Shia/Sunni

What does the ‘Ahlul Bayt’ mean?

Question: Can you please define the notion of the ‘Ahlul Bayt’? There is the idea that the Ahlul Bayt are five (Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hassan and Husayn, peace be upon them all). Then we say, the ’12 Imams of Ahlul Bayt’. Sometimes, it is suggested that Sayyeda Zeinab (a.s) or Abul Fadl al-Abbas (a.s) are →

Ahlul Bayt

Is saying ‘Labbayk Ya Husayn’ a form of shirk (polytheism)?

Question: I am still learning about my religion. I saw an image that read ‘Ya Husayn’. Someone told me that this is a form of shirk (polytheism). That person explained to me that ‘Ya Husayn’ is shirk because it is a call to other than Allah (swt), and the Shia intend with this call to →

Ashura/Karbala

Do I break fast with Sunni husband at sunset or nightfall?

Question: My husband is Sunni and according to his Fiqh he can break his fast at sunset. He →

Fasting

Did Imam Ali allow Taraweeh prayers?

Question: A video has been circulating around recently of a public speaker claiming that ‘Taraweeh’ was an innovation that Imam Ali (as) had initially forbade, but that once some of his people insisted, the Imam allowed them to practice it. Is this correct? Answer: ‘Innovation’ البدعة (as opposed to ‘Prophetic tradition’السُّنة) in the religious context means: →

History

Is the so-called ‘Eid-e-Zahra’ fact or fiction?

Question: Some Shias celebrate a supposed eid called ‘Eid-e-Zahra’, which is said to be on the 9th of →

Hadith (Holy Narrations)

Did the Prophet (s) really say there will be 12 Caliphs after him? Sunni references?

Question: Is it true that there is a hadith from the Holy Prophet(s) that he said that there will be 12 caliphs or rulers after him? If it does exist, is it authentic, and does it exist in both Shia and Sunni books of narration? Please provide me with some of the main Sunni references →

Ahlul Bayt