Islamic Inquiries: 500 Questions Asked by Prisoners in the U.S. is a compelling and timely collection of Islamic guidance, rooted in authentic Shi’a teachings and presented through the voices and questions of incarcerated Muslims across the United States. Authored by Shaykh Saed Ali Kulayni, a seasoned Islamic scholar with years of experience teaching and serving Muslim communities, this work bridges classical Islamic knowledge with the urgent, real-life concerns of those seeking clarity and faith behind bars.
Presented in an accessible Q&A format, this 362-page volume addresses over 500 diverse questions with insight and compassion. It explores fundamental beliefs—such as tawheed (Oneness of God), divine justice, prophethood, resurrection, and Imamate—as well as matters of Islamic practice including purification, prayer, fasting, charity, food laws, and personal conduct. It also offers thoughtful responses to challenging modern issues, including gang affiliation, inter-sect relations, the permissibility of tattoos or music, issues related to gender and sexuality, doubts about faith, dealing with non-Muslims, and navigating Islamic identity within a non-Muslim society.
The book’s structure makes it uniquely powerful. The questions come directly from prisoners—people in deeply personal spiritual transitions, wrestling with profound challenges and often navigating religious spaces in hostile or divided environments. Shaykh Kulayni provides candid, grounded answers using Qur’anic references, hadith, and reasoning drawn from the Shi’a scholarly tradition. His responses guide readers toward understanding and practice with both empathy and firmness, always keeping the context of prison life in mind.
Rather than avoiding sectarian tensions, the book addresses them directly and respectfully. It clarifies core Shi’a positions on the succession of leadership after the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a), the significance of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s), and the role of the Imams (a.s), while also addressing criticisms and misconceptions often raised by non-Shi’a Muslims. From the correct understanding of taqiyyah to the legitimacy of celebrating religious events like Eid al-Ghadir or the Prophet’s birthday, the book functions as a comprehensive defense and exposition of Twelver Shi’a Islam.
Yet beyond theological arguments, Islamic Inquiries is deeply human. It offers spiritual comfort, personal advice, and encouragement to seek knowledge and repentance. It guides readers on topics such as making wudu under restricted conditions, preparing for death in prison, managing depression and anxiety, and how to maintain Muslim brotherhood in a divided religious environment. It is a survival manual for the soul—one that respects its audience, speaks their language, and meets them where they are.
Published by Household Publications, this book serves as a vital resource not only for Muslim inmates and chaplains, but also for educators, reverts, da’wah workers, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Shi’a Islam as practiced under some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable.
Islamic Inquiries is more than a theological text—it is a lifeline. It reflects a living, breathing Islam: compassionate, principled, and unafraid to answer the hardest questions with dignity, clarity, and truth.
