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I hate it when I've posted a long reply on a thread and when I click on send an error appears and all my hard work goes down the drain :(

salam, "Doubt is a product of ignorance." Imam Ali(as) "people are the servants of the world & religion by their tongues. Till such time that they know that religion does not carry any harm for them, they would move & spin around it. But when the TEST comes then the REAL religous ones are(to be seen) actually few in number." Imam Hussain(as) [day of ashura]... ws

I hope you'll make it with out problems, keep us updated, kinda worried. Speaking of good stuff to have during unexpected situations, this is the set i usually have on me when outdoors in the woods and such: I've got two compasses, one that I can clip on to my pants and have easy access to, one that I usually put in my backpack that's more accurate and good for maps. A multi tool kit , a good knife, a first aid kit, all of these can be strapped to my belt. A reliable flash light, that's some what water resistant, also since it is in rubber you can use it in electric fuse boxes and such without having to worry about short circuiting stuff on touch. Some cable straps are always good to have, when you need them, you'll be so thankful for having them. A good fire starter, this ones a bit flashy but I like it because its water proof when closed up and also it has a whistle on it for emergency. I got some different stuff in the first aid kit: Got a set of sterilized rubber gloves, some burn gel that is also good for really bad mosquito bites, some alcohol free wound cleaning wipes, a small sewing kit, some gauze swab, a mouth to mouth mask, some adhesive bandages and a normal bandage roll, that one does not fit in the kit but I still have it with me in the backpack or something. Here's the multi tool kit I have: It's got all the tools I need, a small saw, can opener, small scissor, etc: And also, it has a small diode flashlight on it that comes in handy some times: A nice tip/advice is to always carry some alcoholic wet wipes with you, like in the first aid kit, they can come in really handy, because they are drenched in alcohol, like 70%, you can first use them to clean your hands before you eat or something and then use it to start fires with as well, the ones I use are individually packaged water proof which is good: And yeah, if you put on some dry grass and have some small twigs ready next to it, you can start a fire very easily, if its been raining and you need some dry material to start the fire with, pine trees are really good, usually the bottom of it stays dry and you can s[Edited Out]e some bark off or dry twigs Hmm, I had too much free time today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbZDyr2LkdI

It's required reading in most American high schools or even junior highs. Has been for a long time. Often drives parents nuts,even though they had to read it themselves. My kids all hated it. So did I. I never figured out how the idiotic adventures of a maladjusted prep school boy got to be such a huge classic...until I realized the people who make these decisions are very likely former maladjusted prep school boys.

signed up for kindle unlimited: access to over 2 million books for only 9.99 and the first month is free! kinda like the netflix of books. tis awesome!

Finally travelling today.. please keep me in your du3as everyone :)

Glory be to God My humble submission to the will of the Source of All brings a peace to my heart never before matched. Allah's swa mercy is undying and abundundant. The depths we humans go can take a terrible toll, but it is through this suffering that we come to know the value of this toil and it is Allah swa, The One and Only, Who can reach as low as humans can go and lift them back up to a place of dignity. My conversion to Islam has seen me go through many layers of myself and my reflection on this earth and the society in which I live. The Message has been sent to us several times now. It seems that every time we Earthlings get lazy and wayward we are reminded that there are natural laws that cannot be broken. "Man's law" may rule the day, but it is God's Law that rules forever and the latest Message embodied in the Holy Qur'an is as vibrant now as it was upon its revelation. I approach Islam and take it into my heart with an innocent spirit.

Oh god, so she is going to do mutah with a married man? I am assuming his first wife won't be too happy about this. Terrible idea if this is the case.

How emphasized is it to fast Mondays and Thursdays in the Sunnah? It is simply good to do or did Ahlulbayt speak of super high praise regarding it with immense rewards?

Salaam, In anticipation of Eid al-Ghadeer and realizing the blessings (arguably the most important/one of the most important) event in our faith: http://roshangari.ir/video/36405 Non-Farsi speakers---if you would like me to translate, I'll be more than happy to oblige.

Congrats! It is the day of Wilayah and the day of brotherhood! Thank to Allah for this great gift, the gift of wilayaiha may Allah make us all hold tight on it. Thank to Allah for making the completion of His religion and the fullness of His grace upon us is this wilayah. Praise be to Allah that honour us with this day and made us from those who fulfilled their covenant of wilayah and didn't make us from the deniers of amirolmumin rights nor the disbelievers in him in the day of Judgment.

That's all very good. It is easy to judge history from a distance of many decades; things that were once uncertain and murky become clear in retrospect and that's why today Nehru's legacy is far stronger than anything Jinnah left behind. Partition, let's agree, as the history has shown us, was never a good idea. And Jinnah knew that very well. Till the last moment he'd called it "a completely ridiculous thing but something we might have to go with if we're left with no option." as his party colleague quoted him. That being said, I do not think it is possible to shred and simplify the narrative of Partition by laying blame at the door of one party. Here in our part of the world only ideological people with their own little theory to support do that. The only way to simplify is to ignore all the nuances, contradictions and failures that had beset every party and their leaders. That Jinnah was responsible for breaking India and dividing Muslims across three countries is prima facie true and widely known. That Nehru acted to precipitate the partition is not so well known. Take the year 1946 for instance, just a year before things exploded. It sounds incredible but Jinnah had agreed to remain in the united India when Congress accepted guarantees for proportional Muslim representation. But this was anathema to Nehru because he, too, was the West-educated Mr. coconut despite his Gandhian attire who wanted a centralised socialist state run from the capital while not admitting the communal differences that made it very hard if not impossible to replicate a Western system without turning communities at each other's throats. Congress hawks persuaded Nehru to renege on the promise, reject the proposals, and let Jinnah have his Pakistan. They were convinced that within five years Jinnah would come begging to them to take back Pakistan. Without going into details, in their view, every economic and geopolitical indicator showed that the new toy state wouldn't survive. Now, to complete the puzzle, if you consider how the last British Viceroy was appointed you'd probably bite your fingers down to your elbow. As per documents declassified at the 50th anniversary of the independence, a book by the name of "Freedom at Midnight" came out. It was revealed for the first time that Nehru had used his influence in the London India Office to have Lord Mountbatten appointed as the last viceroy of India. They were fast friends from Mountbatten's Burma days. Nehru along with Congress luminary Sardar Patel had by that time made up their mind to let Jinnah go with Pakistan, and they needed a viceroy who'd favour India in the division of spoils. It was only Gandhi who rejected partition in principle, but by that time he wasn't on talking terms with Nehru-Patel duo. This doesn't look like it was Jinnah who was performing the British puppet role, if the purpose of British had been to divide India and Jinnah to facilitate it. It appears to me that the roles were reversed at the last moment when it mattered most. IF partition was a well thought-out British project, you could even say that to make it happen the Brits needed to win over Nehru's congress, which they did. Let's face it, Nehru let down his own vision at the last moment. As they say, the devil is in the detail. To date I have not seen any academician or historian contradict these facts (if you know any, do let me know). Jaswant Singh, former Indian foreign minister and BJP member wrote a biography of Jinnah in which he claimed that Nehru-Patel duo were as much responsible for breaking the country as Jinnah and his Muslim League were. He was expelled from the party. Freedom at Midnight: http://www.amazon.com/Freedom-at-Midnight-Dominique-Lapierre/dp/8125931864 Jinnah: India - Partition - Independence: http://www.amazon.com/Jinnah-India--Partition-Independence-Jaswant/dp/8129113783/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1443728676&sr=1-1&keywords=jinnah+jaswant+singh To add another worthy account from a neutral American observer who saw Gandhi murdered. Stanley Wolpert's Shameful Flight: http://www.amazon.com/Shameful-Flight-Years-British-Empire/dp/0195151984/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1443729271&sr=1-1&keywords=wolpert+shameful+flight @ OP here are your recommendations from me. Read those after you have got some perspective with Yasmin Khan's The Great Partition: The Making of India and Pakistan : http://www.amazon.com/Great-Partition-Making-India-Pakistan/dp/0300143338/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1443729318&sr=1-1&keywords=yasmin+khan+great+partition

