Brother Shiaboy4eva

Growing up as a child in, I was not interested in religion. I would not even pray; and my parents would always force me to do so, but I would rebel against because I felt as though they were taking away my freedom rights from me, for Allah, the most High, says in His Glorious Book, "There is no compulsion in religion." (Holy Quraan 2:256)

Anyway, my family are from the descendant of one of the Companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), Abdur Rahman ibn Ouf. They are proud to have forefathers who were scholars whom people came to learn the religion from.

Anyway, I always thought that weather there were scholars or not, it would not do me any good and that I should not be forced to the religion.

We came to America from Kenya via the Red Cross whom we are thankful to. After we came, I was stoned as to what I saw. It seemed totally a new world. Even though, I was not religious, I was still ashamed for coming to the country. Everything was strange. I saw women walking almost wearing nothing. People using indecent language in here and there. I am in any way, trying to speak ill of this country, but I am just trying to express my feelings at what I had saw and how I reacted to them.

However, there were something I like about the country, such as their road for it was clean, their houses for it was beautiful and big, and more importantly I loved their "freedom" system a lot for I always felt that I have the right to do anything I wished and the consequence would be between my and my Lord.

Not two years passed by, I began to adopt to their ways of living. I would try to be one of them, try to walk like them, etc, but at the same time I, somewhat knew my limits.

Then three years ago, I started to feel something really strange in my heart. I was beginning to change. Every time I did something bad, I would feel bad and wished that I had never done it. At times, I would hear a voice from my heart every time I was thinking of doing some bad which supposedly suppose to make me look "cool". So I stopped doing what I used to do and came back to my Lord and repented.

One day I saw my uncle and his children praying differently. I was wondering why they were doing it. Not weeks passed by, when I became one of them. He told me that this is Shiasm and this is the right way to pray. So I began to follow him blindly. But that was not enough to convince my folks. So I began to do a research since, I am seeing totally a new way of praying, or should I say a new faith-new religion.

I was never really taught properly how to pray, so therefore, I was blindly following them without question for I never saw anyone who would pray differently and then at the same time tell me that this is right.

Weeks later, my uncle and other cousin began to follow their brother and uncle. Thinking that they have become Shias as well, I thought that my Uncle Hassan was right since he managed to convince people older than me. But somehow, I knew it was not right for me to follow blindly as my uncle always used to tell me.

So, one night I was searching on the internet something that has to do with Shiasm and Sunnism; perhaps a book that would talk about both sects comparatively. I found a book called "Shia encyclopedia" and I began to read it.

I began to read about the wudhu first and was pretty shocked when I found out that only the Shias act upon that verse. I asked my self, "is it possible my family are wrong?" But how can they be wrong for their forefathers were Sheikhs and people used to come to learn the religion from them? How can they be wrong after being blessed by being the descendants of Abdur Rahman ibn Ouf?

The thing that amazed me was that, as a child I was taught to wash my feet but in the Quraan, a different story was told. So I decided to compare the translation of Yusuf Ali, Pickthal, and Shakir. I also wanted to share it with you O dear reader and you be the judge of it.

[Shakir 5:6] "O you who believe! when you rise up to prayer, wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet to the ankles…"

[Yusuf Ali 5:6] "O ye who believe! when ye prepare for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; Rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles…"

[Pickthal 5:6] "O ye who believe! When ye rise up for prayer, wash you faces, and your hands up to the elbows, and lightly rub your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles…"

Then I went to on to read the rest of it. Off course I didn't finish the book at that night, but I was tired so I went to sleep.

Anyhow, this was only of the many things that surprised me. But what I fail to understand was that, if Allah, the most High, says in His Holy Book, which He did, that He tells Muhammad not to ask us (the Muslims) for any reward accept love for his (Muhammad)'s kin, then why only have the Shias follow and obeyed that verse? All Muslims, whether Sunni or Shia agree that if you anyone denies or pretends to ignore one verse of the Holy Quraan, he has denied Allah. So again, why have only the Shias loved and still do love the AhlulBayt of The Prophet (saww)?

Anyhow, the Hadith that trucked me the most was non other than the "Hadith of the Two Heavy Precious." I wonder at those Muslims, who try to destroy this Hadith and try their utmost try to hide it, but haven't they read the verse in Sura Al-Baqara, ayaa, 256? Indeed, the truth has become clear! The Prophet made it clear that He loved them so much and asked us the same, and that He left for us two precious things that if we hold tight to them, we shall never be misled. He instructed us to not be in front of them and not to teach them, for they know more than us; not to be behind them for then we will be misled; and always stay with them. That surely was a simple task!

The holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad ibn Abdullah (saww) said in many hadiths that show the merits of Imam Ali (as). The last one and the most authentic is, when in Khadir Khum, He (the Prophet) delivered his last message, which still remains in the back of (all) Muslims and will always be remembered. After a very eloquent speech, the Prophet asked the people in a loud voice and heavenly tone, "O People! Who is your guide and guardian? Who is your leader and ruler? Am I not your leader and your guide? Am I not your guardian and ruler? They replied, "O Prophet of God, you are 6ur leader and ruler. You are our guide."

Then the Holy Prophet called for `Ali ibn Abi Talib and gave him a place next to himself. He took his hand and held it aloft, showing this to the people, and in his loudest voice and most glorious tones he commanded:
"Those whose guide and leader I am, after me, will be guided and led by `Ali O People! O Muslims! After me, `Ali is your guide and master".

Then he lifted his hands to the skies and said: `Lord! Be friendly with the friends of `Ali Be an enemy to the enemies of `Ali Lord! Help the helpers of `Ali, and humble those that wish evil of `Ali"

Subhanallah! What an honor! All we are told to do is follow him after the Rasul (saww), but instead we tend to follow his enemies. Yet, in another Hadith, the Prophet tell us, in a very accepted Hadith by the Shias and the Sunnis, that Ali is the Gate to the City of Knowledge. The Prophet said, "I am the city of Knowledge and Ali is its gate." Even if the Prophet said (only) this much about Amirul Mu'miniin, it is sufficient to follow the orders of the Prophet, that is to follow Ali because only He knows the true Islam, as the Hadith itself indicates. Again, our beloved Prophet (saww) in another Hadith said, "O Ali! You hold in relation to me the same position as Haroon held in relation to Moses, except that there shall be no prophet after me."

There are a lot more Ahadiths which I am not going to mention that only talks about the merits about the Great Imam Ali because this Hadith says it all, the Prophet (saww) said, "If all the oceans were ink, all the trees were pen, and all the jinn and humans came together to write down the merits of Ali, they would still not be done."

It is interesting how some people try their utmost to conceal all these hadiths, but do then not know that even their so called "khalifas" could not because they were forced to ask the Great Imam Ali for help. Here is one such incident, this is when Umar ibn Al-Khattab ordered a pregnant woman to be stoned to death and imam Ali's prevention. Here is how the story went taken from the book called "Peshawar Nights :

Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal in his Musnad; Imamu'l-Haram, Ahmad Bin Abdullah Shafi'i in Dhakha'iru'l-Mawadda, chapter II, p.75, from Hasan Basri; Ibn Hajar in Fathu'l-Bari, vol.XII, P.101; Abu Dawud in Sunan, vol. II, p.227; Munadi in Faizu'l-Qadir, vol. IV, p. 257; Hakim Nishapuri in Mustadrak, vol.II, p.59; Qastalani in Irshadu's-Sari, vol.X, p. 9; Baihaqi in Sunan, vol.VIII, p. 164; Muhibu'd-din Tabari in Riyazu'n-Nazara, v.II, p.196; Khatib Khawarizmi in his Munaqab, p.48; Muhammad Ibn Talha Shafi'i in Matalibu's-Su'ul; Imamu'l-Haram in Dhakha'iru'l-'Uqba, p.80; Ibn Maja in his Sunan, v.II, p.227; Bukhari in his Sahih, chapter la yarjumu'l-majnun wa'l-majnuna and most of your other ulema have reported the following incident:

One day an insane woman was brought before Caliph Umar Bin Khattab. She had committed fornication and admitted her fault. Umar ordered her to be stoned. Amiru'l-Mu'minin was there. He said to Umar: "What are you doing? I have heard the Holy Prophet saying that three kinds of people are free from the hold of law: a sleeping man until he wakes; a lunatic until he recovers himself and regains consciousness; and the child until he comes of age." Hearing this, Umar acquitted the woman.

Ibnu's-Saman in his Kitabu'l-Muwafiqa has recorded many such cases. There are some accounts which record about 100 erroneous and fallacious findings of Umar.

Anyway, I am thank to my Lord, who has guided me to the right path! I thank All-Mighty Allah for opening my eyes and helping me to see the truth. I pray to Allah, the All-Powerful, to guide all my sincerely beloved brothers and sisters to be guided also to the right path. Amiiin Ya Rabb!!!

I leave you all in the care of Allah