THE DOCTOR AND THE SHEIKHS' DEBATE
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Tashahods should be said first, then "Salam" (blessing) to the Prophet and his Righteous followers and then finish the prayer with " ﻋﻠﻴﻜﻢ ."ﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ
Sh Hamid: We say two "Salams" at first then we say the final "Salam" in the end.
Dr: That is clear because based on many Hadith's that are gathered and mentioned in the Sunan Beyhaghi , volume 2, page 140- 150 it quotes from the Prophet and Aisha that:
ﺑﺎﻟﺘﺴﻠﻴﻢ ﺍﺣﻼﻟﻬﺎ ﻭ ﺑﺎﻟﺘﻜﺒﻴﺮ ﺍﺣﺮﺍﻣﻬﺎ ،ﻣﻔﺘﺎﺡ ﺍﻟﻄﻬﻮﺭ ﺍﻟﺼﻠﻮﻩ
"You enter the prayer with "Taharat" (Wudu) you "Ihram" (Start) with "Takbir" and for "Ahalal" (coming out of Ihram) you "Salam""
Regarding the same matter Ibn Hanifah quotes from Ali and in the end he says:
ﺍﻟﺘﺴﻠﻴﻢ ﺍﻧﻘﻀﺎﺋﻬﺎ ﻭ
"The end of it you say "Salam""
Therefore, the way you pray finishes without Tashahod and blessing to the Prophet. Shafii has also mentioned this, which the Prophet has said: A praying that does not have blessing to me is not a prayer. This means that you say the "Salam" after the praying as ended which invalidates the prayer.
Sh Hamid: Doctor, you have invalidated everything we believe in today. Everything is apparently void.
Dr: I am questioning it. The Prophet's Hadith that are cited in your own books are saying this. If I had cited from the Shia books then what you say would have been true.
Sh Hamid: The problem is here that in the books of Hadith there are many Hadith's contradicting each other and therefore to distinguish between the correct and incorrect, right and wrong, is not an easy job especially when it is regarding worship.
Dr: In fact, I say the same thing. In worshiping, the Sunnat of the Prophet exists and therefore, mus not be followed by the companions or followers. The act and words of the Prophet himself should be above all and should be trusted.
Sh Hamid: If the Hadith were from the number one companions and closest to the Prophet and the Hadith's following it were the same then it would be considered correct.
Dr: To verify some of these Hadith there is no need to refer to any serious strings of Hadith's.
This is because reason can easily distinguish between two Hadith that says Salat is voided with Takbir and accepted with "Salam". There is a chapter in Fiqh (jurisprudential) entitled "Priority of Tashahod in salam". Well these two complete the way we should conduct.
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Sh Hamid: Yes, you are right. But unfortunately our scholars did not sit and gather all of these and then inform people to conduct in one way.
Dr: Well it has to be said that the government officials did this during different Era's of time.
What I mean to say is that they announced their opinion in every case between the people and distributed it.
Sh Hamid: Yes, the governments.
Dr: Al Bahr Al Muhit, volume 1, page 37 and in Al Muharar Al Vajiz, volume 1, volume 1, page 11 there is proof that regarding Surat Al Fatihah there are many Hadiths that are very weird. For instance, where it says: " ﻋﻠﻴﻬﻤﻲor ﻋﻠﻴﻬﻤﻮ، "ﺍﻧﻌﻤﺖ for instance "ﺻ ﺍﻧﻌﻤﺖand" ﻣﻦ "ﺮﺍﻁ ﻏﻴﺮﺍﻟﻤﻐﻀﻮﺏ ﻋﻠﻴﻬﻢand" " ﺍﻟﻀﺎﻟﻴﻦit ,"ﻏﻴﺮ is questionable. These cases indicate that a person should also refer to their own mind and use it as well. For example, Ibn Davoud says that the book of Akramah has said: " ﺍﻟﻀﺎﻟﻴﻦ ﻏﻴﺮ ." So what Akramah said such a thing? Were the other companions dead for us to just rely on what he said?
Sh Hamid: Praise to God that no one followed such jibrish.
