Answer: A Muslim should practice all duties set by God in the holy Quran and explained by the holy Prophet. There are 10 main obligatory acts in Islam known as “Furu’ al-Deen”

 (Branches of Islam):

         1. Salat (Prayer): The mandatory daily prayers performed five times a day, which serve as a direct link between the worshipper and Allah. 

         2. Sawm (Fasting): Observing fasts during the month of Ramadan, refraining from eating, drinking, and other specific actions from dawn until sunset.

        3. Hajj (Pilgrimage): The pilgrimage to Mecca, which is required at least once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially able.

        4. Zakat (Almsgiving): Giving a fixed portion of one's wealth to the poor and needy, purifying one’s wealth and aiding those in need.

        5. Khums (One-fifth Tax): An annual tax of 20% on surplus income, given to religious authorities to be used for community welfare and the support of religious

            scholars.

        6. Jihad (Struggle): Striving in the way of Allah, this can be through fighting against oppression and injustice, as well as personal struggles for self-improvement and 

            piety.

        7. Amr bil Ma'ruf (Enjoining Good): Encouraging others to perform righteous and good deeds, promoting moral and ethical behaviour.

        8. Nahy anil Munkar (Forbidding Wrong): Preventing and discouraging evil and sinful actions within the community.

        9. Tawalla (Loving the Ahl al-Bayt): Expressing love and loyalty towards the family of the Prophet Muhammad and following their teachings.

       10. Tabarra (Disassociating from the Enemies of Ahl al-Bayt): Disassociating from those who oppose or show hostility towards the family of the Prophet Muhammad.

Answer: The Furu' al-Deen provides a comprehensive framework for Muslims to practice their faith in their daily lives, covering aspects of worship, social justice, and moral conduct.

 Engaging in these practices is believed to enhance one’s spirituality, strengthen one’s relationship with Allah, and contribute to personal and communal well-being. Many of these

 principles emphasize social welfare, justice, and community support, highlighting the interconnectedness of individual and collective duties in Islam.

In summary, the Furu' al-Deen represents the essential practical duties that Shia Muslims are expected to follow, guiding their worship, ethical behaviour, and social responsibilities.

Answer: Salah, or daily prayer, is first of the ten branches of Islam; Salah is the foundation of a Muslim's practices, reflecting the faith on only one God who deserved to be

 worshipped. Daily prayer isthe best form of remembering God and to thank Him for His unlimited favours bestowed to the humans. It is a ritualistic form of prayer that is prescribed

 to be performed five times a day by Muslims.Each prayer consists of a sequence of movements and recitations from the Quran, the holy book of God, and is performed facing the

 Ka’aba in Makkah.

The five daily obligatory prayers are:

      1. Fajr - the dawn prayer.

      2. Dhuhr - the noon prayer.

      3. Asr - the afternoon prayer.

      4. Maghrib - the sunset prayer.

      5. Isha - the night prayer.

These prayers serve multiple purposes in the life of a Muslim:

   - They are a constant reminder of the importance of faith in God and the role that spirituality plays in one's life.

   - They offer structured moments throughout the day for spiritual reflection and meditation.

   - They foster a sense of community and common identity among Muslims, as they are performed in a similar manner around the world.

Performing Salah involves physical acts of standing, bowing, and prostration which symbolize humility before God. The prayers can be performed individually or in a congregation and offer a way to

 seek guidance, ask for forgiveness, and express gratitude towards God. For Muslims, Salah is both a demonstration of faith and a disciplined practice to renew one's spiritual vitality. 

To learn how to pray the daily prayers, please click here (YouTube link of how to perform Salah must be activated here)   

Answer: Before performing the daily prayers (Salah), there are several requirements and steps that a Muslim must undertake to ensure that their prayer is valid and accepted. These

 preparations involve both physical and spiritual readiness:

  1.Purification of body, clothes and the place: The whole body, clothes worn during prayer and the place of prayer must be clean. This includes being free from impurities such as   

     urine,faeces,blood, and other Najasaat (items considered impure). To learn the impure items, please click here .( (YouTube link of “Najasaat” must be activated here)  

  2. Performing Wudu – (Ablution): Muslims must perform a ritual cleansing called Wudu. This includes Intention, washing the face, arms, and wiping the head and feet in a specific

      order. To know how to do Wudhu, please Click here. (YouTube link of how to do Wudhu must be activated here)  

      If certain conditions apply, such as sexual impurity or post-menstrual state, a full-body purification called “Ghusl” may be required. To learn when and how do we perform Ghusl,

      please click here. (YouTube link of how to perform Ghusl must be activated here)  

   3. Covering the 'Awrah’: Men and women must cover their private areas during prayer. For men, this is from the navel to the knees, and for women, it covers the entire body except   

       for the face and hands (and feet according to some interpretations).

