wearing zulfiqar in uni

[Guest qld--shia]

sallamualaikum! i've worn my zulfiqar chain in my uni, and ive gotten significant negative reactions from my sunni peers. these involve physical reactions, them not willing to collaborate on patient work with me, asking dumb questions like "oh ur type to pray on the biscuits right??". I've asked my parents about this issue and they've said that its best not to wear this chain, im exposing myself to more harm then good. 

i completely understand where they're coming from, especially in the form of taqiyya. 

my concern is that im living on the gold coast in Queensland, Australia. there are hardly any shia Muslims here, and my parents are across the country in Perth. i don't have any family living with me, so I've found that staying close to my shia roots and keeping my iman high can be done through stuff like wearing a zulfiqar chain to remind myself of Imam Ali AS' strength, being modest in my hijab, and doing tasbeeh with a subhah where i can. for some reason im just scared of being pushed to downplay or HIDE my identity, im so so proud of being a shia and i feel terrible to just conceal that side of me. 

i know im probably overreacting, but its gotten to the point where i cant rlly wear an abaya where i live because of hate comments i receive on a daily basis even tho i rlly dislike wearing pants and tops (just my personal preference!). one time i tapped on my phone to see the time (my phone background is of umm al baneen) and someone just happened to be behind me, saw it, looked at me and i literally thought they were gonna spit in my face. 

I've since been told to even change my phone background to reduce risk of harm done to me, i completely understand it but its MY phone. i feel like im letting them get what they want by changing those little details about me, just for the sake of reducing negative exposure to shia Islam. 

 

idkkk idk what to do so sorry for this long rant!

[notme]

You do not have to hide your Shia identity. You can choose to, if it causes risk to your safety and sustenance, as long as doing so does not harm anyone. If you are an adult, you should listen to and respect your parents, but you are not obligated to obey.  

[In Gods Name]

Bismillah,

Salam.

The best way to honour the Ahlulbayt is to be the foremost in your understanding of Tawheed and the noble Quran. Memorise it, recite it, master the Arabic language.

Call to the path of the Ahlulbayt without words, be at your physical peak, be eloquent, be patient, when they insult you, respond with kindness, with wisdom.

Paralyse them with a response of pure Hikmah and one who is connected to Allah.

Remember, even if they do not change their ways, you are doing the above for Allah, you win no matter what if Allah accepts your efforts.

----

However , i want you to consider their view, why they have their thoughts.

It's true, the Prophet saw never prayed on a Turbah nor did his companions. It was a later invention. However, you can try to pray on other permissible items, and relay to them it is only a Fiqh difference on praying from that which is non-edible and comes from the earth, and this can be hundreds of things, maybe thousands of things.

 

[Ashvazdanghe]

18 hours ago, In Gods Name said:

However , i want you to consider their view, why they have their thoughts.

It's true, the Prophet saw never prayed on a Turbah nor did his companions. It was a later invention. However, you can try to pray on other permissible items, and relay to them it is only a Fiqh difference on praying from that which is non-edible and comes from the earth, and this can be hundreds of things, maybe thousands of things.

Salam there is even strong sunni narration which prophet Muhammad (pbu) has used something as "Khumrah" which has been a type of "Turbah" ; which as usual you have jumped in a discussion barefoot without having enough knowledge so then expressed your  typical nonsense based on your delusional deviation ;

which Turbah is  permissible soil of earth for prostration which in opposition to your nonsense is not an innovation ; 

 

Did the Prophet (s) and his Companions ever do this?

Praying on the earth was certainly the practice of the Prophet (s) and those around him.

• Narrated Abu Sa'id al-Khudri: I saw Allah's Apostle prostrating in mud and water and saw the mark of mud on his forehead.

[Al-Bukhari, Sahih (English translation), vol. 1, book 12, no. 798; vol. 3, book 33, no. 244]

 

The Prophet (s) also used to have a Khumra on which he would put his forehead for prostration.

