What Are Imams Really?! Why Call On Them?! Q&a

[Dawud Miqdad al-Amriki]

The Prophet (sawa) shouted "Ya Ali Madad"

If it's good enough for him, then it's good enough for me insha'Allah.

He (sawa) is a Prophet of Allah SWT, he could've shouted "Ya Allah Madad", but he didn't. Just like I could shout "Ya Allah Madad" right now, but I proudly shout

Ya 'Ali Madad!

It professes my love and submission to the Imaam (as), it asks for Allah to acknowledge that I acknowledge the wilayat of Ameer al Mumineen (as); it asks Allah to allow Ameer al Mumineen (as) to intercede for me; it asks Allah to allow Ameer al Mumineen (as) to make du'a for me; it asks Allah to make me amongst his Shi'a.

If anyone says I think other than the above, they are a liar. If anyone says the above is shirk, they are confused. And if anyone says I am misguided, then I agree that I am Rafidhi and you are Bakri.

[Haydar Husayn]

The Prophet (sawa) shouted "Ya Ali Madad"

If it's good enough for him, then it's good enough for me insha'Allah.

He (sawa) is a Prophet of Allah SWT, he could've shouted "Ya Allah Madad", but he didn't. Just like I could shout "Ya Allah Madad" right now, but I proudly shout

When did the Prophet (pbuh) say that?

[kadhim]

^^^

What 'salafis' think I don't care about one iota but what you wrote is (unintentionally) ironic; they follow the new cult of Wahabbism yet think we follow a new religion because we mention and praise the first Imam of Momineen?!?

ALI

Well, to be perfectly precise, their intellectual father is probably more 12th century scholar Ibn Taymiyyah, but, regardless of irony, they have a point on this question. And if you seek to follow truth in religion, you should be receptive to truth, regardless of who is saying it.

[Dawud Miqdad al-Amriki]

When did the Prophet (pbuh) say that?

At Khyber

[Haydar Husayn]

At Khyber

Care to provide proof for that?

[Dawud Miqdad al-Amriki]

Care to provide proof for that?

As both Bakris and Shi'a know, during the long siege on Khyber, all of the previous standard bearers including Abu Bakr and Umar (who your teacher Farid loves) failed, when Prophet (pbuh) called for 'Ali (as) to help, then he came and conquered the settlement with the permission of Allah SWT.

All Muhammad (pbuh) had to do was say "Ya Allah Madad" and Khyber would've fell by any means, rather he called on 'Ali (as) to come from afar to help, by the will of Allah SWT.

http://www.amaana.org/ali/nadeali.htm

http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/tawassul/en/index.php

[Haydar Husayn]

As both Bakris and Shi'a know, during the long siege on Khyber, all of the previous standard bearers including Abu Bakr and Umar (who your teacher Farid loves) failed, when Prophet (pbuh) called for 'Ali (as) to help, then he came and conquered the settlement with the permission of Allah SWT.

My teacher who I am busy debating with on another thread? Ok then...

All Muhammad (pbuh) had to do was say "Ya Allah Madad" and Khyber would've fell by any means, rather he called on 'Ali (as) to come from afar to help, by the will of Allah SWT.

http://www.amaana.org/ali/nadeali.htm

http://www.shiachat....1-ya-ali-madad/

http://www.answering...ul/en/index.php

Aside from the fact that Nade Ali is a late fabrication that isn't found in early Shia sources, if you check the reference you will see that it was actually at Uhud where this was allegedly said, not Khaybar. So maybe you want to get your facts straight before attempting to defend this nonsense.

[Dawud Miqdad al-Amriki]

My teacher who I am busy debating with on another thread? Ok then...

Aside from the fact that Nade Ali is a late fabrication that isn't found in early Shia sources, if you check the reference you will see that it was actually at Uhud where this was allegedly said, not Khaybar. So maybe you want to get your facts straight before attempting to defend this nonsense.

I know about the possible occurance at Uhud, but I don't mention it because I'm not aware of any riwayah to support it.

However, there are riwayah to support the Khyber incident.

I'm not sure how that is getting facts crooked. I explained the Khyber incident to you, although I'm confident you're already aware of it.

What thread are you debating Farid on?

