The Five Signs of a True Shi'a | Lessons from Imam Hasan al-Askari (AS) - Maulana Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi

Friday Juma KhutbaFriday July 31st, 2026Arba'in is only days away, and the Ahlul Bayt (a) placed extraordinary emphasis on the ziyarah of Imam Husayn (a) throughout the year, especially on Arba'in.Imam Hasan al-Askari (a) described five defining signs of a true Shi'a, highlighting both worship and religious identity.The first sign, praying 51 rak'ahs daily, encourages believers to go beyond obligatory acts and embrace recommended worship.Even with modern lifestyles, believers should gradually build habits such as nawafil, shorter recommended prayers, and Salat al-Layl.Wearing a ring on the right hand reflects the Sunnah of the Prophet (s) and serves as a visible expression of Islamic identity.Historical evidence shows some Sunni jurists reversed the Prophet's practice after it became associated with the Shi'a, raising the question of who truly preserved the Sunnah.Reciting the Basmalah aloud is another sign of following the practice of the Prophet (s) and the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (a).Imam Ali's (a) commitment to reciting the Basmalah aloud was even acknowledged by prominent Sunni scholars as a source of guidance.Two of the five signs are directly connected to Imam Husayn (a): prostrating on natural earth and performing the Arba'in ziyarah.Sajdah on earth reflects the practice of the Prophet (s), and the Imams later recommended using the turbah of Karbala because of its unique spiritual significance.Imam al-Sadiq (a) taught that prostrating on the turbah of Imam Husayn (a) carries immense spiritual merit.Imam Hasan al-Askari (a) emphasized Arba'in ziyarah as the community approached the Occultation, ensuring Imam Husayn (a) remained central to Shi'a identity.Despite attempts by rulers like Mutawakkil and later Saddam Hussein to erase Karbala and stop pilgrims, their efforts ultimately failed.The more tyrants tried to suppress the pilgrimage to Karbala, the stronger and larger it became.The millions who walk from Najaf to Karbala each year demonstrate that the message of Imam Husayn (a) continues to outlive every oppressor.Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)