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My Marja’ (Saanei) is non-responsive to questions posed on his English website. It is literally illegal to send money from the US to Iran, so what are people’s thoughts on giving khums to whatever person or group would be in greatest need directly? There are Shi’a here in the US that need help just as much as in Qom or Najaf.

Salam, I am a follower of Ayatollah Saanei living in the UK. I'm having trouble finding out when it is he has declared Ramadan to begin (in the UK) this year. If anyone can let me know or point me in the correct direction I will be very grateful. Also, I find it rather difficult to stay up to date with his fatwas as his website is barely ever updated. If anyone can let me know how I can stay up to date with his rulings, it will be very helpful Thank you

Salam, has someone ever heard that a person is allowed to ignore impurity? I can't live with that. I have a few problems and it makes it even worse. I just want a normal life but I can't. I am allowed to pray even if I had gas coming out while praying because of my problems with that. Is there the possibility to ignore impurities to? When I ask my ayatollah (Makarem Shirazz or Khamenai still not sure) I just get the standard answer "if you are not 100% sure". But this don't help me. I just can deal with that. Problems don't just disappear thank you Salam

Bismillah! Allahumma Salli Ala Muhammad Wa Ala Alae Muhammad! Salaam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh Brothers And Sisters, I Was Just Wondering If Anyone Could Recommend Some Good Shia Scholars That Do Lectures And Talks About Shi'ite And Islam ? I Appreciate Any And All Assistance/Recommendations! Thank You For Taking The Time To Read This Post! Jazaak Allaah! Alaikum Salaam!

Salam, There is this Marja that I would like to follow but he has passed away. Can I Do Taqlid to a Marja that is dead? **I'm planning to follow Ayatollah Sistani on new issues**

Salam, I am curious if there is any Marja that permits the eating of Lobster and Crab. Maraja that classify Lobster and Crab as Makhrooh are mentionable as well. I know Ayatollah Sistani and Khamenai say Lobster and Crab is haram. I am looking for Maraja that say otherwise.

Hello (Assalam Alaikum) I'd like to know the difference between Ayatollah Sistani and Ayatollah Khamenei. Thank you

Salam to all, I have a question in mind. When we had a foreign intervention in Lebanon, Nasrallah emerged and now is consider a leader of Shias and as a source of protection, welfare and rights of Shia in lebanon. When we had a foreign intervention of Iraq in Iran, Ayatollah Khomenei emerged from Iran, totally altered the Iran. But my question is, when there was a foreign intervention of USA in Iraq, we had a chance to alter the Iraq but on the contrary Ayatollah Sistani avoided it for some reasons. Iraq is still suffering. What do you think? I want some fruitful discussion. What is your opinion? What do Ayat. Sistani say about getting a system of Iran in Iraq? Ayatollah Sistani had the most followers in this World which he could use to unite Iraqi people atleast? Why he is not ready to become a wilayat-e-faqih of Iraq?

why and why not? how long have you been doing taqleed and which maraja have you been doing taqleed of? how has been your experience?

Salam, Does anybody here know about Sayed Sistani's brother? All i can find on the internet is these pictures; Someone says that he is killed by Iranian regime. Is this true?

(BISMILLAH) (Salam) So, I was reading this article recently, which claimed that Ayatollah Seestani allows the depiction of the Prophet, as long as it is respectful: "By contrast the leading figure among the Shias of Iraq, Ayatollah Sistani, has said the depiction even of Muhammad is acceptable, as long as it is done with proper reverence." I wasn't aware of this before. Can anyone provide me with a source?