[Haydar Husayn]

I know about the possible occurance at Uhud, but I don't mention it because I'm not aware of any riwayah to support it.

However, there are riwayah to support the Khyber incident.

I'm not sure how that is getting facts crooked. I explained the Khyber incident to you, although I'm confident you're already aware of it.

Ok, quote one of the narrations where the Prophet (pbuh) called upon Imam Ali (as) from afar at Khaybar.

However, you quoted Nade Ali, and the reference for that is Bihar, where it says it happened during Uhud. Do you have another reference for Nade Ali?

What thread are you debating Farid on?

[thenamelessone]

The Prophet (sawa) shouted "Ya Ali Madad"

If it's good enough for him, then it's good enough for me insha'Allah.

He (sawa) is a Prophet of Allah SWT, he could've shouted "Ya Allah Madad", but he didn't. Just like I could shout "Ya Allah Madad" right now, but I proudly shout

Ya 'Ali Madad!

It professes my love and submission to the Imaam (as), it asks for Allah to acknowledge that I acknowledge the wilayat of Ameer al Mumineen (as); it asks Allah to allow Ameer al Mumineen (as) to intercede for me; it asks Allah to allow Ameer al Mumineen (as) to make du'a for me; it asks Allah to make me amongst his Shi'a.

If anyone says I think other than the above, they are a liar. If anyone says the above is shirk, they are confused. And if anyone says I am misguided, then I agree that I am Rafidhi and you are Bakri.

(bismillah)

(salam)

I cant resist, how does it make you feel to say this of our Imam (as) in the deepest recess of your heart how does it make you feel? I am asking a true question and I desire and honest response, I am asking you to examine your heart and describe your deepest feelings when you read these ahadith and speak these words. I am not seeking to ridicule you.

Ma'a Salaama

[Blissful]

Your Lord says call upon Me, I will answer you. Surely those who are too proud for My service shall soon enter hell abased - Surat Mumin Ayah 60.

And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way - Surat al Baqarah Ayah 186

Or, Who answers the distressed one when he calls upon Him and removes the evil, and He will make you successors in the earth. Is there a god with Allah? Little is it that you mind - Surat al Naml Ayah 62

So when Allah sw says all these things and more in the Qur'an, why do we turn to the Imams as?

Edited February 9, 2012 by Blissful

[Dawud Miqdad al-Amriki]

(bismillah)

(salam)

I cant resist, how does it make you feel to say this of our Imam (as) in the deepest recess of your heart how does it make you feel? I am asking a true question and I desire and honest response, I am asking you to examine your heart and describe your deepest feelings when you read these ahadith and speak these words. I am not seeking to ridicule you.

Ma'a Salaama

(wasalam)

Jazakallah khayra for your question.

I've been a Shi'a for approximately one year. I didn't believe in saying "Ya Ali Madad" for a long time. Then I realized that this was an honour and also a testament to our belief in the Wilayat of Ali (sa).

I believe that the Shahadah is incomplete without 'Muhammadun Rasoolallah' and 'Aliyun Waliallah' which is the Imaams (sa) interpretation of the following Qur'an ayat:

"O you who believe! obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority from among you; then if you quarrel about anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the last day; this is better and very good in the end." Surah an-Nisa (4), verse 59

Ashadu an La ilaha ilallah = testimony to "Obey Allah"

wa ashadu ana Muhammadun Rasoolallah = testimony to "Obey the Messenger"

wa ashadu ana 3liyyun waliallah = testimony to "and Ulul-Amr"

If we quarrel about anything, refer it back to "Allah & the Messenger"... Allah SWT & the Messenger (sawa) have commanded us to obey and love and follow Imaam 'Ali (sa) and the 11 Imaams from him.

When I say "Ya Ali", I am saying the three shahadah, I am saying "Labbayk ya Allah", I am saying "I won't submit to the Nasibi who want Ali's name to be forgotten"

There are people who tried to bury the history and name of Ali (sa) in filth and lies, but they failed, and "Ya Ali" is an act of defiance to their kufr.

Allah says "Enjoin the good and forbid the evil", and "Ya Ali" embodies this.

I believe that Allah decrees everything and we do not influence His will at all, subhanallah. So when I say "Ya Ali" it is a submission to Allah's will.