I was going to tell Sis notme to have a compass if she evacuates in the Hurricane, but IbnSina mentioned compass already. I have a compass in my purse so when I go somewhere else I know which way to turn toward the Qibla. :)

Mass graves? What now, the Sauds can't even send them home for proper burial?

salam, it may help: Question & Answer » Kaffarah 1 Question: If a person breaks his oath, what is the penalty? Answer: If a person takes an oath that he will perform an act (e.g. that he will fast) or will refrain from doing an act (e.g. that he will not smoke), but does not intentionally act according to his oath, he should give Kaffarah for it, which means he should set a slave free, or should fully feed ten indigent persons, or should provide them with clothes. And if he is not able to perform these acts, he should fast for three consecutive days. 2 Question: What is the Kaffara for breaking one's fast intentionally? Answer: One who has broken his fast intentionally he must, in addition to making up the qadha of that day, must fast for two months the first thirty one days in a row. Or he must feed 60 poor Momins to their fill or he must give 750 grams of wheat to each one of them. If none of these is possible for him, he is free to either fast for eighteen days or feed as many poor people as he can. If he cannot do this also, he must ask Allah for forgiveness even if he has to say "Astaghferullah" once. And it is an obligatory precaution that if he is able later, he must give the kaffarah. Of course, the kaffarah is obligatory in the case that his ignorance was not due to his own negligence in learning the rulings. However, if he has grown up in a place that without his own choice, he was unaware of the rulings, then it is obligatory that he must make up that day only. 3 Question: What is Kaffarah of delaying the qaza of fast. Answer: If a person does not give the qaza of his fast until the next Ramadhan, he should give 750 grams of food (wheat or bread or rice) to the poor for each missed day. src: www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235032650-kaffarah/#entry2841137

Make sure they are not 100% filled up though, water expands when its frozen. To be sure, have one empty bottle and pour alittle from each bottle into that one so none of them are super filled. Good luck.

4 to 9 or more inches of rain predicted here this weekend, and high winds. Maybe I should rush out and buy some supplies. I checked flood maps and we aren't in a flood zone so it should be alright as long as the hurricane doesn't hit near here. Hope it stays out at sea and breaks apart inshallah. Supplies tomorrow. Maybe. If I have time and feel like it.

al-Husayn b. Mansoor al-Hallaj: الحسين بن منصور الحلاج. 376 - أخبرنا الحسين بن إبراهيم، عن أبي العباس أحمد بن علي بن نوح، عن أبي نصر هبة الله بن محمد الكاتب ابن بنت أم كلثوم بنت أبي جعفر العمري قال: لما أراد الله تعالى أن يكشف أمر الحلاج ويظهر فضيحته ويخزيه، وقع له أن أبا سهل إسماعيل بن علي النوبختي (رض) ممن تجوز عليه مخرقته (3) وتتم عليه حيلته، فوجه (4) إليه يستدعيه وظن أن أبا سهل كغيره من الضعفاء في هذا الامر بفرط جهله، وقدر أن يستجره إليه فيتمخرق (به) (5) ويتسوف بانقياده على غيره، فيستتب له ما قصد إليه من الحيلة والبهرجة على الضعفة، لقدر أبي سهل في أنفس الناس ومحله من العلم والادب أيضا عندهم، ويقول له في مراسلته إياه: إني وكيل صاحب الزمان عليه السلام - وبهذا أولا كان يستجر الجهال ثم يعلو منه إلى غيره - وقد أمرت بمراسلتك وإظهار ما تريده من النصرة لك لتقوي نفسك، ولا ترتاب بهذا الامر. فأرسل إليه أبو سهل رضي الله عنه يقول له: إني أسألك أمرا يسيرا يخف مثله عليك في جنب ما ظهر على يديك من الدلائل والبراهين، وهو أني رجل أحب الجواري وأصبو إليهن، ولي منهن عدة أتحظاهن والشيب يبعدني عنهن [ ويبغضني إليهن ] (1) وأحتاج أن أخضبه في كل جمعة، وأتحمل منه مشقة شديدة لاستر عنهن ذلك، وإلا انكشف أمري عندهن، فصار القرب بعدا والوصال هجرا، وأريد أن تغنيني عن الخضاب وتكفيني مؤنته، وتجعل لحيتي سوداء، فإني (2) طوع يديك، وصائر إليك، وقائل بقولك، وداع إلى مذهبك، مع ما لي في ذلك من البصيرة ولك من المعونة. فلما سمع ذلك الحلاج من قوله وجوابه علم أنه قد أخطأ في مراسلته وجهل في الخروج إليه بمذهبه، وأمسك عنه ولم يرد إليه جوابا، ولم يرسل إليه رسولا، وصيره أبو سهل رضي الله عنه أحدوثة وضحكة ويطنز (3) به عند كل أحد (4)، وشهر أمره عند الصغير والكبير، وكان هذا الفعل سببا لكشف أمره وتنفير الجماعة عنه (5). al-Husayn b. Ibrahim from Abu’l `Abbas Ahmad b. `Ali b. Nuh from Abu Nasr Habatullah b. Muhammad al-Katib b. bt. Umm Kulthum bt. Abu Ja`far al-`Amri. He said: When Allah desired to unveil the affair of al-Hallaj and expose him and humiliate him, he assumed that Abu Sahl Isma`il b. `Ali an-Nawbakhti رضي الله عنه was someone who can be deceived by his hoax and taken by his fraud, so he wrote to him. In his excessive ignorance, he assumed that Abu Sahl was like other weak-hearted people regarding this affair, and that he would be able to draw him to himself, deceive him, and secure his loyalty over others. Through him, he would be able to draw more weak-hearted people to his deception and ploy due to the status, knowledge, and etiquette of Abu Sahl in the hearts of the people. He (i.e. al-Hallaj) said to him in one of his letters, “I am the representative of the Patron of Time عليه السلام” – through this, he would first draw the ignorant to himself, then make further claims – “and I have been ordered to write to you and avail you with the help that you want that will strengthen you and prevent you from having doubts about this affair.” So Abu Sahl رضي الله عنه wrote to him, saying, “I will ask you about a thing that is simple in comparison to the signs and proofs that have manifested by your hand: I am a man who loves bondwomen (or, young women) and I am fond of them, and I have a number of bondwomen from them. My grey hairs distance me from them and make them dislike me. I need to dye them every Friday, which is laborious work, to hide them from them. So my nearness to them and intercourse with them has ceased. I want you to relinquish me of the need to dye and its labour, and to make my beard black, for I will be obedient to your hands, believe in you, speak by your words, call to your way, and I have clairvoyance in it with your aid.” So when al-Hallaj heard his words and his response, he realized that his writing to him was a mistake, so he stopped writing to him about his way, nor did he write a response, nor did he sent anymore messengers to him. As a result, Abu Sahl رضي الله عنه would talk, laugh, and joke about him with everyone. His story became famous among the young and the old, and this exposed him affair and caused the community to distance themselves from him.

