Tab‘īḍ in Taqlīd
Q: Is it permissible to follow one mujtahid in some issues and another one in other issues?
A: There is no problem in tab‘īd in taqlīd (i.e. to follow more than one mujtahid). Rather, presuming that each mujtahid is the most learned with respect to the particular issue(s) in which he is followed, the tab‘īḍ in taqlīd will be obligatory if their verdicts differ in that particular issue(s).
To Shift to Another Marji‘
Q: What procedures should we take in shifting from one Marji‘ to another?
A: According to obligatory caution, it is impermissible to shift from a living Marji‘ to another unless the second Marji‘ is – possibly or for sure - more learned and his verdict in that particular issue(s) differs from that of the first Marji‘. In this case, it is obligatory — as per obligatory caution — to shift to him.
Wilāyah of Faqīh
Q: Who is wali-e-faqīh? Is he the mujtahid followed by a person, or the ruling mujtahid? In general, what is meant by wilāyah of faqīh?
A: The 'absolute wilāyah' of the qualified faqīh means that the true religion of Islam, which is the final heavenly religion and will last till the Day of Resurrection, is a religion of governance and administration of social affairs. Therefore, it is necessary for the Islamic society, at all strata, to have a guardian for its affairs, a ruler, and a leader who would defend the Islamic society against the enemies of Islam and Muslims. He must preserve their social system, establish justice among them, prevent the strong from victimizing the weak, and attain for them the means of cultural, political, and social development and prosperity.
Age of Shar‘ī Puberty
Q: What is the age of puberty for boys and girls?
A: It is the completion of nine and fifteen lunar years for girls and boys respectively. However, discharging semen and growing of pubic hair are signs of puberty as well.
To Follow a Deceased Marji‘
Q: A person have just become mature, can he follow a deceased Marji‘?
A: According to obligatory caution, it is not permissible to start following a Marji‘, who has passed on.
To Refer to Another Marji‘ in Case of Obligatory Caution
Q: In case of obligatory caution, can we refer to another Marji‘?
A: obligatory caution means it is permissible to observe it or to refer to the opinion of the mujtahid who is the next most learned.
The Duty of the Followers of the Supreme Ledear (d.)
Q: I have become mature. I would like to do taqlīd of the Grand Leader (d.). What should I do?
A: The books 'Ajwabah al-Istiftā‘āt' and 'Hajj Rites' are available. You may ask your queries regarding practical laws of Islam through letters, e-mails, or by phone. In issues, you are not sure that his fatwa differs from that of the late Imam Khomeini (q.), you can refer to Imam Khomeini’s Risālah.
Dead Cells of the Skin
Q: There are some dead cells of the skin that at times fall off from the hands, lips and feet. Are they pure or najis?
A: The fine skin that separates by itself from the hands, lips, feet or any other part of the body, is pure.
Doubtful Moisture
Q: Some fluid is discharged on sexual stimulation, whether it is intentional or unintentional. Is it pure or najis? Is it ruled as manī?
A: For a man, it is ruled manī and makes janābah ghusl obligatory only if its coming out is accompanied by sexual pleasure, ejaculation, and weakness of the body. For a woman, it is ruled as manī when its coming out is accompanied by orgasm. Otherwise, nothing is obligatory.
Sweat of a Junub Person
Q: What rule applies to the sweat of a person who has become Junub by a forbidden act?
A: The sweat of any Junub person is pure, although it is based on obligatory caution to abstain from praying with the sweat of a Junub person out of a forbidden act.
Washing Machines
Q: Do the najis clothes washed in a fully automatic washing machine become pure?
A: After the inherently najis material is removed, if the water, connected through a pipe, goes into the machine and reaches the clothes as well as all the parts inside the washing machine, separates from it and is drawn out; then the clothes are considered pure.
A) Bismihī ta‘ālā
Q: Does Bismihī ta‘ālā have the same ruling as the word Allah?
A: No, it does not have the same ruling.
B) Acronyms
Q: In some languages, they use acronyms for Allah’s names; does it have the same ruling as the word Allah?
A: No, it does not have the same ruling.
Obsession [Waswās] and Its Treatment
Q: Since several years ago, I am suffering from obsessive doubting [waswās]. It has really been tormenting me. I suspect everything and my whole life is affected with doubt, mostly in relation to food and wet things. I referred to a specialist to solve my problem but in vain. What should I do?
A: The rules of purity and najāsah are the same as those which have been explained in detail in books of practical laws. In Islamic law, all things are considered pure unless one is certain that it is impure.
People suffering from a severe psychological sensitivity in respect with najāsah - who are called waswāsīs as an Islamic term - should consider everything pure even if they become sure that it is najis except for situation in which they see with their eyes that certain thing became najis, i.e. other people would be sure about its najāsah if they saw it. It is only in such situation that waswasī people would assume this thing najis. They continue to comply with this ruling until this psychological problem is completely cured.
Social Intercourse with the Deviant Bahā’ī Sect
Q: What is Allah’s ordinance regarding the deviant Bahā’ī sect in cases of car, furniture, flower and the like which have nothing to do with purity or najāsah?
