313_Waiter

This is where you misunderstood me. I was not implying to the educational facilities in Qom and Najaf where students go to become scholars/alims. Infact I didn't even suggest this issue to be transparent middle east. I 
I am talking about our communities here in the west. First of all, atleast in my community, there aren't many classes tailored to adults that teach all aspects of our deen. Just simple local classes/lectures that the average joe can attend to learn about the fundaments of their religion. 
My local masjids and hussaineyat do not offer any quran classes for adults, nor any workshops about the fundaments of our faith and other topics. 
They only offer lectures based on the same topics as I mentioned in my first post.
I am not aware of any online shia educational facilities, but if u do know of any please let me know 

Perhaps you make a good point. Maybe I came out as a bit unjust in my post. I am not implying the imam should be reciting surah baqarah. Of course not, in fact I would probably leave the congregation if someone decided to do that. 
Infact we do have narrations that advise one shouldn't prolong the congregation prayers as there may be a weak hearted believer who would not be able to cope with long periods of standing. 
But I am trying to say that we should mix it up. For e.g. the imam should recite a surah containing 30/40/50 surahs such as surah Fajr for e.g.
It would also motivate the masses to go out and memorise such surahs too.... 

. Destruction of Embellished Mosques and Those along the Highways
Abu Basir reported that Imam al-Baqir (‘a) said: “During the uprising of our Qa’im, he will destroy four mosques in Kufah and he will not allow any embellished mosque to remain without having destroyed its crenation and extravagance and make it simple, free from any extravagance. He will also destroy all mosques located on highways"
 
3. The Destruction of Minarets
Abu Hashim Ja‘fari said: “I was in the company of Imam Hasan al-‘Askari (‘a) when he said: ‘During the uprising of Hadrat al-Qa’im, he will order the destruction of the minarets and maqsurahs37 in the mosques.’ I said to myself: ‘Why will the Imam do so?’ Imam al-‘Askari (‘a) turned toward me and said: ‘It is because they are innovations, which neither the Prophet nor any Imam has built’.”38
 
Based on a hadith, the late Shaykh as-Saduq said: “On passing by a mosque whose minaret was high, the Commander of the Faithful (‘a) ordered the destruction of its minaret.”39
 
Majlisi al-Awwal said: “From these hadiths, the unlawfulness of building high minarets can be inferred because the presence of extravagance and dominance over the houses of Muslims is unlawful (haram). Most jurists (fuqaha), however, infer that what is meant by this hadith is the abominable (instead of haram).40 As reported by Mas‘udi and Tabarsi, “He will order the destruction of minarets.”41
 
4. Destruction of the Roofs and Pulpits of Mosques
Imam al-Baqir (‘a) said: “The first thing Hadrat al-Mahdi (‘عجّل الله تعالى فرجه الشريف) will do from the beginning is related to the roof of mosques. He will destroy them and in its stead he will place roofs similar to the ‘arish42 of Musa (Moses) (‘a).”43
 
This hadith is related to the acceptance of prayers. It is because the absence of obstacles and buffers between the worshippers and the sky is recommended (mustahabb) while the removal of buffers is one of the conditions for the acceptance of prayers and the granting of requests in invocations.
 
5. Restoration of Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque in Mecca) and Masjid an-Nabi (in Medina) to Their Respective Original Sizes
Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: “Hadrat al-Qa’im (‘عجّل الله تعالى فرجه الشريف) will destroy the structure of Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque in Mecca) and restore its original structure and size. After being destroyed, Masjid an-Nabi (in Medina) will also be restored to its original size. He will also erect the Ka‘bah in its original location.”44
 