No, that isn't what he said. Some members are immature, impulsive, or irrational. Moderators and administrators are chosen from among those who are (apparently) not. We are all here together for all our various reasons. Nobody is categorically superior or inferior.

Salaam, The following clip shows the last Labbayk of a young Iranian man by the name of "Mohsen Haji Hasani Kargar" who was killed in the stampede. He was a well-renown Quran Reciter. An Egyptian pilgrim was enchanted by his voice and requested permission to record him with his cell phone as they were on their way somewhere a little before the Adhan for Fajr on the day of Eid al-Adha. Once the Egyptian man realized what happened to this young man only a few hours later, he left the recording to the leader of the Iranian caravan. http://roshangari.ir/video/36525 Please recite Fatiha and Salwat. May Allah bless the souls of all of the victims, and grant their families Sabr.

Actually socialist policies do tend to work well in western countries, some of the most prosperous countries in the western world (Sweden,Switzerland and even Germany etc) are more socialist than the soviet union or China. Strong national health care programs, public education, welfare programs, much stronger unions and very high income tax rates. You couldn't be more wrong. The reason manufacturing jobs have moved to China has nothing to do with the minimum wage. Wages consistently went up for over a century till the 70s when they started stagnating. There is no way an American worker can compete with the Chinese one, this is understood, the solution isn't to reduce wages in America to Chinese levels, this is ridiculous, the solution is to prevent manufacturing jobs from moving overseas in the first place and this can easily be accomplished. In Germany for example, a local firm isn't just allowed to leave a community of workers to rot whenever they feel like it. Management is required to work with unions and give at least a years notice before any such action can take place, the board of directors also include workers representatives. It is one of the main reasons Germany's manufacturing sector is one of the strongest in the world. This makes sense because for decades workers put their heart and souls into bringing a company forward, they should have some say in whether these owners get to move production abroad just to fill their pockets. We also cannot forget the government subsidies, local infrastructure, contract enforcement, huge corporate tax breaks and laws that help these companies out. There is 0 accountability when it comes to the corporate class, they move and do as they please, while working people suffer the consequences of management decisions they have no say in. Unions helped built this country and its standard of living, without them you wouldn't have a 40 hour work week or relatively humane treatment of employees. The rise of inequality in the US and Canada is heavily correlated with the reduction of private sector unions. Regulation isn't the problem, it was deregulation of the financial markets in the 70s that brought upon this mess, ever since then corporate profits soared to record levels while everyone else got poorer. It is unfortunate that you do not seem to care about worker safety or cleanliness, for most people these remain priorities. It is a difficult question to answer scientifically, but by most accounts (study of human history/literature) human nature is generally good. Even if for arguments sake you can establish that there are more bad aspects to human nature than good ones, the question then becomes should we implement a system which allows the negative tendencies to flourish or good ones? Capitalism inherently promotes greed and makes a value out of the pursuit of self interest. What sort of tendencies do we expect this sort of value system to encourage? The results are there for everyone to see, you are constantly looking to undermine fellow human beings or your competition. No sane person wants functions this way, it isn't healthy. In our families we are always looking to share and collaborate, this is also what comes natural to us and so it is better to look for alternative systems that encourage us to express these values.

There are two issues here, First, from the Hukum Sharia standpoint, she does not need her father's permission since she is not living with him, i.e. financially independent. This is according to Sayyid Sistani(ha). I can c/p the fatwa if requested. Second, it seems like, from what you said that she wants this guy who is already married but the culture / society is against it. It seems that he told her that he won't marry her permanently but will do mutah with her. I guess she is fine with that, and if he is fine with that then this is between them, and I don't know why everyone is condemning her for that ? Islamically there is nothing wrong with it, although it is not the ideal solution, but it is better for her than the current situation she is in. Islam recommends being married and not being single. So she is getting married. So why all the fuss ? Obviously, the better solution would be if she found a guy who is single who she wanted and who wants her and they could make a family together. But she figures that now that she is 30, the chances of that happening are not very good, so she is going with the best option that is available and acceptable to her. Islam gives us freedom of choice within the halal and she is exercising that choice. She is intelligent, I agree, but she is exercising her intelligence in a way that is not commonly done, especially by women from certain cultures, so most people don't appreciate this type of intelligence. She is making lemonade out of lemons, and that is a sign of intelligence. The only thing I would say is that she should not go into this relationship expecting that this guy will at some point change his mind and marry her permanently.He doesn't have to do that, and there is a good chance he won't , since he already has a family. I would also recommend that she not get into this relationship if his permanent wife is not aware that he is going to marry again, otherwise she will be in for alot of troubles. BTW, this is not that uncommon, for women at this age (around 30) to make this calculation. That they would rather be with a man who they love and want to be with but he is already married, than be with a guy who their family or society forces on them. Although he is single, there is no emotional connection there. I am not saying it is the ideal choice, but it is a better choice than living with a man whom they feel no connection with or being single. Also, I would say that if they both agree and this marriage is fulfilling her needs and keeping her away from haram, then it is not meaningless, it is very meaningful because it is preserving her deen.