For a long time I have been saddened by the inhumane treatment and clearly unjust prosecution of Ayatollah Seyyed Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi, a cleric who advocates for the separation of religion and government and, more freedoms and human rights in Iran. He has been preaching a traditional form of Islam which separates religion from politics in a poor neighbourhood of South Tehran. He is at the moment suffering from multiple heart complications, including respiratory problems and kidney stone complications, a loss of 80% of his vision due to cataracts and as well as losing 36 kilograms, where he is not receiving proper care in prison. In October 2006, a warrant was issued for Ayatollah Boroujerdi's arrest, where many of his supporters, students and many others over a 1000 people surrounded his house to prevent him for getting arrested by authorities where police had to forcefully repel them. Ayatollah Boroujerdi was eventually arrested with hundreds of his staunch supporters. He was charged behind closed doors in June 2007 in the Special Clerical Court where he was deprived of access to an independent attorney. He was unfairly charged for "waging war against god", acting against national securitie, having links with anti-revolutionaries and spies, using the term religious dictatorship instead of "Islamic Republic" in public discourse and radio interviews and last of all, publicly calling political leadership unlawful. He was sentenced initially sentenced to death, but due to many appeals he was later sentenced to 11 years. Some of these charges are just obviously ridiculous and unjust and made up for political reasons, while this man is a pious, modest and religious man and also shouldn't there be any freedom of speech in this country? According to Amnesty International, he is living in unsanitary and poor prison conditions, and receives regular torture and ill-treatment, which has led to a deterioration in his pre-existing medical conditions. He is currently in kept in solitary confinement with his hand and feet in chains. The poor man has went on regular hunger strikes, to protest against his treatment and also suspension of visits and telephone calls from his family and lawyers. He is not allowed to leave prison to receive proper attention and medical treatment, what sought of authorities anywhere in the world would do all of these barbaric things to someone. Ayatollah Borouherdi enjoys a lot of support among Iranians and his bravery in the face of this regimes repression is truly breathtaking.

(BISMILLAH) (Salam) So, I came across this article recently, in which Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi has some sort of fatwa against faster internet in Iran: http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2014/08/makarem-internet/ Isn't this a bit too extreme? I mean, it's like opposing the invention of printing just because it can be used to create fashion magazines. Now, I understand that, maybe, what he is saying is that the internet, in general, is unlawful until it has been strictly filtered for Haraam content by the religious institutions. Any care to explain what seems to obviously be too "Wahabi" a fatwa coming from this very famous jurist?

Salam un Aliekum Readers, I am glad to start a thread on a discourse regarding Namaz. We all try to prostrate infront of our God in Namaz but the question is: What to think while praying Namaz?Some say to focus on wordings of the Namaz but my answer to them is quite natural. If I try to focus on wordings in every namaz then it will make namaz boring i.e same wordings in every Namaz.. but Namaz is a mairaaj of momin and has to be something that is to be making a person nearer to God. Can anyone share some quotes regarding thinking while Namaz or Does anyone know that what Ayatollahs and Marajai thinks while praying Namaz. Please share it in detail so that it could bring us nearer to God.

Peace be upon you brothers and sisters. This is my first post so I shall make it a good one inshAllah. I recently found an article about a Mujtahid living within the USA, this goes to show that Haqq(riotousness) is everywhere if you look hard enough. What do you think? here is the link http://alimdeen.blogspot.com/

In the name of Allah Hello everybody The modern world is a world in which the people of nations should prove themselves. The people will not achieve anything by standing aside, staying idle and pinning their hopes on others. The people can achieve success by staying vigilant and brining their capacities into the arena 02/05/2012

Assalamu Aleykum, I am thinking of changing my marja and i came across Ayatullah Saanei so if anyone would like to share thoughts or knowledge on him that would be great :rolleyes:

Why Calling Ismaili's Non-muslims Is A Great Sin? This post is addressed to the Ithnashari young and old people in this forum. In this last month of Ramadan, the Insults to the Imam-e-Zamana reached fever pitch by the young ignorant Ithnashari and their poorly educated religious scholars, whose knowledge and research, in the exegesis of the Holy Quran, the Hadith, history, archeology and other sciences needed to establish the truth is Poor and Shoddy. They have neither took up any great intellectual challenge and solved any mystery. Thus, for comparison, I pick a Sunni scholar who has made a name in recent times. This scholar's name is Sheikh Imran Hosein. Below are the two links to the same video, one with Bangla subtitles (as it is also my native language) and the other has the biography of the Sheikh at the end which is very important. His family moved to Trinidad as an "indentured" servants. I am sure none of your Ayatollahs from Iran or India ever went thru such harsh life to cook their personality. 2012 Imran Hosein - Sufi, Salafi and the End of Times - YouTube It is also true that your Ayatollah Khamenei, Ayatollah Sistani, do NOT reach the scholarly level of the Sheikh Imran Hosein. He has written perhaps as many if not more books and treatises than your Ayatollah Khomeini (ra). In particular, he has now written on the TIMELY and RELEVANT topic of the end times. However, here my purpose is different. This video of his talks about the issue, whether, Ismailis are muslim or not. Ismaili Tariqah is a Sufi Tariqah, with only one difference, the Sufi master is also the Imam-e-Zamana, from the first Imam Ali or Mawlana Ali (Salawat). The Jamat Khana is like a Sufi Khanaqah. It has no music or dancing in the Jamat Khana. There was a time, there was such persecution of the Ismailis after than fall of Alamut by mean spirited and chandah-collecting ithnashari clergy, that a clean separation was made and sharia was totally abandoned. That is what saved the Ismailis from the ithnashari clergy. In any country, where civil laws of harassment and stalking were operational, it would be fairly easy to stop the harassment via a civil harassment restraining order against the clergy. But unfortunately, this did not work in Iran. The Ismaili practices in the Jamat Khana are PRIVATE practices as in the Khanaqah. There are many sufi Ithnashari tariqah where men and women sit, women without any hijab, and they sing and dance. These are bonafide persian men and women. They dont believe in sharia in the sense that they believe it but have reached tariqah and dont practice it. This is because they already practice the ADAAB which means respect legal and civil rights or others. Sharia is nothing but codification of the civil and criminal laws. The wahhabis call the Prophet the law-giver. As a result, the Ismaili, Nizari, Agakhani practices are private and not the business of anyone other than the member of this sufi tariqah. Next, it is true that some of the members of the Tariqah, specifically the Khoja who speak Gujjarati have posted the videos of the gatherings on the internet. These are NOT the videos of the religious congregation but rather the SOCIAL functions. I can show you many videos or photos of Ithanshari women of Iranian without hijab. I can show you videos of the Pakistani women anchors without hijab and new and new daily makeup and clothes in that poor country. Benazir Bhutto, her Iranian mother Nusrat Bhutto never wore HIJAB. I am for hijab but that is not the reason for calling the Ismailis non-muslims. In Lebanon, the shia live all the time with sunni and christian and druze women who wear western clothing. In "the muslim village" that the Sunni Sheikh Imran Hosein describes, you cannot stop the Ismailis from their Jamat Khana practices, or you will be thrown out faster than federal express. Yes, you can keep your arms on the side, or fold them on your chest or above the belly, any way, but you cannot call each other non-muslims. I urge you to listen to Sheikh Imran Hosein and bring ONE single AYATOLLAH of yours who has written any treatises on this important subject of Akhir-u-Zaman. I know that he has criticized our Imam and called him a stooge of the west. But he forgot that the previous Imam, who worked so much more to build a relationship between Islam and the West was the one who worked for the building of Aligarh university and Allameh Iqbal Lahouri himself came out and muslims separated the engine of the railway and dragged his rail-car personally in honor of his services for the muslims of India. Infact, my Bangladesh would not have separated from the West Pakistan, had the muslims of Pakistan listened to him and adopted Arabic as their first national language. This itself is a miracle that your pakistani elite could not see or none of your scholars from the sunni or shia could reach that stage of foresight. He says in his speech clearly, that he will become UNPOPULAR, but none of your Ayatollah could reach that level of insight or foresight. In addition, only one sunni scholar has admitted in the retrospect and called him the grandfather of pakistan and that is Dr Israr Ahmad whose speech video is on the internet and I saw it once on this forum. Can someone bring it out than trying to hide it that post? The gujarati nizari khojas are responsible for this issue as they are putting the videos that are supposed to private. In addition, Imam-e-Zamana himself brought a case against several of his gujarati khojas in Canada for publishing his private firmans etc. If there are things that are holding us back from progress, it is the gujju khojas who are not obeying the firmans of the Hazar Imam. The Holy Prophet could not be held responsible for the disobedience in later times of Talha and Zubayr and those who faught among themselves. I urge you to listen to this scholar, Sheikh Imran Hosein and his lecture on the resolution between Salaf and the Sufi and TRANSER and APPLY that to the way to resolution between Shia Imami Ismaili Nizari (who originated Risail Ikhwan As-Safa) and Shia Ithnashari. Shariat, Tariqat, Haqiqat, Ma'arifat. Ithanshari use the term IRFAN. Sheikh Imran Hosein uses the term IHSAN.

