Home Questions Archive
Monday, 16 September 2024
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Why has Fatimah Ma’sumah been given the titile ‘Ma’sumah’; is she an infallible?
7162
2012/04/18
Traditional
The name of Lady Ma sumah, is Fatimah. In historical books and hadith sources, her eminence is referred to as Fatimah bint Musa ibn Ja far. She wasn t technically an infallible, the way the prophets a
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According to the Holy Quran, what are the ways through which mankind is put to test?
9703
2012/04/18
Exegesis
God says in the Holy Quran that Allah created death and life, that He may try which of you is best in deed. The concept of divine test is very different from the tests carried out by human beings in r
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If a non-Muslim gives us salaams saying “Assalaamu Alaykum”, how should we respond?
8279
2012/04/17
Theoretical
One of the issues that has been emphasized in our religious teachings is greeting other believers with salams. There are exceptions to this teaching though, greeting non-Muslims being one of them. In
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What is meant by the prostration of the herb and tree in the verse: “و النجم و الشجر یسجدان”?
14479
2012/04/17
Exegesis
Najm ( النجم ) means star or a plant that doesn t have a stem. In the verse, considering that shajar or tree has been mentioned before najm, it can be concluded that what is meant by najm is herb and
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Where will the evil Shias be punished; in this world, the Barzakh or the Hereafter?
10922
2012/04/17
Traditional
According to the Quran, all people will be punished or rewarded based on their actions and this is something clear; some in this world, some in the Barzakh and some in the Hereafter. As to the traditi
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Can knowledge, power and other qualities God has endowed the prophet and his progeny with limitless in every respect?
6130
2012/04/17
Traditional
If what is meant by infiniteness is that it is not limited by any boundaries, even the boundary of createdness or being created and reliance and need , then it must be said that nothing other than All
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If a non-Muslim woman, who is married to a non-Muslim man, converts to Islam, would she have to divorce her husband?
7020
2012/04/17
Laws and Jurisprudence
In the case asked about, if her husband doesn t embrace Islam, she separates from him and there is no need for the divorce contract to be carried out. Of course, she needs to observe the iddah ( waiti
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Is ‘Apprehension’ a quality that can be attributed to God?
6361
2012/04/17
Traditional
Taking into consideration the verse لا تدرکه الابصار و هو یدرک الابصار و هو اللطیف الخبیر [ 1 ] , Mudrik ( being apprehensive ) is one of God s names. [ 2 ] In the Quran and traditions, this attribute
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Is it haram to consume industrial alcohol? What is ruling on taking narcotics?
7642
2012/04/17
Laws and Jurisprudence
The responses of the grand maraji to your question are as follows: The office of the Grand Ayatullah Sistani ( may Allah prolong his life ) : 1. Alcohol is intoxicating and its consumption impermi
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Can one take narcotics during the holy month of Ramadan to be able to wake at dawn?
7147
2012/04/17
Laws and Jurisprudence
1. Generally speaking, anything that has a considerable harm for the body is haram to consume. [ 1 ] Considering the substantial individual and societal harms of drugs, they are haram. [ 2 ] The
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What are the arguments to prove that the wilayah (guardianship) of the Infallibles, peace be upon them?
8004
2012/04/16
Traditional
The wilayah of the infallibles, peace be upon them, can be proved through the four authoritative and valid sources such as the Quran, Sunnah, reason and consensus. Shia scholars have a consensus abo
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Were Imām Sajjād and Imām Bāqir present in Karbalā?
8545
2012/04/16
تاريخ بزرگان
In the event of Āshūrā which took place during the month of Muḥarram in 61 AH, three noble Imāms were present. Imām Ḥusayn ( as ) who headed this revolution and was martyred in Karbalā. Imām Sajjād (
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What is the meaning of Dābat al-Ardh in Surah Naml?
13518
2012/04/16
Exegesis
The word Dābat pertains to a moving animal and it can be applied to both human beings, as well as other creatures. Now, the question remains as to what kind of animal has been mentioned in the Quranic
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What is the meaning of the tradition attributed to Abu Basīr which mentions seeing God before the Day of Judgment?
7443
2012/04/14
Theoretical
There is no way to see God for He is all encompassing and cannot be encompassed. Nonetheless, in a manifestational sense, He can be seen in every single being, as the Quran has mentioned the following
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I live outside of Iran, my elderly mother resides in Iran and is facing problems related to old age that have made her restless and agitated. Is it a sin to leave my spouse to go and be with my elderly mother so that I can arrange for her comfort during her old age? However, I fear that as a result of my absence, my spouse may fall into sin, what is my duty?
6714
2012/04/14
Laws and Jurisprudence
The office of the Grand Ayatullah Khamenei: The cases differ. The office of the Grand Ayatullah Sistani: The rights of a wife, such as: the right for intercourse or the right to sharing a bed [
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What is zina muhsanah?
7406
2012/04/14
Laws and Jurisprudence
Zina denotes copulation with other than one s legal spouse ( permanent or temporary ) , which the Quran labels as a grave sin, about which Allah has said: Do not approach fornication. It is indeed obs
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What conditions make it obligatory for one to financially support one’s wife?
7292
2012/04/14
Laws and Jurisprudence
Financially supporting the wife becomes obligatory upon the husband when all the following conditions are met: The marriage contract is a permanent one The female meets the requirements for e
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What is the ruling on Stellate Sturgeon?
