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Hello all, I hope this is the right area to post in. I've been on the path to find God my whole life, Islam has always held a particular draw to me which I felt was unique. But I only knew about Sunni Islam and it became unappealing, it felt slightly alien to me. So I put Islam off, but to put it simply, I was introduced to Twelver Shia Islam later in life and looked into it. I started to read books such as 'A Shi'ite Creed' by Shaykh as-Saduq, Al-Kafi, Nahjul Balagah, and so much of the truths within these immediately clicked with me. They are things which I had already came to the conclusion of on my personal "journey" Ive intensely been on since I was a very young child. Now conversion feels like a path which I really would like to pursue, but my issue is there are no Muslim communities here. The nearest one is over an hour and they are Sunni. I don't mind not having a community around always, but I have trouble learning the practical sides of things on my own unless it's done in my own way. I can and will understand the deep aspects of things which many may at first struggle with or not even pursue, yet the practical aspects, like how to properly pray, (I do not speak Arabic etc) what if I don't teach myself the right ways and since there is no Shia community here to learn from, and I am limited at leaving,I fear I would have no one to correct me and so I would be doing it wrong for perhaps years.. I am very sincere on these things and in seeking a conversion, and in many ways already feel parts of me are Shia when I connect so well with the wisdom that's been revealed to me, yet why do I struggle at learning the "simple" things? What should I do to properly learn & conduct "practial" aspects of being Shia when I would be entirely on my own? Thank you for your considerations on my issue, I wish you all good thoughts on God and wise actions.

1 year ago this clip was made, yet...

Was Allah all alone before start creating? Allah with complete, permanent, non-changing knowledge of what he is going to create would wait before creating? Time is relative concept of order or sequence, some say. Allah is a creator by nature, so Allah would create. Allah al-awwal actually describing causal relationship instead of time difference? Since Allah will not change, Allah would not start having the will to create at some point of time? Created beings exist after Allah wills it with His power with His words based on His knowledge. 7:54 and 11:7 give impression of time frame during Allah's creating. But Allah is not operating within time frame? Please help me here. Thanks.

I'm not sure whether this belongs in the family issues or not, but I'll start with posting it here. I'm a minor that's part of a Christian family in a Christian town, and the nearest mosque is an hour away in the big city. The closest Shia mosque is two hours away. My mom has been wondering why I'm learning about Islam, and I just say that I'm learning, because I am, but she keeps asking if I'm going to convert. I avoid answering, but I know in my heart that I want to, need to let the world know that I worship Allah, the one and only. But I'm not one to argue with my mom, and she tells me how Islam is a male dominated religion. I know that it's not, but how do I explain that? I'm not good at defending my side of the argument, but if I'm to maintain my family's trust, I must have a good defense of this religion that's based in facts, not just my or another's opinion. Thank you for your support throughout the couple of days I've been here.