt (as) Every time I go to Karbala, I always buy a bunch of kaffans. I have a spare one I am willing to give to any shia free of charge. Its done massah (wiped) the zarih of Imam Hussain (as) by my uncle, and has ziarat ashura written on it in khaak e shiffa. If you are a sister/ want the kaffan for a female, I also have jewelry that the deceased wears made of khaak shiffa too (ring & earrings) if you want it If you want it just let me know, I dunno whoever writes the most convincing post or something or whoever the majority of sc decide deserves it most will get it. I am getting paid on the 15th November so will post it out then. we have until then to decide. if you are uncomfortable with giving me a postal address then we can arrange an intermediary of your choice, maybe the nearest mod/ admin to you or a PO box or something. I can be flexible Ill post some pics of the kaffan tonight InshaAllah

Salaam brother, Allah gave orders in the Qur'an, and those orders were explained by His Messenger (pbuh). There are many ayat that pertain to Imamate in the Qur'an, one of the most explicit ones is 4:59 "O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those of you who are in authority (ulil amri minkum); and if ye have a dispute concerning any matter, refer it to Allah and the messenger if ye are (in truth) believers in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more seemly in the end." (4:59) Notice how both the Messenger and the Wali al-Amr share the same "obey" (obey the messenger AND the ulil amr). This expression means that the obedience we give to the Wali al-Amr must be the same as that which we give to the Messenger (pbuh). The Messenger has more rights over us than we have over ourselves (33:6), so someone with that same authority over the Umma cannot simply be a ruler, or a scholar. Allah would not make us follow someone/something unless it was failsafe, and always on His path, much like the Prophet (pbuh). This leader would ideally be the leader of the Umma and Islamic state, just as the Prophet was. The term ulil amr shows up again in the same Surah. Check it out: "Will they not then ponder on the Qur'an? If it had been from other than Allah they would have found therein much incongruity. And if any tidings, whether of safety or fear, come unto them, they noise it abroad, whereas if they had referred it to the messenger and such of them as are in authority, those among them who are able to think out the matter would have known it. If it had not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy ye would have followed Satan, save a few (of you)." (4:82-83) Here, we see that the Messenger (pbuh) and the Ulil Amr are tied directly to the tidings of safety (heaven) and fear (hellfire), and given authority in the interpretation of the Qur'an. Again, a Wali al-Amr is not just a man with a crown - it is someone with a spiritual significance in the religion. So he heads the government, and he is the uppermost scholar in the religion. These are not esoteric interpretations. The words are right in front of you. Who can be trusted with the interpretation of the Qur'an? "He it is Who hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture wherein are clear revelations--They are the substance of the Book--and others (which are) allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt pursue, forsooth, that which is allegorical seeking (to cause) dissension by seeking to explain it. None knoweth its explanation save Allah and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge (rasikhuna fil `ilm). Say: We believe therein; the whole is from our Lord; but only men of understanding really heed." (3:7) So who are the rasikhuna fil `ilm? Look at the wording: these are not just `ulema' (those with knowledge), these are people plunged into knowledge. There is a difference between a bucket full of water and a bucket in the ocean. We know that the Prophet (pbuh) had full knowledge of the Qur'an, but this is a plural. Who shares this knowledge? Was there a single sahabi who knew the interpretation of the whole Book? The only sahabi who made this claim, in both Sunni and Shi`i sources, is Imam `Ali (as). If you need the sources, I will give them to you. One of the most mutawatir sayings of Imam `Ali (as) is his claim to having knowledge of every ayah, where it was revealed, what subject it pertains to, what it abrogates, what abrogates it, etc. And if no one knows the interpretation to the Qur'an, then why would Allah communicate to us in a vague and ambiguous way? Particularly when the Qur'an is the final revelation. "Say: 'No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin'" (42:23) This verse speaks volumes. Firstly, compare the request of Muhammad (pbuh) to that of the other prophets. This line "no reward do I ask of you for this (religion)" is said by many prophets in the Qur'an, but here, only for Muhammad (pbuh), a new phrase is added - "except the love of those near of kin". Our dues to the Prophet (pbuh) for delivering the message is to love his Family (as). The word being used here is muwadda, which is a mutual love that exists between two parties. We must have muwadda with Ahl al-Bayt, meaning, they must be pleased with us, and our love for them cannot be hypocritical, half-hearted lip service. Praising those who fought Ali (as) does not fulfill the obligation of 42:23. Being silent about Husayn's brutal death and the oppression of his descendants is not honouring the Ahl al-Bayt. Deliberately avoiding Imam as-Sadiq as a pivotal shaykh in Islamic hadith and fiqh is also hypocritical. You cannot simply love Ahl al-Bayt with your words and leave it there. The Prophet (pbuh) compared them to the ark of Nuh, and therefore they are necessary for your salvation and deliverance. “So ask the People of the Reminder if you do not know.” (16:43, 21:7) The Imams are the Ahl al-Dhikr, and Allah has ordered us to ask them about these religious affairs. The alternative explanation is that this is referring to the rabbis and priests, but why would Allah ask us to learn from those who would be interested in misguiding us? "On the day when We shall summon all men with their Imam, whoso is given his book in his right hand such will read their book and they will not be wronged a shred." (17:71) All people will be raised on the Day of Judgment with their leader, teacher, and guide. We are all raised with our rolemodel, whether the person is one of the Imams of Guidance, or one of the Imams of Disbelief. We will be raised in groups and sent to Paradise and Hell in those groups (39:71, 39:73, 99:6). Every time period will have Imams of Guidance and Imams of Disbelief. We yearn to be resurrected with our Imam, by following the obligations of Islam and fulfilling the needs of the leader of our time. So the Imam does not just play a role in this life, but he is an advocate and intercessor in the next life. The Imams show up in 21:05, 4:54, 5:55, 13:7, 9:119, 39:9, 29:49, 2:121, 4:33, 15:75, and many other ayaat, according to our hadiths. So this is just that which is in the Qur'an. We are in agreement that the Qur'an is not the only Islamic source. The Qur'an gave the orders to do salat, zakat, and hajj, but it was the Prophet (pbuh) that explained the instructions. Likewise, going to hadiths is inevitably, and there are many hadiths that all schools view as authentic that support our end. May Allah guide us all to His path.

Definately ! we are the generation of the internet! We have no excuse! having said that, it is interesting to note,there will always be conflicting opinions, even if you graduate from the same institute and become a qualified clergy person! How come? So which opinion is the truth in matters of religion? According to Imam Ali, if there are two contradicting opinions one is FALSE. Now, who is willing to claim they are wrong after spending years of study??? So in my opinion the prerequisite is to seek "the truth" from Allah, because all sects have their own perception who is Allah and how to reach him. You wont be able to know the truth, unless you first seek the truth, as to know which is the true path. Everyone is looking to confirm the knowledge they have and "THEIR perception is the truth," not many people look for THE TRUTH, Because The Truth, will require a great deal of struggle to break ones EGO, as we may have to admit we were wrong all the way.... A person who is willing to admit he/she is wrong, is the one seeking for the truth, despite whatever he or she thought to be the Truth. This needs looking deep down ourselves ,Courage and humility.