Thoughts 2023

[Hameedeh]

11 hours ago, Guest Please Dua For Me said:

alhamduillah because of your prayers the surgery was successful. thank you everyone. please still keep me in your prayers because it will take months until i see whether the success of this surgery worked

Alhamdulillah. Allah Humma Salle Ala Muhammadin Wa Aal-e-Muhammad.

[313_Waiter]

On 2/22/2023 at 2:49 AM, AbdusSibtayn said:

Many disagreements with this but hilarious nonetheless.

We should add another category the “centrists” lol.

[AbdusSibtayn]

8 hours ago, 313_Waiter said:

We should add another category the “centrists” lol.

Yes. 

[Irfani313]

12 hours ago, 313_Waiter said:

We should add another category the “centrists” lol.

Doesn’t mention the Centrist Rakhshanda, Layman Shakoor, and Seasonal Sara, but is hilarious nonetheless !!!!

 

[ShiaChat Mod]

On 3/28/2023 at 1:10 AM, Quran313 said:

Which one is better?

From professor google: 

While spring water has been naturally filtered through underground aquifers, purified water also goes through a strict treatment and filtration process for purity. So both are excellent sources of hydration, but while purified water is classed as 'pure', spring water can be better for you.

[ShiaChat Mod]

On 4/1/2023 at 1:39 AM, Eddie Mecca said:

Can never go wrong by investing in gold and silver like Sheikh Imran Hosein is always emphasizing

Why would a sheikh be promoting investing in gold and silver? Does he or his family have a business in gold and silver? 

[Haji 2003]

On 4/2/2023 at 6:24 PM, ShiaChat Mod said:

Why would a sheikh be promoting investing in gold and silver? Does he or his family have a business in gold and silver? 

Is it this person? His religious credentials are not spelt out. But I'd guess in relation to gold/silver he seems to be speaking based on his employment/general experience. Though it would be odd if he were trying to back up that advice based on Islamic principles.

Quote

He was born in the Caribbean island of Trinidad in 1942 from parents whose ancestors had migrated as indentured labourer from India. He is a graduate of the Aleemiyah Institute in Karachi and has studied at sevaral instutions of higher learning including the University of Karachi,the University of the West Indies, Al Azhar University and the Graduate Institute of International Relations in Switzerland He worked for several years as a Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago but gave up his job in 1985 to devote his life to the mission of Islam. He is a former Principal of the Aleemiyah Institute of Islamic Studies in Karachi, Pakistan, Director of Research of the World Muslim Congress in Karachi, Pakistan, Director of the Islamic Institute for Education and Research in Miami, Florida, and Director of D’awah for Tanzeem-e-Islami of North America.

https://www.youtube.com/@SheikhImranHosein/about

[notme]

11 hours ago, ShiaChat Mod said:

Why would a sheikh be promoting investing in gold and silver? Does he or his family have a business in gold and silver? 

Using his position as a religious leader to promote family business would be unethical.  

But he is allowed to have opinions and to share them.  

[AbdusSibtayn]

Why are all shia youngsters becoming noha reciters?

YouTube is inundated with them. 

[notme]

19 minutes ago, AbdusSibtayn said:

Why are all shia youngsters becoming noha reciters?

YouTube is inundated with them. 

That's wonderful! 

Do you have any recommended young reciters? 

[AbdusSibtayn]

8 hours ago, notme said:

That's wonderful! 

Do you have any recommended young reciters? 

I don't quite remember specific names because I keep seeing so many of them, but Muhammad Baqir al-Qahtan and Hadi Faour for Arabic, and Muazzam Ali Mirza and Sibtain Haydar for Urdu are some names that I can recollect. 

It is certainly a good thing. But I would like to see Shi'a youngsters trying to be academics and intellectuals with equal enthusiasm as well. 

[Hameedeh]

On 4/2/2023 at 6:24 PM, ShiaChat Mod said:

Why would a sheikh be promoting investing in gold and silver? Does he or his family have a business in gold and silver? 

Googling his name, I saw a book about dinars and dirhams. Probably explaining what it means? 

[Guest Reform]

Salam,

Just food for thought.

Our belief systems often give us a sense of security, a world view that we feel makes sense. Anyone who challenges such a world view, often makes us feel instrinsically  threatened on an existential level. This is often why, people who have long held beliefs, find it hard to shake them off.

