31 replies to this topic

[Haji 2003]

I was in Najaf a couple of days ago. Heard it is possible to meet Ayat. Sistani. Asked if it would be possible for me to see him.

Given a time.

Turned up, waited for 1.5 hours in the bazaar, told to come back the next day because of a mix-up.

Went next day, got in at the appointed time. Had tea in the waiting room. Told the maulana who was my intermediary about questions I had. He said it would be best to ask the Ayatollah's representative afterwards.

Went in to see him. Expected an audience room full of people.

Just me.

Some quick thinking needed about saying something meaningful.

You'll have to wait for part 2, because my laptop battery is going.

[-Enlightened]

lol that was an interesting read

looking forward for part II

[Gypsy]

Can't wait to hear your experience.

[Shia_Debater]

Niceee bro

May Allah (swt) accept your ziarat insha'Allah (if you did ziarat) and please do hurry and tell us your questions and answers

[Aly ReZa]

actor

[Haji 2003]

Gypsy, on 30 April 2012 - 11:08 PM, said:

Can't wait to hear your experience.

Salaam

So there was a cleric sitting next to the Ayatollah, me and the cleric (Urdu & Arabic speaking) who had come with me. I greeted the Ayatollah and sat down and the Urdu speaking cleric introduced me.

The Ayatollah said that he prays for momineen after his fajr prayers.

I then said how the Ayatollah is like a light to his followers and how we wait for his fatwas and advice and we discuss them.

He asked if I spoke Arabic. I said no, so the Urdu speaking cleric translated. The Ayatollah's final words were that he is aware of the situation facing Shias in Pakistan, prays for them and that Inshallah it will improve.

My cleric indicated that my time was up, so we greeted each other once more. This time I also remembered to greet the cleric sitting next to him and I retreated out of the room.

Outside I was advised to ask one of the clerics my questions.

The first question was related to moderating this forum and that question/answer I will only post on the moderators' board.

My second question referred to sightseeing, especially pre-Islamic sites in places like Iran/Iraq. I was told it was ok, not mustahab, but ok. This was interesting as far as it went. I had wondered whether the Qu'ranic references to people travelling in the land and seeing the fate of older civilisations was reflected in our beliefs in any way.

It seems it isn't. I wasn't worried either way. But had been curious.

[Gypsy]

Thanks for sharing Haji.
Did they allow you to take any pictures? Some people who visited him say that the security personal don’t allow you to bring a camera inside. Only pen and paper. That’s why we don’t see many of his pictures.

Did you get the chance to visit Imam Ali mosque in Najaf? I hope you got a few pictures to share.

Thanks again for sharing your experience with us.

[Replicant]

^You're not allowed to take in anything really. You even have to take your rings and watch off. There were loads of searches and security checks outside his home. That was the case when I met him in 2010.

[titumir]

Gypsy, on 01 May 2012 - 07:17 AM, said:

Thanks for sharing Haji.
Did they allow you to take any pictures? Some people who visited him say that the security personal don’t allow you to bring a camera inside. Only pen and paper. That’s why we don’t see many of his pictures.

Did you get the chance to visit Imam Ali mosque in Najaf? I hope you got a few pictures to share.

Thanks again for sharing your experience with us.

That's absolutely right, given what happened to Ahmad Shah Massoud. I hope they also search inside visitor's turbans.

[Khadim uz Zahra]

Replicant, on 01 May 2012 - 07:42 AM, said:

^You're not allowed to take in anything really. You even have to take your rings and watch off. There were loads of searches and security checks outside his home. That was the case when I met him in 2010.

Well, his life life is in constant threat so they have to do all that. From what I have heard, due to these security concerns, he can't even go and pray in the mosque of Imam Ali and has to pray at his home. Don't know how true that is...

[BaqiyatullahY]

Khadim uz Zahra, on 01 May 2012 - 08:12 AM, said:

Well, his life life is in constant threat so they have to do all that. From what I have heard, due to these security concerns, he can't even go and pray in the mosque of Imam Ali and has to pray at his home. Don't know how true that is...