Happy birthday to one of the kewlest dudes on the internets. Repenter is not only a great brother with great insight, he is also an expert in all that tech witchcraft, which makes him a valuable asset (?) to our community. Also: he's a hard core hezbo. Not a margarine hezbollahi like me. At the same time, he is pro-unity and all that. What a great man. If he ran for president, I would vote for him except for the fact that he would kill everyone. So don't vote for him.

I am looking for duas that protect against bosses or authorities in workplaces that are picking on people personally time after time. Salam ..

From the NYT link above.

Bismillaah ir Rahmaan ir Rahiim In The Name Of Allaah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. As salaamu alaykum The Peace Be Upon You. Moscow Masjid 2015 Wassalaam. Faithfully999

It was an ok article, but then why does the author drag Iran through the mud with KSA, as if they share equal culpability and have parallel political systems? They don't.

Didn't know that. I've heard the name of this book for so long, without actually knowing what it's about.

no fear... https://youtu.be/1xEQ2orTjKk

so your saying its a good book?

If you read about the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet SA, he fasted a lot when he was young. Later on he was fasting on Mondays and Thursdays. No matter what his age, he had a schedule for fasting: Please see Chapter 17: The Adab of Sawm (Fasting) http://www.al-islam.org/sunan-an-nabi-sayyid-muhammad-husayn-tabatabai Imam Khomeini RA recommended to fast on Monday and Thursday: http://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235009533-ayatollah-khomeinis-advice/

Wikipedia says [paraphrasing]: frequent use of vulgar language, sexual references, blasphemy, undermining of family values and moral codes, encouragement of rebellion, and promotion of drinking, smoking, lying, and promiscuity.

Bismillaah ir Rahmaan ir Rahiim In The Name of Allaah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. As salaamu alaykum The Peace Be Upon You. My take; This wording tells me that the love is meant for the Only One; Allaah, All Praise Honour and Glory Be To Him. It may blind him, but it also binds him to the One he is trying to come nearer to. He becomes heart sick due to his feeble ability to reach the Most Exalted. His senses are dulled. He becomes whimsical. But, he can see the vain world, for what it really is; being carried by the reptilian brained. He wishes to right it. At the same time to leave it for the place of certainty. The debased in it attempt to ensnare him, pretending to have found the right road. He follows, then at some point turns back! He will keep his own counsel. His heart goes out to those in poverty; Servants of the One God. Wassalaam. Faithfully999

A very good teacher back in the day told us this anecdote about the most successful man in the world. The man was asked about the secret of his success to which he replied- 'When I comb my moustache, I think about my moustache'.

I forgot where I ran across this photo a while back...but I laughed and just kept it...never knew why .....until now! Someone needs to let "The Batman" in here know we have found his lady.

Oooooh, shock horror HighFlyer, women have sexual urges. Gimme a break. And yes, there are many women who would not mind being 2nd wives.

I don't think Jinnah was all that interested in a separate Muslim homeland till he became increasingly frustrated with the politics and other nationalist leaders fighting for independence. If I am not wrong, Jinnah was at first solely interested in independence from the British and stressed on unity, he was a member of the congress party after all.

Jeremy Corbyn has a message for David Cameron: Stop Saudi Arabia from crucifying a man arrested as a teenager Jeremy Corbyn is delivering his inaugural conference speech as Labour leader. The speech was trailed as Corbyn declaring his patriotism after concern about him not singing the national anthem. In one early section talking about his British values he spoke about being a human rights activist. Corbyn told conference in Brighton: I've been standing up for human rights and challenging oppressive regimes for 30 years as a backbench MP, and before that as an individual activist, just like everyone else in this hall. Just because I've become the leader of this party I'm not going to stop standing up on those issues or being that activist. Then, in a direct appeal to the prime minister, he added: So my first message is to David Cameron. I hope he's listening: Intervene now personally with the Saudi Arabian regime to stop the beheading and crucifixion of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, who is threatened with the death penalty for taking part in a demonstration at the age of 17. As Corbyn notes, al-Nimr was arrested while at a Arab Spring-inspired protest in 2012, while a teenager. http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/jeremy-corbyn-has-a-message-for-david-cameron-stop-saudi-arabia-from-crucifying-a-man-arrested-as-a-teenager--Wy5BdSyyvg

To let the Quran be the judge and they ignored the walking Quran.

It is good to see Ayatullah Khamenei criticising not his own title but what the followers interpret it to be the logical conclusion of the doctrine under which Iran is run. All of us have met and heard people who defend the inviolability and sanctity of the office of the Wali al-faqih so fanatically as to to propel the holder of the title to a level and position which are not rightfully his. So when Ayatullah Khamenei criticises the attitudes of the very same fanatical followers, those people need to pay him heed. But will they? That said, we know from history that Ayatullah Khamenei before he was chosen to be the Wali al-faqih did not hold exactly the same view about the technical aspects of the doctrine as his predecessor Ayatullah Khomeini did when he ruled Iran under WF. The latter once administered a mild rebuke to Ayatullah Khamenei for failing to understand the practical extent and scope of the doctrine of Wali al-faqih. So perhaps Ayatullah Khamenei, even though very little on this subject comes out directly from the speeches or writings, probably does not see Wilayat-e-Faqih in the same way as other jurists, including Ayatullah Khomeini, saw it. Like, I'm only wondering what Ayatullah Mesbah Yazdi would be thinking of those comments of the Rahbar. Probably shaking his head.