If , we keep the clear, Allah as the centre, Tawheed as the center,  and for a moment pause and realise that perhaps the orthodoxy of what we currently see was not the same orthodoxy before, that many religions, and Islam itself, as clearly seen in the Quran has undergone interpolation, and changes, and we realise we are not necessarily an instrinsically special group, we can then be open minded.

The moment you look at someone with a differing view, and realise that perhaps you're not part of a special group whereby every single thing you believe is nothing but divine truth, but are open to the idea that the core may be rooted in truth, but the sands of time and change and orthodoxy through history in your own sect and in the sect of others have gone a lot of evolution, and much of what you may be practising may not be rooted in the original sources, it opens a journey of self reflection.

When you read the Quran, and realise that every soul will be accountable for its own deeds, and you can not perform emulation on Aqeedah issues, and that God would have made Aqeedah crystal clear in the Quran, and that Shaytan's number one avenue of attack is shirk,  be mindful of what you will answer to Allah on the day of judgement.

I sit here in my room, but is it right to think of myself as a chosen man? Somehow, a Muslim, a Shia, a Twelver, and not just any twelver, but a twelver in a post Savafid era, as opposed to the many iterations of twelver shi'ism who had wildly different ways of practising throughout history where what was orthodox now was a minority shunned view before, am i not deluding myself? 

I can't help by read the Quran and see it as God centric, not personality centric. I can't help but read the Quran and see God again and again relay patterns of nations, time and time again, who were brought clear messages but both the scholarly class and the group drifted away. again and gain, save a few, mixing truth with interpolations.

I only make Dua for example, to Allah. I have instrinsically in my very being, while having digested decades of lectures telling me otherwise, not felt the ability to make Dua to any but him. I ask Allah for the sake of the purified, Muhammed and his blessed Ahlulbayt. Allah makes it so clear in the noble Quran. The hadith of the Aimmah in reliable books of the Shia unanimously - the reliable ones - instruct us that Dua is worship and that it is the best means of which to form a relationship with God. They never in any instance, instruct us to call to anyone but God. You find what happens today, was not prevelant among the first few centuries of the Shia, and a lot of what you see today is merely an evolved version. 

You then feel a sense of great sadness. But when you read the Quran you realise, dilution has occured in every religion, sect and community. 

You realise you aren't a special, saved, person. You are in a constant fight for truth, and you will be alone on the day of judgement where no scholar will defend you if you have the wrong Aqeedah - but will disown you there and then. 

Follow that which is clear. Not unclear. 

 

This is just a ramadhan reflection , not a debate, You are free to reply, but i will not be responding to the message. It is just my own Ramadhan reflection, as a one off post. 

[Guest Reform]

11 hours ago, AbdusSibtayn said:

Why are all shia youngsters becoming noha reciters?

YouTube is inundated with them. 

Where are our youth having the same passion about becoming Quraat, and engaging and competing to produce the most beautiful recitations of the Quran?

We exist to serve and worship Allah. He is the centre of our being, and the book of Allah appears to be given a secondary place. 

[Eddie Mecca]

On 4/2/2023 at 7:24 PM, ShiaChat Mod said:

Why would a sheikh be promoting investing in gold and silver? Does he or his family have a business in gold and silver? 

He's renowned for two subjects (primarily/exclusively): 1.) Islamic eschatology 2.) Islamic finance...Islam teaches man is viceregent on the earth and in charge of minerals and metals and resources considered valuable by human society (e.g. gold, silver, lithium, wheat, rice, dates etc.)…Sharīʿah norms (generally) discourage mimicking the Western economic model which is built on an inflated or charlatan economic motif (e.g. petrodollar, IMF, World Bank etc.)…he encourages people to trade their dollars, pounds etc. for something for more stable and substantial as per the Islamic model...especially as End Time challenges are becoming more realized and evident with each successive decade...this is common knowledge among shuyūkh and ʿulamāʾ but he (Imran Hosein) has become acclaimed and a poster boy for these subjects because of he's been lecturing on them relentlessly since the 1960's.

Edited April 4 by Eddie Mecca

[Ashvazdanghe]

On 4/4/2023 at 9:35 AM, Guest Reform said:

Where are our youth having the same passion about becoming Quraat, and engaging and competing to produce the most beautiful recitations of the Quran?