Dr: But these people have still said it even if it is jibrish.
Sh Hamid: Unfortunately, there are plenty debates such as these ones and it is filled in the books of Hadith's just to confuse people's minds and to make our youth doubt.
Dr: If you refer to the School of Ahl al Bayt there is one case that prevents you from deviation.
Sh Hamid: What case?
Dr: Having a living religious authority and dynamic Ijtihad.
Sh Hamid: Well we have that as well.
Dr: Yes you do, but you are not able to review a Hadith. Our scholars are able to void any Hadith even if it is important and seem correct if it contradicts what the Quran says especially if it is regarding ordinances. Therefore, for us regardless of what era we are in we have religious authorities that come in place that can even dis-regard anything the previous person has said.
Sh Hamid: So they abide by what the previous religious authority says?
Dr: They act on what their duty is and the next ones do the same.
Sh Hamid: How is that possible?
Dr: For example: regarding Eid al-Fitr in your country it gets announced that Eid al-Fitr is on a Saturday. Then in several other countries they say that it is on a Sunday, even in some parts of your own country some say that it is on a Sunday. Everyone acts on the proof that they have seen
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the moon. The ordinance is the same everywhere. The ordinances say that if two righteous people announce that they have seen the lunar phase. Then it is accepted that it is Eid.
Sh: Dear Sheikh Hamid I believe that you have now come to conclusion on what I said in the first place that this Doctor is not a Doctor in Engineering but a Doctor in religious sciences.
Sh Hamid: I think that his not even an Engineer but he is specialised in religious fields.
Dr: If you have internet in this house you could search me up on the University website and you can see my picture with my students at work.
Sh Hamid: We are teasing you, we believe in what you say.
Dr: What I have done is not that hard. I haven't done anything unusual either. I just spent the same amount of time researching technical issues and interventions in the world on researching about the righteous path for the next world.
Sh Hamid: Well normally Engineers and Medical people spend less time doing such a thing.
Dr: In Iran there are many Engineers and Medical people start studying religion and become a spiritual guider after they finish their primary education in Engineering. Or they major in both fields from the start, or they start studying Hauza first and then sway towards Engineering and Medicine.
Sh Hamid: This trend does not happen in Arabian countries.
Dr: Well in an Islamic country a Muslim person that his opinion has a universal claim has to be able to defend its own religion. You haven't even debated with our religious scholars yet or else you would understand that I have no religious knowledge.
Sh Hamid: Do you mean to say that they know more than you?
Dr: Compared to what they know, I know nothing. If you wish I can take you to Iran and introduce you to some of them and you can see for yourself that I have quoted things that I knew would defend what I believe in and nothing more.
Sh Hamid: No, thank you. I have no preference to do such a thing. Today you have questioned every important ordinance such as praying that I believed in and brought doubt into my mind. If I was to go there they would probably convert us to Shia'sm.
Sh: I have to say that I know about the people that Doctor is talking about. Even though there are some Engineers and medical people in Egypt that are aware of religion but I do not think that they know as much as our Doctor does.
Dr: I have seen Egyptian Medical and Enginneering people that have substantial religious knowledge. The problem though is that they have vast knowledge of everything and not in dept sight.
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Sh: We didn't make it for the Asir prayer but let's visit the Mosque for the Maghrib prayer and then head towards the hotel afterwards.
Sh Hamid: I will accompany you.
All three of us headed towards Masjid an Nabawi and because I was accompanied by two Sheikhs they allowed us to sit close to the chamber of the Prophet.
Sijdah (Prostration) On Soil
I had a slim mat 30 x 20 centimetre squared to prostrate and normally there was no objection to it. However, close to the Prophet's shrine they objected and one of the officers came over and took it off me with severity.
Sh Hamid: Why do you use this mat? Is it for sanitary reasons or because of your Fiqh?
Dr: It is due to Fiqh. We believe that we should prostrate on specific things such as soil, natural rock. It cannot be related to food, clothes or anything sinthetic.
Sh Hamid: Prostrating on anything is allowed.
