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Assalam o Alaikum In the name of Allah most high. I have questions about, requirements for men entering howza. 1. What kind of requirements are there when it comes to your appearance like hair, clothes and style. 2. Should you as a man shave your head off before traveling to any hawza in Asia? 3. Should you grow beard?

Asalam O Alaikum! I am from Pakistan. I have one my fsc Inter. I want to take admission in hawza ilmiya Najaf, I m not getting which institute in Pakistan will lead towards hawza. Please help how can I get admission there. It will be a great help.

Salam, I am a very old visitor ShiaChat. This is my very first post here with this ID because of the type of Topic and because of needing help. I have been living overseas for a decade and now moved to Pakistan to make my religion stronger. One thing that is bothering me is the companionship of the opposite sex. I’d like to tell you I am a new convert to Shia from Sunni and my family disowned me and blocked me from family acitivities on that ground, but mashallah say by the grace of Allah, I have a high paying job and so it was easy to move on but feel lonely, left out and often wanders around. I need companionship, love as all of us. I don’t want to indulge in anything wrong such as prostitution or adultery or porn and after much through thinking and trying to be as close to the religion as possible I understand that a Mutah Nikkah or temporary marriage is my only solution. I am desperatly seeking your help and guidance. I am looking for advice on how to find such proposal. Society in Pakistan has become very hyper sexualize to the point that temporary nikkah is the best solution. I have thought about some ways, I thought about giving an ad in the local Newspaper here, but then do not know the legal repercussion that may come with it. I searched online and found only a few posts regarding this that gave me no help, I even approached marriage agencies in Lahore but it like most of them do not even cater to Shia let alone mutahnikkah. Please help and advice. I feel lonely, desperate and often times vulnerable. I do not want to go on the path of Shaitan and carry illicit activities (which has become all too common in Pakistan). Please let me know if you know A) Which local newspaper I should post this ad to B) Which marriage agency will work best for me C) Any family that is in need of such

Salam. I’m being forced to have a haram walima. The walima will not be partitioned or segregated and this is a obviously a big issue. I’m the groom and I’m feeling trapped. On the one hand, the right thing to do is not attend but on the other hand I will be cutting off my parents and obviously any family we’ve invited. My wife is on my side obviously but she has decided to be quiet now as she does not want anymore issues. I got into a fight with my parents over this and here I am on the night of qadr feeling like none of my amaal mean anything because I’m upset with them. I’m trying very hard to forgive them but how can I when I’m being forced into a haram situation. It would be one thing if they did something in the past but this is something they’re planning to do. The whole idea of segregating by gender is so “strange” to them since all Pakistani weddings are usually mixed. It’s also about saving face for all the guests. I feel I can’t do anything. How do I cope? Will I be liable on the day of judgment for being part of this? Do I continue to fight this or shut up so my family can have “peace”? I wish I had access to a maulana for this issue but I have to resort to this forum.

Salam Aleykum, I am a 23 year old girl who live in the UK. I graduated university this year and among other things met a man that I can finally see as my future husband, I am completely and utterly in love with him because he was able to put a smile on my face in a period nobody else could. For my studies I relocated to London alone as a result I stayed here for nearly five years away from my family, meeting occasionally a few times a year. Alhamdullah I am successful in my career and was successful in my studies and I am from a sort of open-minded family hence, the did not mind me staying here to see my future although I am alone and I do feel very lonely at times but they have never pressured me for marriage and I was not ready. However, this has now changed and I am most certain about the guy I have met, he is Shia Muslim from a good family treats me like I deserve but the only issue would be that he is not Arab, like myself. I am from Iraq and he is from Pakistan and this is the only difference between me and him. I tried to speak to my mum over the phone just telling her that I am in love and want to get married, she told me off immediately and basically in very simple words told me that SHE will NEVER approve no matter what and that if I desperately wanted to go ahead with the marriage I am more than welcome to but she did not want anything to do with me past that. Now he reasons my mum is furious is that I brought a guy from a completely different country meaning he has different cultures and traditions but also most importantly he will have a MAJOR language barrier with my family as there is NO language in common whatsoever. But to me this isn't an issue body language and eye contact can say more than verbal words. I want my parents approval please advice me, help me, I do not want to get married without their consent. How can I convince my father who has never missed a prayer or a day of fasting that rejecting this man because he is not arab is so haram. How can I convince him. If you have had similiar experience please advice.

