History
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 →
Did Imam Husayn leave behind a sick daughter named Fatima in Medina?
Question: Just regarding the story of Fatima al-‘Alilah which is commonly mentioned during the majlis ‘azaa (mourning ceremonies) of Imam Husayn (a.s), is this a historically sound incident or not? I am referring to the story in which Imam Husayn (a.s) apparently leaves behind an ill daughter in Medina. Did this incident actually take place →
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: →
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 →
Is Arbaeen walk to Karbala an innovation?
Question By the Grace of God I have been going for the Arbaeen walk in the last few years but recently a very disturbing and confusing video has been forwarded to me showing a public speaker who calls the walk a carnival and an innovation similar to Salat-al- Tarawih. He said this is an innovation →
Why did Husayn ibn Ali revolt against the caliph Yazid?
Question: Why did Husayn ibn Ali revolt against the Ummayad caliph Yazid? Do we have any explicit historical statements from Husayn in this regard? Answer: Imam Husayn did not revolt against Yazid, but rather, he refused to give him allegiance. He could not give Yazid allegiance because his person and actions were the embodiment of →
Do Quranic verses on slavery apply today?
Question: Since the Quran is timeless, how do we reconcile the verses on slavery for the modern day? Do we take every verse literally, or are there certain verses we should take with a lesser measure of zeal? In other words, are these verses specific to the time of 600CE wartime-Hijaz only? Or are they →
Are the Shias responsible for killing Imam Husain?
Question: Can one blame the Shia’s for killing Imam Husain (as)? Who is responsible for this tragedy of →
What is the best way to commemorate Ashura?
Question: Similar to public talk about the differences between Maraaje’ with regards to determining the beginning and end of the month of Ramadan, and this issue taking up alot of ‘air time’ every year in Shia communities, it seems that the question of how Ashura and Imam Husayn’s martyrdom should be commemorated has a similar →
Was the Holy Prophet martyred or did he die a natural death?
Question: Was the Holy Prophet poisoned (or killed) and martyred or did he die a natural death? Answer: →