• Narrated Maymuna: Allah's Apostle used to pray on a Khumra.

[Al-Bukhari, Sahih (English translation), vol. 1, book 8, no. 378]
• According to al-Shawkani, a famous Sunni scholar, more than ten Companions of the Prophet (s) have narrated traditions mentioning his prostration on a Khumrah. And he lists all the Sunni sources recording these traditions which include Sahih Muslim, Sahih al-Tirmidhi, Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan al-Nasa'i and many others.

[Al-Shawkani, Nayl al-Awtar , Chapter of Prostration on the Khumrah, vol. 2, p. 128]

So what is a khumrah?

• a small mat sufficient just for the face and the hands while prostrating during prayers.

[Al-Bukhari, Sahih (English translation), vol. 1, book 8, no. 376 (as explained by the translator in paranthesis)]

Ibn al-'Athir, another famous Sunni scholar, in his Jami al-'Usul has written:

• "Khumra is [like that] upon which the Shi'ah of our time perform their prostrations."

[Ibn al-'Athir, Jami' al-Usul, (Cairo, 1969), vol. 5, p. 467]

• "Khumra is a small mat made from palm fibres or other material…. and it is like that which the Shi'ah use for prostration."

[Talkhis al-Sihah, p. 81]

Quote

Why is it compulsory to prostrate on the clay from Karbala?

It is not !

But the Shi'ah prefer to prostrate on the earth of Karbala because of the importance given to it by the Prophet (s) and the Imams from his Family (Ahl al-Bayt). After the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (a), his son Imam Zayn al-'Abidin (a) picked some up, declared it to be sacred dust, and kept it in a bag. The Imams (a) used to perform prostrations on it and make a tasbih out of it, and recited Allah's praises on it.
[Ibn Shahrashub, al-Manaqib, vol. 2, p. 251]

 

They also encouraged the Shi'ah to perform prostrations on them, with the understanding that it was not compulsory, but with a view to achieving greater recompense. The Imams (a) insisted that prostration before Allah must be on clean earth only and that it was preferable if it was performed on that earth of Karbala.
[al-Tusi, Misbah al-Mutahajjad, p. 511]
[al-Saduq, Man la yahduruhu'l faqih, vol. 1, p. 174]

https://al-islam.org/articles/laws-and-practices-why-do-shiah-prostrate-turbah#did-prophet-s-and-his-companions-ever-do

Edited April 20 by Ashvazdanghe

[Ashvazdanghe]

18 hours ago, Guest qld--shia said:

sallamualaikum! i've worn my zulfiqar chain in my uni, and ive gotten significant negative reactions from my sunni peers. these involve physical reactions, them not willing to collaborate on patient work with me, asking dumb questions like "oh ur type to pray on the biscuits right??". I've asked my parents about this issue and they've said that its best not to wear this chain, im exposing myself to more harm then good. 

Salam wearing Zulfiqar chain is not obligatory which if causes trouble for you you can stop wearing it ; but on the other hand prostration on clean earth by Turbah or etc is obligatory which you must continue it ; which because your life is not in danger so ou don't need to practice Taqiyya in order to conceal your faith which you must use your Turbah so then patiently explain reason of using of it to them which their reproof is not an excuse for stopping  practicing true deed ; because you are in a uni which it's supposed to has rational & logical environment for rational talking with patience.

 

and fearing not the reproof of any reprover.

Quote

O ye who believe! whosoever of you apostateth from his religion, then presently Allah shall bring a people whom He shall love and who shall love Him, gentle toward the believers, stern toward the infidels, striving hard in the way of Allah, and fearing not the reproof of any reprover. This is the grace of Allah; He bestoweth it on whomsoever He will. And Allah is Bountiful, Knowing. (54) 

https://tanzil.net/#trans/en.daryabadi/5:54

 

Edited April 20 by Ashvazdanghe

[Guest qld--shia]

thank you guys for your help!