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) أَوَّلَ مَا بُعِثَ يَصُومُ حَتَّى يُقَالَ مَا يُفْطِرُ وَ يُفْطِرُ حَتَّى يُقَالَ مَا يَصُومُ ثُمَّ تَرَكَ ذَلِكَ وَ صَامَ يَوْماً وَ أَفْطَرَ يَوْماً وَ هُوَ صَوْمُ دَاوُدَ ( عليه السلام ) ثُمَّ تَرَكَ ذَلِكَ وَ صَامَ الثَّلَاثَةَ الْأَيَّامِ الْغُرِّ ثُمَّ تَرَكَ ذَلِكَ وَ فَرَّقَهَا فِي كُلِّ عَشَرَةِ أَيَّامٍ يَوْمَا خَمِيسَيْنِ بَيْنَهُمَا أَرْبِعَاءُ فَقُبِضَ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ السَّلَامُ وَ هُوَ يَعْمَلُ ذَلِكَ . Ali b. Ibrahim, from his father, from b. Abi Umayr, from Muhammad b. Muslim, from Ja'far al Sadiq [as]: When he was first appointed, the Messenger of Allah [sawa] would fast to the point where people would say he does not stop fasting, and he would not fast until people would say he does not fast. Then, he began to fast a day then he would not fast a day, just as Dawud [as] would fast. He then left this, and would fast three bright days [13th, 14th and 15th] of every month. He then left this, and divided his fasts into one day from every ten days of each month, which were thursdays with a wednesday between them, and he [sawa] died on this practice. [volume 4, hadith 6297] Hasan [حسن] عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ الْبَخْتَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ كُنَّ نِسَاءُ النَّبِيِّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) إِذَا كَانَ عَلَيْهِنَّ صِيَامٌ أَخَّرْنَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى شَعْبَانَ كَرَاهَةَ أَنْ يَمْنَعْنَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَإِذَا كَانَ شَعْبَانُ صُمْنَ وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) يَقُولُ شَعْبَانُ شَهْرِي . Ali b. Ibrahim, from his father, b. Abi Umayr, from Hafs b. al Bakhtariy, from Ja'far al Sadiq [as]: The wives of the Prophet [sawa], if required to fast, would delay it until Sha'ban due to anticipation that he may forbid them, so they would fast in Sha'ban and the Messenger of Allah would say: Sha'ban is my month. [volume 4, hadith 6299] Hasan [حسن] مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) هَلْ صَامَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ آبَائِكَ شَعْبَانَ قَالَ خَيْرُ آبَائِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) صَامَهُ . Muhammad b. Yahya, from Ahmed b. Muhammad, from Uthman b. Isa, from Sama'ah: He said: I said to Ja'far al Sadiq [as]: Did any of your forefathers fast Sha'ban? He [as] said: The greatest of my forefathers, the Messenger of Allah [sawa], fasted it. [volume 4, hadith 6300] Muwathaq [موثق] أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) هَلْ صَامَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ آبَائِكَ شَعْبَانَ قَطُّ قَالَ صَامَهُ خَيْرُ آبَائِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) Abu Ali al Ash'ari, from Muhammad b. Abd al Jabbar and Muhammad b. Isma'il, from al Fadhl b. Shadhan, all from Safwan, from b. Muskan, from al Halabi: He said: I asked Ja'far al Sadiq [as]: Did any of your forefathers fast Sha'ban at all? He [as] said: The greatest of my forefathers, the Messenger of Allah [sawa], fasted it. [volume 4, hadith 6301] sahih [صحيح] أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ صَبِيحٍ عَنْ عَنْبَسَةَ الْعَابِدِ قَالَ قُبِضَ النَّبِيُّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) عَلَى صَوْمِ شَعْبَانَ وَ رَمَضَانَ وَ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ أَوَّلِ خَمِيسٍ وَ أَوْسَطِ أَرْبِعَاءَ وَ آخِرِ خَمِيسٍ وَ كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَصُومَانِ ذَلِكَ Ahmed b. Muhammad, from Ali b. al Hassan, from Ahmed b. Sabih, from Anbasah al 'Abid: He [the Imam] said: The Messenger of Allah died fasting Sha'ban, and Ramadhan, and three days of every month, the first thursday, and the middle wednesday, and the last thursday. And Muhammad al Baqir [as] and Ja'far al Sadiq [as] fasted that way. [volume 4, hadith 6302] Muwathaq [موثق]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ يَعْلَى عَنْ زَكَرِيَّا بْنِ آدَمَ عَنِ الْكَاهِلِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) عَنِ الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ قَالَ لَأَنْ أَصُومَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَعْبَانَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُفْطِرَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ . A number of our companions, from Ahmed b. Muhammad, from Hamzah b. Ya’la, from Zakariyyah b. Adam, from al Kahifiyy: He said: I asked Ja’far al Sadiq [as] about the day where one doubts as to whether it is Sha’ban [or Ramadhan]. He [as] said: Fasting a day from Sha’ban is more beloved to me than breaking my fast on a day from the month of Ramadhan. [volume 4, hadith 6275]. Hasan [حسن] عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ لَا يَدْرِي أَ هُوَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ أَوْ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَصَامَهُ فَكَانَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ قَالَ هُوَ يَوْمٌ وُفِّقَ لَهُ وَ لَا قَضَاءَ عَلَيْهِ . Ali b. Ibrahim, from Muhammad b. Isa, from Yunus, from Sama’ah: I asked him [the Imam] about the day where one doubts as to whether it is the month of Ramadhan, he does not know whether the day is from Sha’ban or the month of Ramadhan, so he fasted and it was Ramadhan. He [as] sad: It was a day in which he was fortunate and there is no Qadha [obligatory, compensatory fast] upon him. [volume 4, hadith 6276]. Muwathaq [موثق] عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) الرَّجُلُ يَصُومُ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي يَشُكُّ فِيهِ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَيَكُونُ كَذَلِكَ فَقَالَ هُوَ شَيْءٌ وُفِّقَ لَهُ . Ali, from his father, from b. Abi Umayr, from Mu’awiyah b. Wahb: He said: I said to Ja’far al Sadiq [as]: [What if] A man fasts a day which he doubts whether it is the month of Ramadhan and it actually is. He [as] said: He was fortunate.[volume 4, hadith 6277] Hasan [حسن] عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي الصُّهْبَانِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ رِبَاطٍ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْأَعْرَجِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) إِنِّي صُمْتُ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ فَكَانَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَ فَأَقْضِيهِ قَالَ لَا هُوَ يَوْمٌ وُفِّقْتَ لَهُ . A number of our companions, from Ahmed b. Muhammad, from Muhammad b. Abi al Subhan, from Ali b. al Hussain b. Ribat, from Sa’eed al A’raj: He said: I said to Ja’far al Sadiq [as]: I fasted a day where it was doubtful, and it was actually Ramadhan. Shall I do Qadha? He [as] said: No, it is a day in which you were fortunate. [volume 4, hadith 6278] sahih [صحيح] أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي الصُّهْبَانِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بَكْرِ بْنِ جَنَاحٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ شَجَرَةَ عَنْ بَشِيرٍ النَّبَّالِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ الشَّكِّ فَقَالَ صُمْهُ فَإِنْ يَكُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ كَانَ تَطَوُّعاً وَ إِنْ يَكُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَيَوْمٌ وُفِّقْتَ لَهُ . Ahmed b. Muhammad, from b. Abi al Subhan, from Muhammad b. Bakr b. Janah, from Ali b. Shajarah, from Basheer al Nabbal, from Ja’far al Sadiq [as]: He said: I asked him [as] about fasting on the day where there is doubt. He [as] said: Fast, for if it is Sha’ban, then it is optional, and if it is Ramadhan, it is fortunate for you. [volume 4, hadith 6279] Hasan [حسن]