The same Imam (‘a) also said: “When Hadrat al-Qa’im (‘عجّل الله تعالى فرجه الشريف) rises up, he will restore the House of God to its original size,45 and he will also do the same to the Mosque of the Prophet (S) (in Medina) and the Kufah Mosque.”
34.Man La Yahduruhu’l-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 53; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 52, p. 333; Ithbat al-Hudah, vol. 3, pp. 517, 556; Ash-Shi‘ah wa’r-Raj‘ah, vol. 2, p. 400. See Man La Yahduruhu’l-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 232; Al-Irshad, p. 365; Rawdah al-Wa‘izin, vol. 2, p. 264. 35.Mahdi-ye Maw‘ud, p. 941; Al-Gharat, vol. 2, p. 324, footnote. 36.Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 45, p. 189. 37.Maqsurah: a place in the mosque used to be built for the caliph or congregational prayer leader where he would stand in prayer and be away from the access of his enemy. See Farhang-e Farsi-e ‘Amid (‘Amid Persian Dictionary). 38.Shaykh at-Tusi, Ghaybah, p. 123; Ibn Shahr Ashub, Manaqib, vol. 4, p. 437; I‘lam al-Wara, p. 355; Kashf al-Ghammah, vol. 3, p. 208; Ithbat al-Hudah, vol. 3, p. 412; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 50, p. 215; vol. 52, p. 323; Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, vol. 3, pp. 379, 384. 39.Man La Yahduruhu’l-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 155 40.Rawdah al-Muttaqin, vol. 2, p. 109. 41.Ithbat al-Wasiyyah, p. 215; I‘lam al-Wara, p. 355. 42.‘Arish: a shade or bower for one’s protection from the sunlight. Tarihi is quoted as saying it is made up of date palm leaves and until the end of the date season, one could stay there. Maybe the destruction of the roofs of mosques is because mosques prior to the advent of Imam al-Mahdi (‘عجّل الله تعالى فرجه الشريف) will go beyond their state of simplicity since they will acquire ceremonial status. The destruction of minarets is perhaps based on the same reason; that they will have already lost their function as the locus of guidance and enlightenment of the people. In fact, on the contrary, they will be transformed as platforms for the consolidation of the rule of tyrants and traitors and to justify the interference of enemies in Muslim lands. 43.Man La Yahduruhu’l-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 153; Ithbat al-Hudah, vol. 3, p. 425; Wasa’il ash-Shi‘ah, vol. 3, p. 488; Rawdah al-Muttaqin, vol. 2, p. 101. 44.Al-Irshad, p. 364; Shaykh at-Tusi, Ghaybah, p. 297; Nu‘mani, Ghaybah, p. 171; I‘lam al-Wara, p. 431; Kashf al-Ghammah, vol. 3, p. 255; Ithbat al-Hudah, vol. 3, p. 516; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 52, p. 332. 45.The late Shaykh as-Saduq and ‘Allamah Majlisi have stated its limit. See Rawdah al-Muttaqin, vol. 2, p. 94; Man La Yahduruhu’l-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 149.  
Although the above hadiths are primarily discussing masjid al haram, masjid al nabawi and masjid al kufa, it doesn't necessarily mitigate to only these 3 sanctuaries. Read it carefully, the hadiths highlight that the Imam will remove extravagant items in any mosques or shrine that he finds. 
 
 

Salam,
Before starting I would like to make this well clear; I have reviewed many sects within islam and am beyond convinced beyond conviction that shiaism is the true path to Allah and his Messenger. I have no doubts regarding the fundamental and foundation aspects of shiaism.
 
What I do have an issue with is the conduct of modern day shias, and even certain practices that have been adopted which seem to conflict with the quran and teachings of the Prophet and his immaculate progeny. I have tried to ignore this but it's becoming more and more obvious to a point that I am now writing this post.
There are a number of practices that are off-putting to me, whether it'd be ideas that are being taught to the masses or just simply trends that the youth are adopting. 
Here is a list of my below concerns that I hope at the very least can be addressed: 
1. Over decorating of the shrines: Numerous traditions highlight the importance of visitation to our aimmah, however it seems nowadays its more of a tourist destination than it is to connect to Allah through his vicevergents. Is it necessary to construct the dome out of pure gold, and overexhaust the interiors with pure diamonds and rubies? Would the Imam of our time approve of how we maintained the graves of his forefathers? We can the shrines and masajids beautiful in accordance to modern day architecture, but I feel like this is overindulgence, which is ironic considering the ahlulbayt lived ascetic lives and preferred their Lord over this dunya. Additionally we have narrations that when the Imam of our time returns, he will demolish numerous masajids because they have been over decorated.
 