We exist to serve and worship Allah. He is the centre of our being, and the book of Allah appears to be given a secondary place. 

Salam many of our youth having passion for becoming Qaris for "engaging and competing to produce the most beautiful recitations of the Quran " which they are not famous  because they don't have activity in similar fashion of Noha reciters in Social media likewise Youtube & etc because based on their code of  morality & practice it's not appreciate to act in similar fashion of Noha reciters anyway nowadays some of new generations of Qaris likewies Hamid Shakir Nejad & etc have became famous & popular in social media likewise Youtube & etc besides of preserving code of  morality & practice.

Qari Hamed Shaker Nejad - Iran || Shahat Short // الشیخ ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xswx8L86Yko

Best Recitation of Qari Hamid Shakir Nejad ll Irani Qari

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0CgMei2nuI

Sheikh Hamid Shakir Nejad قاری الشیخ حامد شاکر نژاد - ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJUUrqy6ntk

 

 

 

 

[Quran313]

Does the job cuts only happen in the Bay Area? I haven't heard of it happening in other places.

[Haji 2003]

On 4/4/2023 at 7:26 AM, Eddie Mecca said:

he encourages people to trade their dollars, pounds etc. for something for more stable and substantial as per the Islamic model

I can understand someone holding gold instead of cash (whatever the currency), as a protection against inflation. But it is also worth remembering the following:

1. Gold does not pay a dividend in the way that investing in a business does
2. You are only focusing on protecting the value of your money (see chart below). Over the last 20 years the value has risen 8 fold. This sounds good, but other assets have risen more.
3. There can be extended periods of time when gold is not a good investment at all (2013 to 2020 in the chart below).
4. Unless it is in the form of jewellery etc. you cannot really do much that is productive with gold unlike e.g. living in a house or driving a car etc.
5. Some Muslims come from cultures (like mine) where giving gold (jewelllery) is expected from the family of the bride. So my purchases have also been on the basis of covering myself for a future liability. 

Also note that there are zakat implications for Shias who buy gold coins:

https://www.al-islam.org/articles/zakat-shia-fiqh-sayyid-muhammad-rizvi

[ShiaChat Mod]

On 4/4/2023 at 1:26 AM, Eddie Mecca said:

he encourages people to trade their dollars, pounds etc. for something for more stable and substantial as per the Islamic model...

Gold dinars and silver dirhams?

[Quran313]

There's a TV program in Iran named "Life After Life" talking about NDE experiences. TV host himself, Abbas Mowzoun, is a researcher on NDE topic (you can google NDE experiences and search). Unfortunstely it's in Farsi. You can watch some of them on YouTube. It's been 3, 4 years that every year in Ramazan they bring people with that experience and talk about what they saw. TV host says that few people remember what they saw, but all have seen it but just don't remember it. Maybe Allah erase it from their memory.

I myself strongly believe in after life.

Edited April 6 by Quran313

[Ashvazdanghe]

4 minutes ago, Quran313 said:

Unfortunstely it's in Farsi. You can watch some of them on YouTube.

Salam some of channels in Youtube likeiwse Alkawthar الکوثر Channel  have translated ten episodes of  to Arabic  as

 حیاة بعد الحیاةby قناة الکوثر الفضائیة which a personal Arbic channel has translated some parts of it  which unfotunately I don't remember it's name .

link to life after life in Arabic by Alkawthar channel

https://www.alkawthartv.ir/program/2266/1

[Ashvazdanghe]

41 minutes ago, Quran313 said:

"Life After Life" talking about NDE experiences. TV host himself, Abbas Mowzoun, is a researcher on NDE topic

“Life after life”; A program with a sweet and sometimes bitter taste of death!

https://partonews.ir/en/life-after-life-a-program-with-a-sweet-and-sometimes-bitter-taste-of-death/

Interview with Abbas Mozoon, director of “Life After Life”

https://partonews.ir/en/interview-with-abbas-mozoon-director-of-life-after-life/

[Ashvazdanghe]

Abbas Mowzoon Personality Type, MBTI

Abbas Mowzoon Is an Iranian Researcher and Documentary filmmaker who is the creator of Iranian TV show "Life After Life" which documents and analyses Near-Death Experiences (NDE) in Iran and elsewhere.

https://personalitylist.com/profile/448389/film-and-tv-crew/abbas-mowzoon/

[notme]

US Mercenary boss dies in plane crash.  