I believe that by calling on those whom Allah loves, that it brings us closer to Allah. If Allah wanted us to only acknowledge Him and ignore everything else, then we wouldn't exist in a universe surrounded by His creations, and He wouldn't have sent Messengers and Imaams whom it is obligatory for us to obey. Clearly Allah wants us to believe in Him and those He sends, as well as to acknowledge and not forget their lives, their sacrifices, their teachings.

When you think of the day of Judgement, do you not desire to be greeted by Muhammad (sawa) and the Imaams (sa) ? They are the ones who bear witness and will inshallah intercede for us. We desire so heavily to shake hands with Imaam Ali (sa), and that is not Shirk. We cannot hug Allah naudhubilah, we cannot experience the human emotions that we have for fellow humans with Allah, that is a Unique Mercy which Allah created for us to desire and to experience. I desire to experience that unique human emotion with the Prophet (Sawa) and Imaams (sa).

I only desire this because Allah has put it in my fitrah and has sent them to us as a mercy, as the Qur'an says about Muhammad (sawa) "You are a Mercy to Mankind".

There are forces at work that we cannot perceive, but I truly believe that our tears reach the Imaams (sa) and honour their memory. I truly believe that our dua's for tawassul are answered by Allah.

When I cry for Imaam Hussayn (sa) and say "Labbayk Ya Hussain" it doesn't mean that I think Hussain (sa) is beside me literally and he is going to give me something physical, rather I believe that Allah acknowledges my love and obedience to Him ultimately by loving and obeying His loved ones, and that Allah brings me closer to Him as a result of my powerful love.

"Ya Ali Madad" doesn't mean that Ali (as) is physically rolling in a grave. It may not even mean that Ali (as) is floating as a spirit praying for me. Allahu 3lem. But what I think of is simply that Allah is All-Knowing, All-Hearing, and that He communicates this somehow between Himself and Ali (as), and that through this connection/communication, in a way that befits His Majesty, Allah is answering my call and building a strong bond between me and Ali (as) so that on the day of judgement, I can shake his hand and we will know each other and it will be a powerful mortal experience--an experience Created by Allah to be experienced by His creation.

Your Lord says call upon Me, I will answer you. Surely those who are too proud for My service shall soon enter hell abased - Surat Mumin Ayah 60.

And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way - Surat al Baqarah Ayah 186

Or, Who answers the distressed one when he calls upon Him and removes the evil, and He will make you successors in the earth. Is there a god with Allah? Little is it that you mind - Surat al Naml Ayah 62

So when Allah sw says all these things and more in the Qur'an, why do we turn to the Imams as?

I hope my above response to the other brother/sister has sufficed as a response to your own question.

I turn to Allah through the Imaams sometimes. Why? Because Allah has given them to us as a Mercy and a Guidance, and they have referred to themselves as the face, hands, tongue, and sides of Allah, in the sense that they are completely submitted to Allah and therefore they are the representatives of Allah's glory and power on earth. They are the gate to Allah. Allah says "Enter through the gate", as we all know, we do not enter the city except through it's gate.

"Ya Ali Madad" is a knock on that gate which I believe Allah responds to, opening the gate for me in order to bring me closer to Himself.

(note: door/gate is used interchangably in English for the Arabic word 'bab')

"The Messenger of God, peace and blessing on him, said: I am the city of knowledge and 'Ali is its gate"

Al-Kafi H 360, Ch. 23, h 8

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ahmad ibn abu

Nasr from Hassan al-Jammal who has said that Hashim ibn abu ‘Ammara al-Janbi reported to

him this."I heard Amirul Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) saying, ‘I am the eyes of Allah. I am the hands

of Allah. I am the sides of Allah. I am the gate to Allah."

It has been established that Ali (as) is the Gate to Allah...

Qur'an 2:58 And when We said: Enter this city, then eat from it a plenteous (food) wherever you wish, and enter the gate making obeisance, and say, forgiveness. We will forgive you your wrongs and give more to those who do good (to others).

Qur'an 2:189 They ask you concerning the new moon. Say: They are times appointed for (the benefit of) men, and (for) the pilgrimage; and it is not righteousness that you should enter the houses at their backs, but righteousness is this that one should guard (against evil); and go into the houses by their doors and be careful (of your duty) to Allah, that you may be successful.