2. Adding the 3rd kalimah into the adhan: We cannot bash sunnis/salafis for their own biddah in changing the adhan when we are guilty of this too. Majority of our classical scholars such as sheikh al sadooq, mufeed and others had condemned the motion of adding the 3rd kalimah into the adhan, yet it seems basically every modern day scholar permits it. Is there a way to justify this?
 
3. Our scholars are not vast in their teachings: Shias, or atleast western Shias seem to be lacking in teaching Islamic knowledge and ideas across a wide range of topics. Every lecture and series I attend is always pertaining the same topics; Imam Ali, Imam Hussain, saqifa, jamal/siffeen, 12 imams, Imam mahdi etc. Why aren't our scholars able to discuss other topics such as fiqh, barzakh, day of judgement, matters pertaining enjoying good and forbidding evil, modern day issues etc? 
4. Extreme Azadari: Of course we have some misguided individuals within our creed (and even scholars) that permit the idea of flagging oneself with knives and whips in commemoration for Imam Hussain. These are a minority and do not reflect the bulk of shias. However, I still find certain practices to be of question that the majority practice. For e.g. during the nights of Muharram after the majlis in my centers, all the men will come together to take their shirts off and start aggressively beating their chests. What is the meaning of this? It has no basis and never was endorsed by the Prophet or Imams. I have no objection in 'light' beating the chest, WITHOUT TAKING THE SHIRT OFF, but this is a tad too far
 
5. Our relationship with the quran. I too am guilty of this point myself. When I look at other sects, mashallah they are very well renowned in their relationship with the quran. Many of their masajids offer numerous quranic memorisation and tafsir classes throughout the week. When they offer their salat, they are able to recite the longer surahs. Compare this to our communities? At-least within my community, none of our masajids or hussaineyat offer these classes. Also it seems when we come together for jamaat prayers, the imam can only recite the small surahs (usually only surah tawheed and nass/falaq). It is quite embarassing especially since we have been blessed in having the correct aqida and understanding of the quran through the ahlulbayt
 
6. Praying to the Imams: no doubt the Prophet and the Imams are able to intercede for us and even perhaps plea to Allah on our behalf, but some shias take this too far. 
For e.g. i have heard/read so many times people saying that if one wishes to have their dua answered, they should do wudu and raise their hands to the sky and invoke Imam Hussain for him to answer their pleas. This is pure shirk I am sorry. The Prophet nor imams answer our dua. They are merely intercedors. The best way around this in my view is to say the following "Ya Allah I ask you through your love of your beloved servant Imam Hussain, to answer my dua".... This is the correct way and one that aligns to tawheed. One could even say, if they wish to address the holy personalities directly, "Ya Hussain, I ask you as the proof of Allah to intercede on my behalf and ask Allah to provide for me so and so"
7. A rise in our youths having tattoos. What is the deal with this? Everytime I attend a masjid, I find literally half the young men there with tattoos. Why have tattoos been permitted? I am no hadith expert but I recall reading a saying from Imam al Sadiq (عليه السلام) whereby he outright condemns tattoos (not sure of its grading). Even though it's not hujjah upon us, but if we look outside of shia narrations, you'll find numerous traditions in other schools whereby the Prophet cursed the one who gets a tattoo. Even in other scriptures such as the old and new testament, tattoos are disliked. So why don't our scholars prohibit this, or at the very least say it is makrooh? Who are our youths trying to imitate; the ahlulbayt and their rightful followers, or are they trying to replicate singers, actors, gang members?? 
 
