How do I know if Shiism is right?

[شكرخدا]

Alsalam Alaykum,

I’ve been struggling with this thought for a while. While being in a Sunni environment, I tend to question my own faith in terms of how and why we differ. I resolve to speaking to my parents about it but I’ve become too dependent on evidence that it becomes hard to accept small things.

What should I do in this case? Is there any advice for my to strengthen my iman and confirm that this path is the right path?

Jazakumullah Khayran.

[Abu_Zahra]

Wa alaikum as salam

I think it's important to distinguish between the actual teachings and practices of our Imams and ideas or trends that came up afterwards.

For the actual teachings the best way is to study the Quran and the sermons and narrations of the Ahlulbayt.

For the popular trends, re evaluate them against the religious teachings and feel free to adapt whatever deviates from the message of Islam. 

[Borntowitnesstruth]

7 hours ago, شكرخدا said:

Alsalam Alaykum,

I’ve been struggling with this thought for a while. While being in a Sunni environment, I tend to question my own faith in terms of how and why we differ. I resolve to speaking to my parents about it but I’ve become too dependent on evidence that it becomes hard to accept small things.

What should I do in this case? Is there any advice for my to strengthen my iman and confirm that this path is the right path?

Jazakumullah Khayran.

The best thing would be to evaluate the beliefs and teaching based on the principles of justice. I was once curious whether being a shia is a good choice. Then I got confirmation of my beliefs from different sources and my belief in the teachings of shia Islam became more strong.

[ShiaMan14]

8 hours ago, شكرخدا said:

Alsalam Alaykum,

I’ve been struggling with this thought for a while. While being in a Sunni environment, I tend to question my own faith in terms of how and why we differ. I resolve to speaking to my parents about it but I’ve become too dependent on evidence that it becomes hard to accept small things.

What should I do in this case? Is there any advice for my to strengthen my iman and confirm that this path is the right path?

Jazakumullah Khayran.

Anything specific you are struggling with?

[Lion of Shia]

4 hours ago, ShiaMan14 said:

Anything specific you are struggling with?

i struggle with music and eating halal myself

[علوي]

13 hours ago, شكرخدا said:

Alsalam Alaykum,

I’ve been struggling with this thought for a while. While being in a Sunni environment, I tend to question my own faith in terms of how and why we differ. I resolve to speaking to my parents about it but I’ve become too dependent on evidence that it becomes hard to accept small things.

What should I do in this case? Is there any advice for my to strengthen my iman and confirm that this path is the right path?

Jazakumullah Khayran.

Salam, I would recommend watching lectures of Sayed Ammar Nakshawani, that's how I learnt pretty much everything I know about Islam.

[ShiaMan14]

On 9/7/2022 at 3:07 PM, Lion of Shia said:

i struggle with music and eating halal myself

Ah brother. those are related to individual practice issues rather than the fundamentals of faith.

[layman]

14 hours ago, شكرخدا said:

Alsalam Alaykum,

I’ve been struggling with this thought for a while. While being in a Sunni environment, I tend to question my own faith in terms of how and why we differ. I resolve to speaking to my parents about it but I’ve become too dependent on evidence that it becomes hard to accept small things.

What should I do in this case? Is there any advice for my to strengthen my iman and confirm that this path is the right path?

Jazakumullah Khayran.

Alaikum salaam,

As long as Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى), all Angels and all Mukminin have approved the path then it  must be the right one.

All Muslims must make salawat to Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and His Family (عليه السلام), if not their daily prayers will not accepted.  Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) and all Angels, and Mukminjn make salawat.

Salawat contain Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى), Muhammad and Aale Muhammad (عليه السلام).  Not  just Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) or Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) and Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), but all 3 realities in one phrase.

Therefore, the path toward Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) through Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and Aale Muhammad (عليه السلام), is absolutely correct.  

To be a Mukmin, a person must make the salawat part of his way of life, believe in Tawheed of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), Nubuwwah of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and Imamah of Aale Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم).

Wallahualam 

Layman

[شكرخدا]

19 hours ago, ShiaMan14 said:

Anything specific you are struggling with?

Salam,

For one, the concept of Imamah and how we can take their word for certain. Where does it mention the infallibility? I understand that some things just need to be accepted, but if I have one little push of motivation, I’ll be able to manage with the rest, Insha Allah.