  4. Facing the Qiblah: The direction of prayer must be towards the Ka’aba in Makkah, known as the Qiblah. Muslims must orient themselves in this direction during the prayer.

  5. Intention (Niyyah): Before beginning the prayer, the individual must make a sincere intention of “Qurbatan ilallah” (Only for the nearness to Allah) in their heart about which prayer

      they are going to perform. This intention does not need to be spoken aloud but must be made mentally.

Timing: Each of the five daily prayers has a specific time window during which it can be performed. These times are based on the position of the sun and include Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr

 (after midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (immediately after sunset), and Isha (night). Prayers should be performed within their respective time frames. However, according to the

 authentic Shia and Sunni books of hadiths, Asr prayer can be performed right after the Dhuhr prayer and the Isha prayer can be performed right after performing the Maghrib prayer. 

 These steps help in preparing a Muslim physically and spiritually to stand before God in prayer, reflecting a state of cleanliness, respect, and sincerity.

Answer: A drunken person is prohibited from performing Salah (daily prayers) for several fundamental reasons, primarily revolving around the state of mind and the purity required for

 the act of worship:

          1.Mental Clarity and Presence: Salah requires a person to be fully conscious and aware of their actions and intentions. Being in a state of intoxication impairs one's mental

              faculties, preventing them from achieving the necessary focus and reverence that prayer demands. The Quran explicitly states, 

              "O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying..." (Quran 4:43). 

              This directive ensures that a person is fully aware and mindful of the prayers they are performing.

           2. Spiritual Purity: Prayer is not only a physical act but also a spiritual one that requires purity of body, mind, and spirit. Intoxication is considered a state of impurity because it  

              diminishes one's self-control and awareness. It is believed that a person should approach God in a clear and pure state, reflecting respect and sincerity in their worship.

          3. Respect for the Sacred Act: Salah is a sacred communication with God and should be conducted with the utmost respect and solemnity. Being under the influence of alcohol

              shows a lack of respect for the sacredness of the prayer and for the presence of God. It undermines the seriousness and the sanctity of the act.

          4. Preservation of Dignity: In a state of intoxication, individuals may not be able to maintain their composure or perform the physical actions of Salah correctly, such as

              standing, bowing, and prostrating, which are crucial elements of the prayer. This can lead to a loss of dignity in the ritual, detracting from its purpose and significance.

For these reasons, Islam mandates that individuals must be sober and possess a clear mind to perform Salah, ensuring that the act of worship is conducted in the most sincere,

 respectful, and meaningful manner possible.

Answer: Muslims are prohibited from consuming pork and pork products based on clear directives in their religious texts, specifically the holy Quran. The prohibition is mentioned explicitly in several

 verses:

   1. Divine Command: The primary reason for this prohibition is the divine command, mentioned in the holy Quran, where it is stated multiple times. For example, in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:173),

        Surah Al-An'am (6:145), and Surah An-Nahl (16:115), it is mentioned that pork is forbidden because it is considered impure or unclean. 

       The text typically reads, "He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah."

   2. Concept of Purity and Impurity: The concept of purity (Tahara) is significant in Islam, and it encompasses both physical and spiritual dimensions. Pork is regarded as ritually unclean or

        impure (Najis), and consuming it is believed to affect one's spiritual purity.

   3. Health Considerations: According to many hadiths, the prohibition also serves to protect the health of the community. The dietary laws are seen as a means of promoting good health and

       preventing diseases, some of which are historically associated with pork consumption due to the animal's diet and living conditions.

The prohibition of pork in Islam is thus multi-faceted, rooted in theological, spiritual, and practical considerations, and is an integral part of Islamic dietary laws.

Answer: Fasting, a practice found in many religions, involves abstaining from food, drink, and other specific activities for a set period. In Islam, fasting is second of its 10 main branches and is

 particularly observed during the month of Ramadan, though there are other times when fasting is practiced or recommended.

1. Ramadan Fasting: During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until the Maghrib time. This means abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking, and marital relations during

    daylight hours. The fast begins at pre-dawn with a meal called "Suhoor" and is broken at Maghrib time with "Iftaar", often starting with the eating of dates and water.

