
Month: May 2011



Why do Shi’a say “Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa Aale Muhammad”
Reading Time: 2 minutes When invoking blessings {salawat} on Muhammad (S), why do you also associate his progeny {a} to him by saying, âAllahumma salli âala Muhammad wa Aale Muhammadâ {âO Allah! Bless Muhammad and the progeny of […]

Who are the Imams?
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reply: During his lifetime, the Holy Prophet (S) declared that after him there shall be twelve caliphs all of whom will be from Quraysh, and through whom Islam shall be exalted. Jabir ibn Samurah narrates: […]

Why is ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (‘a) regarded as the wasi {executor of will} and successor of the Prophet (S)?
Reading Time: 4 minutes Reply: As we already stated, the Shiâah have a firm belief that the position of caliphate is determined through revelation {tansisi} and that after the Holy Prophet (S) the Imamah {leadership} is in some respects […]

What does “Shi‘ah” mean?
Reading Time: 3 minutes Reply: In Arabic âShiâahâ literally means âfollowerâ. The Glorious Qurâan states: ï´¿ÙØ¥ÙØ¨Ù’Ø±ÙØ§ÙÙÙÙ…Ù Ø´ÙÙØ¹ÙتÙÙÙ Ù…ÙÙ ÙÙØ¥ÙÙÙ’Ù ï´¾ âIndeed Abraham was among his followers {Shiâah}.â[36] But the Muslims use the word âShiâahâ to mean the […]

Which is correct, “wa ‘itrati” {and my progeny}, or “wa sunnati” {and my tradition}?
Reading Time: 11 minutes The hadith scholars {muhaddithun} have narrated hadith ath-thaqalayn {Tradition on the Two Weighty Things} in two ways and it has been recorded in the books of hadith. An examination must be made to see which […]