I am just confused right now and would like your thoughts on the points I raised and even maybe clarification. 
 
Jzk

Recite Ayatul Kursi (full, till 2:257, not just till verse 255), then the muawwidhatayn (Surahs al-Falaq and al-Nas) 7 times each over a bowl of water, then blow over the water, and sprinkle it in all corners of the house until the apparitions disappear. Have Surah Jinn and Surah Baqarah played in the house, as brother @313_Waiter has also said. 
No haram stuff, no alcohol, no najis stuff, no haram music or any kind of haram activity in the house also, please. These things also attract evil spirits. 
Also do not, and I can't stress this enough, DO NOT dabble into occult, sihr, necromancy, Wicca and similar stuff, stay away from that satanic abyss. 

I watched a segment on this in an episode of 'Ancient Aliens'

Salam yes shadow people are basically a form of jinn according to below researcher (interdimensional creatures).
Please recite:
surah jinn
4 quls 
Ayatul Kursi 
https://youtu.be/huRqwTDgNps

Salam yes shadow people are basically a form of jinn according to below researcher (interdimensional creatures).
Please recite:
surah jinn
4 quls 
Ayatul Kursi 
https://youtu.be/huRqwTDgNps

Salam yes shadow people are basically a form of jinn according to below researcher (interdimensional creatures).
Please recite:
surah jinn
4 quls 
Ayatul Kursi 
https://youtu.be/huRqwTDgNps

Atheists often say design argument is falsifiable with the existence of phenomena that does not appear to be designed. E.g. tailbones, nails, circumcision
Though this is them superimposing their preconceived opinion that the intent of the design is for it to be perfect. In Sadrian terms, all "things" only reach a level of perfection, and that Absolute Perfection is only with God.  
But let's go further, the human ability to notice patterns, where does it come from?
Albeit in and of itself not a philosophical argument for God, a valid question to ponder on.

MashaAllah. Is there somewhere I can read about your story brother?
 

Gospel of Mark Chapter 8 Verses 34 - 38
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" 
People like Medea Benjamin, Roger Waters, Jesse Ventura, Ralph Nader, Abby Martin, Jimmy Dore, Richard Medhurst, George Galloway, Max Blumenthal, Paul Findley etc. might be secularists but you can reason with them and they are willing to listen...alliances can be formed based on mutual respect...they are people of conscience and people of integrity...so you believe building bridges with mainstream liberal politicians and news correspondents (i.e. Wolf Blitzer, Bernard Shaw, Don Lemon, Nancy Pelosi etc.) is totally halal but attempting to reach out to rebels who attempt to expose their own party's diabolical policies is somehow haram? What type of reasoning or ijtihad is this? Dore is simply exposing the hypocrisy of the democratic party and trying to build bridges with moderate right-wingers...he has come to realize that Trump is a corrupt business man but he's not a Washington DC insider...the career politicians who are attempting to blacklist him consider him a loose canon and a wildcard because he doesn't play ball 100%...85% yes but not 100%

I don’t know the man but I believe his views are very much still Shi’a Islamic. As Dilly (journalist) says in the video below, you cannot make it into mainstream media without compromising on your conservative beliefs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb1t3ip8mjY 

I'll accept what you say about the intelligent design perspective, I don't know enough about it to argue either way.
However, would an Islamic perspective hold that nothing which exists came about based on random chance and that the design of everything was deliberate.
Here I would imagine that the epistemological perspectives of atheists and theists differ.
For atheists, if they cannot prove that something had a creator, then that's a score against there being a creator. For the theist, on the other hand, it isn't; it's just proof that we are not looking at the right evidence or not looking at it in the correct manner.

Let’s not jump on the Tate’s hate bandwagon and bring up his past. Nor should we jump on the idolisation bandwagon. Only the Ahlulbayt are our role models.
 
He’s a Muslim brother from a shar’i sense once he takes the shahada, let’s leave it at that.