Dr: Have a look at the software on my Mobile. In Sahih Tarmazi volume 1, page 354; Sunan Beyhaghi, volume 3, page 167; Bukhari, chapter Tayamom, volume 1, page 91 and Musnad Ahmad, volume 1, page 301 we have this:
ﻃﻬﻮﺭﺍ ﻭ ًﺟﻌﻠﺖ ﻣﺴﺠﺪﺍ ﺍﻻﺭﺽ ﻟﻲ
"For me earth is the place to prostrate and is the purifier."
In history we have chain of transmissions that in the time of the Prophet people would carry stones with them so the stones would not heat up at war, meaning they would prostrate on stones.
Sh Hamid: The Islamic Din is an easy-going religion. I believe that one can Sujdah on anything they want.
Dr: What do you think the philosophy of prostrating is?
Sh Hamid: Placing the head on the ground. It means that the best part of the human body that is the brain touches the ground which is a kind of humility.
Dr: So it isn't on rugs?
Sh Hamid: It is not clear if there is a difference between a rug or the ground.
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Dr: Now instead of cloth and normal rugs if they replaced the surface with expensive rugs and cloths then the philosophy of prostrating should be demolished as it wouldn't be signifying humility anymore, would it?
Sh Hamid: But no one has done that.
Dr: Because the philosophy of Sujdah has been clear and that's why no one has done that. The Prophet has prevented anyone whom would even think of trying such a thing by saying that one cannot Sujdah on anything they wish.
Sh Hamid: Sheikh Ibrahim what is your opinion on this matter?
Sh: The truth is that for when someone wishes to pray due to it being a connection between God and human then using anything as natural as possible is better. Especially if it is not expensive or else some might use Gold to pray on.
Dr: God bless the dead. We say the exact thing. Islam says the exact thing too.
Sh Hamid: For sanitary purposes it is best that we use the rug for prostrating.
Dr: I believe we shouldnt mix being sanitary with this. Let's firstly agree that soul and natural things that are not edible (spelling check) and non-related to clothes, in other words non expensive things are best to be used. Now if it is clean for the better. This is because we believe that the place where we Sujdah should be completely Taher (immaculate).
