['Aalim Network QR] Turbah - Praying on Earth / Imamat vs. Revelation

[Ummulbanin <workshop@popmail.dircon.co.uk>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Assalamu 'alaykum
The following questions were answered by Mulla Asgher.

Salaams & Duas
Ummulbanin Merali - Moderator - 'Aalim Network
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QUESTION:

First of all, I'd like to say I'm a SUNNI Muslim.

I don't understand why Shi'a have to pray on the turba from Karbala?
I read the article on www.al-islam.org, and it made me further disagree with
the Shi'a thought. 

1. It says it is used because of it's cleaniless. However, if Muslims, as
myself, pray on a prayer mat (which is used for nothing but prayer), why
would a rock be necessary? A prayer mat is very clean.

2. It says how some lands are important than others. The only lands
important to me are Mecca and Medina. How can Shi'a say Karbala as an
important land? It is not mentioned in the Qur'an (as far as I know). 

Also...the issues of the Imams. I seriously doubt anyone after Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) had ANY contact with Allah. To me the 12 imams are righteous
Muslims...nothing more than that. Only Allah's Prophets are important. And a
12th Imam hiding in a cave in Samarra?
Please...I don't understand Shi'a. Correct me, if I have been mistaken.


ANSWER:

To pray on Turbah is Sunna of our Prophet (saw).

If you refer to Sunan of al Tirmidhi, you will see a Hadith reported from
Ummu Salamah: "O Aflah, put your face on Turbah (i.e. while in Sajda)".
This has been reported by al Nasai, Abu Dawood and Hakim also.

Ahmed Hambal has added:"Put your face on Turbah, for the sake of Allah".

In Sahih al Bukhari (vol I, p104) it is reported from Abu Saeed who said:"I
saw the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, do Sajdah on mud and I saw
the mark of dust on his forehead".

So, the Shia pray on Turbah, primarily because it is the practice of our
Prophet and his Companions.

Al Tabrani has reported that Abdullah ibn Masood refused to pray or
prostrate on anything but the earth,

Secondly, because that is the sign of humility before Almighty Allah.
According to Shia Fiqh, Sajdah should be performed on earth and on those
things which are not edible or worn and on things which grow from the earth
(e.g. wood and leaves of trees). It is not permissible to perform Sajdah on
things which are used as food or dress (e.g. Wheat, barley, cotton etc) nor
on things which are not considered to be parts of soil e.g. gold, silver).

>From the above, you will find that the objective is to use Turbah - earth,
dust etc regardless of where it comes from. The preference to Kerbala over
other soil is a matter of sentiment, which is essentially attached to the
holy places, including Makka and Madina.

As far as Imams are concerned, they do not receive revelations (Wahy) like
the prophets. According to the Holy Qur'an and the authentic Ahadith, Imama
is a heavenly assignment, given by Allah through His Apostle. The 12th Imam
is not hidden anywhere. He is in concealment by the order of Allah and will
reappear to establish the rule of justice and equality. This has been
reported by several Sunni Ulama of repute.

A dispassionate study of Imama will help you realise that there could not
have been anyone else but the inmates of the Prophet's household who were
best suited for leadership of the Ummah after the Prophet.

With Salaams

Asgharali M M Jaffer