Jaane Rabb

The problem is with sectarian bias, which is why there are differences in translations. Take for example this verse: فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَاكُمْ - 47:19 Sahih International translation: So know, [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allah knows of your movement and your resting place. Shakir translation: So know that there is no God but Allah, and, ask protection for your fault and for the believing men and the believing women; and Allah knows the place of your returning and the place of your abiding. Here as well: فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالْإِبْكَارِ - 40:55 Sahih International translation So be patient, [O Muhammad]. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And ask forgiveness for your sin and exalt [ Allah ] with praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning. Shakir Translation Therefore be patient; surely the promise of Allah is true; and ask protection for your fault and sing the praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning. Big difference in translations here: لِّيَغْفِرَ لَكَ اللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَاطًا مُّسْتَقِيمًا - 48:2 Sahih That Allah may forgive for you what preceded of your sin and what will follow and complete His favor upon you and guide you to a straight path Shakir That Allah may forgive your community their past faults and those to follow and complete His favor to you and keep you on a right way, Then it gets inconsistent. Shakir translates وَاسْتَغْفِرْ as forgiveness in other verses, such as this: 12:29 - O Yusuf! turn aside from this; and (O my wife)! ask forgiveness for your fault, surely you are one of the wrong-doers. 24:62 - ... give permission to whom you please of them and ask forgiveness for them from Allah; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. So one can definitely not rely on one translation. I tend to cross reference now n then. If you can understand Urdu, check this debate out between a Quranist and a Mufti specialising in Arabic. Their first topic is related to translations and inconsistency, etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jOjBIXje7A

My experience was different when I was there few years back. There was me, a couple of my family members and my relative who was living in Iran at the time. He (the relative) was giving us a tour of Bibi Masooma Qom's haram. When we got to the scholars section, this guy came and stood beside us. He was listening to my relatives speech (in English). He followed us for the rest of the tour and beyond the exit point. Then my relative spoke to him in Farsi and he walked away. Relative told me it was an agent making sure there were no anti-government speech. What's your opinion on this below? Do you believe Khamenai is the most qualified for his role presently? Is it true that he cannot act as a marja for anyone inside Iran? On 24 April 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini issued a decree convening an Assembly for Revising the Constitution. It made several changes in the constitution, in Articles 5, 107, 109, 111, eliminating the need for the Leader to be a marja or to be chosen by popular acclaim. It made permanent the Expediency Discernment Council to work out disagreements between the Parliament and Council of Guardians, and eliminated the post of Prime Minister. The amendments were thought to be established because no marja had given strong support for Khomeini's policies -[13] The amendments were approved by the voting public on 28 July 1989

Ahmed Ali Worth checking out the Literal translation via the same link.

I suppose it's a little hard to deny when the culprit live streamed it, showed his face, showed his weapons which had markings referencing people of same ideology and finally the white power symbol he gestured in court. But, if there's one thing I've learnt about the media. It's not to trust it. I wouldn't be surprised if there is an alternative agenda.

WS. I am surprised that you've only recently been exposed to this considering Pakistan is like a central hub for this type of spread. I've been aware of it since probably close to a decade now. It's as if they, the zakirs, are competing on how to out do each other, so they go to and beyond Nusayri levels. I used to like listening to Pakistani zakirs but now I just see them as entertainers. Other than seeing their videos on YouTube, they've been coming here to the United Kingdom since a while. Your best bet is to take it up with the masjid's committee and perhaps involve the resident alim, if you have one. Best not to have these types of reciters come to the masjid at all for everyone's sanity. United Kingdom is infested with weird ghuluu and nusayri type groups; Sajdas to alams, Insha Ali instead of Insha Allah, Ali Rabb, Azadari is important while namaz is not, anti-taqleed, anti-scholar, been exposed to this since a decade here. No wonder I ran from Shiaism

At which point does a captive become a slave? I suppose that's when laws pertaining to slavery are imposed. I remember Nakshawani reading about the topic "Sex Slaves" a couple years back, which spawned quite the debate on Shiachat. One theme of the thread (and actually put forth by a student of Hawza) is the lens through which we see slavery in the 21st century, opposed to the historic definition and practise of slavery. There is some discussion on consent, a term/concept that didn't apparently exist at the time. There are rulings from al-Khoie that one doesn't even have to do nikah prior to sexual intercourse with a slave. Then there's concepts such as Tahleel, whereby a master can allow another exclusive use of his slave for sex. Here's the thread: I personally limit myself from discussing such a distressing topic.