Israel Vows to create two more occupied lands Yemen and Afghanistan are the bulls eye.

[POLL] Pakistani General Elections 2018

Asalam o Alaikum, I'm from Norway and 28 years old, I want to become a Shia scholar and study in Hawza Pakistan. Are there any, good hawzas in Pakistan? Best regards Qasim

Hi, if someone could please translate this noha for me, I would really appreciate it. I love this noha so much but struggle to fully understand everything that is said. It is called Taqseer te nai koi syed di https://youtu.be/kVosTwtDSGQ

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ (May Allah Shower His Mercy, Peace & Blessings upon You All) I hope My Shia Muslim Brothers and Shia Muslim Sisters are Living a Good Life by The Grace of Allah. . Alhamdulillah. I would like to know any Information about Turkic (Don't get confused with Turkey),Mongol Shias. And Persian Speaking Turk-o-Mongol Shias. Let me tell you My Lineage first: My Shia Muslim Brothers, I am actually a descendant from a Chagatayid Mughal family of Pakistan. My family lineage traces back to the Turk-O-Mongol Warriors of Genghis Khan -> Chagatai Khan -> Ameer Timur and then Mughal Emperors. As far as I know and I am told, My Ancestors were Sufi Sunnis who followed Hanafi Madhab and Naqshbandi Sufi Chain (and we are still Hanafis to this day). Persian was Mother tongue for centuries. My Grandparents used to speak Persian and my father knew some Persian because of my Grandparents. I know nothing or very little about Persian because of Surroundings. My Family uses Khan, Shah, Chughtai & Changezi as their Surnames. My Ancestors were Weapon Makers and also fought Battles for Mongol Kings. Majority Family lineages in Pakistan are Indian and Afghan. Turk and Mongol families are very very few and rare. If there is any Brother from Subcontinent here who is from Turko-Mongol Lineage and a Shia, then I would like to meet my Cousin . So My question is : Are there any Central Asian Turkic Shia Empires and Mongol Shia Empires? Most Turk and Mongol Empires I find on the Internet are Sunni Hanafi, Not Shia. I am Curious about Shia Turkic and Mongol Empires. And one more, are there any Shia Turk and Shia Mongol empires who later were Persianized or Indianized? I am Curious for Answers May Allah Reward You all for your Answers <3

Syed Mumtaz Hussain Rizvi who is an engineer by profession and a PhD student has been missing after he left home a week ago on 23rd Jan2018. All security agencies have failed to tell the family about his whereabouts. Mumtaz Rizvi remained a close aide of Dr. Mohammad Ali Naqvi founder of Imamia Students Organisation. This is yet another case of a notable Pakistasni shia being taken into illegal and undeclared custody. Around 30 Shia mourners were picked up earlier this year by law enforcers in plainclothes a few days after they returned from Karbala, Iraq. In 2016 alone more than 700 people went missing in Pakistan, most of them Shias.

Pakistan is Majority Sunni but you can find Shias in Significant number. Since it is believed that Quaid-e-Azam (Founder of Pakistan) was Ismaili Shia. But I see Wahabis and Deobandis are very much in Power. Barelvi is the only Sunni Branch which you can say is Shia Friendly but even Barelvis have lost their Control. Multan (City of Pakistan where I live) is City of Saints and filled with Shrines but people are are now thinking celebrating death anniversiry of Saints is something wastage of time. So SHOCKING point for me is Founder of Pakistan was Shia but today Wahabis are in power. It feels like in some years Pakistan will just be like Saudi Arabia.

There's a guy named ali and he's selling stones of every kind and has lot of rings..has anyone visited him and are his stones authentic not fake and does he brings turquoise from iran iraq in bulk. Anyone visited him is he selling real stones

Salam Alaykum Can anyone guide about living in Islamabad? I need an overview as well as some specific questions...we own a digital marketing startup plus we are looking for jobs. Would appreciate any advice about the job situation, scope for our startup, where and how big the shia communities are etc. Anyone based in Islamabad or who has lived there long to chat about it? PM me please, or point me to someone who you think can help! Thanks!