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11947197/Raytheon-director-wife-killed-plane-crash-couple-coast-Florida.html

And three other people died in the same crash.  

[Haji 2003]

 

 

[Ashvazdanghe]

On 4/6/2023 at 11:25 AM, Quran313 said:

topic (you can google NDE experiences and search). Unfortunstely it's in Farsi. You can watch some of them on YouTube. It's been 3, 4 years that every year in Ramazan they bring people with that experience

Salam personal Arabic امیرالقلوبChanel (Farsi videos by Arabic subtitle)

https://youtu.be/vZGJBWQcuMc

[ireallywannaknow]

On 4/3/2023 at 3:22 PM, notme said:

That's wonderful! 

Do you have any recommended young reciters? 

For English I really love this brothers nohas 

https://youtube.com/@AliAbbas-gy1fi

Especially "Abbas has Fallen"

[Ashvazdanghe]

13 hours ago, notme said:

And three other people died in the same crash.  

Prayers for ordinary people who have died in plane crash  not for US Mercenary boss.

[PureExistence1]

On 4/6/2023 at 12:55 AM, Quran313 said:

There's a TV program in Iran named "Life After Life" talking about NDE experiences. TV host himself, Abbas Mowzoun, is a researcher on NDE topic (you can google NDE experiences and search). Unfortunstely it's in Farsi. You can watch some of them on YouTube. It's been 3, 4 years that every year in Ramazan they bring people with that experience and talk about what they saw. TV host says that few people remember what they saw, but all have seen it but just don't remember it. Maybe Allah erase it from their memory.

I myself strongly believe in after life.

Salaam, i remember watching this show when covid struck..my husband and i were in iran for 7 weeks  but ended up there for 4 months because our flight out kept getting cancelled cuz of covid. We ended up being there for the whole month of Ramadhan. I thought it was an excellent show.

On a side note, I have a big thick amaal book called, "Call on me, I answer you",  where it has amaal for the entire Islamic year. Every month of Ramadhan, I work out of that book and do whatever amaal I'm able to do for each night. On the night of the 14th, there is a recommended 8 rakat salaat where Surah Zilzal is recited 30x in each rakat.... it's the only time during the entire month that that Sura is even mentioned... I remember doing my amaal in a back room when get this.. an earthquake hit in tehran! And it was a good size one! I remember walking out into the living room and being like, Oh my gosh! And then I explained to everyone what the amaal for the night was... it was just crazy.

Anyway, sorry for rhe digression..

 

And i wish someone would put english subs for the Life After Life series...it would be so worth it!

I know there are groups like IANDS and IONS and NDEs are their primary research subject.

 

[AbdusSibtayn]

6 minutes ago, PureExistence1 said:

On a side note, I have a big thick amaal book called, "Call on me, I answer you",  where it has amaal for the entire Islamic year.

It is the English translation of the Mafatih al-Jinan. 

[PureExistence1]

2 hours ago, AbdusSibtayn said:

It is the English translation of the Mafatih al-Jinan. 

Salaam, i didnt think they were the same..

Book description:

Are you looking to awaken your spirit by supplications taught by the infallibles? This book contains supplications from three invaluable books compiled by three righteous scholars. Sixteen chapters from the Holy Qur’an recommended for occasional recitation have also been added to compliment some supplications and amaals. The book is printed in a three-columned form each containing the Arabic text, English translation and the transliteration (phonetic pronunciation). It is the best book to get supplications for every day, every month and every significant date on the Islamic calendar. The book also contains a well written preface explaining in detail, under the light of Qur’anic verses and sayings of the infallibles (AS); the meaning, purpose and importance of supplications. Sounds of Arabic consonants and vowels have been indicated in the how to voice column under the ‘Essentials’ section. Instructions on how to correctly read Arabic in syllables and sounds of each alphabet particularly the similar sounding alphabets have been clarified expertly with appropriate examples to assist in correct Arabic recitation even for those reading from the transliteration.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Call-Me-Answer-You-Supplications/dp/B003FZ6ULA

 

But wait, i just read the first review and it mentions mafatih al jinan so i guess you are right!!

i will leave this post here anyway incase someone is interested...unless the admins need to delete it on account of it being an add on amazon..sorry if so!