Also see: 4:31; 4:154; 5:23; 7:161;

Al-Kafi H 451, Ch. 7, h 6

Those who enter the house through the door they are rightly guided. Those who go other ways

they are on the path to destruction. Allah has connected the obedience to the people of Divine

authority with the obedience to His Messenger and the obedience to His messenger with

obedience to His Own-self. Those who would disregard obedience to the people of Divine

authority they have not obeyed Allah and His Messenger. This obedience is the

acknowledgment of what Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has sent. (That you) be well

dressed with means of beauty near every mosque; that you should enter the doors of the

houses that Allah has given permission to be uplifted wherein His names be mentioned. Allah

has certainly informed you that there are certain man whose attentions and mind do not

deviate from speaking about Allah, prayer and paying charity because of business and trade

attractions. They only fear the Day in which the hearts and eyes turn upside down.

Al-Kafi H , Ch. 109, h 7

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’

from ‘Abdallah ibn Sinan from abu Hamza who has said the following. "Iheard abu Ja‘far (a.

s.) say, "Ali (a.s.) is a door that Allah has opened. Those who would enter this door will be

true believers and those who would go out of it they would unbelievers. Those who would

neither go out nor enter they will be of the category about whom Allah has said, "I have a

decision to make."

Allah knows best if me saying "Ya Ali" makes me a mushrik, of course.

But then I will have an argument against Allah because He says "enter through the gate", so I knock on the gate and attempt to enter by learning who Imaam Ali (as) was, and saying "Ya Ali" and sending salawat, shedding tears for him and his family, and trying to get closer to Allah through Ali (as) which Allah has commanded me to do.

So I really don't see what is wrong with it, if you read everything I've written without skipping any parts of the ahadith and ayats I quoted inshallah.

Al-Kafi H 501, Ch. 14, h 1

Ahmad ibn Mahran from Muhammad ibn Ali and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad altogether from Muhammad ibn Sinan from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. "Whatever Imam Ali (a.s.) has brought I follow them entirely and whatever he has forbidden I desist from them altogether. Whatever virtue that were found in the Holy Prophet (s.a.) were found in Imam Ali (a.s.) also. The Holy Prophet was more virtuous than all of the creatures of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. Those turning away from any item of his (Imam Ali) guidance would be like one turning away from the guidance of Allah and His Prophet. Rejecting him in small or a great one matters would like considering things like Allah (shirk). Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) was the gate to Allah through which only, people could go closer to Him. Imam Ali (a.s.) was the path that if one would ignore it he would have been destroyed. This is also true of all the Imams of guidance one after the other. Allah has made them as the cornerstones of the earth so that people on it would not be destroyed. They possess the doubtless Divine authority over the inhabitants of earth and those below the earth.

Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) would very often say, "I am the supervisor for Allah to see who should go to Paradise and who should go to Hell. I am the greatest criterion, the possessor of the staff and the (marking) seal Miysam All the angels and the spirit have acknowledged the existence in me of all the matters that they had acknowledge in Prophet Muhammad (s.a.). I am held responsible for all such matters that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) was held responsible. Such responsibilities are the duties to Allah, the Lord. The Holy Prophet will be called upon and his call will be accepted. I will be called up on and my call will be accepted. The Holy Prophet will be made to speak and I will be made to speak and I will speak just the way he would speak. I have been given certain distinctions which are given to no one before me. I was taught all about the deaths, the sufferings, the genealogy of people and clear speech. I have not missed any of the knowledge that have passed me by and nothing of the future is unseen or unknown to me. I give good news by the permission of Allah and do my duty towards Allah. All of these is from Allah Who has made it possible for me through His knowledge."

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur al-‘Ammi from Muhammad ibn Sinan who has said that al-Mufaddal narrated to us from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). He then narrated the above Hadith.

Al-Kafi H 353, Ch. 23, h 1

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-

Ni‘man from Sayf ibn ‘Umayr from those whom he mentioned from al-Harith ibn al-Mughira

al-Nasri who has said the following.