[ShiaMan14]

On 9/8/2022 at 5:56 AM, شكرخدا said:

Salam,

For one, the concept of Imamah and how we can take their word for certain. Where does it mention the infallibility? I understand that some things just need to be accepted, but if I have one little push of motivation, I’ll be able to manage with the rest, Insha Allah.

we dont take their word as much as ee take the words of Allah and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) about the Imams. That provides the certainty that the Imams are right.

How do you know the Quran is correct and the perfect book of Allah?

[شكرخدا]

10 hours ago, ShiaMan14 said:

we dont take their word as much as ee take the words of Allah and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) about the Imams. That provides the certainty that the Imams are right.

How do you know the Quran is correct and the perfect book of Allah?

 

For sure the Quran because that is unquestionable. However, the concept of imamah mostly appears in ahadith, and their status appeared after the Prophet’s death, so how would we know in this case? 

[Kasem213]

On 9/7/2022 at 2:40 AM, شكرخدا said:

Alsalam Alaykum,

I’ve been struggling with this thought for a while. While being in a Sunni environment, I tend to question my own faith in terms of how and why we differ. I resolve to speaking to my parents about it but I’ve become too dependent on evidence that it becomes hard to accept small things.

What should I do in this case? Is there any advice for my to strengthen my iman and confirm that this path is the right path?

Jazakumullah Khayran.

I will first provide evidences about that  prophet Muhammad’s ahlulbayt are sinless and then give evidence who are his ahlulbayt and this itself will prove the Imamate.

In Sunni and Shia Hadith books there is the Hadith al­-­Thaqalayn. Where prophet Mohammed says that he will leave two things which if we both follow we won’t go astray. The first one is the Quran and the second is his ahlulbayt. we both know Quran is the perfect book but for the prophet to say that we also have to follow his ahlulbayt shows how great they are and therefore must be perfect as the Quran and therefore they have to be infallible. 

now second proof of the infallibility of his ahlulbayt. In the Quran it states that: "Verily Allah intends to keep off from you every kind of uncleanness O’ People of the House (Ahlul-Bayt), and purify you with a perfect purification". (Qur’an, the last sentence of Verse 33:33)  this verse mentions a perfects purification. Meaning whoever got this purification has to be sinless. And indeed Allahs words do not lie. 

now who are the ahlulbayt? In Sunni and Shia Hadith books there is a Hadith called Hadith ahl al-kisa. Where prophet Muhammed put Ali, fatimah, Hassan, Hussain and himself under a cloak. And the hadiths mention that the prophet than said: "O’ Allah! These are THE Members of my House (Ahlul-Bayt). Keep them away from every impurity and purify them with a perfect purification.” meaning that the verse about purification in the Quran was about them. You probably are now doubting about the rest of the 9 imams of the Shia. But you have to know that every imam was appointed by the one before them. So imam Ali to imam Hassan to imam Hussain to imam al sajjad to imam al baqir to imam al sadiq and so on.... therefore there cannot be a mistake in the imams. 

Al-Imamah literally means 'to lead '; al-imam means 'the leader'. In Islamic terminology al-imamah (Imamate) means 'universal authority in all religious and secular affairs, in succession to the Prophet'1. al-Imam means 'the man who, in succession to the Prophet, has the right to the absolute command of the Muslims in all religious and secular affairs '.

Who’s is more worthy of the Imamate than these 12 perfect humans? 
 

I suggest you look at the biographies of the 14 infallibles. There are YouTube lectures about them by sayad Ammar nakshawani they are very informative.

[ShiaMan14]

On 9/9/2022 at 1:06 AM, شكرخدا said:

For sure the Quran because that is unquestionable. 

Is it though? 6bn people disagree with you. The Quran says its Allah's book and it is error-free but isn't that circular logic? So what makes your belief in the Quran certain. It is the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), his words and his character that lead you to determine that the Quran is Allah's book. 

Just using the Quran as a basis for belief is incorrect. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) clearly said he is "leaving behind Quran and Ahlulbayt so you don't go astray". So how can you say Quran is enough? 

 

On 9/9/2022 at 1:06 AM, شكرخدا said:

However, the concept of imamah mostly appears in ahadith, and their status appeared after the Prophet’s death, so how would we know in this case? 

