Questions Archive - IslamQuest is a reference for Islamic questions on the internet

What is the meaning of Allah’s (awj) misguidance in the Qur`an?

9706 2011/08/15 Exegesis

Misguidance is a non-existent entity. Since guidance means to lead someone to a goal, then misguidance is the absence of guidance. In the parlance of the logicians, the relation between guidance and m

There are some pills that help knee stability. These pills contain ingredients extracted from snails, shrimps, crabs or lobsters. Can a doctor prescribe such medicines? If yes, would eating these pills (if they are allowed) affect one's spiritual progress?

7994 2011/08/13 Laws and Jurisprudence

Office of Grand Ayatollah Khamenei ( may Allah grant him long life ) :Generally speaking, snails, shellfish and crabs are haram ( forbidden ) to eat but shrimps and prawns are permissible, if they hav

Considering the verse of the Qur`an in Surah 32, verse 13 which reads, “Had We wished We would have given every soul its guidance,” - can it not be concluded that Allah (awj) has not desired the guidance of all humanity? If Allah (awj) had desired the guidance of all humanity He would have willed such, but obviously He has not. Why?

7790 2011/08/10 Traditional

Allah ( awj ) has willed the guidance of all His creatures. For, after taking all the [ relevant ] Qur`anic verses into consideration, the following points can be deduced:1. Divine guidance is divided

What are the signs for the reemergence of the Master of the Age [i.e. the Twelfth Imam]?

9245 2011/08/10 Modern

The topic of the signs of the re-emergence is a complicated one and calls for a thorough investigation of all the related narrations. However, in brief, the signs fall under two categories. One group

We know of many people around the world who are not Muslims or Shi`a but are nevertheless individuals of good conduct; for example, non-Muslims are responsible for many inventions. Is it right that they all deserve to be punished in Hell because they are not Muslims?

11093 2011/08/10 Modern

Those who do not believe in Islam can be classified into two groups:1. Those who are termed ‘Jahil-e-Muqassir’ ( lit. ‘culpable ignorant’ ) . These are non-believers to whom the message of Islam has r

What do the terms “Hukm” and “Fatwa” signify? What is the difference between the two?

10022 2011/08/10 Fiqh

A fatwa is a universally applicable religious law concerning a particular issue that is derived from the four sources of Islamic law ( the Qur`an, the sunnah, ijma’ ( consensus ) , and ‘aql ( the inte

Is religion compatible with politics?

7986 2011/08/10 Modern

A religion that has come in order to explain the path to felicity from now until the end of time cannot remain indifferent to a matter that all societies need, that is, government. In other words, th

How should one resist the temptation to commit sins?

9505 2011/08/10 Practical

The temptation to commit a sin is a disease like the sin itself. Like all other diseases, protection against this sin involves two stages e.g. prevention and cure. When it comes to the prevention stag

How is possible to ward off bad thoughts and improve my relationship with God?

10338 2011/08/10 Practical

The relationship is always mutual. Our relationship with God is sometimes severed and cut off or tend to become weak; but He is always and everywhere with us. God, the Exalted say, And He is with you

How should one, who has masturbated, repent? What are the ways through which one can make up for the physical and spiritual harms of masturbation?

53092 2011/08/10 Laws and Jurisprudence

Sins are like an ill-smelling putrid bog. The deeper a person goes into it the less he feels its disgusting smell because his smelling taste ceases to function properly. However, a person s firm decis

What is the Islamic law about taking off one's shirt and beating the chest in mourning for Imam Hussein (a)?

8666 2011/08/06 Laws and Jurisprudence

What has been mentioned in the fatwa of most of the grand jurists about taking off one s shirts and beating the chest indicate that it is permissible to take off one s shirts, if it is not in front of

What are the ways through which one may get rid of lusts?

8017 2011/08/04 Practical

Sins are like an ill-smelling putrid bog. The deeper a person gets into it the less he feels its disgusting smell because his smelling taste ceases to function. However, a person s firm decision to di

Why did the Holy Prophet (s) and Imam Ali (a) not throw down and break the idols to pieces before the conquest of Mecca? Was it because they did not want to hurt those who worshipped the idols?

10175 2011/08/04 تاريخ بزرگان

The destruction of idols by the Holy Prophet ( pbuh his family ) and Imam Ali ( a ) happened at the last stages of the propagation of Islam and conveyance of its message; this act of the Prophet ( s )

Is it obligatory for Muslims to promulgate Islam (i.e. teach or convert non-Muslims)?

8355 2011/08/02 Practical

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Can we call Hazrat Ali (a.s) as Raziq (sustainer) since he was the one who distributed food among the needy? Is it permissible to call the 14 Infallibles as 'rabb' because they are those who look after us?

9314 2011/07/31 Traditional

It depends on what a person means when he uses terms such as raziq , rab and the likes which are the attributes of God, the Exalted. Hence, the intention and motive are very important. It can be said

What will happen to the Islamic governments in the wake of the reappearance of the Imam of Time (atf)?

