u/Dry_Strategy6839

Salam alaykum, so it's me. JoJo again

Recently I had found out that Karbala pilgrimage is indeed free, I thought it's just a rumour but since now I am deep diving into Shiism I was just curious about it (fun fact - Karbala was in Polish zone during Iraqi war, I wonder how Iraqis sees my people). I must admit I adore the piety of people of Karbala, they open their houses for pilgrims, set up stalls, share food with them and from what I saw they're generally friendly - even for sunnis, I also saw video of sunni in Karbala and he wasn't met with animosity but respect ( https://youtu.be/mJDBFhqWEbY?is=4CWQ4wGkJmJsg3XM ) but I have an question, how does it look like from a shia perspective? Is it shirk? I mean, do you guys enter Karbala to pray FOR Imam Hussein A.S or pray TO him? I know that due to Amman message that many Shia authorities advocate for are against asking dead Imams or holy people for help and should ask God alone (as far as I know, I could understand it bad way - please enlighten me if I did so) but I wonder how spread it is

I also find out about difference between usulis and akhbaris - usulis are main stream and are against animosity to Sunni Muslims but akhbaris are advocating for it. I also realized it from watching Daniel Haqiqatjou video about shiism that self flogging and other controversial rituals were about showing that shia identity is different from sunni one and it was kept during safavid era

I also have few last questions:

>What's your opinion about movie "lady of heaven"? I am currently watching this with my wife and there's many themes that just confuse me and surprise me l

>Due to tribulations in my life I couldn't finish high school but I want to attend some seminary from shia theology, not to become alim because I don't consider myself being fit for it (I also realize that paperology and lack of passed final exams would block me from getting formal religious education in University) but is there an option for someone with problems like mine to gain knowledge from courses to become student of knowledge? I actually used to record videos about Islam in Polish language and I hope I could do so from shia perspective

Sorry for chaotic script

Assalamualaikum, my name is Józef (you can call me Yusuf or JoJo) I am an 18 years old Muslim, I accepted Islam in October 2023 and ever since I had been discovering Islam. I had contacts with salafis/Wahhabis and "sufis" (Said Nursi sect) and let's be honest they didn't answered my questions - when I accepted Islam i was thinking of it as religion that would let me grow spiritually and intellectually yet now mainstream Islam is stiff like the most infuriating person you know. You can't do art cuz it's "waste of time", you shouldn't study STEM sciences because it's also "waste of time" + "it can make you go astray", you should do hijrah to the MENA (said by a ulema living in the west) and hate your culture. And let's be honest, Wahhabism Aka the mainstream in the dawah part is not the Islam that I want, as I said earlier is stiff as hell, most sunni Arab states are spineless and Saudi Arabia is cooperating with Israel and even calling Palestinians disbelievers because they don't let themselves be slaughtered

I am Polish, we have long history of uprisings and fighting for our independence so that's why I decided to become Muslim after 7th October - I treated intifada as middle eastern version of Warsaw uprising. Who helped Palestinians? Not Saudis, not Egyptians, not Jordanians - it were Shia Lebanese, Iranians, Yemenis

I know there's difference in theology but I really admire the warrior spirit, and also the focus on science - Iran is really developed compared to pre revolutionary one - Persian culture? I think we need to revive Persian as prestige language!

But there's few things that hold me back from becoming shia, especially openly (I don't want my friends to fry my butt on Twitter)

Shirk accusations: I've seen many times people call you guys mushrikeen because you supposedly "worship graves" or kiss paintings of Imam Ali A.S

Bida'ah - also, twelverism in some question really looks similar to Catholicism, in some cases too much. Is this some sort of folklore or maybe it's like mainstream shia Islam? Or it's just corrupted by culture doctrine

Sunni - Shia relationships. I kind of agree that not every sahaba is perfect as sunni sources say so because. They were humans even if they were noble, but heard some shia scholars hate the sunni sahaba and I don't know why - I mean, we have same Quran and Uthman was the one who ordered it canonized, he was also one of the most generous man in the caliphate

If I offended someone, I'm sorry but I was just curious since I am sunni and I have most of my knowledge about shia Islam from sunni sources - and I don't talk "it's a political split" I realize the fact it's theological conflict and I'll be honest I'm really interested in doctrine of Irfan

I forgot to mention but I also watched Filip Holms (AKA "Let's talk religions) videos about Shia Islam and now I started watching videos from shia center of Toledo, immortal echoes mortal words, islamic lectures by Dr. Shomali and many others

So, could someone answer me those question? And it would be nice if some of you would share stories about reverts who became shia and why, it could help me ground myself

Xoxo ya all

I am sunni who thinks about becoming an Shia - part 2

I am sunni, I think about becoming a shia