Well, it's not just praying at the Holy Mosque, he just can't go outside..
There was a bomb near his house on march 4th 2012 (french link) -->
[ http://french.irib.i...tollah-sistani]

For those who are interested, here is another interview with Ay Sistani by the president of the world federation, in Najaf on 6  April 2012

http://www.world-fed..._Sistani_DA.htm

Edited by cendrillon, 01 May 2012 - 08:27 AM.

[Waiting for HIM]

Your post made my day.

There is one more question that I wanted to ask Agha personally but never got a chance. If one of you get a chance, please do ask and get the answer in writing.

Here's the question. Asking specifically for the Shia genocide situation in Pakistan.

Umer and Talha want to kill my family because we are Shia. Umer gets a chance and kills my cousin. Umer runs away and hide. I take the case to the cops, but they don't do anything either. I find Talha one day, am I allowed to kill him as a self defense? I know he will definitely try to kill me the first chance that he gets. Talha has said it many times along with Umer that he wants to kill Shias.

[Gypsy]

cendrillon, on 01 May 2012 - 08:26 AM, said:

Well, it's not just praying at the Holy Mosque, he just can't go outside..
There was a bomb near his house on march 4th 2012 (french link) -->
[ http://french.irib.i...tollah-sistani]

For those who are interested, here is another interview with Ay Sistani by the president of the world federation, in Najaf on 6  April 2012

http://www.world-fed..._Sistani_DA.htm

Thanks. That was very interesting to read.

Quote

His Eminence returned his Salams to the community and stated that he had a special place for the Khoja community in his heart. In particular, he stated that he remembers the Khoja community daily after his morning prayers and prays for the progress of the Khojas world-wide. He stated that the community needs to know that he affectionately loves each individual, young and old, man and women more that the love they have towards him. His Eminence also prayed for the well-being of the community both in this world and the hereafter and prayed for the community to be steadfast on the wilayat of Imam Ali .

Quote

Dr Moledina also sought advice on the future of theological studies for aspiring students. His Eminence stated that the Hawza in Najaf is now being redeveloped after the suppression during the era of Saddam Hussein. He stated that during the dictator’s era, over 250 leading Ulama were assassinated and many leading scholars in Najaf left for Qum. He stated that the Hawza in Najaf is now being revived and conditions for studies improving. He believed it was now the right time for students to come and seek theological studies in Najaf. He felt Najaf provided a free environment devoid of any political distractions and that a student would be able to fully focus on studies and concentrate on the fundamentals and depths of theological subjects.

His experience meeting  with other Ayatullahs was also interesting to read.
Meeting with Ayatollah Ishaq Faiyyaz
Meeting with Ayatollah Bashir Najafi

[ThE-Samz]

nice and interesting story, insha'Allah your ziarat was accepted.

Quote

His Eminence returned his Salams to the community and stated that he had a special place for the Khoja community in his heart. In particular, he stated that he remembers the Khoja community daily after his morning prayers and prays for the progress of the Khojas world-wide. He stated that the community needs to know that he affectionately loves each individual, young and old, man and women more that the love they have towards him. His Eminence also prayed for the well-being of the community both in this world and the hereafter and prayed for the community to be steadfast on the wilayat of Imam Ali .

[Abu Hadi]

Thank you for sharing that, br. May Allah(s.w.a) grant Ayat. Sistani(ha) many more years with us.

[Haji 2003]

I deliberately did not write anything about the security aspects. I think it is best that these things are not even mentioned.

[MALANGG]

haji saahab imteresting

The links above is in french i want to read more about his current life
Any help?

[Master Chief]

It was nice reading about your experiences.

[abbas110]

I have not been lucky enough to meet him in person but saw his house and the alley he lives in from outside many times. Please tell people the nature of house he lives in.

[Haji 2003]

abbas110, on 01 May 2012 - 05:26 PM, said:

Please tell people the nature of house he lives in.

The simplicity of the house is well-known. The sort of standard you would expect of a relatively poor house in Pakistan, for example. But I should also stress how spotlessly clean it is.

The cleanliness provides its own comfort, and peace of mind, I think.

Cameras not really allowed, but I know someone who knows someone who works at the Kadhmain shrine and so I got some pics there, using a cameraphone.

[MALANGG]

astagfar but i have heard he lives in a very poor house no luxury nothing?

