I Have Questions

[syeduddin]

Everyday shia's are dying or being humiliated due to the beliefs we have.

 

What are our religious leader's saying about this?

What can we do about it from a realistic perspective?

Why are we so divided as Shias?

 

It's true that we've being killed for years but now they are trying every dirty tactic they can. From Malaysia to Pakistan to the ends of the Arab world we are suffering, there hasn't been a day where iraqi shia are at peace because just about every other day there is a bomb which kills scores of us. Its just that everyday i hear the screams of unity (which im proud of and not against) however i never hear the same favour returned backed to us. 

 

It's like we are being cheated and back-stabbed. We are being attacked in place in which you would think that they would have the decency to leave us alone for example they recently attacked us during hajj, they even run around taking off our religious leaders headwear. Recently i was reading that in syria there was a shia family who's daughter was 5 years old bound by chains to the bed as they made her watch them kill her whole family (I cried my heart out while reading about it).

 

There's nothing more i can really say because it's already been said.

[TheIslamHistory]

(bismillah)

 

 

 

The Oppression you mentioned is Merely nothing compared to the last months, Where the Imam Mahdi (a.f) Will appear. Our Imams (a.s) have told us of this oppression from the beginning from Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) to the last Hours of the disappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.f). We Will be faced with many Difficult Trials that will exceed what we expect and imagine. According to Islamic principles, the world is a place of tests and trials and people are in a state of being tried during everything that happens to them. During youth and old age, whether wealthy or in need, in health and illness, when in power, when in leadership, they are always in a state of trial; it makes no difference whether the Imam (peace be upon him) is present or in occultation.

The Qur’an says in this regard:

 

 

أَحَسِبَ النَّاسَ أَنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لاَ يُفْتَنُونَ

 

 

“Have the people presumed they would be released upon saying, ‘We believe,’ without being tested?”

(Surah ‘Ankabut (29), Verse 2)

 

 

 

As we know, during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) himself, while all of the programs and incidents were a test, sometimes, severe trials would occur, in which none but a few were able to fulfill their obligation. For example, in battle, aside from individuals like ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) and Abu Dujana and a few others, none were able to stand firm in jihad and defense of Islam and the Prophet. This is because during severe trials, only a limited number of people have the ability to stand firm; many an individual would flee out f fear. It has been related that in on the battles ‘Uthman fled from the battlefield and returned after three days. Or after the Prophet’s (peace be upon him and his family) demise, such a severe trial came to pass that not more than three or seven people were able to successfully perform their duty and remain firm on the line that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) had specified. Afterwards as well, such trials continued and shall continue, so that, in the words of the Qur’an:

 

لِيَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ

 

“…so that Allah separates the impure from the pure.”

(Surah Anfal (8), Verse 37)

 

 

 

These trials have wisdom and many benefits, among which is that the disposition of the people of the world and society become ready for that dignified reappearance in which the resolute and steadfast believers will be separated from the remaining people. Preserving one’s faith during the period of the Imam’s (peace be upon him) occultation is possible by enduring very severe difficulties. Without doubt, millions of people leave this school of trials with pride and heads held high, that is through patience and forbearance and perseverance in difficulties, they succeed in preserving their religion, faith, and honor. According to the content of some traditions, during this period protecting one’s religion will become more difficult than holding fire in the palm of one’s hand, and oppression, injustice, corruption, and perversion will become prevalent. Values will be regarded as being against values, and things opposed to values will be regarded as values. Sins will be considered a matter of pride and accomplishment. One’s friends will encourage and induce him to sin and reproach him for not cooperating with oppressors, sinners, and corrupt people. Women will enter into work exclusive to men. Many wars and natural afflictions will come about. In a tradition of Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari regarding the commentary of the verse:

 

 

 

طِيعُوا اللهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ

 

“(O you who believe!) Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority amongst you (the legatees of the Messenger). (Surah an-Nisa’ (4), Verse 59)

 

 

 

It has come that the Noble Messenger (peace be upon him and his family) gives news about his khulafa’ and successors from Imam ‘Ali (peace be upon him) until Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return), names them one after one and gives tidings to the people about the conquering of the East and West of the world at the blessed hands of Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return), and says, inter alia:

 

"ذَالَكَ الَّذِي يُغِيبُ عَنْ شِيعَتِهِ وَأَوْلِيَائِهِ غَيْبَةً لاَ يُثْبِتُ فِيهَا عَلَى الْقَوْلِ بِإِمَامَتِهِ إِلاَّ مَنِ امْتَحَنَ اللهُ قَلْبَهُ لِلإِيمَانِ."