"A person asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the

Most High, "Everything will be destroyed except God. . . ." (28:88) The Imam (a.s.) asked,

"What do they say about it?" I replied, "They say that everything will perish except the face

of Allah." The Imam (a.s.) said, "Glory belongs to Allah. What they say is monstrous. What is

meant thereby is that aspect of Allah’s relation with people through which (persons of highest

degree of excellence) they establish faith in Him."

The above hadith shows that "The Face of Allah" is defined by the infallible Imaam (as) as "that aspect of Allah’s relation with people through which (persons of highest degree of excellence) they establish faith in Him."

Now, according to the Imaam (as), if I want to establish Faith in Allah, I must do so by Allah's Face, which is purely metaphorical of course.

Al-Kafi H 360, Ch. 23, h 8

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ahmad ibn abu

Nasr from Hassan al-Jammal who has said that Hashim ibn abu ‘Ammara al-Janbi reported to

him this. "I heard Amirul Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) saying, ‘I am the eyes of Allah. I am the hands

of Allah. I am the sides of Allah. I am the gate to Allah."

If I call on Ali by shouting "Ya Ali" then I am actually calling on the Face of Allah, and as I said before, the "Gate to Allah", where Allah said "enter through the gate".

"Ya Ali Madad" to me is no different from "Ya BabAllah" (Oh Gate of Allah), or "Ya WajhAllah" (Oh Face of Allah)

Please, anyone who wants to discuss this with me seriously, then make sure you've read everything I've written above (in this post), if you haven't then please don't bother side-tracking the conversation.

[thenamelessone]

(wasalam)

Jazakallah khayra for your question.

I've been a Shi'a for approximately one year. I didn't believe in saying "Ya Ali Madad" for a long time. Then I realized that this was an honour and also a testament to our belief in the Wilayat of Ali (sa).

I believe that the Shahadah is incomplete without 'Muhammadun Rasoolallah' and 'Aliyun Waliallah' which is the Imaams (sa) interpretation of the following Qur'an ayat:

"O you who believe! obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority from among you; then if you quarrel about anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the last day; this is better and very good in the end." Surah an-Nisa (4), verse 59

Ashadu an La ilaha ilallah = testimony to "Obey Allah"

wa ashadu ana Muhammadun Rasoolallah = testimony to "Obey the Messenger"

wa ashadu ana 3liyyun waliallah = testimony to "and Ulul-Amr"

If we quarrel about anything, refer it back to "Allah & the Messenger"... Allah SWT & the Messenger (sawa) have commanded us to obey and love and follow Imaam 'Ali (sa) and the 11 Imaams from him.

When I say "Ya Ali", I am saying the three shahadah, I am saying "Labbayk ya Allah", I am saying "I won't submit to the Nasibi who want Ali's name to be forgotten"

There are people who tried to bury the history and name of Ali (sa) in filth and lies, but they failed, and "Ya Ali" is an act of defiance to their kufr.

Allah says "Enjoin the good and forbid the evil", and "Ya Ali" embodies this.

I believe that Allah decrees everything and we do not influence His will at all, subhanallah. So when I say "Ya Ali" it is a submission to Allah's will.

I believe that by calling on those whom Allah loves, that it brings us closer to Allah. If Allah wanted us to only acknowledge Him and ignore everything else, then we wouldn't exist in a universe surrounded by His creations, and He wouldn't have sent Messengers and Imaams whom it is obligatory for us to obey. Clearly Allah wants us to believe in Him and those He sends, as well as to acknowledge and not forget their lives, their sacrifices, their teachings.

When you think of the day of Judgement, do you not desire to be greeted by Muhammad (sawa) and the Imaams (sa) ? They are the ones who bear witness and will inshallah intercede for us. We desire so heavily to shake hands with Imaam Ali (sa), and that is not Shirk. We cannot hug Allah naudhubilah, we cannot experience the human emotions that we have for fellow humans with Allah, that is a Unique Mercy which Allah created for us to desire and to experience. I desire to experience that unique human emotion with the Prophet (Sawa) and Imaams (sa).

I only desire this because Allah has put it in my fitrah and has sent them to us as a mercy, as the Qur'an says about Muhammad (sawa) "You are a Mercy to Mankind".

