[zmhs5]

Today is the first of Muharram and marks the beginning of the events that led to the death of Imam Hussein (as) and other companions and family members of the Prophet (pbuh). As a short explanation (yes, one hour is really short for all the information needed to get a full grasp on the subject) a documentary was made on these events. I've watched it and it serves as a fairly good source for the basics on those who want to know. I'm only posting the first part out of seven. Follow the youtube links to the rest, if you wish to continue.

[Ameriki]

actully went to a Shia mosque here in Texas on Ashura, it was very interesting

[zmhs5]

Oh, do tell. Mosques are all different on Ahsura. If it was today, it was a very emotional day. You probably saw a lot of crying. We have a hadith, that one tear for Imam Hussain as (or the Prophet pbuh or Ahlulbayt as) is a barrier between you and the hellfire, even if it is that of a flies wing.

[Ameriki]

Yeah, there was abunch of crying. I was waiting on the sterotypical lashing yourself with chians, but it was very peaceful recitations and prayer. I was lost on the prayer part, as shia pray different than I was taught. I really enjoyed it though.

[zmhs5]

Yeah, that stereotypical thing, it makes the news but it isn't the norm (you know, like terrorism). Most majalis on Ashura are just sad and passionate, sort of like Easter for Christians.

I'm surprised you were lost on the prayer though. It's not much different except we almost always do qunoot and the tashahud is shorter.

Glad you enjoyed it and that you are open minded enough to go see personally what it's all about. Some Sunni circles barely mention figures such as Imam Hussain (as) for fear of being implied as Shia but I think he should be an inspiration for us all (and in fact has been quoted and has inspired other figures such as Ghandi).

Like the avatar, too.

[Ameriki]

Thanks sis,

here is the website of the mosque I attended, http://momin.org

Yeah, I think some muslims forget about the Ahl al-Bayt and the suffering some of them endured

[zmhs5]

Interesting site. They have a webcam but the lectures seem to be in Urdu. Do they do both Urdu and English?

[snoopy]

Awesome - thank you for the documentary; I'm truly shocked how Muhammad's family was treated. One doesn't have to believe Muhammad is a prophet to at least acknowledge how terribly his family was treated.

[farhang]

^The kinds of "Muslims" with negative connotations that people here refer to and snarl at here are the kinds that are inheriting the legacy of these Muslim oppressors and tyrants. If it wasn't for their centuries of historical revisionism, propaganda, and marginalization of the Prophet's family, then the image of the true Islam would be much clearer for non-Muslims.

If you want to judge Islam, don't judge it by the actions of Yazid, etc. Judge it by Imam Hussein (a) and his companions. These are the personalities you should study.

This post has been edited by farhang: 04 April 2010 - 01:37 PM

[snoopy]

^The kinds of "Muslims" with negative connotations that people here refer to and snarl at here are the kinds that are inheriting the legacy of these Muslim oppressors and tyrants. If it wasn't for their centuries of historical revisionism, propaganda, and marginalization of the Prophet's family, then the image of the true Islam would be much clearer for non-Muslims.

If you want to judge Islam, don't judge it by the actions of Yazid, etc. Judge it by Imam Hussein (a) and his companions. These are the personalities you should study.

The problem, however, comes back to Sunni doctrine and who are considered companions; the fact that a scumbag is able to see Muhammad automatically makes the person a companion - no matter how much of a scumbag the person is. Compare that to Shia where it doesn't matter how long you might have hung around Muhammad for, if you're a hypocrite then you're not trust worthy.

Case in point, the number of hadiths narrated by abu huraira that Sunni take without question being one example.

[Masood]

The problem, however, comes back to Sunni doctrine and who are considered companions; the fact that a scumbag is able to see Muhammad automatically makes the person a companion - no matter how much of a scumbag the person is. Compare that to Shia where it doesn't matter how long you might have hung around Muhammad for, if you're a hypocrite then you're not trust worthy.

Case in point, the number of hadiths narrated by abu huraira that Sunni take without question being one example.

Good point. I've said before that if I had to be Muslim, I'd at least be Shia because of their willingness to look critically at some of the companions, rather than just ignoring or rationalizing these issues.

[snoopy]

Good point. I've said before that if I had to be Muslim, I'd at least be Shia because of their willingness to look critically at some of the companions, rather than just ignoring or rationalizing these issues.

And ijtihad; unlike the Sunni's, itijihad is still alive and well in the Shia tradition hence as Reza Aslan noted, if there are going to be experiments with democracy, it'll come out from Shia majority countries first like Iraq and Iran.