“I think that the seminaries, especially the Seminary of Qom, should truly strive in order to return the teachings of the prophets to the people, because in Islam even the disbelievers are respected, unless they commit crimes. God states in the Qur’an:
“God forbids you not, regarding those who haven’t fought against your Faith, nor driven you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loves those who are just.”
It means that God approves kindness even to the disbelievers. Some might object to treating them with kindness because they are infidels, but Islam treats them with respect as long as they haven’t committed a crime, “Quenching anyone’s thirst is a rewarded deed.” With respect to unbelievers who are at peace with Muslims, scholars state that if one was to choose between performing ablution or give water to an infidel, then one must give the water to the infidel and not do his ablution.
The seminaries must put serious effort in order to save the Muslims in general, because the Muslims are truly under much torture and oppression. One issue is to save the whole world, and another one is to solve the problems of the Muslims in particular.”
Sayed Muhammad Shirazi

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Published by Sheikh Mateen Charbonneau
Joshua Charbonneau is an American Muslim. He was born in 1982 in Sumter, South Carolina. He is of French Canadian and American descent. He was born into a Christian family, and later chose to revert to Shi’a Islam at the age of 17, having studied both faiths. After reverting to Islam he chose the name Mateen which in Arabic means strong, firm and unshakable. His first language is English and he also learned Quranic Arabic.
At age 26 he moved to Washington, DC area and has been an active part of the Muslim community. He took part in a documentary by Al-Anwar Hussain TV entitled Journey of the Spirit where he narrated his incredible story on how he became a Shia Muslim.
Since March of 2013 he has been studying Howza (Islamic Seminary) classes in America and Najaf al-Ashraf under esteemed scholars such as Sheikh Mustafa Akhound, Sheikh Mirza Abbas Shamsuddin, Sheikh Saed Kulayni, Sheikh Mohammad Baghernejad, Sayed Ibn Abbas Naqvi, Sheikh Mohammad Jafar Danesh, Sayed Baqir Imrani, Sayed Raad al-Alawi and Sayed Muhammad Baqir Shirazi.
Sheikh Mateen has also written, compiled and published some very in-depth books entitled The Suffering of the Ahl ul Bayt and their Followers (Shia) throughout History, Christians who defended and died for Prophet Muhammad and his Family (English, Spanish, French), Mystery of the Shia, a Study Guide for Logic and an extensive book of narrations entitled Prophetic Gems, A Commentary to the Faith of Shia Islam (Aqaed Imamiyya) of Allama Muzaffar (4 volumes) and Recalling the Sacrifices of Karbala. These titles are available at Amazon.
In 2014 he founded a nonprofit organization to send free books to prisoners entitled 2nd Chance Books, which was filmed about in a documentary by Ahlul Bayt TV entitled Faith Behind Bars.
He received his turban from the hand of Sheikh Ahmad al-Haeri on the martyrdom of Muslim ibn Aqil (ra) / Day of Arafat in 2016 and also from Marja’ Ayatollah Sayed Muhammad Taqi Modarresi in the Holy city of Karbala on the birth anniversary of Imam Sajjad (as) in 2018.
View all posts by Sheikh Mateen Charbonneau