WS brother. How was your Ziyaraat trip? Yes I understand that a Hawza student is encouraged to return to his homeland or another place and to spread the teachings. However, one of the relatives I mention, wanted to settle in Iran but found it too hard to make a living. As for Khamenai's leadership, please feel free to comment about the points made below. I think the Iranian leadership has its fair share of criticisms, such as a lack of transparency, nepotism and an iron fist stance to any critique of its rule. All this does indeed make it sound like a dictatorship. Take this for example: "In 2008, the Iranian Parliament voted to prohibit itself from monitoring organizations that the supreme leader controls, except with his permission". It sounds dubious. Then you have the mistreatment of minorities such as Afghan Hazaras and Baha'is. The latter is just one group that claims systematic seizure of their housing properties by Setad; One of the organisations allegedly controlled by Khamenai. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/Iran/#article/part1 One of the "munafiq" groups also happens to include people that wear the imamah.

Being a mo'min (believer) is half the achievement. The second half is being righteous (and just if a leader). A non-Muslim leader who is just, is more superior than a Muslim leader who is unjust. That unjust Muslim leader is only superior to a just non-Muslim leader with regard to his beliefs and not his service to his subjects. Being a mo'min alone is not enough. Malik al-Ashtar being a mo'min was instructed to be righteous when Imam Ali appointed him as a Governor of Egypt: "Let the dearest of your treasuries be the treasury of righteous action... Infuse your heart with mercy, love and kindness for your subjects. Be not in the face of them a voracious animal, counting them as easy prey, for they are of two kinds: either they are your brothers in religion or your equals in creation."

I think we can when a kafir or munafiq is better at implementing laws that mirror Islamic principles. Especially when that society provides justice to its people, where as a so called Islamic country fails to. An absolute shame. We have the best religion, but the worst followers. I've a couple relatives now that have studied in Hawza, Iran and lived there for a few years (one has lived for over a decade), but instead came to the West to settle. Sure, I appreciate it can be down a number of variables, but considering the current affairs in Iran and the youth leaving in droves, then one has to ask what is the Supreme Leader doing to make life better for his nation.

Fresh details about the 50 innocent victims of the Christchurch mosque massacre emerge

Pictures and info about some of the victims

Don't see how that's anything to do with what I said. My point was that a fascist sees us all as one colour regardless. So demonising XYZ sect doesn't help in our fight/survival against the anti-humanity. So why distinguish on sectarian grounds when it all boils down to ethnic profiling? How will Shias distancing themselves going to absolve them from being put in the same pot? The way I see it, this is a battle between pro and anti humanity. I welcome anyone to the pro side, be he a Shia, Sunni, Jew, Christian, Atheist, whatever. I think there is a slow awakening with the Sunnis. They are starting to realise that Saudi is not the central Islamic hub that it's piped up to be. At least that's the feedback I'm getting from my Sunni colleagues. Mistreatment of minorities is a problem everywhere, including Shia countries. E.G. Treatment of Afghan Hazaras in Iran.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush says the death toll is now at 50. Victims range from 2 to older than 60

Salaam, I wanted to limit my contribution in this thread to just telling the story of the victims and their loved ones. However, I feel compelled to speak my mind. Fascists could care less whether one is a Shia, Sunni, Sufi, Green, Red, Pink... If you adhere to the religion of Islam, they hate you. If you revere the Qur'an, they hate you. If you go to a mosque, they hate you. They see us all as one colour. They hate the "Islamic God" with a passion. They want nothing more than to wipe Islam out. If they wanted to be properly educated, they'd have gotten to know a Muslim firsthand. They don't want to know us. Let's not forget the blow back Shiaism got after Nakshawani's "Radical Islam" lecture delivered a couple years back, where he likened ISIS atrocities such as burning someone alive to that of the crimes committed by the early Caliphs. "Thugs" as he put it. The Sunni rebuttal? They pointed out that Imam Ali did just that (burning alive) as mentioned in both Sunni and Shi'I books. We've had loads of anti-ISIS marches here in the United Kingdom. The British people, you know, those that are sane, appreciate the Muslims condemning terrorism done in the name of Islam. The fascists could careless. One of the marches I participated in had the EDL turn up. Shouted profanity, finger gestures, threw alcoholic cans at us (one landed right in front of me). That's pure hatred. I don't know when we will open our eyes and see our strength is in unity, not alienating one another further. We need to meet on common ground and fight all forms of terrorism internally and externally. I'm quite sick to death with the sectarianism. Fi Amanillah