Why Pakistan is mourning loss of German nun Ruth Pfau Tributes are pouring in for a German nun who spent more than half a century in Pakistan battling leprosy and helping the country's most vulnerable people. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi announced in a statement that a state funeral would be held for Ruth Pfau who died on Thursday aged 87. "She gave new hope to innumerable people and proved through her illustrious toil that serving humanity knows no boundaries," the statement said. "We are proud of her exemplary services, and she will remain in our hearts as a shining symbol in times ahead." Pfau trained as a doctor in her youth and went on to join a Catholic sisterhood. She arrived in Pakistan, where she spent the rest of her life, in 1960. She specialised in the treatment of leprosy, a disease that causes discolouration of the skin, sores, and disfigurements. Pfau's work earned her the Nishan-e-Quaid-i-Azam, one of Pakistan's highest civilian awards. More here. ------------- This is an interview by her before she passed away:

Please some one make me clear. Even listening to such songs is haram too?

Salam alaikum, I hope all of you are doing well. As you all know, I had gotten divorced a few months ago. At the moment, there is a very good proposal for me by someone I have known for a while. With two sons and many other responsibilities, I know the guy is a good pick and said yes. Now the thing is that he has relocated to my city from another and we are both clueless about things for some reason. Could anyone from Karachi guide us to a nikkah khuwaan (a cleric who recites nikkah)? I need this help desperately - will appreciate any and all guidance in this regard. JazakALLAH.

Salam, As we all know that mutah is eligible in Islam but why it seems that it doesn't exists. It is either a rare or not in people's priority. As this is the biggest issue for the youth that they can't seek help with what is allowed. I have seen many online activities regarding to Mutah that people has made many pages on fb but i don't think it has ever worked and also that mutah.com website which is a dead website. Can anyone please guide me that is there any source to have Mutah in Karachi?

Iran to determine where to hit aggressors: Top cmdr. Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri says it is up to the Islamic Republic to decide the targets of its counterstrikes against potential aggressors. Baqeri on Monday warned Iran's enemies against “any mistakes in calculation or [perpetration of] the smallest act of aggression against the establishment and the Muslim territory.” He said in the event such transgression takes place by the enemies, “[our] immediate, decisive, and crushing response in the points that we determine, will bring about their regret and defeat.” The comments came in the wake of aggressive remarks against Tehran by Saudi Deputy Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. http://217.218.67.231/Detail/2017/05/08/521018/Iran-Saudi-Arabia-Armed-Forces-Mohammad-Salman

Assalamalaikum, I have been watching news .... Im still not able to figure out who are the good guys .... Can you tell me , which countries are the good guys... P. S: Dont be biased pls.. . Be Truthful n Honest

I am having a discussion In Shia, Muslim, Multifaith Discussion Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/928589737209147/] in relation to Iran and the situation in Kashmir. All are welcome to join and state their points. I have asked a Press Tv journalist, and am in the midst of asking another journalist that both may have different sides (as requested because the person was blaming Iran said I am bias in supporting the enemy of Muslims [India]). This is the news that I have gathered so far and this was the status (please correct me if I am wrong): One of the comments on this status were: JazakAllah kheir for your contribution.

Inspired by mina313's thread about Iranian architectural heritage. I invite members to contribute. Here are some high res pics from a recent photo contest covering monuments. Tomb of Mughal Emperor Jahangir in Lahore Tomb of Dai Anga, Lahore Tomb of Bibi Jawindi, Uch Sharif Derawar Fort, Bahawalpur Lahore Fort Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore Shah Jahan Mosque in Thatta Noor Mahal of Abbasi dynasty in Bahawalpur Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Multan (the second biggest dome in the whole of subcontinent surviving in its original construction from the Sultanate era, circa 800/900 years ago.) Tomb of Isma`ili Dai Shah Shams Shabzewari, in Multan, which is now in Ithna Ashari hands.