Before I continue I'll just correct a couple of mistakes [sorry]. The hadith with the reference volume 1, hadith 6265 is meant to be volume 4, hadith 6265. Also, I missed out the reference for the final hadith up there, which is volume 4, hadith 6266. Lastly I missed out the Arabic for the third narration which is: مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الْخَثْعَمِيِّ عَنْ غِيَاثِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ لَا تَقُولُوا رَمَضَانَ وَ لَكِنْ قُولُوا شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ فَإِنَّكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ مَا رَمَضَانُ . Apologies for that.

You are probably (with some unintetional errors) referring to this: بحار الأنوار (ط - بيروت)، ج‏47، ص: 238 23- ج، الإحتجاج بِالْإِسْنَادِ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ الْعَسْكَرِيِّ عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ: قَوْلُهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ يَقُولُ أَرْشِدْنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ أَرْشِدْنَا لِلُزُومِ الطَّرِيقِ الْمُؤَدِّي إِلَى مَحَبَّتِكَ وَ الْمُبَلِّغِ إِلَى جَنَّتِكَ مِنْ أَنْ نَتَّبِعَ أَهْوَاءَنَا فَنَعْطَبَ أَوْ نَأْخُذَ بِآرَائِنَا فَنَهْلِكَ فَإِنَّ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَ أُعْجِبَ بِرَأْيِهِ كَانَ كَرَجُلٍ سَمِعْتُ غُثَاءَ النَّاسِ تُعَظِّمُهُ وَ تَصِفُهُ فَأَحْبَبْتُ لِقَاءَهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْرِفُنِي لِأَنْظُرَ مِقْدَارَهُ وَ مَحَلَّهُ فَرَأَيْتُهُ فِي مَوْضِعٍ قَدْ أَحْدَقَ بِهِ خَلْقٌ مِنْ غُثَاءِ الْعَامَّةِ فَوَقَفْتُ مُنْتَبِذاً عَنْهُمْ مَغْشِيّاً بِلِثَامٍ أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ وَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَمَا زَالَ يُرَاوِغُهُمْ حَتَّى خَالَفَ طَرِيقَهُمْ وَ فَارَقَهُمْ وَ لَمْ يَقِرَّ فَتَفَرَّقَتِ الْعَوَامُ عَنْهُ لِحَوَائِجِهِمْ وَ تَبِعْتُهُ أَقْتَفِي أَثَرَهُ فَلَمْ يَلْبَثْ أَنْ مَرَّ بِخَبَّازٍ فَتَغَفَّلَهُ فَأَخَذَ مِنْ دُكَّانِهِ رَغِيفَيْنِ مُسَارَقَةً فَتَعَجَّبْتُ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي لَعَلَّهُ مُعَامَلَةٌ ثُمَّ مَرَّ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ بِصَاحِبِ رُمَّانٍ فَمَا زَالَ بِهِ حَتَّى تَغَفَّلَهُ فَأَخَذَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ رُمَّانَتَيْنِ مُسَارَقَةً فَتَعَجَّبْتُ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي لَعَلَّهُ مُعَامَلَةٌ ثُمَّ أَقُولُ وَ مَا حَاجَتُهُ إِذاً إِلَى الْمُسَارَقَةِ ثُمَّ لَمْ أَزَلْ أَتْبَعُهُ حَتَّى مَرَّ بِمَرِيضٍ فَوَضَعَ‏ الرَّغِيفَيْنِ‏ وَ الرُّمَّانَتَيْنِ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَ مَضَى وَ تَبِعْتُهُ حَتَّى اسْتَقَرَّ فِي بُقْعَةٍ مِنْ صَحْرَاءَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ بِكَ وَ أَحْبَبْتُ لِقَاءَكَ فَلَقِيتُكَ لَكِنِّي رَأَيْتُ مِنْكَ مَا شَغَلَ قَلْبِي وَ إِنِّي سَائِلُكَ عَنْهُ لِيَزُولَ بِهِ شُغُلُ قَلْبِي قَالَ مَا هُوَ قُلْتُ رَأَيْتُكَ مَرَرْتَ بِخَبَّازٍ وَ سَرَقْتَ مِنْهُ رَغِيفَيْنِ ثُمَّ بِصَاحِبِ الرُّمَّانِ فَسَرَقْتَ مِنْهُ رُمَّانَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ لِي قَبْلَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ حَدِّثْنِي مَنْ أَنْتَ قُلْتُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ وُلْدِ آدَمَ مِنْ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص قَالَ حَدِّثْنِي مِمَّنْ أَنْتَ قُلْتُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ أَيْنَ بَلَدُكَ قُلْتُ الْمَدِينَةُ قَالَ لَعَلَّكَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ لِي فَمَا يَنْفَعُكَ شَرَفُ أَصْلِكَ مَعَ جَهْلِكَ بِمَا شُرِّفْتَ بِهِ وَ تَرْكِكَ عِلْمَ جَدِّكَ وَ أَبِيكَ لِأَنْ لَا تُنْكِرَ مَا يَجِبُ أَنْ يُحْمَدَ وَ يُمْدَحَ فَاعِلُهُ قُلْتُ وَ مَا هُوَ قَالَ الْقُرْآنُ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ قُلْتُ وَ مَا الَّذِي جَهِلْتُ قَالَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ مَنْ جاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثالِها وَ مَنْ جاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلا يُجْزى‏ إِلَّا مِثْلَها وَ إِنِّي لَمَّا سَرَقْتُ الرَّغِيفَيْنِ كَانَتْ سَيِّئَتَيْنِ وَ لَمَّا سَرَقْتُ الرُّمَّانَتَيْنِ كَانَتْ سَيِّئَتَيْنِ فَهَذِهِ أَرْبَعُ سَيِّئَاتٍ فَلَمَّا تَصَدَّقْتُ بِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهَا كَانَتْ أَرْبَعِينَ حَسَنَةً فَانْتَقَصَ مِنْ أَرْبَعِينَ حَسَنَةً أَرْبَعُ سَيِّئَاتٍ بَقِيَ لِي سِتٌّ وَ ثَلَاثُونَ قُلْتُ ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ أَنْتَ الْجَاهِلُ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ أَ مَا سَمِعْتَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ‏ إِنَّما يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ‏ إِنَّكَ لَمَّا سَرَقْتَ الرَّغِيفَيْنِ كَانَتْ سَيِّئَتَيْنِ وَ لَمَّا سَرَقْتَ الرُّمَّانَتَيْنِ كَانَتْ سَيِّئَتَيْنِ وَ لَمَّا دَفَعْتَهُمَا إِلَى غَيْرِ صَاحِبِهِمَا بِغَيْرِ أَمْرِ صَاحِبِهِمَا كُنْتَ إِنَّمَا أَضَفْتَ أَرْبَعَ سَيِّئَاتٍ إِلَى أَرْبَعِ سَيِّئَاتٍ وَ لَمْ تُضِفْ أَرْبَعِينَ حَسَنَةً إِلَى أَرْبَعِ سَيِّئَاتٍ فَجَعَلَ يُلَاحِينِي فَانْصَرَفْتُ وَ تَرَكْتُهُ‏.