10903
2012/04/14
Laws and Jurisprudence
Those who are followers of Imam Khumayni ( rah ) , can consume those fish they aren t sure have scales or not. As to those who follow scholars who believe it to be haram, they can still buy and sell t
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In light of the various (and sometimes contradictory) meanings which have been listed for the term Wilāyat (guardianship), please detail the actual meaning behind the word.
8566
2012/04/14
Traditional
The word Wilāyat comes from the word Walī; various meanings have been listed for this word. The lexical meaning of this word is complete guardianship or ownership over a matter or object. Its more gen
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Was the earth created before the sky? There are planets in the galaxies very much older than the earth. As well, no astronaut has said that there are seven firmaments or skies above the earth. What is the Islamic point of view in this regard?
15461
2012/04/14
Traditional
The creation of other creatures on earth is not meant to hold or entail material benefits for mankind; the material benefit is only one aspect of the story. The more important aspect is that contempla
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Do any supplications exist for seeking forgiveness from people whose right we may have trampled?
6668
2012/04/14
Practical
The rights of the people are divided into two categories. The first of those relate to the rights that God has over the people; if one goes against such rights, then the path of rectifying this wrong
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Could you please explain the essence of infallibility? I personally believe only God is infallible.
6610
2012/04/14
Traditional
The correct terminology to use here is that God is free from all limitations and flaws, not that He is infallible which is a term used for other than God. That being said, everything other than God is
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What is the basis of the disparity in the creation of the creatures? Why is one of them created as a human another as an animal or a plant?
6511
2012/04/12
Philosophy of Religion and Law
The existing system of the world is the most wise and judicious system. It is not only based on knowledge, consciousness and will but is also the most healthy and the best possible system. No better s
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The Quran is the last Book revealed by Allah Almighty. What are the reasons to prove that the Quran is a miracle?
17225
2012/04/11
Quranic Studies
Different explanations have been given about the Quran being a miracle which can be sorted out under the following three categories: miracle in terms of the words of the Quran, miracle in terms of the
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I wish to know what the seven paradises are. Can you explain them for me?
46393
2012/04/07
Traditional
Dar al-Salam ( Abode of Peace ) , Dar al-Jalal ( Abode of Glory ) , Jannatul Mava ( Garden of Refuge ) , Jannatul Khuld ( Garden of Eternity ) , Jannatul Adan ( Garden of Eden ) , Jannatul Firdous ( G
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What is the meaning and philosophy of ‘gradual revelation of the Quran’?
18714
2012/04/04
Exegesis
1. The word nuzul literally means descent as stated by the glossaries of the Quran such as Mufradat, Misbah and Aqrab. Raghib says in his Mufradat: Nuzul in reality means descent from an eminence . Th
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The cursing which is found in Ziyarat Ashura also includes Yazid\'s son. Considering that his son was a good man, how can we consider Ziyarat Ashura as authentic and reliable?
19070
2012/04/04
Contextual study
All the Banu Umayyah [ lit. Sons of Umayyah ] including Yazid s son have been cursed in Ziyarat Ashura. However, according to some historians Yazid s son and a few other people from the same clan rend
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What is the meaning of \'al-Islam\' in the verse 19 of Sura Aal-e Imran?
10080
2012/04/04
Modern
The literal meaning of Islam is absolute submission to the will of Allah. The term religion reflects God s expectations from mankind in matters related to his individual and social thoughts, conducts
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If Islam was not sent down in the Arabian Peninsula, would hell and heaven be described in the same way as they have been described now?
6621
2012/04/03
Modern
There are two viewpoints in this regard; one that believes that non-religious factors have a role to play in the emergence of religion and another that denies the role of such factors in the formation
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Please explain about the authenticity of the text and chain of transmission of Ziyarat Ashura.
16449
2012/04/03
Contextual study
There are two reliable books containing this Ziyarat. They are Kamil al-Ziyarat by Ja far bin Muhammad bin Qulawayh Qummi ( 348 A.H. ) and Misbahul Mutahajjid by Shaykh Tusi ( 385 460 A.H. ) . Accordi
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What are the causes of the reappearance of the Imam of Time (atf)?
8721
2012/04/03
Traditional
The causes of the reappearance refer to those things that serve as agents instrumental in the reappearance of the Imam of Time ( atf ) . Although God s will is the fundamental cause of the reappearanc
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Why did Islam expand and spread in Asia more than it did in Europe?
14116
2012/04/02
Traditional
Islam emerged in Asia and it spread across the Arab world and Asia. There are multiple factors behind the fact that Islam did not spread in Europe. Those factors include the internal discord and confl
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What is Shia’s view about caliphate and successorship to the Holy Prophet (s)?
10548
2012/03/18
Traditional
According to Shia: 1. Caliphate or successorship to the Holy Prophet ( s ) is divinely appointed and that at God s order the Prophet, many a time, introduced Ali ( a.s. ) as his successor. 2. The
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Why are shrimps halal and crabs haram? What makes one of them halal and the other halal despite the fact that both of them are from the same category?
107256
2012/03/18
Philosophy of Religion and Law
Although all Islamic laws are a result of the benefits or disadvantages and harms that back them, and there is a particular reason behind each and every one of them, discovering the exact reason in de
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Why would people dig up someone if they are already dead? Isn\'t that haram?
12397
2012/03/14
Philosophy of Religion and Law
The following is the response of the maraji to your inquiry: It is haram to exhume the body of a dead believer. But in some cases, it will be permissible, namely: 1. When the dead body has been buried