 

“He is the one who will be concealed from his Shi‘a and friends such a concealment that none shall remain firm in belief in his Imamah except one whose heart Allah has tested for faith.” (A’lam al-Wara, Page 397)

 

 

 

And Amir al-Mu’minin has also informed about these difficulties and tribulations in Nahj al-Balagha. In one instance, he says:

 

مَا أَطْوَلَ هَذَا العِنَاءِ وَأَبْعَدَ هَذَا الرَّجَاءِ.

 

“How lengthy is this adversity, and how distant is this hope!”

(ahj al-Balagha, Subhi as-Salih, Speech 187, Part 4)

 

 

 

It has even been related, in another tradition, that:

 

إِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ هَذَا الأَمْرِ غَيْبَةً اَلْمُتَمَسِّكُ فِيهَا بِدِينِهِ كَالْخَارَطِ لِلْقِتَادِ.

 

 

“Verily the Master of this Affair has a such a concealment that one who grips firmly to his religion during it is like one who picks thorns with his hands.”

Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 52, Page 111, hadith 21.

 

 

 

Therefore, as can be understood from the traditions, the entire period of concealment is a period of trial and examination; of course, the types of those trials are different in the different times and places. The believer during this period must show perseverance in abiding by the commandments of religion and struggling to elevate the word of Islam and honor of the Muslims and to repel the influence and cultural and political domination of foreigners. He must be in combat and jihad with all negative and unhelpful circumstances and conditions and be hopeful of the victory of Islam and the Muslims and the succor of Allah. He must not lose hold of himself in face of the power and strength of the disbelievers or become inclined towards their improper behavior. And at the same time he must have certainty that the promises of Allah and the Prophet of Allah are true and that eventually Islam will be victorious and conquer the world, as a result of which justice and equity shall fill the world.

Concerning Why Our Ulma are not doing Anything as you claim, you are wrong dear brother, Ayatollah Sistani and Ayatollah Sayed Ali Al Khamenei and Many More similar figures, are doing all they can to bring unity among Muslims and eradicate the Ignorance within people. But what your stance on they (Ulma) doing an action against oppression, is very wrong indeed. How would you expect a scholar of high level to start an Unwanted action by the society? So dear brother such oppression, we shall wait for the Awaited saviour (a.f), for only he has the right on this issue. 

   

[Zaynab McCabe]

Very well said.

(bismillah)

The Oppression you mentioned is Merely nothing compared to the last months, Where the Imam Mahdi (a.f) Will appear. Our Imams (a.s) have told us of this oppression from the beginning from Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) to the last Hours of the disappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.f). We Will be faced with many Difficult Trials that will exceed what we expect and imagine. According to Islamic principles, the world is a place of tests and trials and people are in a state of being tried during everything that happens to them. During youth and old age, whether wealthy or in need, in health and illness, when in power, when in leadership, they are always in a state of trial; it makes no difference whether the Imam (peace be upon him) is present or in occultation.

The Qur’an says in this regard:

أَحَسِبَ النَّاسَ أَنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لاَ يُفْتَنُونَ

“Have the people presumed they would be released upon saying, ‘We believe,’ without being tested?”

(Surah ‘Ankabut (29), Verse 2)

As we know, during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) himself, while all of the programs and incidents were a test, sometimes, severe trials would occur, in which none but a few were able to fulfill their obligation. For example, in battle, aside from individuals like ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) and Abu Dujana and a few others, none were able to stand firm in jihad and defense of Islam and the Prophet. This is because during severe trials, only a limited number of people have the ability to stand firm; many an individual would flee out f fear. It has been related that in on the battles ‘Uthman fled from the battlefield and returned after three days. Or after the Prophet’s (peace be upon him and his family) demise, such a severe trial came to pass that not more than three or seven people were able to successfully perform their duty and remain firm on the line that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) had specified. Afterwards as well, such trials continued and shall continue, so that, in the words of the Qur’an:

لِيَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ

“…so that Allah separates the impure from the pure.”