Edited April 8 by PureExistence1

[AbdusSibtayn]

4 hours ago, PureExistence1 said:

Salaam, i didnt think they were the same..

Book description:

Are you looking to awaken your spirit by supplications taught by the infallibles? This book contains supplications from three invaluable books compiled by three righteous scholars. Sixteen chapters from the Holy Qur’an recommended for occasional recitation have also been added to compliment some supplications and amaals. The book is printed in a three-columned form each containing the Arabic text, English translation and the transliteration (phonetic pronunciation). It is the best book to get supplications for every day, every month and every significant date on the Islamic calendar. The book also contains a well written preface explaining in detail, under the light of Qur’anic verses and sayings of the infallibles (AS); the meaning, purpose and importance of supplications. Sounds of Arabic consonants and vowels have been indicated in the how to voice column under the ‘Essentials’ section. Instructions on how to correctly read Arabic in syllables and sounds of each alphabet particularly the similar sounding alphabets have been clarified expertly with appropriate examples to assist in correct Arabic recitation even for those reading from the transliteration.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Call-Me-Answer-You-Supplications/dp/B003FZ6ULA

 

But wait, i just read the first review and it mentions mafatih al jinan so i guess you are right!!

i will leave this post here anyway incase someone is interested...unless the admins need to delete it on account of it being an add on amazon..sorry if so!

I have the book myself (as well as the original Mafatih) ; the only difference is that 'Call Upon Me' doesn't include the 'Baqiyyat al-Salihat', Sheikh Abbas Qummi (rh) 's margin notes on the Mafatih, which the original book does. 

Wassalam. 

Edited April 8 by AbdusSibtayn

[rkazmi33]

Every time I search for passive income or work from home jobs, google and YouTube give me so many sites. Most of them are adds or promotions, and I haven't found any legitimate sites. If I ask about this from chatgpt, will I get legitimate sites?

@Haji 2003 can you ask chatgpt? I think it will help many people.

[Haji 2003]

17 minutes ago, rkazmi33 said:

Every time I search for passive income or work from home jobs, google and YouTube give me so many sites. Most of them are adds or promotions, and I haven't found any legitimate sites. If I ask about this from chatgpt, will I get legitimate sites?

@Haji 2003 can you ask chatgpt? I think it will help many people.

I asked chatgpt4 the following:

What are legitimate sources of passive income you can recommend?

It replied:

Quote

 

Passive income refers to money earned with minimal effort on the part of the recipient. While there are various sources of passive income, it's essential to research and choose options that align with your financial goals, risk tolerance, and interests. Here are some legitimate sources of passive income you can consider:

1. Dividend-paying stocks: Invest in stable, well-established companies that pay out regular dividends to shareholders.
2. Peer-to-peer lending: Lend money to individuals or businesses through online platforms, and earn interest on your investment.
3. Real estate investment trusts (REITs): Invest in a diversified portfolio of properties, which generate rental income and capital appreciation.
4. Rental properties: Purchase and rent out residential or commercial properties to generate monthly income.
5. High-yield savings accounts or certificates of deposit (CDs): Earn interest on your deposited funds with minimal risk.
6. Create and sell digital products: Develop ebooks, online courses, or stock photography, and earn royalties from sales.
7. Affiliate marketing: Promote products or services on your blog or social media and receive a commission for each sale made through your referral links.
8. Ad revenue from websites or blogs: Generate income through display advertising, sponsored content, or partnerships with brands.
9. Invest in a business: Provide capital to a start-up or existing business and receive a share of the profits.
10. License your intellectual property: If you have a patent, trademark, or copyrighted material, you can license it to third parties and collect royalty fees.

Keep in mind that some of these options may require an initial investment of time, money, or both. Make sure to thoroughly research each opportunity, and consult with a financial advisor if needed.

 

I also tried the same question on chatgpt3.5, but the answer from version 4 was more comprehensive,

 

Overall not hugely helpful and some of it commonsense / obvious.

What some people seem to be doing is developing courses etc on affiliate marketing - and when people do that you get the idea that there may be more money in teaching others than doing it yourself.

Another example of the latter is people running courses on how to use technical analysis to make money from currency trading etc.

[rkazmi33]

@Haji 2003 yes that's the same kind of answer I get when I do a Google search. I was looking for something like data entry or filling out surveys. Thanks for checking.