[Haji 2003]

MALANGG, on 01 May 2012 - 10:57 PM, said:

astagfar but i have heard he lives in a very poor house no luxury nothing?

Well the furniture is basic and functional, in his room it is just cushions and wall coverings seem to be non-existent. I can't remember whether the cooling was fans or a/c.

But bearing in mind that blingy furnishings are usually kept to impress other people, I guess that this underlines that he does not need to.

[Ugly Jinn]

Haji 2003, on 30 April 2012 - 10:56 PM, said:

Told the maulana who was my intermediary about questions I had. He said it would be best to ask the Ayatollah's representative afterwards.

Why weren't you allowed to ask Sistani atleast one question directly?

Edited by Ugly Jinn, 02 May 2012 - 03:21 AM.

[Gepetto_Zapata]

Because Sayyed Sistani is too old now and it seems he forgets a lot... Not as he used to be... Life.

[icewizard]

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته - Peace be upon you as well as Allah's Mercy and Blessings...
و لصلاة و السلام على خير خلق الله و حبيب قلوبنا، الرسول محمد، و آله الطيبين الطاهرين - And may the Prayers and Peace be upon the Best of Allah's Creations, the beloved of our hearts, the Messenger Muhammad as well as his Generous and Pure Family...
و لعنة الله الدائمة على أعداءهم و ظالميهم و التابعين على ذلك من الأولين إلى الآخرين - And may the permanent curse of Allah be upon their enemies and their oppressors and those who follow the trend from the first ones to the last ones...

عطم الله أجرنا و أجركم بمصابنا بذكرة شهادة سيدة نساء العالمين الطاهرة فاطمة الزهراء عليها السلام - May Allah increase our good deeds and yours by our loss for the remembrance of the martyrdom of the Mistress of the Worlds the Pure Fatima al-Zahra peace be upon her...

Violently_Happy, on 02 May 2012 - 06:08 AM, said:

Because Sayyed Sistani is too old now and it seems he forgets a lot... Not as he used to be... Life.

I totally disaggree with your remark... Cause as you see in the laws of islam Sayyid Sistani -ha- as he would be contraveining his own laws

Quote

مسألة 6: يجوز تقليد من اجتمعت فيه أمور: البلوغ، والعقل، والإيمان، والذكورة، والاجتهاد، والعدالة، وطهارة المولد، والضبط بالمقدار المتعارف، والحياة على التفصيل الآتي.

source: http://www.sistani.o...16&id=8&pid=761

Quote

2. Taqlid in religious laws means acting according to the verdict of a Mujtahid. It is necessary for the Mujtahid who is followed, to be male, Shi'ah Ithna Ash'ari, adult, sane, of legitimate birth, living and just ('Adil). A person is said to be just whe n he performs all those acts which are obligatory upon him, and refrains from all those things which are forbidden to him. And the sign of being just is that one is apparently of a good character, so that if enquiries are made about him from the people of his locality, or from his neighbours, or from those persons with whom he lives, they would confirm his good conduct.

source: http://www.sistani.o...&id=48&pid=2116

And for me "forgetting a lot" is like "losing his mind" which is contradictory to the term (mentally) "sane"/"عاقل"... Yes Alzheimer is a mental disease, and if he is ill, i'm sure he would tell us himself...

Please, if you do have any proofs, present them to us, and if you don't then refrain of badmouthing on people, especially if they are of the most respected maraji al-taqlîd...

I'm sure the dear Sayyid -ha- is still of the most mentally sharp... if not the most regarding religious issues...

I've heard that after the death of one of the smartest late maraji (maybe was it Sayyid al-Khoei -ra-, if anyone knows about it let him speak up), an autopsy was made and they found out that his brain was like that of a twenty-year-old man...Fact or fiction, that wouldn't surprise me as the brain is like any muscle if trained...

For the only possible reason Sayyid Sistani -ha- not answering questions directly, is that he is too busy: if every follower who pays him a visit asks a few questions, he would never have time to do his research on mustahdithat (modernities)... And the representatives are here to help Sayyid Sistani -ha- to answer questions...

و عليكم السلام و رحمة الله و بركاته - And upon you be Peace as well as Allah's Mercy and Blessings...

Edited by icewizard, 02 May 2012 - 07:49 AM.