There are forces at work that we cannot perceive, but I truly believe that our tears reach the Imaams (sa) and honour their memory. I truly believe that our dua's for tawassul are answered by Allah.

When I cry for Imaam Hussayn (sa) and say "Labbayk Ya Hussain" it doesn't mean that I think Hussain (sa) is beside me literally and he is going to give me something physical, rather I believe that Allah acknowledges my love and obedience to Him ultimately by loving and obeying His loved ones, and that Allah brings me closer to Him as a result of my powerful love.

"Ya Ali Madad" doesn't mean that Ali (as) is physically rolling in a grave. It may not even mean that Ali (as) is floating as a spirit praying for me. Allahu 3lem. But what I think of is simply that Allah is All-Knowing, All-Hearing, and that He communicates this somehow between Himself and Ali (as), and that through this connection/communication, in a way that befits His Majesty, Allah is answering my call and building a strong bond between me and Ali (as) so that on the day of judgement, I can shake his hand and we will know each other and it will be a powerful mortal experience--an experience Created by Allah to be experienced by His creation.

I hope my above response to the other brother/sister has sufficed as a response to your own question.

(bismillah)

(salam)

A new shia, how beautiful it is, mashaAllah and welcome to the faith of Haqq. While your answer was not what I was looking for it said much. I can understand you now, perfectly, Your heart appears full of love for the Masumeen (as) and this is beautiful, you have a desire to shout your faith from the highest mountaintops for all to hear, and this is a pure desire. But I desire to caution you, this is important and I ask you to listen please. In the Holy Quran it says that it is only Allah to guide, so when others have faith and have different views than the ones you may hold, you cannot change their views, it is only Allah to do this changing of hearts and minds. It doesn't matter how you came to your faith, it was Allah who guided your heart, and with Allah in control you would have come to it no matter what, even if no one told you about the Masumeen (as). That said, we are first responsible to bring our lives to the right path. Believing is only step one and a many rung ladder. It is a lifetime process of learning and perfecting self, it does not ever stop. Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim. Ahadith tells us to seek knowledge even to china, we can learn from everyone some lesson in knowledge, but when think you already have all the knowledge there is to have, you stop learning because your mind closes. Also do not set up divisions in Islam, this is a must, whatever you do cannot be to divide. Do you attempt to teach a 5 year old calculus?

http://www.duas.org/

there are hundreds of dua you can memorize and learn to recite at this site

you can learn arabic the language of our religion

this man has very good videos

My prayers are with you

Ma'a Salaama

Edited February 9, 2012 by thenamelessone

[Dawud Miqdad al-Amriki]

(bismillah)

(salam)

A new shia, how beautiful it is, mashaAllah and welcome to the faith of Haqq. While your answer was not what I was looking for it said much. I can understand you now, perfectly, Your heart appears full of love for the Masumeen (as) and this is beautiful, you have a desire to shout your faith from the highest mountaintops for all to hear, and this is a pure desire. But I desire to caution you, this is important and I ask you to listen please. In the Holy Quran it says that it is only Allah to guide, so when others have faith and have different views than the ones you may hold, you cannot change their views, it is only Allah to do this changing of hearts and minds. It doesn't matter how you came to your faith, it was Allah who guided your heart, and with Allah in control you would have come to it no matter what, even if no one told you about the Masumeen (as). That said, we are first responsible to bring our lives to the right path. Believing is only step one and a many rung ladder. It is a lifetime process of learning and perfecting self, it does not ever stop. Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim. Ahadith tells us to seek knowledge even to china, we can learn from everyone some lesson in knowledge, but when think you already have all the knowledge there is to have, you stop learning because your mind closes. Also do not set up divisions in Islam, this is a must, whatever you do cannot be to divide. Do you attempt to teach a 5 year old calculus?

http://www.duas.org/

there are hundreds of dua you can memorize and learn to recite at this site

My prayers are with you

Ma'a Salaama

(wasalam)

Jazakallah khayra for your kind comments, I pray you are right inshallah. My prayers are with you as well inshallah.

I agree we must always seek knowledge, and not be arrogant. I do not think that I am 100% haqq, I never thought for a moment in my life that I am 100% positive.

My imaan is 99% at best, it cannot be 100% because that is not Faith, that is Certainty. Certainty is not faith.

