Ask the A'alim

Introduction

In order to enhance the communication between the student, parent, staff & member of the community with our A'alims, we present this unique tool of 'Ask the A'alim'.

You may pose your questions to our network of A'alims, who will endeavour to answer them within 7 days.

Ground Rules

1. Limit your questions to no more than 3 per request.
2. Make your questions brief. Long questions will be edited and may lose it's context.
3. We may share the replies and post then here for the benefit of others to learn.
5.You may put your questions as often and as regular as you may wish as long as you limit them to 3 per request as stated in # 1.
6. Please clearly state your full name when putting your questions. However, posted questions will appear without names.
7. All answers are based on the rulings of his eminence, Ayatulla Ali Hussein Seestani.

To pose your questions email to: Webmaster via the Contact Us page

FAQ

HAJJ

Q1. Is wearing of Ihraam necessary for women?
A. Women may assume Ihraam in her usual clothes provided it should not be made of silk, leather and is not fashionable wear. It is mustahab to wear white cotton.

Q2. What is the rule regarding the use of cream/oil (perfumed or non-perfumed) during the state of Ihraam?
A. It is not permissible to apply oil/cream, whether perfumed or not, on the body or head hair. If necessary and advised by the doctor one can apply non-perfumed oil/cream, if the oil/cream is perfumed then a sheep must be given as Kaffara.

Q3. Is one allowed to wear ornaments?
A. Any ornament worn for adornment (including the application of Henna) is not allowed. If the use of such things is considered adornment or can attract na-mahram, as an obligatory precaution, avoid wearing them. The ornaments worn all the time at home can be worn provided they are concealed from the sight of na-mahrams and their husband.

Q4. Is it permissible to cover faces for women in Ihraam?
A. It is not permissible for women to cover their faces. If they wish to do so the veil must not touch the face at all. When wiping the face care should be taken to not cover the face completely with a towel/chaader.

Q5. Is it permissible for muhrim men (men in Ihraam) to pass under long bridges or through tunnels?
A. There is not objection. More Answers...

RAMADHAN

Q1.Is it permissible to keep a fast if one travels more than a certain distance before Zuhr. Is there a difference between Sunni's and Shia's in this regard?
A. As Muqallideen we are supposed to follow the rulings stipulated by our
respective maraaj'e, and hence the hadeeth mentioned has to be understood in
conjunction with the methodology of deriving laws.

Generally the fast is not invalidated if one returns back from such a
journey before Zuhr, however if one is unable to return before zawaal, they
will not be able to complete the fast, unless one falls in the category of
those who are considered Katheeru Ssafar (frequent travellers).

Apparently there are differences between sunni and shia's in this regard

Q2. We are observing days of Ramadhan 1 day later than Africa. Will Eid-ul-Fitra be observed here (UK) a day later too?
A. Your conclusions are correct to the best of my knowledge. Eid should be celebrated on the same day by most parts of the world as per astronomical calculations InshaAllah

Q3. Is there any verse of the Holy Qur'an in which shows hard proof and evidence about Islam being the right & true religion?
3:85 If anyone desires a religion other than I slam (submission to Allah., never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost
3.19 The Religion before of Allah is Islam ...More Answers...

MISCELLANEOUS

Q1. Why is it Mushtahab to sleep with your feet facing the Qibla and what are the benefits?
A. I will look it up & get back to you. Th ere is a hadeeth of Imam Ali A.S. in this regard in “ Mizaanul Hikmah ” which says :"A m'omin sleeps on his right facing qiblah".

Q2.
(I). I understand that it is forbidden to visit a clairvoyant in islam, but why is this?      
(II). Is it haram to be a vegetarian in Islam?  Please provide full details.
(III). If you are anaemic and taking iron tablets daily can you still keep fasts?
A .
(I). Besides the psychological impacts it has on the visitor, the clairvoyant predicts the future, you will see from the last verse of sura luqman that the knowledge of time is exclusively the right of Allah S.W.T. and no one besides him has that knowledge.
(II). No it is not Haram to be a vegetarian
(III). If it is possible to take these during Iftaar/Suhoor then one should act accordingly

Q3.What &  who are Gog & Magog?
A. Gog (Yajooj) Magog (Majooj) according to Agha Pooya Yazdi ,s notes are “supposed to be the issues of Yafus son of Noah”. Read about them in other tafseers under verses: 18:94 and 21:96 More Answers...

QURAN/SALAAT

Q1. Considering we pray toward the Ka'ba, if you are inside the Great Haram and able to look at the Ka'ba, does one still need to look to the floor during Qiyam if performing prayer or can their gaze be on the Ka'ba?
A. One can surely gaze at the Kaaba.

Q2. Should the Imam leading a Salaat have perfect Tajweed when reciting the Surah's within Qiyyam?
A . Although it is important to recite it with all the necessary laws of recitation, however it is not a condition. That is to say if the imam leading the prayers has difficulty in pronunciations but is reciting correctly (without changing the meanings) it is sufficient

Q3.Which Dua is recited at Fajr for 40 nights.  The supplication gives the opportunity to fight alongside with the Mahdi (a.s) or be with him in spirit, if dead.  Where can we find  this supplication?
A. This is know famously as dua Al Ahad .More Answers...