Aliens in the Ahadith
It’s when we begin to look into the ahadith, of the Shia Muslim tradition specifically, that things start to become more interesting.
Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq, famous scholar and 6th Imam of Shia Islam, is quite specific when it comes to this topic. He says:
Another hadith I came across, also attributed to Imam Al-Sadiq, says:
In another tradition, found in Safinatul Bahar, Imam Ali says:
While Imam Ali has often used metaphors that the Arabs of his time would understand to describe the Universe (see Nahjul Balagha), it could be said that he is literally referring to alien civilizations here.
Artist’s concept of an exoplanet Another hadith by the 5th Shia Imam, Imam Mohammed Al-Baqir, states:
However, while the Shia Muslim literature above seems to essentially confirm the existence of extraterrestrial beings, the authenticity of these narrations up for debate. And even if they are authentic, how one chooses to interpret these hadith is also based on what one is looking for. It could be that the Imams are referring to different dimensions or universes that we just do not (and cannot) understand. Other hadith references that there were peoples who existed before humankind as we know it, meaning the above hadith may fall into a similar category of discussion.
https://themuslimvibe.com/faith-islam/what-does-islam-say-about-aliens-a-look-at-quranic-verses-and-hadith

If you consider human eye, heart, ears or the DNA and assess the possibility of these things accidently, by chance or spontaneously, your intellect would never accept that stance. 
Intelligent design does not propagate that every feature of the world constitute evidence of intelligent design rather it considers "various" empirical features of the world that constitute evidence of intelligent design and inferring God's existence as the best explanation for these features.
So if anyone say that human eye evolved from a simple light sensor for circadian (daily) and seasonal rhythms, one would remain equally unable to get a clue of how that simple light sensor came into existence spontaneously. 
So design argument certainly holds a weight and that's why we find in Quran verses where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) proudly mentioning this:
وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ
This is an example of ilm-e-husooli. Your ability to "notice" patterns, in a sense, is linked with the very reason of the existence of patterns around you. 
Wassalam!!

Atheists often say design argument is falsifiable with the existence of phenomena that does not appear to be designed. E.g. tailbones, nails, circumcision
Though this is them superimposing their preconceived opinion that the intent of the design is for it to be perfect. In Sadrian terms, all "things" only reach a level of perfection, and that Absolute Perfection is only with God.  
But let's go further, the human ability to notice patterns, where does it come from?
Albeit in and of itself not a philosophical argument for God, a valid question to ponder on.