(salam) (bismillah) So you read comments on youtube to make your assessment about the guy leading Salah? Really? And there is no dispute that this prayer was done on the death date of Bin Laden (May 2, 2011). Here is the proof that the salah was read on May 2nd, 2011, click here: http://www.haramainr...-1432_5400.html Now, one thing you don't realize is that we received news of the death of Bin Laden during the NIGHT of the 2nd of May in America. This salah was Salah al-`Ishaa, which is the night of the 2nd of May. I hope you take into account that Saudi time is ahead of us. Also, it is faulty logic to think that something happened at a place and was a direct result of something else in another place. So if a Shia scholars reads Salaah on the Day of `Aashura and cries, does that mean he was crying for Imaam Hussayn? No, because if that was the case then his salaah would be baatil. (salam)

hmm.. orochimaru is kinda yuck indeed

(bismillah) In response to requests by several people and as a defence for taqleed, the ShiaChat team have written the following article, which explains the background and the reasons for taqleed. Feedback is welcome, which should be sent through a PM. The necessity of Taqleed Firstly, what does 'Taqleed' mean? Translated into imitation, it essentially means the following in actions of another person. In the Shia Imamiyah school, this relates to the following of a 'mujtahid' by a 'non-mujtahid' in Islamic rulings (Sharia' law) and matters relating to 'Furu' Al-Deen'. A Mujtahid is an expert in Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) who has been verified as having the ability to derive laws and rulings from the two sources of Islam; the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Ahlulbayt (as). A non-mujtahid is then obviously someone who does not have this ability. Ijtihad is a completely scientific process and cannot be compared to 'qiyas'. It has its sciences and only the most erudite of scholars are able to achieve this status. Indeed, the roots of Ijtihad can be traced to the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet pbuh . In the chapter of 'The Prophets', this verse states: "…ask the people of remembrance if you do not know" (21:7). Clearly this is asking people who have no knowledge on certain matters, to refer to people that do, whom essentially are the experts. This is the natural way of things, to seek knowledge from those who have it. Even the Prophets were instructed to do so, as the case with Musa (S) when he was told to seek wisdom from Al-Khidhr. We then need to identify these experts and the Qur'an has done this again, in 'The Family of Imran', 'The Originator' and 'The Pleading One': Allah bears witness that there is no god but He, and (so do) the angels and those possessed of knowledge (3:18) …those of His servants only who are possessed of knowledge fear Allah (35:28) Allah will exalt those of you who believe, and those who are given knowledge, in high degrees (58:11) Clearly then, Allah (SWT) has placed emphasis that those with knowledge are given a special status. Then the Exalted has instructed that those knowledgeable ones are to be followed, as is the natural thing to do: O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those vested with authority from among you (4:59) Authority cannot come without knowledge; the leaders should always be the most knowledgeable of the people, for they are best equipped to lead the people. Having knowledge is a pre-requisite for leadership, for with it difficulties are overcome, as Amir Al-Muimineen (S) has explained: Knowledge is power; whoever finds it overcomes by it and whoever does not find it is overcome Following the knowledgeable applies equally in political and religious matters, regardless of the state of affairs in that region, for the erudite are the closest to Allah (SWT): He it is Who has revealed the Book to you; some of its verses are decisive, they are the basis of the Book, and others are allegorical; then as for those in whose hearts there is perversity they follow the part of it which is allegorical, seeking to mislead and seeking to give it (their own) interpretation, but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord; and none do mind except those having understanding (3:7) Why should not a company from every group of them go forth to gain profound understanding in religion and to warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware (9:122) The first verse gives the reason why you cannot choose to deduce rulings yourself (or to use qiyas) if you do not have the necessarily knowledge. This verse also admonishes those who follow their own opinions, even though they lack knowledge: And follow not that of which you have no knowledge in (17:36) The word used for those who would gain understanding in verse 9:122 is 'liyataffaqahu' which means 'to become fuqaha'. This is exactly what the mujtahids are, Fuqaha. The Prophet pbuh also showed that the fuqaha are to be followed, as these examples show: After the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet (saws) decided to return to Madinah, so he designated a governor, who was a young man called 'Atab Ibn Usayd. He set him a fixed salary and the governor addressed the people: "The Prophet has fixed my salary and in view of this, I do not stand in need of any gift or assistance from you" (Seerat Rasulallah, Ibn Hisham, vol 2, p 500) Mu'adh Ibn Jabal states that when the Prophet (saws) sent him to Yemen, he asked: "On what will you rely for resolving the differences?" To this he replied: "On the Book of Allah, the Qur'an." The Prophet said: "What if nothing specific is found in the Book of Allah?" He replied: "On the basis of the judgements of the Prophet of Allah, for I have observed your judgements in different matters and I have committed them to memory. If there presents a matter which is similar to one in which you have given judgement, I shall make use of it and give judgement accordingly". The Prophet again asked: "What course will you adopt when a problem crops up about which there is nothing specific in the Book of Allah or in my judgements?" He replied: "In such cases I shall resort to ijtihad and give a decision on the basis of the Holy Qur'an and your traditions with equity and justice". The Prophet then said: "Thanked be