Due to many repetitive questions I get asked in Mosques regarding Turbat (soil) and Sujdah, I have these two parts of Hadith's ready. One is from Shahih Bukhari, volume 3, page 215, Hadith number 771 and 792 on the software of my mobile. Please have a look: Hadith 771:
ﻧَﺘَﺤَﺪﱠﺙُ ﺍﻟﻨﱠﺨْﻞِ ﺇِﻟَﻰ ﺑِﻨَﺎ ﺗَﺨْﺮُﺝُ ﺃَﻟَﺎ ﻓَﻘُﻠْﺖُ ﺍﻟْﺨُﺪْﺭِﻱﱢ ﺳَﻌِﻴﺪٍ ﺃَﺑِﻲ ﺇِﻟَﻰ ﺍﻧْﻄَﻠَﻘْﺖُ ﻗَﺎﻝَ ًَْﺣَﺪﱠﺛَﻨَﺎ ﺳَﻠَﻤَﻪ ﺃَﺑِﻲ ﻋَﻦْ ﻳَﺤْﻴَﻰ ﻋَﻦْ ﻫَﻤﱠﺎﻡٌ ﺣَﺪﱠﺛَﻨَﺎ ﻗَﺎﻝَ ﻣُﻮﺳَﻰ ﻭَﺳَﻠﱠﻢَ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻪِ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪُ ﺻَﻠﱠﻲ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪِ ﺭَﺳُﻮﻝُ ﺍﻋْﺘَﻜَﻒَ ﻗَﺎﻝَ ﺍﻟْﻘَﺪْﺭِ ﻟَﻴْﻠَﻪًِْ ﻓِﻲ ﻭَﺳَﻠﱠﻢَ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻪِ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪُ ﺻَﻠﱠﻲ ﺍﻟﻨﱠﺒِﻲﱢ ﻣِﻦْ ﻤِﻌْﺖَ ﺳَ ﻣَﺎ ﺣَﺪﱢﺛْﻨِﻲ ﻗُﻠْﺖُ ﻓَﻘَﺎﻝَ ﻓَﺨَﺮَﺝَ ﻓَﺄَﺗَﺎﻩُ ﻣَﻌَﻪُ ﻓَﺎﻋْﺘَﻜَﻔْﻨَﺎ ﺍﻟْﺄَﻭْﺳَﻂَ ﺍﻟْﻌَﺸْﺮَ ﻓَﺎﻋْﺘَﻜَﻒَ ﻣَﺎﻣَﻚَ ﺃَ ﺗَﻄْﻠُﺐُ ﺍﻟﱠﺬِﻱ ﺇِﻥﱠ ﻓَﻘَﺎﻝَ ﺟِﺒْﺮِﻳﻞُ ﻓَﺄَﺗَﺎﻩُ ﻣَﻌَﻪُ ﻭَﺍﻋْﺘَﻜَﻔْﻨَﺎ ﺭَﻣَﻀَﺎﻥَ ﻣِﻦْ ﺍﻟْﺄُﻭَﻝِ ﻋَﺸْﺮَ ﺍﻋْﺘَﻜَﻒَ ﻛَﺎﻥَ ﻣَﻦْ ﻓَﻘَﺎﻝَ ﺭَﻣَﻀَﺎﻥَ ﻣِﻦْ ﻋِﺸْﺮِﻳﻦَ ﺻَﺒِﻴﺤَﻪًَْ ﺧَﻄِﻴﺒًﺎ ﻭَﺳَﻠﱠﻢَ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻪِ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪُ ﺻَﻠﱠﻲ ﺍﻟﻨﱠﺒِﻲﱡ ﻓَﻘَﺎﻡَ ﺃَﻣَﺎﻣَﻚَ ﺗَﻄْﻠُﺐُ ﺍﻟﱠﺬِﻱ ﺇِﻥﱠ ﻓَﻘَﺎﻝَ ﺟِﺒْﺮِﻳﻞُ ﻛَﺄَﻧﱢﻲ ﺭَﺃَﻳْﺖُ ﻭَﺇِﻧﱢﻲ ﻭِﺗْﺮٍ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻟْﺄَﻭَﺍﺧِﺮِ ﺍﻟْﻌَﺸْﺮِ ﻓِﻲ ﻭَﺇِﻧﱠﻬَﺎ ﻧُﺴﱢﻴﺘُﻬَﺎ ﻭَﺇِﻧﱢﻲ ﺍﻟْﻘَﺪْﺭِ ﻟَﻴْﻠَﻪًَْ ﺭﺃُﻳﺖُ ﻓَﺈِﻧﱢﻲ ﻓَﻠْﻴَﺮْﺟِﻊْ ﻭَﺳَﻠﱠﻢَ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻪِ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪُ ﺻَﻠﱠﻲ ﺍﻟﻨﱠﺒِﻲﱢ ﻊَ َﻣ ﺻَﻠﱠﻲ ﺍﻟﻨﱠﺒِﻲﱡ ﺑِﻨَﺎ ﻓَﺼَﻠﱠﻰ ﻓَﺄُﻣْﻄِﺮْﻧَﺎ ﻗَﺰْﻋَﻪًٌْ ﻓَﺠَﺎءَﺕْ ﺷَﻴْﺌًﺎ ﺍﻟﺴﱠﻤَﺎءِ ﻓِﻲ ﻧَﺮَﻯ ﻭَﻣَﺎ ﺍﻟﻨﱠﺨْﻞِ ﺟَﺮِﻳﺪَ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺴْﺠِﺪِ ﺳَﻘْﻒُ ﻭَﻛَﺎﻥَ ﻭَﻣَﺎءٍ ﻃِﻴﻦٍ ﻓِﻲ ﺃَﺳْﺠُﺪُ ﺭُﺅْﻳَﺎﻩُ ﺗَﺼْﺪِﻳﻖَ ﺃَﺭْﻧَﺒَﺘِﻪِ ﻭَ ﻭَﺳَﻠﱠﻢَ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻪِ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪُ ﺻَﻠﱠﻲ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪِ ﺭَﺳُﻮﻝِ ﺟَﺒْﻬَﻪًِْ ﻋَﻠَﻰ ﻭَﺍﻟْﻤَﺎءِ ﺍﻟﻄﱢﻴﻦِ ﺃَﺛَﺮَ ﺭَﺃَﻳْﺖُ ﺣَﺘﱠﻰ ﻭَﺳَﻠﱠﻢَ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻪِ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪُ
The translation of the part where the Hadith ends is this:
"In one of the secretion of month of Ramadan we were prostrating whilst praying on soil and mud and the Prophet did the same and I saw the residue of mud and soil on the Prophet's forehead."