Does carpet even belong in basements? If so, what are qualities you should look for and which brands? Some doubt carpet's ability to recover from moisture. They note that even the least amount of moisture causes mold growth, leading to health problems. Others insist that carpeting is one of the best materials when basement moisture is prevalent. Best Carpet Qualities for Basements Before discussing specific brand recommendations, following are basic qualities that make a carpet best-suited for basements: Low Pile. High-pile (thick) carpet takes a longer time to dry out, should it get wet. The lower the pile, the faster the drying process. Cut-Pile. Carpet is usually made of fiber loops that can be left "as-is," cut, or combined loop and pile. Cut pile carpeting tends to be more durable and easier to extract water from, should the need arise. Pad-Less. While most people installing carpeting in basements are reluctant to give up the padding (it has the advantage of making the floor warmer), padding also acts as a sponge and traps water within and underneath it. How To Make Your Home Feel CozierMan-Made Materials. Carpet derived from organic materials (for instance, wool) will not stand up to moisture as effectively as man-made materials. Nylon, Olefin (polypropylene), and polyester are the most popular types of man-made carpet fibers. Sectioned. If you buy wall-to-wall carpeting and part of it gets so soaks that removal is necessary, the entire carpet must come out. But if you buy carpet squares, you can excise the water-logged part of the carpet with surgical precision. Not only that, carpet squares are a DIY-friendly install. Waterproof: Some carpets are considered waterproof because they have special backings that prevent moisture from passing through. Best Brands of Carpeting For Basements 1. Shaw LifeGuard While it may be a publicity stunt, it is a stunt that works. Shaw constructed a 25,000 gallon swimming pool lined with its LifeGuard carpet to demonstrate how well it stands up to water. Result: no leakage. Shaw LifeGuard is a 100% waterproof carpet, which means that water may reside on its surface but it will not leak underneath it. This allows you to have a higher pile than you might ordinarily have, since in the event of water leakage you only need to draw water off the surface, not surface and underneath. 2. Tigressa H2O Similar to Shaw LifeGuard, Tigeress H2O has a unique backing that prevents all liquids from passing through. This way, you can be assured that moisture will not find its way to your padding. Where Basement Moisture Comes From Basement moisture ranges the spectrum of woes. At one end of the scale, in certain climates, it can be seen as a fact of life that must be managed. At the other end, basement moisture can be a very huge issue indeed and a real estate deal-breaker. Tracking down moisture in the basement prior to installation of flooring is a tricky business. The source often seems like a shifting target. But you can narrow down the sources of moisture in your basement into three categories: Leaks: Water leaks can come from cracks in the foundation wall, up through cracks in the floor, down through air-vents in the side of the foundation, etc. You are not always so "lucky" as to catch an active water leak in process. But even dried-up leaks can be identified by remnants such as calcium deposits and other trailings that are left behind. Moisture in Air: Even above-grade rooms have moisture in the air. Moisture-laden air inhabits many basements. Often, the source is easier and less invasive than you might fear. A displaced dryer vent hose spewing exhaust into the basement will spike basement humidity levels. Dehumidifiers are always a great idea in basements, even ones that appear to be dry. Moisture Through the Floor: Sure, a crack in the concrete floor will emit moisture. But did you know that even a stable, intact concrete floor can wick moisture? Carpeting in Basements vs. Hard Flooring Looking at two sides of the carpeting vs. no carpeting issue: Carpeting Allowable The "pro-carpet" side says that carpeting can be installed in the basement and will fare no worse than other types of flooring materials such an engineered wood or laminate. This argument runs that carpet has a "breathabiity" factor greater than other types, and that even light moisture can be mitigated with dehumidifiers. Additionally, in the event of large water leaks, carpeting can be dried out quickly enough before mold/mildew develop. However, this job must be taken on by professional water extraction companies. No Carpeting, Hard Surfaces Only The "anti-carpet" camp says that there are far more durable basement flooring options than carpet. Straight concrete (stained or painted) and ceramic or natural stone tile are practically impervious to water leaks or condensation--with tile and sheet vinyl running a close second. Not only does carpet get water-soaked but its pad does, too. The argument extends to the mold and mildew that can develop in carpeting material, turning the basement into an unsafe environment. The main point is that water in carpeting can never be fully extracted, even if done by professionals. @madihakhan [Mod Note: Advertising link removed.]