2. Purpose: The fast is intended to obey the divine command and to teach Muslims self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate, thus encouraging actions of

     generosity and charity. It is also a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, reading the Quran, and increasing one's devotion and closeness to God.

3. Spiritual Significance: Fasting during the month of Ramadan is seen as a way to cleanse the soul and have ones past sins forgiven. The month of Ramadan is also believed to be when the Quran

     was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, making it a time of profound spiritual significance in Islam.

Exemptions: Certain groups are exempt from fasting, including the sick, the elderly, pregnant or nursing women, travellers, and children. These individuals are not required to fast but must compensate

 by feeding a needy person for each day missed or, in some cases, make up the days later in the year.

To learn more about fasting, please click here. (YouTube link about “Fasting”must be activated here)

Answer: Hajj, a sacred obligation, holds a profound meaning for many. This pilgrimage is a journey full of rituals and mystery that deepens with each passing year.At its core, Hajj

 means "intending pilgrimage," but in Islam, it involves visiting the House of God and performing specific rites on certain days.So, what's the purpose of Hajj? Hajj is mandated by God

 for those who are able, as stated in the Quran:

“It is the duty of all people to make pilgrimage to the House, for those who can afford it. Those who reject this duty, Allah is free from need of the worlds.” (3:97)

Imam Ali (AS) explained that Hajj shows our humility before God's greatness. It reaffirms our submission and desire for forgiveness. Hajj is more than a journey; it represents unity,

 servitude, and a stand against injustice. It brings Muslims together from around the world, fostering connection and trade. In an ideal world, Hajj would offer solutions to the challenges

 facing the Muslim Ummah. It would inspire worship of one God, sincerity, piety, and divine virtue. It would also promote trade, alleviate poverty, and honor the legacies of Prophet

 Ibrahim and Ismael. However, the modern practice of Hajj sometimes falls short of these ideals. Instead, it can become a routine of dry rituals, with little impact on the Muslim

 community. This opens the door for the enemies of Islam to exploit it for economic gain.We need to rethink our approach to Hajj. Muslim governments, scholars, and leaders must

 come together in an international conference to rediscover the true purpose of Hajj and address the challenges facing Islamic societies.

Answer: Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah, is a significant religious obligation in Islam, required once in a lifetime for Muslims who meet specific conditions. These conditions include maturity, sanity,

 physical and financial capability, and safe access to Makkah. Key components include performing the Hajj in one of its three forms—Hajj at-Tamattu, Hajj al-Qiran, and Hajj al-Ifrad—with Hajj 

at-Tamattu being most common. This involves initial rituals of Umrah followed by the main Hajj activities such as entering a state of ihram, performing Tawaf and Sa’iy, and completing acts at Arafat,

 Muzdalifah, and Mina, including stone throwing, hair trimming, and animal sacrifice. The pilgrimage is completed with additional Tawaaf and prayers, with specific prohibitions lifted at stages

 throughout. To learn how to perform hajj in details, please 

click here. (YouTube link about “how to perform Hajj” must be activated here)

Answer: Zakat is the third of ten branches of Islam. It is a form of almsgiving treated in Islam as a religious obligation or tax. It is a mandatory charitable contribution. There are two

 main categories of zakat: Zakat al-Fitrah and Zakat al-Maal. Zakat al-Fitrah is a form of zakat paid at the end of Ramadan by every self-supporting adult Muslim. It aims to purify those

 who fast from any indecent act or speech and to help the poor and needy. The zakat al-Maal is a form of tax on wealth from the specific items that meet specific criteria of nisab and

 the holding period.  

Zakat should be distributed among eight categories of beneficiaries mentioned in the Quran. However, according to Shia Muslims, the divine Imam or his representative has the

 authority to distribute the zakat to ensure it serves its purpose most effectively.  

The role of the religious authority or jurist (Marja'), who is considered the representative of the Imam of the time during his Major Occultation, is central in the administration of zakat.

 This includes deciding the eligibility of recipients and the proper uses of zakat funds in accordance with current needs and circumstances.  

The practice of Zakat is meant to prevent hoarding, encourage economic activity, and foster social cohesion and fairness by redistributing wealth and supporting those in need within

 the community. To watch video about Zakat, please click here. (YouTube link about “Zakat” must be activated here) or to read more on Zakat, Please 

click this link: https://books.findtruth.co.uk/ebooks/zak%C3%A3t-in-sh%C4%AB%E2%80%98a-fiqh