Hadith 792:
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ﺻَﻠﱠﻲ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪِ ﺭَﺳُﻮﻝَ ﺭَﺃَﻳْﺖُ » ﻓَﻘَﺎﻝَ: ﺍﻟْﺨُﺪْﺭِﻱﱠ ﺳَﻌِﻴﺪٍ ﺃَﺑَﺎ ﺳَﺄَﻟْﺖُ ﻗَﺎﻝَ ًَْﺣَﺪﱠﺛَﻨَﺎ ﺳَﻠَﻤَﻪ ﺃَﺑِﻲ ﻋَﻦْ ﻳَﺤْﻴَﻰ ﻋَﻦْ ﻫِﺸَﺎﻡٌ ﺣَﺪﱠﺛَﻨَﺎ ﻗَﺎﻝَ ﺇِﺑْﺮَﺍﻫِﻴﻢَ ﺑْﻦُ ﻣُﺴْﻠِﻢُ ﺟَﺒْﻬَﺘِﻪِ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻟﻄﱢﻴﻦِ ﺃَﺛَﺮَ ﺭَﺃَﻳْﺖُ ﺣَﺘﱠﻰ ﻭَﺍﻟﻄﱢﻴﻦِ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺎءِ ﻓِﻲ ﺠُﺪُ ﻳَﺴْ ﻭَﺳَﻠﱠﻢَ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻪِ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪُ
Or this Hadith which is a summary of the Hadith above:
"Abu Saeid cites: I saw the Prophet prostrating on mud (water and soil) in such a way that I could see the residue of the soul was on his face and forehead."
So Sheikh Hamid, please explain how does the Prophet pray on soil even if it is rainy and muddy and then prays on a rug when the conditions are normal.
Sh Hamid: In my opinion this is also correct. Unfortunately I have not seen any proof that the Prophet prostrated on anything else but soil. Especially when some rugs are very expensive and as the Doctor says it demolishes the philosophy of Sujdah if prayed on. Therefore, I accept.
Dr: Thank you for accepting.
After praying the Maghrib prayer we sat a little. Some were supplicating and some were facing the chamber and the officers were repeatedly saying:
ﻧﺒﻲ ﺻﻮﺕ ﻓﻮﻕ ﺻﻮﺗﻜﻢ ﻻﺗﺮﻓﻌﻮﺍ
Do not raise your voice louder than the voice of the Prophet
I got up and asked the Sheikh Officer by the chamber: I am sorry, is the Prophet dead or alive?
He said: He is dead, "ﺍﻧﻚ ﻣﻴﺘﻮﻥ ﺍﻧﻬﻢ ﻭ ﻣﻴﺖ "you " will die and so will they". I then asked: Then what is this written above someone whom is dead and quiet, and that you repeatedly read it?
Sheikh Hamid started laughing and he was waiting to see what the officer guarding the chamber was going to respond. In return the officer just stared back at me with a blank face and said:
Iranian go away.
I replied: I asked you a question you should respond, what do you care if I am Iranian or not?
He said: You are not asking to seek guidance you are asking to create a problem.
Sheikh Hamid entered the debate and said: If you have an answer please give it. The officer replied: You are a higher honored Sheikh, please answer the question.
Sheikh Hamid said: I am friends with this gentleman and because he asked this question from you then it is best for you to answer it. His question is this: If the Prophet is dead or alive, because if he is alive then what you say is correct, that we shouldn't raise our voice over his but if he is dead then what you say is meaningless.