Naseem Mirza Changezi argues that Partition was the result of various political forces, and stresses that a great love was shared amongst the religious communities. Mr. Changezi was born in 1910 in his ancestral home at Pahari Imli, near Churi Walan in Jama Masjid, Old Delhi. He was a freedom fighter, and fought alongside the likes of Bhagat Singh and Rajguru against colonial powers. He has been profiled and documented numerous times by leading scholars and academics due to his impressive knowledge on the Mughal history of northern India. He says, “The study of my genealogy tells me that successively 23 generations of mine hail from the family of Genghis Khan, the founder of the great Mongolian empire. My ancestors traveled from Mongolia to Iran, and then to Afghanistan. By that time Babur, who lay the stone of Mughal empire in India, asked his ancestors to leave Afghanistan within two or three months. The two clans were both Mughals but Babur’s side was Timuri Mughals and we were Changezi Mughals, so Babur did not want a fight and loss of soldiers, hence, he asked my ancestors to peacefully leave." “My family fought for this country and has been doing so for the last 150 years,” he says. Mr. Changezi’s great grandfather was a deputy collector under the British crown, yet he still participated in the revolt of 1857. He was later imprisoned for life. “There had been various wars prior to 1857, within the kingdoms, but the reason it is known as the First War is because this was the first time that the masses at large took part in it.” Mr. Changezi’s mother passed away when he was just two years old and his father decided to never remarry. He says that keeping parrots as domestic pets was widespread in his village, and the Hindu women would teach Urdu poetry and couplets to the their parrots, whereas the Muslim women would teach poetry and couplets from Hindu literary texts to their parrots.“My father along with Rash Behari Bose were on the forefront of [revolutionary] activities, and I grew up amongst all their idealism and members,” he says. Mr. Changezi has lived in his ancestral home for 106 years, and was in the same house when Partition took place. He was 37 years old when Partition began, and he had an unofficial identification card under the name “Ram Kishan.” This pass allowed him to travel around the city and not be affected by the curfew placed on the Muslim population in Delhi. “Many killings took place during that time. My work would be to make a daily trip to Nizamuddin station where the trains would be leaving for Pakistan, and people would travel from Delhi, and they would get injured during those travels so I would escort them till the camp at Jama Masjid so that they could be quickly treated. The trains would leave from Old Delhi railway station, and people were treated very badly. The wagons that were [used] to transport cattle were used by refugees to load their own belongings and they would pull it themselves and go to camps at Purana Qila,” he recalls. He argues that Partition was the result of various political forces, and stresses that a great love was shared amongst the religious communities. In Old Delhi the new wave of refugees would set up their own businesses on the street in front of the shops and began to sell the same products for less. This practice caused a lot of friction in the city. He says, “The decision to stay on in India, and not migrate to Pakistan was very simple for me and my family because my ancestors had through the generations fought on this land. My father fought for this country, so there was no question of leaving our own home. Although, my father did receive many persuasive letters from authorities in Pakistan to come there. However, his father sat him down and asked him to write a reply, in which he clearly recalls that he wrote, ‘Do rivers like the Ganges or Yamuna flow in Karachi? Does Lal Quila stand on that land? Is there my beloved Jama Masjid there? If yes, then I will come in a jiffy. If no, then don’t ever write to me again.’” He went on to complete his matriculation from Punjab University. Mr. Changezi was an ace hockey player and was selected by Delhi Hockey Association in 1942. He played with renowned athlete Dhyan Chand and participated in various tournaments. He says that all his friends and contemporaries have all since passed away and that he is the only left. Today he lives with his son and his wife. This interview was conducted by Development Assistant Ritika Popli. The summary above provides a brief glimpse into the full interview. The complete video interview is expected to be public in 2017. Browse more stories on the STORY MAP: http://www.1947partitionarchive.org/browse https://www.facebook.com/1947PartitionArchive/

I am Syed Abbas Ali and belongs to the family of Imam Jafar Sadiq. Basically My grand father had lost a major portion of our shajrah while migrating to Pakistan, and only a part containing 10 generations before me is left with him. None of his children (my uncles and my father) tried to complete it and he died when I was 2. My Far related grandfather (3rd Cousin to my grandfather) told me that My grandfather did tried to get the whole Shajrah back but was failed in this attempt as those of our relative in India and Lahore refused to provide us with that in fear of some sort of Property. Actually he is the one who told me that we belonged to Syed Qutb descendants who was descendant of Imam Jafar Saddiq and came from Iran or Afghanistan. My grandfather used to live in Jabalpur before seperation and his ancestors in Meeranpur, Jansath Tehsil, India. I tried to look back those Syeds in Meeranpur but found that They were Zaidis. Now I am totally Confused. I looked at a complete shajrah of Zaidis but couldn't find my ancestors name in it so we definitely belong to Jafris. "Syed Abbas s/o Syed Akhtar s/o Syed Aashiq s/o Syed Amjad s/o Syed Hasan s/o Syed Qasim s/o Syed Ameen s/o Syed Lal s/o Syed Dadan s/o Syed Qasim----- Syed Qutb (not mentioned but told to me)" Do anyone know Any book which has a complete shajrah of Jafris?? like those of Zaidis named "Shajrah Saadat e Barha"?? I am very Hopeful that you'll surely help me out. One thing I like to mention is that I'm a Sunni as my ancestors converted to Sunnism due to Taqiyya but many traditions and beliefs of Shia still exist in my family today. Please Anyone Help me.