*Originally posted by zer01: *
you posted:
people who parade horses around and beat themselves up
What an excellent approach!!
This was not only a personal remark for me but would also for every person who belongs to shia comunity. **
Oh so instead of being mature about it and noting that the words offended you which I gladly would have rephrased, you chose to wage a personal attack, and would not see the error of your approach even when made abundantly clear :)
According to others this isa cultural practice and has nothing to do with the faith itself. I personally find teh practice troubling and feel that it has nothing to do with religion. My apologies if it hurt your sentiments. I have shia family members and they do not take part in these activities and are as troubled by them as I am so I believe that this is not a univeral and religious practice.
**
I only asked you two questions. You simply could have answered them with yes or no. **\
I think I answered, now if that is not teh answer you were looking for then what can i do.
Just for your convenience let me repost that post agian:
No need, i read it the first time and posted after reviewing that.
Yo said you follow Mohammad. Do you acknowledge Ali (AS) and the sons of Ali (as) as your patron after Rasulallah??
Indeed, however they are much less important than the prophet and the religion was completed on the prophet so anything added aftwerwards is extra and has notrhing to do with faith, When Allah completed the religion, no human has the authority to add, change or subtract from it.
So whether or not I consider them as wa Wali does not change the faith the Allah completed upon the prophet.
**Yes off-course!! Allah The All Mighty. Who says in his book about himself, His Prophet (saww) and Hz Ali (as)"
AL-MAEDA - 55:
"Only Allah is your Wali and His Prophet and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow."
well I dont think that Hazrat Ali's name is mentioned here :) It says Allaj, and the prophet, I dont see any other names there.
Do you also believe that Ali (as) is your Wali along with Allah (swt) and Rasullalah(saww)??
Would beleving in that change anything. As far as I am concerend. It does not change the fact that I need to pray, fast, etc. So the question is, what is the problem between shias and sunnis, Not belonging to any camp, I can just look with astonishment as each group keeps fighting on and on.
It does not make me read nohay, it does not make me do matam. does it?
I dont think these questions are that difficult to answer for any person who follows Allah(swt)and Mohammad (saww). Are they??!!
No.
Time and time again I have noted that I consider hazrat Ali and Imam Hassan and Hussein as the most important people after the prophet. being Naqvi, I trace my lineage back to those great people and am proud of it.
Believing in the greatness of Hazrat Ali and Imam hasan and Hussein does not make me a shia, and beliving in the greatness of teh khulfa e rashideen does not make me a sunni.