Sheikh Officer said: You know that the verse of Quran states that the Prophet is dead. Sheikh Hamid said: Please answer this gentleman and not me because I am on your side. Sheikh faced
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me and said: Do you not accept that the Prophet is dead? I replied: excuse me what is your name? So I call you by your name. He said: My name is Faroogh.
Dr: Sheikh Faroogh, is it possible to be alive after death?
Sheikh Faroogh: No, someone whom dies, is dead because even God tells the Prophet that "ﺍﻧﻚ "ﻣﻴﺖ
Dr: Then why do you say that we shouldn't read out loudly? The Prophet is dead and as you said a dead Prophet cannot hear anything.
Sheikh Faroogh: Are you saying that the Prophet is dead or alive?
Dr: Have you read this verse before?
ﻳُﺮْﺯَﻗُﻮﻥَ ﺭَﺑﱢﻬِﻢْ ﻋِﻨْﺪَ ﺃَﺣْﻴﺎءٌ ﺑَﻞْ ﺃَﻣْﻮﺍﺗﺎً ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪِ ﺳَﺒﻴﻞِ ﻓﻲ ﻗُﺘِﻠُﻮﺍ ﺍﻟﱠﺬﻳﻦَ ﺗَﺤْﺴَﺒَﻦﱠ ﻻ ﻭَ
"And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving ordinance"
Sheikh Faroogh: This is regarding life in "Barzakh" (limbo) it does not mean real life and in any case what does it have to do with the Prophet?
Dr: Is there any ordinances in Barzakh?
Sh Faroogh: Yes.
Dr: Isn't the Prophet more important than the Martyrs?
Sheikh Faroogh: He is more important but he lives in Barzakh.
Dr: So you mean to say that the Martyrs that are receiving ordinances from God are alive in Barzakh?
Sheikh Faroogh: Go away; I don't have time for you. Allow for others to not gather around and cause chaos here. Ask this Sheikh (referring to Sheikh Hamid), he will answer you. I don't have time.
We came to aside and Sheikh Hamid laughed and said: These people are not in any position to know any better or to answer such questions. Their religious knowledge is very low.
Dr: Then whom should we be asking this question from?
Sh Hamid: You already know the answer to this question. We have to accept these things or we have to accept that the Prophet is dead and take off what we have written above the champer.
And if he is alive then we should all of the debates we had regarding Tawasol (implore) and the rest.
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Sh: Dear Sheikh Hamid, if you accept please accompany us these last two days that we are in Medina and participate in our discussions.
Sh Hamid: I won't participate because when I am around you go all quiet. You discuss things with the Doctor by yourself.
Sh: I always start the debate but I end up giving in to the things the Doctors say. There have been several cases that this has happened.
Sh Hamid: Well I don't have much to say against what the Doctor says either so its best you continue the debates yourself.
Dr: Well even though if we continue this way it will be a debate between two to one but I would be more than happy to resume this debate with both of you honorable people.
Sh Hamid: I apologise, even though I would love to but I have prior engagement.
We said goodbye and then headed towards our own ways. Sheikh said: I think that Sheikh Hamid is scared of the government officials because the government officials warn them not to debate with Iranian scholars.
Dr: But I am not a very knowledgeable person and I am not wearing an Imam outfit.
Sh: It doesn't matter. They are only allowed to talk to people that are willing and are ready to accept the Sunni way and especially the Wahabis.
Dr: Well this is unfortunate for scholars to not speak with people that are just normal and have no previous religious knowledge and to avoid those that do.
Sh: By the way we should slowly start packing to leave for Mecca. I have to leave the day after tomorrow and I still have questions left.
Dr: I am also leaving for Mecca in three days. If God willing we could still met up there.
Sh: It is not very clear where I would be staying so it would good if we were to meet at Masjid Al Haram.
Dr: We also have mobiles. We will eventually find each other even though I do have the address of the hotel I am staying in when I am in Mecca. I will give it to you so if we lose each other you can come to my hotel.
Sh: That would be great. Do you have it with you now?