A: Any sort of social intercourse with the deviant and misleading Bahā’ī sect should be avoided.
Wuḍū’ and Ghusl
How Many Times to Wash Wuḍū’ Parts
Q: I have been told that one can pour only two handfuls of water on the face during wuḍū’, and a third one will invalidate the wuḍū’, is that correct?
A: Washing wuḍū’ parts is obligatory for the first time and permissible for the second time. But it is not permissible to wash them for the third time. The criterion of ‘time’ is the intention. Therefore, if somebody pours two or more handfuls of water on his face as the first time, there is nothing wrong with it.
Wuḍū’ For Incontinent People
Q: What should incontinent people do for their prayers?
A: In case of being incontinent, if there is a period of time in which one can maintain his wuḍū’ and perform prayer - even its least required obligations, one should wait for this period to observe the wuḍū’ and the prayer. If there is no such a period, then there are two cases:
a) the invalidator would happen only once, twice or three times during the prayer. In this case, they should perform wuḍū’ and start praying with water beside them. When any invalidator occurs, they perform wuḍū’ again without invalidating the prayer and continue with the prayer from the point where it was interrupted, if doing so does not have unbearable hardship for them.
b) the invalidator would happen frequently. In this case, it is based on the obligatory precaution to do wuḍū’ once for each prayer.
Tattoos
Q: Is it permissible to get tattooed? Is it considered as hindrance for ghusl and wuḍū’?
A: In itself, it is not ḥarām. What remains under the skin does not prevent water from reaching it. Therefore, wuḍū’ and ghusl are valid.
Prayer
Prayers’ Time
Q1: Can we start our prayer at the beginning of adhān?
A: As soon as one is certain that the time has arrived, they can start their prayer.
Q2: What is the time for maghrib and ‘ishā’ prayers?
A: The special time for maghrib prayer is a few minutes after maghrib – at the time of disappearance of red rays in the east sky seen after sunset - needed to say maghrib prayer. The special time for ‘ishā’ prayer is a few minutes before shar‘i midnight – here it is the mid-time between sunset and fajr adhān - needed to say ‘ishā’ prayer.
Third Testimony in Tashahhud
Q: Can we say the third testimony in Tashahhud?
A: What is not a part of Tashahhud of obligatory prayers, to say it intending as part of Tashahhud will invalidates one’s prayer. Say your prayer including its Tashahhud in accordance with what great Marji‘s of Shī‘ah have written in their books of Practical Laws of Islam and do not add any phrase – even a correct and true phrase by itself- to it.
The Space between Men & women in Prayer
Q: Is it true that men should stand in front of women while performing prayers?
A: It is no problem in a woman standing in front of / at the same row as a man if there is space of a hand span between them.
To Cover One’s Feet in Prayer (for Women)
Q: Is it necessary for women to cover their feet during the prayer?
A: At the presence of a non-maḥram, she should cover her entire feet. However, it is not necessary for her to cover them below the ankles if there is no non-maḥram.
Prayer and Fasting of a Junub Person
Q: I was about seventeen years old and I did not know anything concerning janābah, ghusl, and the like. What should I do regarding my prayers and fasts done while being Junub?
A: It is obligatory to repeat all the prayers that you did in the state of janābah. However, the fasts that you kept in this state — without knowing any thing about the state of janābah — are correct and sufficient. If you knew that you were Junub but did not know that ghusl is obligatory, you should observe the fasts again. If you did not neglect learning the rules, it is not necessary to pay kaffārah. Otherwise, you should pay it as well according to obligatory caution.
Night Prayer
Q: Please explain in detail the way of performing night prayer?
A: Night prayer comprises eleven rak‘ahs in all. Eight of these rak‘ahs are performed two by two intending night prayers. The next two rak‘ahs are performed as al-shaf ‘ prayer, and the last rak‘ah is known as rak‘ah al-watr. It is recommended, in the qunūt of rak‘ah al-watr, to seek Allah's forgiveness, to pray for believers, and to make appeals for fulfillment of requests to the Beneficent Allah in accordance with what is mentioned in the books of supplications. Its time is from ‘midnight’ until fajr adhān, the closer to fajr adhān the better. A traveler - or a person for whom it is too difficult to perform it on time – can say it at early night. Like other recommended prayers, you can say it in sitting position.
Decrease or increase in Prayer
Q: Someone did not perform a part of prayer due to lack of knowledge, what is the ruling?
A: If he added or did not perform – due to lack of knowledge while he did not neglect his duty in learning Islamic rules - a part, which is not considered as rukn; his prayer is valid. Otherwise, his prayer is not valid based on obligatory caution.
To Pray behind a Layman
Q: is it permissible to pray behind a person who is not a cleric?
A: Whenever an Islamic cleric is available, one should not pray behind one who is not an Islamic cleric.
Imam’s Correct Pronunciation
Q: what is the criterion of correctness with regard to the recitation of an imam?