Allah that He has enabled His Prophet to choose for the administration of justice a person whose actions are commensurate with His Will". (Tabaqat Ibn Sa'ad, vol 2, p 347) From the above example, it is to be noted that where a clear legal law has been given in the Qur'an or by the Prophet pbuh , then no-one has the right to give his ijtihad on it: And whatever the Messenger gives you accept it, and whatever he forbids you, abstain (from) (59:7) The same applies to matters of the Fundamental Principles of Religion (Usul Al-Deen), for they are matters in belief and you must research these yourself, rather than blindly follow someone in them. This has been highlighted in several verses, among which are: And when it is said to them, come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger, they say: That on which we found our fathers is sufficient for us. What! Even though their fathers knew nothing and did not follow the right way (5:104) When he said to his father and his people: What are these images, to which you are devoted? They said: We found our fathers worshipping them. He said: Indeed you and your fathers have been in manifest error (21:52-54) The Imams further encouraged the role of the fuqaha and the mujtahids, even during their Imamate: Narrates Al-Askari, from his grandfather Al-Sadiq, peace be upon them both: "if there is anyone among the fuqaha who is in control over his own self, protects his religion, suppresses his evil desires and is obedient to the commands of his Master, then the people should follow him" (Al-Ihtijaj, Al-Tabrasi, vol 2, p 263) Concerning the four great fuqaha: Abul Hasan Zurarah Ibn A'yan, Abu Ja'far Muhammad Ibn Muslim, Abu Basir Layth Ibn Al-Bakhtari and Abul Qasim Barid Ibn Mu'awiyah, who were among his students, Imam Al-Sadiq (S) said: "they are the trustees of Allah for the administration of the permissible and forbidden in religion" (The Development of Shi'i Islamic Jurisprudence on Death and Dying from the Fourth/Tenth to the Eighth/Fourteenth Centuries, Hasnain Kassamali) When Umar Ibn Hanzalah asked Al-Sadiq (S) who the Shia should refer to when they dispute, He replied: "They must seek out one of you who narrates our traditions, who is versed in what is permissible and what is forbidden, who is well-acquainted with our laws and ordinances, and accept him as judge and arbiter, for I appoint him as judge over you. If the ruling which he based on our laws is rejected, this rejection will be tantamount to ignoring the order of Allah and rejecting us is the same as rejecting Allah, and this is the same as polytheism" (Furu' Al-Kafi, Al-Kulayni, vol 7, p 412) Imam Al-Ridha (S) approved Zakariyyah Ibn Adem Al-Qummi and Yunus Ibn Abd Al-Rahman, as judges for the people in their regions. (Al-'Amili, Wasail Al-Shia, vol 18, pp 106 – 107) The eleventh Imam (S) said: "It is obligatory for the populace to follow the jurist who refrains from committing wrong, mentions his faith, opposes carnal desire and obeys Allah's command" (Al-'Amili, Wasail Al-Shia, vol 18, pp 94 – 95) As for following the fuqaha during the occultation of the 12th Imam (AF), there are many hadiths pertaining to these instructions, among which are: The tenth Imam, Ali Al-Hadi (S) said: "After the occultation of your Qa'im a group of the 'ulemah will call upon people to believe in al-Qa'im's imamah and defend his religion by using proofs sent by Allah, so that they might save the weak minded faithful from either the deceptions of Shaitan or the deceptions of those opposed to Ali" (Al-Ihtijaj, Al-Tabrasi, vol 2, p 260) In reply to a question Ishaq Ibn Yaq'ub had sent to the Imam (AF) via the second deputy: "As far as newly occurring circumstances are concerned, you should turn (for guidance) to the narrators of our hadiths, for they are my proof over you just as I am Allah's proof over them" (Al-Ihtijaj, Al-Tabrasi, vol 2, p 260, Al-'Amili, Wasail Al-Shia, vol 18, p 101, Bihar Al-Anwar, Al-Majlisi vol 53, p 181) So, we have learned three things: The knowledgeable fuqaha are to be followed, they can give Ijtihad in relevant matters and taqleed is necessary in the time of occultation. The evidence has shown that Ijtihad is an established practice and the erudite and pious fuqaha are to be followed whenever and wherever they maybe. Below are some of the qualities a Mujtahid must have in order for him to become a Marja' and for people to follow him: A Male (women can become mujtahids, but not maraji') Shia Imami Adult (baligh) Sane Of legitimate birth Just Also, one cannot follow a Mujtahid who died before the person initially observed his taqleed. However, most of the fuqaha agree that if you follow a Marji' and he dies, you can still follow his rulings, but new issues must be referred to a living Marja'. Also, the majority of the fuqaha believe that the most knowledgeable of the mujtahids must be followed. One can also choose to not do direct taqleed but instead act on Ihtiyat (precaution). Basically, he has to view all the mujtahids rulings on a matter and act on the most precautious of them. For more information on the rulings of taqleed, refer to the relevant book of rulings for each marja'. Taqleed is no different then other natural processes whereby you refer to the experts. Take the example of going to a doctor for a medical reason. You will go to him because you are the patient (muqallid) and you do not have the necessary information and ability to treat yourself (non-mujtahid) so you seek the doctor's advice (taqleed) because he is the expert (mujtahid). However, when there are differences between the doctors, you will seek the most knowledgeable or seek a second opinion. This is a good thing, because differences may mean easier or cheaper or simpler treatments. So, you wouldn’t risk your health by not referring to a doctor, so why would you risk your deeds and your religion by not referring to a mujtahid? It is by the Grace of Allah that today we have many maraji' in different countries who have published their rulings in many languages and which are available through a variety of means. We also have scholars available to us who can answer our questions and guide us to the right rulings and learned brothers and sisters who can refer us to these resources. Make use of these for there is no excuse for ignorance, especially in religion.