Dr: No, it is at the hotel. I will give it to you, God willing, when I see you tomorrow.
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Twenty Fifth of Zyqadeh
Issue Regarding Ahl al Bayt
I saw Sheikh again in the Mosque and we sat where the As-hab Sofhe (companions of the ledge)
were.
Dr: The As-hab Sofhe were people that did not even have a place to sleep. They would come here to rest even though there was no roof. They were in a way in which you would see immigrants but now, you see people come here and lean back possessing two or more houses.
Sh: I don't think that the people you see around the chamber and the house of the Prophet, or even the officers working here have much materialistic things in their possessions. Most of them lead simple and humble lives. They act more on belief and morality than for money.
Dr: It appears to be what you say. I once went downstairs for discussion in the basement of Baqi and they didn't even have fresh water to drink from.
Sh: That is exactly so. If you visit their homes you will see that they do not live very well. They are very different to the politicians or the religious leaders.
Dr: They are religious soldiers.
Sh: That is so. They are brainwashed from the beginning and even more so during secondary school. They are told that from seventy sect of Islam there is only one righteous path and the rest is polytheism and the only right way is the way they are taught.
Dr: Normally there are soldiers that carry weapons and only take orders from their commanders and act on what they have be told. They do not have much education and therefore they never question what rules they are told to abide by.
Sh: Yes, last night you were witness to one of those cases. The poor man was not able to handle a simple explanation on the verse that was written above the Prophet’s shrine. The same verse they read 100 times daily for people.
Dr: It seems that we are slowly getting on the same page as each other.
Sh: Well it was eventually going to happen. One of the characteristics of Hajj is that Moumenin (the faithful) get to exchange their thoughts. In my opinion, if there was a way to exceed this connection between us then Hajj would be one of the biggest investments of the Islamic World.
That is because the people that come to Hajj are unable to speak with each other using one language so they are not able to connect. If you did not know how to speak Arabic then we would have just been praying and praying. But in fact many of the cases and beliefs that were considered under a precise debate were clarified and spoken about.
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Dr: Unfortunately people that come to Hajj are so focused on just praying that they lose sight of the main source of importance. Even the people that come from countries such as Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt; that have a higher patriotic attitude and are generally against American’s and Israeli’s, spend more time just praying and reading supplications or spending time in the Bazaars buying things. Most of their conversations are at the Mosque where they pray and they only talk to the person next to them asking with their fingers and hands, where are you from? They reply: Malaysia, Indonesia, etc. There isn't much more conversation than that.
Sh: That is exactly so. Not knowing many languages is a great agony. Unfortunately, I only know Arabic. If I knew one other language I could have spoken to one non Arab at least.
Dr: The British have a saying that one person with two languages is better than two people knowing one language.
Sh: That is very right. Therefore, in Alazhar we practice the languages such as: Urdu, Persian, Chinese, Turkish and African.
Dr: This practice has also started in many Shia Centres of Scholarship. They even teach the Russian, Spanish, French and German languages.
Sh: We kind of had Russian from the start but it wasn't as spread. If you notice we were the ones that started spreading Islam to the new Islamic countries, the Muslims of Russia based in the central Asia were from us. We have good translations and good books.
Who are the Ahl Al Bayt?
Dr: Sheikh Ibrahim, the house of Hazrat Fatimah Zahra, the Prophet's daughter, appears to be in front of my hotel.
Sh: It is the house of the Prophet. What is not clear is how much of it used to be Fatimah's house.
Dr: I am certain because there are floor plans at the Mosque and we have chain of transmissions in the books of Seerah (biography) and history stating that all of the doors to the Mosque were closed at the time of the Prophet, only one was kept open and that was the door of the Prophet's house and Ali (Which Fatimah lived in).
Sh: Yes, what you are saying is correct the door of Ali's house was not closed however, it is not clear if this was the actual door.
Dr: There is no other house and nothing has been demolished that would be attached to the interior of the Mosque therefore, if where the Prophet is buried is Aisha's house then this house would be the house of Fatimah and Ali.
Sh: It is a possibility.