text: why do shias pray on a stone or a tissue paper!?   they base this on some obscure and very weak hadith that says that the prophet pbuh did this once - which they took to mean this is the only way to pray. but as i said there is much dispute over whether its even true that he did that and no indication whatsoever that this is the only way to pray.  rather we are told that we can pray anywhere on the earth, that the earth is a place of worship and we can pray indoors or outdoors, wherever - you don't even need a rug - its juts you and allah swt nothing and no-one else - do i need a piece of stone before i can communicate to him? do we think allah swt is dependent on a stone? how silly is that!  not only that the prayer to an onbject is as we know indicative of idol worship and this is what a lot of them now do - they direct their worship to this stone believing it to be a link with allah swt and that those of us who pray without it are not praying properly and our prayers won't be heard - - this is shirk on their part and a grave sin.  enough said really!  peace