I wish that was true. There were many different batches of mRNA released in Different countries and geographic locations. There are a few websites that can be investigated to see if your specific batch had more or less side effects.
This is usually how pharmaceutical  are evaluted ...with post market surveillance and pharmacovigalance,  which should have been done....and is being done but hidden from public and only released after lawsuits and FOI requsts.
Not to mention Phase 1 to phase  5 testing ( again not done properly) proper pharmacodymanics, pharmocovigalance and pharmacodistribution studies with animal autopsies ( again not done) 
There are some people who have had terrible side effects while not rampant and universal ....but highly damaging to those afflicted.
8If you want to really delve into the science of the covid vaccine I would suggest go to Telegram groups like .... syedakhan group Arkmedic's feed , Doctors for Covid ethics,  or search on Telegram for " Covid Vaccine" and will find a wealth of posts talking about side effects and cases studies.
additionally substack articles by multiple authors have really done a great job of exposing the pharma industry and their satanic actions ,  obscene profits and general attitude of creating disease..... then turning around and  treating  the iatrogenic  problem.
Most commonly... cardiac damage ( myocardial and pericarditis( seen  especially in young people) ( which is never benign, because Cardiac tissue when damaged produces scar...and that can predispose to decreased function and more worrisome....arrhythmia ( some of which are quite lethal). This can be tested with tropinins and other cardiac enzyme markers. Also Cardiac MRI with contrast is especially sensitive to find sub clinical myocardial damage.
Many different types of neurological side effects , from mild bells palsy orqq other facial palsies ( like Justin beiber)  , to more significant neurological complications like strokes , chronic pain, brain and spinal cord inflammation the list is too long to write.
The other major system affected is the vascular system. Which predisposes to heart attacks,  aneurysms, hypoxia, end organ damage , clot formation ( thrombotic complications) and the list is again too long. Can do tests like CRP, ESR, D DIMER, and other coagulation factor testing.
The gold standard of determining how much damage the vaccines have done can only be determined by an autopsy ( with testing for the spike protein and nucleocapsid protein....which can differentiate virus induced damage vs vaccine induced damage) 
Incredulously, these autopsies not being done and even being actively discouraged , because that would throw everyone under the bus who was pushing these vaccines ( genetic recombinant product) from governments to the trillion dollar pharma multinationals.
The good news is that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) has given us an amazing immune system, so many of the complications are actively eliminated by immune surveillance and our NK and T cells. So again Allah's Rahman and Raheem nature has protected us from many grave side effects. 
However, when too much of the spike protein is produced Then our bodies may suffer side effects including the above mentioned complications and also autoimmune diseases and even turbo cancer....
Since again fiddling with such a complex system designed by Allah, and not giving a proper 2 to 4 years of animal testing and at least 5 years of small scale human testing with  long term data ( which is how pharma products showed be properly evaluated and not rushed through) , has led to many many serious problems including sudden death. 
Now there are also some natural treatments which have been found to be beneficial in treating Vax side effects effects and Long Covid ( which is most likely q combination of prior infection and vaccine induced type 4 hypersensitivity immune reaction) 
These treatments include nattokinase and other anti thrombotic agents,  ivermectin,  high dose vitamins ( especially D and C) , Co enzyme Q 10, Quercetin,  zinc, ozone dialysis,  intravenous laser therapy,  and positive immune modulating treatments like stem cells and exosomes....the list of beneficial treatments is also very long.
However as has been stated in Hadith...for every illness Allah has Created a cure ...even for iatrogenic illness...Subhanullah. 
 
 
 

Salam this is result of concluding from incomplete story which according to Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام) , Imam Ali (عليه السلام) after punishing that man immediatley provided marriage for that man by spending  money from treasury of Muslims .
https://www.islamquest.net/fa/archive/fa1575
Again in similar fashion it's concluding from an incomplete report which complete story is about sincere repentance of 
Buhlul, the Gravedigger: repentance
Note: Not to be confused with Buhlul who lived during the time of Imam Musa Kadhim ((عليه السلام)) (Although Mu'adh ibn Jabal has been an opponent of Ahl al-Bayt (a) over the issue of the Prophet's (s) successorship anyway story maybe  a weak story anyway  has a point about sincere repentance) https://erfan.ir/english/81823.html
 
https://en.wikishia.net/view/Mu'adh_b._Jabal
 
 

Let’s not jump on the Tate’s hate bandwagon and bring up his past. Nor should we jump on the idolisation bandwagon. Only the Ahlulbayt are our role models.
 
He’s a Muslim brother from a shar’i sense once he takes the shahada, let’s leave it at that.

Salam 
Interesting that Tate was released on the same day that the Matrix movie was released.
also interesting that Tate mentioned he did 7417 pushups. Here’s reportedly hadith number 7417 in Sahih Muslim:
 

Salam 
Interesting that Tate was released on the same day that the Matrix movie was released.
also interesting that Tate mentioned he did 7417 pushups. Here’s reportedly hadith number 7417 in Sahih Muslim:
 

Salam we don't know really what is in their hearts also judging them based on previous mistakes about their body is not right way which maybe they really repented & accepted Islam sincearly  although they can't release from signs their mistake before accepting Islam which is a defection in apperance not heart  which also it's possible that some people with typical good apperance of an Islamic role model maybe have hidden corruption in their hearts .