The Creed of Compassion-Islamic Teachings & Answering Doctrinal Misconceptions

Issue No.1980- In a surety agreement, the creditor, the debtor and the commodity given as loan should be specified. In case, therefore, there are two creditors of a person and the surety willing to guarantee says, ‘I guarantee to pay the debt of one of you”, his guarantee is of no use. Similarly, if there are two debtors of a person, and the person willing to guarantee says, “I guarantee to pay you the debt of one of them”, his becoming a guarantor is void, as he has not specified which one’s debt he would pay. Similarly, if a person has to take 100 kgs of wheat and £100.00, and the surety says, “I guarantee to pay one of the two debts” and does not specify which debt, the guarantee is not in order.

Issue No. 1736- If a person cannot afford to go to Makkah; but another person offers him the expenses of his journey or places at his disposal a property so that he can go to Makkah and also pays the expenses of his wife and children during this time, ḥajj will be obligatory on this person and it is obligatory on him to accept such an offer even though he may be indebted and may not also possess property with which to run his life after his return unless accepting such an offer entails harm or unbearable hardship or any sense of obligation towards the individual. This ḥajj will be considered as his obligatory ḥajj.

Issue No.2411- It is obligatory upon all Muslims to defend against the invasion of enemies upon Muslim countries and their borders. The rule of defence does not apply only to the country in which one is living. Rather, all Muslims of the world should defend one another against the aggression of enemies on Islamic countries or on their sanctities by way of giving generously their wealth or lives or any other means. It will not be necessary in doing so, to obtain the permission of the Mujtahid. However, in order to organise and coordinate the defence programmes, it is necessary, if possible, that a vigilant and trustworthy commander or commanders be appointed under the supervision of the Mujtahid or his representative.

Issue No. 1314- It is obligatory upon all those who are mature [1] to observe fast every year in the holy month of Ramadan as will be explained in the coming issues.

Issue No. 2090- In respect to obligatory ḥijāb, it is sufficient if a woman covers her body, other than her face and hands up to the wrists, with anything she can, and particular clothes are not required. However, it is not permissible as an obligatory precaution to wear tight, body-hugging, and ornamental clothes.

Issue No. 1434- If a person does not fast in the month of Ramadan owing to some excuse, and he does not observe the qaḍā fasts intentionally till next Ramadan, he has to perform qaḍā of the fasts and should also give one mudd of food to an indigent person for each fast as kaffāra. Similarly, if a person comes short in performing qaḍā fasts till the time becomes short and during the shortage of time an excuse occurs, he has to perform qaḍā and one mudd of food to an indigent person for each day as kaffāra. However, if he did not come short in performing the qaḍā fasts, in case the time is short, an excuse occurs accidentally, he should perform qaḍā only.

Issue No. 1237- If the imam is in the miḥrāb [1] and no follower is standing behind him, the ones standing on the two sides of miḥrāb who cannot see the imam due to the walls of the miḥrāb, cannot follow him. Even if a follower stands behind the imam, the rulings of congregational prayer [as an obligatory precaution ] do not apply to prayers of those who are standing on the two sides of miḥrāb and cannot see the imam due to the walls of the miḥrāb. However, the prayer of those in the rows behind them [in case one stands behind the imam] will be in order. Also if the rows of congregation extend to the gate of the mosque and outside it, the prayers will be in order.

Issue No. 1595- If the owner dies after zakāt has become obligatory on him, the zakāt should be paid out of his estate. However, if he dies before the payment of zakāt becomes obligatory, every one of the heirs, whose share reaches the taxable limit, should pay zakāt on his own share.

Issue No.2002- If the owner of a property specifies a place for its safekeeping, telling the person who has accepted the deposit, “You will secure the property here, and you will not take it to anywhere else,” the trustee does not have the right to transfer it somewhere else, unless he considers it likely that the object may perish at that place and he knows that the place does not bear any significance for the owner and his only objective in specifying that place was the safety of the property. However, if he does not know the reason why the owner of the property said so, he should not transfer it to another place, and if he does and it is lost or damaged, he should, as an obligatory precaution, give its substitute.

Issue No.2003- If the owner of a property specifies a place for its safe keeping, but does not tell the trustee not to transfer it to any other place, and if the trustee considers it probable that it will perish in that place, he should transfer it to somewhere else which is more secure, and if the property is kept in the first place and it is lost or damaged, he will be responsible.

Issue No. 1585- The reason why a portion of khums is given to sayyids is because they cannot receive zakāt. Therefore, it is not considered to be discrimination, and the reasons why the sayyids cannot receive zakāt have been stated in their respective places.

Issue No. 1240- The place where the imam stands should not be higher than the place of the followers. However, there would be no problem if the height is very little. Furthermore, if the ground is sloping and the imam stands on the higher side there is no harm if the slope is not much and is considered to be flat.