basha
SPNer
Hey caramel suger, being a Shia, I can tell you that shiism is very humanity- minded, we dont totally disregard labels (shia, sunni, sikh, hindu) but we do put them at a much lesser significance than other criteria that makes a person a person. I guess we believe in a type of universal faith which each and every person, no matter what creed and culture, can partake in and thus we believe every human being has an equal chance to compete for the reward in the afterlife (which we believe is heaven). Here is a quick reference to the Quran, in which God refers to all humanity (Son of Adam just means all of humanity since Muslims believe all humanity started from adam, so technically we are all Adams children)
{I like this verse because it puts your faith is simple economic terms which most of us living in a capitalist society should grasp readily !!)
Oh, Son of Adam! Obey me to the extent of your needs towards Me.
Disobey Me to the extent of your ability to tolerate the fire of Hell.
Collect wealth in this world according to the length of your stay here.
Collect for your Akhirat (Hereafter) according to the length of your stay there.
Do not think that your death is far and your bounties are available, or your sins are hidden.
Oh, Son of Adam! Behave with people in good manners so that I may love you, and put your love in the hearts of pious people; and I will forgive your sins.
Oh, Son of Adam! Be free from this world by worshiping Me. I will fill your heart with freedom, your hands with sustenance, and your body with rest.
Oh, Son of Adam! Pray humbly to Me, otherwise I will fill your heart with poverty, your hands with difficulties, your body with affliction, your chest with grief, I will not answer your supplications or requests and I will make your world difficult for you and decrease your sustenance.
And now here is a saying from Hazrat Ali (Shiites believe he was the successor to the Prophet Mohammed, some extremist muslims or wahabbi's know the greatness of both men but choose to disregard them cuz they feel that when they praise these men they are associating persons with God, which they justify with the quranic verse in which god tells us not to associate him with anyone. The wahabbis dont and never will make any sense cuz they keep taking the literal meaning of the quran. I mean just think about it, if you love the messenger(the prophet and his family {the respect to prophet and his family is key to Shias and many sunnis}, you will love the message (quran) and the one who sent the message(god). But who cares about the wahabi's, lets talk about Hazrat Ali, this quote below from Hazrat Ali makes me more humble each time I read it, check it out)
If a person who prays knew to what extent he was surrounded by His Mercy(Gods mercy), he would never raise his head from (the state of ) prostration.
{Other ones by Hazrat Ali, he has much much greater quotes, but these are just some that Ive been reading again and again lately, so i am quilty of being a little biased in presenting these quotes, sorry!}
Whoever is granted prayer is not denied response.
Whoever is granted repentance is not denied acceptance.
Whoever is allowed to seek forgiveness is not denied forgiveness.
Whoever is granted gratitude is not denied increase.
When you are reduced to poverty, use charity to trade with God.
Fidelity to the treacherous is treachery to God, and treachery to the treacherous is fidelity to God.
One who takes into consideration all points of view knows where the pitfalls are.
Sleep in a state of certainty is better than prayer in a state of doubt.
The most gracious deed is the one you have to force yourself to do.
Keep commitments in all integrity.
The biggest failures are those who have failed to win friends, but even bigger failures are those who lose what friends they have made.
{I like this verse because it puts your faith is simple economic terms which most of us living in a capitalist society should grasp readily !!)
Oh, Son of Adam! Obey me to the extent of your needs towards Me.
Disobey Me to the extent of your ability to tolerate the fire of Hell.
Collect wealth in this world according to the length of your stay here.
Collect for your Akhirat (Hereafter) according to the length of your stay there.
Do not think that your death is far and your bounties are available, or your sins are hidden.
Oh, Son of Adam! Behave with people in good manners so that I may love you, and put your love in the hearts of pious people; and I will forgive your sins.
Oh, Son of Adam! Be free from this world by worshiping Me. I will fill your heart with freedom, your hands with sustenance, and your body with rest.
Oh, Son of Adam! Pray humbly to Me, otherwise I will fill your heart with poverty, your hands with difficulties, your body with affliction, your chest with grief, I will not answer your supplications or requests and I will make your world difficult for you and decrease your sustenance.
And now here is a saying from Hazrat Ali (Shiites believe he was the successor to the Prophet Mohammed, some extremist muslims or wahabbi's know the greatness of both men but choose to disregard them cuz they feel that when they praise these men they are associating persons with God, which they justify with the quranic verse in which god tells us not to associate him with anyone. The wahabbis dont and never will make any sense cuz they keep taking the literal meaning of the quran. I mean just think about it, if you love the messenger(the prophet and his family {the respect to prophet and his family is key to Shias and many sunnis}, you will love the message (quran) and the one who sent the message(god). But who cares about the wahabi's, lets talk about Hazrat Ali, this quote below from Hazrat Ali makes me more humble each time I read it, check it out)
If a person who prays knew to what extent he was surrounded by His Mercy(Gods mercy), he would never raise his head from (the state of ) prostration.
{Other ones by Hazrat Ali, he has much much greater quotes, but these are just some that Ive been reading again and again lately, so i am quilty of being a little biased in presenting these quotes, sorry!}
Whoever is granted prayer is not denied response.
Whoever is granted repentance is not denied acceptance.
Whoever is allowed to seek forgiveness is not denied forgiveness.
Whoever is granted gratitude is not denied increase.
When you are reduced to poverty, use charity to trade with God.
Fidelity to the treacherous is treachery to God, and treachery to the treacherous is fidelity to God.
One who takes into consideration all points of view knows where the pitfalls are.
Sleep in a state of certainty is better than prayer in a state of doubt.
The most gracious deed is the one you have to force yourself to do.
Keep commitments in all integrity.
The biggest failures are those who have failed to win friends, but even bigger failures are those who lose what friends they have made.