(Surah Anfal (8), Verse 37)

These trials have wisdom and many benefits, among which is that the disposition of the people of the world and society become ready for that dignified reappearance in which the resolute and steadfast believers will be separated from the remaining people. Preserving one’s faith during the period of the Imam’s (peace be upon him) occultation is possible by enduring very severe difficulties. Without doubt, millions of people leave this school of trials with pride and heads held high, that is through patience and forbearance and perseverance in difficulties, they succeed in preserving their religion, faith, and honor. According to the content of some traditions, during this period protecting one’s religion will become more difficult than holding fire in the palm of one’s hand, and oppression, injustice, corruption, and perversion will become prevalent. Values will be regarded as being against values, and things opposed to values will be regarded as values. Sins will be considered a matter of pride and accomplishment. One’s friends will encourage and induce him to sin and reproach him for not cooperating with oppressors, sinners, and corrupt people. Women will enter into work exclusive to men. Many wars and natural afflictions will come about. In a tradition of Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari regarding the commentary of the verse:

طِيعُوا اللهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ

“(O you who believe!) Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority amongst you (the legatees of the Messenger). (Surah an-Nisa’ (4), Verse 59)

It has come that the Noble Messenger (peace be upon him and his family) gives news about his khulafa’ and successors from Imam ‘Ali (peace be upon him) until Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return), names them one after one and gives tidings to the people about the conquering of the East and West of the world at the blessed hands of Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return), and says, inter alia:

"ذَالَكَ الَّذِي يُغِيبُ عَنْ شِيعَتِهِ وَأَوْلِيَائِهِ غَيْبَةً لاَ يُثْبِتُ فِيهَا عَلَى الْقَوْلِ بِإِمَامَتِهِ إِلاَّ مَنِ امْتَحَنَ اللهُ قَلْبَهُ لِلإِيمَانِ."

“He is the one who will be concealed from his Shi‘a and friends such a concealment that none shall remain firm in belief in his Imamah except one whose heart Allah has tested for faith.” (A’lam al-Wara, Page 397)

And Amir al-Mu’minin has also informed about these difficulties and tribulations in Nahj al-Balagha. In one instance, he says:

مَا أَطْوَلَ هَذَا العِنَاءِ وَأَبْعَدَ هَذَا الرَّجَاءِ.

“How lengthy is this adversity, and how distant is this hope!”

(ahj al-Balagha, Subhi as-Salih, Speech 187, Part 4)

It has even been related, in another tradition, that:

إِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ هَذَا الأَمْرِ غَيْبَةً اَلْمُتَمَسِّكُ فِيهَا بِدِينِهِ كَالْخَارَطِ لِلْقِتَادِ.

“Verily the Master of this Affair has a such a concealment that one who grips firmly to his religion during it is like one who picks thorns with his hands.”

Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 52, Page 111, hadith 21.

Therefore, as can be understood from the traditions, the entire period of concealment is a period of trial and examination; of course, the types of those trials are different in the different times and places. The believer during this period must show perseverance in abiding by the commandments of religion and struggling to elevate the word of Islam and honor of the Muslims and to repel the influence and cultural and political domination of foreigners. He must be in combat and jihad with all negative and unhelpful circumstances and conditions and be hopeful of the victory of Islam and the Muslims and the succor of Allah. He must not lose hold of himself in face of the power and strength of the disbelievers or become inclined towards their improper behavior. And at the same time he must have certainty that the promises of Allah and the Prophet of Allah are true and that eventually Islam will be victorious and conquer the world, as a result of which justice and equity shall fill the world.

Concerning Why Our Ulma are not doing Anything as you claim, you are wrong dear brother, Ayatollah Sistani and Ayatollah Sayed Ali Al Khamenei and Many More similar figures, are doing all they can to bring unity among Muslims and eradicate the Ignorance within people. But what your stance on they (Ulma) doing an action against oppression, is very wrong indeed. How would you expect a scholar of high level to start an Unwanted action by the society? So dear brother such oppression, we shall wait for the Awaited saviour (a.f), for only he has the right on this issue.