6675 2011/07/31 Traditional

Following the reappearance of the Imam of Time ( atf ) and establishment of a single global government by him, if there are presumably any governments that work towards the realization of the goals of

What are the effects of casting lustful look at immodest women and girls and how is one's life affected by it?

9770 2011/07/28 Practical

Generally speaking, your detesting and despising of the girls wearing immodest dress are very good and praiseworthy. Every mature and sane individual is answerable to his own deeds because he has been

Is it permissible to satisfy one's sexual desires through any way other than marriage?

50211 2011/07/28 Laws and Jurisprudence

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What is the Islamic law about having brotherly relationship with a non-Mahram without the intention of seeking sexual pleasure simply to know each other for marriage?

6422 2011/07/26 Laws and Jurisprudence

Office of Grand Ayatollah Khamenei ( may Allah grant him long life ) :If it is without seeking pleasure and the two sides do not engage in emotional talks and it does not entail any evil either, there

: What are the best ways to quit masturbation? And may I know its punishments in the hereafter?

40796 2011/07/26 Laws and Jurisprudence

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What are the conditions of Mut'ah (fixed –time marriage)?

9220 2011/07/23 Laws and Jurisprudence

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What are the circumstances under which it is necessary to acquire the permission of a virgin girl's guardian?

8512 2011/07/23 Laws and Jurisprudence

Most of the current grand religious authorities ( maraje ) are of the view that the permission of a virgin girl s father or paternal grandfather is necessary. However, if a girl is not virgin or his f

Does fixed-time marriage have special conditions and is it permissible for specific people?

7406 2011/07/23 Laws and Jurisprudence

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Can a traveler stand in the first row and offer his prayers behind the prayer leader? Is it necessary for a traveler to pray in the last rows to maintain connection in prayer?

6669 2011/07/21 Laws and Jurisprudence

It is Makrooh for a traveler to follow a person who is not a traveler. And it is Makrooh for a person who is not a traveler to follow a traveler in the prayers. Of course, here abominable is meant for

What is the Islamic law concerning friendship between the opposite genders? Kindly explain the rules regarding various types of friendship between two individuals from the opposite genders.

7499 2011/07/21 Laws and Jurisprudence

The answer given by His Eminence, Ayatollah Mahdi Hadavi Tehrani ( may Allah grant him long life ) is as follows: 1. Any kind of relations between the opposite genders that entail evil and sins such a

If a person cheats in the examinations and wastes someone's right, because he would not be accepted and someone else would take his place, how is going to compensate for that and seek his forgiveness?

6213 2011/07/21 Laws and Jurisprudence

The following replies have been received from the offices of the grand jurists:Grand Ayatollah Khamenei ( may Allah grant him long life ) :Cheating is haram and repentance ( tawbah ) would be sufficie

What is the Islamic law about cheating in exams given that the opposite side is consenting?

14491 2011/07/21 Laws and Jurisprudence

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Why did God order the construction of the Ka'bah?

7796 2011/07/20 Philosophy of Religion and Law

Based on Quranic verses, traditions and historical documents, Ka bah and Mecca are symbols of divine blessings, human guidance and a place of congregation for servitude to God who bestowed profuse ble

What is E'tikaf?

7738 2011/07/07 Theoretical

Literally, E tikaf ( cleave to a mosque ) means to stay or remain at a place or to cleave to smething. E tikaf in Islamic law is a pious practice consisting of a period of retreat at a sacred place fo

What is the Islamic law about smoking cigarette or hookah?

8716 2011/06/21 Laws and Jurisprudence

Ayatollah Mahdi Hadavi Tehrani s opinion regarding the foregoing question is as under: Smoking tobacco ( cigarettes and hookah ) is absolutely haram because it is injurious to health. It should be not

In a letter to Mu‘awiyah, Imam Ali (AS) speaks of the rule of Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman as being pleased by God. Is not this in contradiction with the Shiite perspective?

9971 2011/06/21 تاريخ بزرگان

In debating, sometimes one side makes an argument against the other side based on the premises that the other side accepts. The purpose of such argument is to show that the other side is wrong even ba

What is meant when it is said that Awliya’ullah have the knowledge of the past, present and the future?

15905 2011/06/21 Traditional

The knowledge we possess is accumulated from many different ways. One of these ways is one’s connection with Unseen which is also done in many forms and can differ depending on the individual’s emotio

Why aren’t the Imams’ names clearly mentioned in the Quran?

12382 2011/06/21 Traditional

We must pay attention that even though the Imams’ names are not mentioned in the Quran, but they have been clearly mentioned in the words of the Prophet, especially Imam Ali. The most prominent exampl

Is it forbidden to use vanilla extract?

17792 2011/06/21 Laws and Jurisprudence

Office of Grand Ayatollah Khamenei ( may Allah grant him long life ) :If the alcohol is not intoxicating and it is not in a liquid form either, it is halal.Office of Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi (

Is it true that if there is a picture on the wall of a building, the angels do not enter that place?

7943 2011/06/21 Laws and Jurisprudence

There are traditions in our hadith books according to which angels do not enter houses where portraits of animate beings are kept. [ 1 ] It is necessary to mention a few points in regards to such trad

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