Q: I am confused between the way a Sunni prays and the way a Shi'te prays. My father is a Shi'te and he has taught me to pray with my hands on my sides but I do not know what is the differnce. Why is there such difference between the two? Also, I would be very grateful if you tell me which form ...

(1) (1) Exalted[722] is He who took His Servant [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] by night from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām to al-Masjid al-Aqṣā,[723] whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing,[724] the Seeing.[725]

[722]- Above any imperfection or ...

(83) (83) [Allāh said], "And what made you hasten from your people, O Moses?"

(84) (84) He said, "They are close upon my tracks, and I hastened to You, my Lord, that You be pleased."

(85) (85) [Allāh] said, "But indeed, We have tried your people after you [departed], and the Sāmirī[847] has ...

(1) (1) [All] praise is [due] to Allāh, who has sent down upon His Servant [Muḥammad (ﷺ)] the Book and has not made therein any deviance.[779]

[779]- From the truth or the straight path.

(2) (2) [He has made it] straight, to warn of severe punishment from Him and to give good tidings to ...

(1) (1) Alif, Lām, Rā.[582] These are the verses of the clear Book.

[582]- See footnote to 2:1.

(2) (2) Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’ān[583] that you might understand.

[583]- i.e., revealed in the Arabic language.

(3) (3) We relate to you, [O Muḥammad], the best of stories ...

(51) (51) I did not make them witness to the creation of the heavens and the earth or to the creation of themselves, and I would not have taken the misguiders as assistants.

(52) (52) And [warn of] the Day when He will say, "Call My 'partners' whom you claimed," and they will invoke them, but ...

(1) (1) O mankind, fear your Lord. Indeed, the convulsion of the [final] Hour is a terrible thing.

(2) (2) On the Day you see it every nursing mother will be distracted from that [child] she was nursing, and every pregnant woman will abort her pregnancy, and you will see the people [appearing] ...

(38) (38) Indeed, Allāh defends those who have believed. Indeed, Allāh does not like everyone treacherous and ungrateful.

(39) (39) Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought,[929] because they were wronged. And indeed, Allāh is competent to give them victory.

[929]- ...

As a child, I always had access to a short-wave radio. I used to listen to the BBC World Service about the Middle East. I also loved the music from that part of the world, and I probably was listening to the Quran being recited, but did not know it at the time.

As I grew older, I continued to ...