There is a hadith about faith and eye-witnessed certainty, etc... The Imaam (as) says that faith will not leave in the next life, we will always have faith, not eye-witnessed certainty.

So I believe I will only have 100% faith--certainty--when I'm dead and Allah resurrects me.

However I would say that due to my extreme lack of knowledge, I am only 90% confident that what I believe is true. Which means I'm open-minded, I accept new ideas and am willing to listen to any arguments someone has against my beliefs or for their own.

I currently visit Sheikh Yasser al-Habib and take knowledge from him whenever possible, and he is a student of Ayatollah Mujtaba Shirazi.

So I'm following in a line of scholars who haven't got caught up in politics and strange deviations like Wahdat al Wujud.

As for learning Arabic, I'm thinking to travel to an Arabic country and study proper Fusha with tajweed etc inshallah.

Ma'a salaama

[thenamelessone]

(wasalam)

Jazakallah khayra for your kind comments, I pray you are right inshallah. My prayers are with you as well inshallah.

I agree we must always seek knowledge, and not be arrogant. I do not think that I am 100% haqq, I never thought for a moment in my life that I am 100% positive.

My imaan is 99% at best, it cannot be 100% because that is not Faith, that is Certainty. Certainty is not faith.

There is a hadith about faith and eye-witnessed certainty, etc... The Imaam (as) says that faith will not leave in the next life, we will always have faith, not eye-witnessed certainty.

So I believe I will only have 100% faith--certainty--when I'm dead and Allah resurrects me.

However I would say that due to my extreme lack of knowledge, I am only 90% confident that what I believe is true. Which means I'm open-minded, I accept new ideas and am willing to listen to any arguments someone has against my beliefs or for their own.

I currently visit Sheikh Yasser al-Habib and take knowledge from him whenever possible, and he is a student of Ayatollah Mujtaba Shirazi.

So I'm following in a line of scholars who haven't got caught up in politics and strange deviations like Wahdat al Wujud.

As for learning Arabic, I'm thinking to travel to an Arabic country and study proper Fusha with tajweed etc inshallah.

Ma'a salaama

(bismillah)

(salam)

I don't want you to misunderstand my intent, I am not saying you are right or wrong, right or wrong is not concern so long as you are learning from all sources available. You don't have to agree with every word, you take what you think is good after consideration and prayer leaving what you don't understand or don't agree with. This religion is not about debate or argumentation, the Aimmah (as) - plural for Imam- have told us not to debate religion. This is a certainty; debate is forbidden. So you should not seek debate but seek to share what knowledge you have and be open to the knowledge others have, this knowledge all comes from the same sources, the words of the Aimmah (as) who are the Quran an Natiq (voiced or speaking Quran) and the Quran as Samit (which is the silent Quran). There is no other source anyone who calls themselves shia uses. This is a path of learning, open to all the Words of Allah, not debate.

Ma'a Salaama

[Dawud Miqdad al-Amriki]

(bismillah)

(salam)

I don't want you to misunderstand my intent, I am not saying you are right or wrong, right or wrong is not concern so long as you are learning from all sources available. You don't have to agree with every word, you take what you think is good after consideration and prayer leaving what you don't understand or don't agree with. This religion is not about debate or argumentation, the Aimmah (as) - plural for Imam- have told us not to debate religion. This is a certainty; debate is forbidden. So you should not seek debate but seek to share what knowledge you have and be open to the knowledge others have, this knowledge all comes from the same sources, the words of the Aimmah (as) who are the Quran an Natiq (voiced or speaking Quran) and the Quran as Samit (which is the silent Quran). There is no other source anyone who calls themselves shia uses. This is a path of learning, open to all the Words of Allah, not debate.

Ma'a Salaama

(salam)

Jazakallah khayra,

Qur'an, Surah an-Nahl (ch. 16), Verse 125:

Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and have disputations with them in the best manner; surely your Lord best knows those who go astray from His path, and He knows best those who follow the right way.

I agree with you fully, I'm making a thread about it now.

Edited February 9, 2012 by Dawud Miqdad al-Amriki

[*~Fatima~*]

Beautiful thread masha'Allah - thank you and jazakallah Dawud Miqad al-Amriki and LoveforTruth!