[Quran 4:59] 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

[Quran 5:55] Only Allah is your Vali and His Messenger and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow.

The Quran is pretty explicit in the leadership and guardianship of Allah, Prophet and a third group of select people. There is no dispute that 5.55 refers to Imam Ali (عليه السلام) as he is the one who gave zakat while praying. On the one hand your belief in the Quran is unquestionable. But when the Quran tells you that Ali is your Wali, you reject it and have doubts. How come?

[GreenTree]

You are in a very tough situation. Sunni islam or Shia islam as long as you believe in Prophet Muhammad and Imams as wali. You should easily transition from average sunni view to more hanafi sunni and shia view. As hanafi and shia views are very similiar. There are more than 1000 saints who were hanafi but they had shown miracles. Which is self evident that the truth was shown to them. Unlike a typical shia or sunni mulla, who does all that religious stuff, but not even one mulla can do a miracle. Anyways the most important thing is accepting the velayat of hzrt Ali and all imams after him. Without hzrt ali, Islam is useless. 

[Cool]

On 9/8/2022 at 3:56 PM, شكرخدا said:

For one, the concept of Imamah and how we can take their word for certain. Where does it mention the infallibility?

Do you believe that the religion Islam, is a perfect religion, as mentioned in Quran? And do you take the word of Quran for certain?

What do you think infallibility actually is? People either become victims of their own desires or either become the victim of Satan.

There certainly are persons who neither becomes the victim of there own desires nor are they misguided by the Satan. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) has made obligatory on us their obedience. And has commanded us to follow their path. 

Should I quote the verses from Quran?

[Hasani Samnani]

On 9/7/2022 at 11:40 AM, شكرخدا said:

what should I do in this case? Is there any advice for my to strengthen my iman and confirm that this path is the right path?

 I will try to give you a different perspective, especially among sunnies.

My father was sunnies and and so was my paternal grandfather. Our paternal grandmother was Shia. My father became convinced once he started reading and listening to Islamic history.

Once you also realize that all 4 sunnie madhab leaders were either directly or indirectly student of Imam Jaffar e Sadiq ( AS ) it changes your perspective. The reason was that many non Shia gained immensely from his father's and his lecture series given on  a huge variety of topics from Science, astronomy,  medicine,  jurisprudence, logic, Philosophy etc....this was the beginning of the Islamic Enlightenment period and fostered the likes of Ibn Sina, Razi, Ibn Arabi,  Ibn Rushd, Ibn tufail, ibn al nafees, Khawarizimi, Omar Khayyam, al Kashi...among many others.

If you read Peshawwar Nights,  I am sure most  of your doubts will be quickly erased.

I also suggest , then i was guided by Sheik Tijani, who we used to meet in Dar Al Hikmah in Dearborn. He is a bit of polemic, and is often the case with sunni to Shia converts...quite anti sunni.

I don't agree with that perspective,  most sunnies are not really anti Shia, their just misguided by their leaders.

However,  salafis and wahabis are close to kuffar and munafiqueen than muslimeen , unfortunately for them.

The problem is that the Saudi regime has Been paying lots of money for the pro ibn tammiya, ibn kathir, sheikh albani and propagating wahabi sheiks to take over the sunni world.

 

Edited September 30, 2022 by Hasani Samnani

[Abu Nur]

On 9/7/2022 at 10:40 AM, شكرخدا said:

Alsalam Alaykum,

I’ve been struggling with this thought for a while. While being in a Sunni environment, I tend to question my own faith in terms of how and why we differ. I resolve to speaking to my parents about it but I’ve become too dependent on evidence that it becomes hard to accept small things.

What should I do in this case? Is there any advice for my to strengthen my iman and confirm that this path is the right path?

Jazakumullah Khayran.

Salaam Aleikum,

You need to start your journey to seek knowledge and practice it and evolve your faith trough it. Every doubt is really nothing but something is in your awareness but you do not have certainty about it. Seek this certainty even if it takes years and sometimes it does. 

[islamicmusic]

Wa alaikum salam wa rahmatullah.

Please download this book mentioned above many times.

https://www.al-islam.org/peshawar-nights-sayyid-muhammad-al-musawi-al-shirazi

And the thing you do, i.e. researching to strenghten your imaan, is a lot better than just blindly believing.