Ahlulbyte (7):

Q1: What is the reward for mourning for AhlulBayt (a) as stated in the hadeeths and in the Holy Quraan?

A: There were narrations that encourage mourning the Ahlulbyte and show grief for what had happened to them. As an example, Imam Jafer al Sadiq (peace be upon him) used to recite while prostrating a long supplication. He said: "O my Lord, have mercy on those hearts that mourned us and were burned because of the our grief, O my Lord, have mercy on the eyes that were running tears for our tragedy .. etc".

Q2: Is turning to ahlulbayte in supplications mustahab?

A: It is permissible to seek the intercession of the ahlulbyte (peace be upon them) to answer the requests as it is one of the reasons to get the requests answered by the divine lord.

Q3: There are many recommended acts such as going to shrines of Ahlulbayte, if a person lives very distant from these places and can not reach their, does the recitation of Zyareh and salutation from far Equally well, Virtuous and acceptable?

A: There are no narrated texts from the Imams of the Ahlulbyte that explain such an issue and clarify it. However, there is nothing wrong with reciting the Zyara from far away with the hope that it is recommended and then subject to rewards.

Q4: Did the Imams (as) claim to be infallible?

A: There is no doubt that the followers of the Ahlulbyte (peace be upon them) based the belief in the infallibility of the imams (peace be upon them) on solid sources, starting from verse 33:33. Other texts continued to refer to this issue directly and indirectly sometimes. As an example, it was reported in the Zyarat ul Jamiaa which was narrated by Imam Ali Alhadi in an authentic way: "Allah has guarded you from lapses and saved you from attractions (of life, Satan .. etc)".

Q5: Some people say that Islam is not something which should be connected with a family like the family of the Prophet(saw) and this the they use for their argument against the Ahlulbyte (AS) please comment on this obviously we, Shias have different beliefs.

A: Our connection to the ahlulbyte is not emotional; it is rather religious and based on their infallibility. Almighty Allah has ordered us to follow them. He said: "Allah's wish is but to remove uncleanness far from you, O Folk of the Household, and cleanse you with a thorough cleansing", 33:33. The messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) ordered us to follow them. He said: "I am leaving amongst you, the two weighty things, the book of Allah, and my household". In addition to that, there were narrations about each and every one of the imams of the ahlulbyte specifically. As an example, the messenger of Allah said: “Ali is your Weli (i.e. guardian) after me” and he said: “whoever I am his master, Ali is his master”.
These religious texts and others show that these people have special characters that enable them to their position of imamate and leadership. So the issue is not emotional, nor is it based on a tribe or a family. On the other hand, most believers in the Sunni sect accepted the legitimacy of the caliphate of Omayyat and Bany-al-abbas although both of these states were established and continued on the base of inheritance and without any entitlements at all.

Q6: Where did the masoomeen – the infallibles get their knowledge from? Where it taught to them by their parents and the prophet or where it all given to them directly from God?

A: It was reported in the narrations of the Ahlulbyte (peace be upon them) that their knowledge is of two kinds: one is the inherited books from Imam Ali (peace be upon him) that he wrote down the messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)’s dictation. The other kind is the information that they need in their everyday life and they get from almighty Allah.

Q7: Can we ask Dua from the messenger of Allah, the Ahlulbyte and the imams?

A: Dua – supplication is a “request” and since almighty Allah is in charge of the universe and manages all creations, asking Him is directly. Request from others - like the prophets or the imams - is not permissible if the seeker considers them as independents in dealing aside from Almighty Allah. It is like considering a partner with Him. If the believer seek the intercession of the prophets and the imams, as they can ask the almighty Allah to fulfill the seeker’s needs or when the believer request from almighty Allah to fulfill his request by referring to the high rank of the noble personalities of the prophets and the imams, then these two kinds of Supplications - Dua are considered as worships.