A: Observing the rules which provide betterment of pronunciation is not necessary. As long as his recitation is correct according to native speakers, one can pray behind him. In case of doubt, the same ruling is applicable.
Friday prayer
Q: Is Friday prayer obligatory? What about someone who do not participate in it intentionally?
A: Friday prayer is considered an alternative obligation during this period of time that the infallible Imam( may Allah hasten his reappearance) is not present. One has the choice to perform either Friday or zuhr prayer although it is preferred to say Friday prayer and it is religiously dispraised when one does not attend or participate in this religious and political prayer out of not considering it important.
Working Travel
Q: A person travels sixty kilometers to his work every day or the first three days of the weeks. What should he do for his prayers and fasts?
A: If he/she is frequenting to that place for his/her job at least once every ten days, he/she should pray – in the places of residence and work as well as on the way - in full and fast except during the first and the second trip. In the first and the second trip as well as the first one after staying at least ten days in a place, his/her rule is the same as that of other travelers namely shortened prayers and invalidity of fasting, unless he/she intends to stay at least for ten days.
Studying Travel
Q: What rule applies to university students who travel beyond the shar'i distance at least two days a week for the sake of studying?
A: A trip for study is not considered as working trip. It is obligatory on them to shorten their prayers, and their fasting is not valid, unless they intend to stay there for ten days.
Sighting the Crescent
Q: What are the methods adopted to ascertain about sighting of the crescent at the beginning and the end of Ramadan?
A: Ascertaining the beginning of any lunar month is only possible through one of the following methods: someone sees the new moon personally; the testimony of two just witnesses to that effect; or the decree of a religious authority.
Injections during Fasts
Q: Please explain your view on injections given by dentists or other physicians to a person fasting during the blessed month of Ramadan!
A: As per obligatory caution, one should avoid taking tonic, nutritious, or intravenous injections. However, there is no objection to injecting anesthetizing ones or applying drugs to a wound or an injury
Duty of a Person Who Failed to Fast
Q: A person did not fast for 120 days. What must he do? Does he have to fast for 60 days for every day missed, and does he have to do any expiatory act?
A: He has to perform belated fasts for the Ramadan fasting days he missed. If he broke the fast intentionally and without any legitimate excuse, then, in addition to belated fasts, kaffārah is obligatory, i.e. to fast for sixty days or to feed 60 needy persons, or giving one mudd (750 grams) of food to each of the sixty.
Swallowing Mucus While Fasting
Q: While suffering from a cold, some mucus gathered in my mouth and I swallowed it instead of spitting it out. Was my fast valid? What about the mucus produced in throat when someone catches a cold?
A: Swallowing the mucus – before it reaches the mouth - does not make one liable to anything. However, after it reaches the mouth, one should not swallow it as obligatory caution. Upon swallowing it intentionally, one should fast again and perform kaffārah as caution.
Khums Year
Q1: Dose one’s khums year begins with the first month or the day when he receives his salary?
A: For those who receive salary, including workers, employees, and khums year starts from the time when they receive their salary or from the first day when they can request it.
Q2: How does one specify the beginning of the year in order to pay one's khums?
A: There is no need to specify the beginning of one’s khums year, rather it is determined automatically depending on the nature of income. Thus, for workers, employees and the like khums year begins on the date of receiving first salary. As to merchants and shopkeepers, it begins when they start their work (buying and selling). Farmers’ khums year starts with the first harvest.
Khums on Household Items
Q: What is the procedure for calculating the khums on household items?
A: The items that endure despite use, like rugs etc., are not liable to khums. But the surplus of daily consumable goods, such as rice, oil, etc., that remains at the year 's end is liable to khums.
Khums on Loan
Q: if a person borrows an amount of money and is not able to pay off the loan before the end of year, should the lender or the borrower pay its khums?
A: The borrower does not have to pay khums on borrowed money. However, concerning the lender, if the money lent was from his annual income prior to paying khums, and he can collect his money from the borrower before the end of his khums year, he has to pay khums on that money at the end of khums year. However, if he is unable to collect the money before his khums year ends, he does not have to pay khums now. He waits until he receives the money, then he will have to pay its khums.
To Dine with Someone Who Does Not Pay Khums
Q: A friend has invited me on many occasions to dine with her. However, I recently discovered that her husband does not pay khums. Is it permissible for me to eat at someone's place that does not pay khums?
A: There is no objection to dining with them as long as you do not know that the very food that they serve is khums-liable.
Khums on Retirement Pension
Q: Are those who receive retirement pension required to pay khums on it?
A: If the retirement pension was deducted from monthly salary during employment and work, and paid out later after retirement, then any part of it remained at the end of khums year is liable to khums.
Khums on Inheritance
Q: Are Inheritance and gifts subject to khums?
A: Inheritance and gifts are not subject to khums, unless you are sure that they were subject to khums, which was not paid.
Khums on Scholarship
Q: Many university students save a portion of their scholarship to solve their future problems of life, which amounts to a great deal of money. Is it subject to khums?
A: Scholarship is not subject to khums, unless they are employed and receive it as their salary.