Salam All, With the increasing popularity of the respected Ayatollah Haydar Karrar we have decided(with the permission of Ayatollah) to open a official forum/office so that the curious people can ask the grand ayatollah questions and solve any problems mainly regarding the kingdom of "Shiachat" alongwith any other topic staying within the limits. As the official wakeel of grand ayatollah first i will state his rules. Najasa and Tahaara There are 2 types of Najis: Najis Al-Forumiyya and Najis Al-Chatroomiyya. Najis Al-Chatroomiyya is vulgar comments, links, and videos and spam posted in the Chatroom Al-Haraam. Because this Najasa is limited to only those in the Chatroom Al-Haraam, it will be suffiecient if dust is wiped on the computer screen. Najis Al-Forumiyya is vulgar comments, links, videos, threads, topics, and spam posted in the Forumiyyaat (Forums). Because this Najasa is open to every citizen of Shiachat, one must wash the computer screen 1 time under running water. 3 times will be Mustahab. If a Shiachat Citizen has used so much Najasa that he is veiwed regularly by the peopele as a "Spammer" or "Troll", then it is Waajib to ban him. Schiachat Citizens who insult the essence of Maji'iyya are all Najis. Please refer to the Fatwa http://www.shiachat....a/#entry2522670 Inappropriate Threads It is Waajib to refrain from inapropriate threads. Inappropriate meaning one where there is talk of sexuality between males and females. However, if males discuss these thing with males or females with females, then it will be permissible if not done out of lust. It is Haraam (based on Obligatory Precaution) for males to enter the Sisters Forum and for females to enter the Brothers Forum. Forumnication is punishable by banning. Rules of Banning Based on Obligatory Precaution, before banning a Citizen, the Moderator or Administrator doing so must first inform other Shiachat Citizens. That way, it will also clear up what has been done wrong and will serve as a lesson to others. It will also calm Fitna that can be caused among the Moderators and Administrators. Based on Obligatory Precaution, any Moderator or Administrator may not ban a Shiachat Ayatollah. Marriage Marriage may take place on Shiachat. The benifits are that a male and female can private message each other. The ceremony must be done in the Chatroom Al- Haraam. It is Makruh to open a thread about it in the Forumiyyaat. Mut'ah can also be done, so that private messaging will only last the set amount of time. After that it will become Haraam. If a couple is doing Mut'ah, it must be done in Chatroom Al-Haraam. It is absolutely Haraam to open a thread about it in the Forumiyyat. A couple must private message divorce to each other 3 times before the can seperate. A female member must wait her Iddah (time in which she will recieve 3 notifications) before she can marry again. These have been the Basic Rulings. If you have any questions about what has been mentioned here or maybe something that hasen't, please do not hesitate to contact us: The ayatollah will add more rules with the passage of time and according to the public demand. Regarding the Khums please contact me and i will make sure the ayatollah gets 90% of it(grocery have gotten too expensive). Now you can ask your questions anytime and the grand ayatollah al-shiachati will reply ASAP. Best Regards, Brbrkrr (Wakeel of the Grand Ayatollah Agha Haydar Karrar Al-Shiachati)

(I hope I am allowed to post this) Shia Marja Ayatollah Shaykh Hossein al-Mo'ed converts to Sunni Islam: Compare this man to Tijani (Note: I am not using this video to prove that Sunni Islam is the true Islam).

Ayatullah Makarim Shirazi [HA] - [ENG Video] Advice for people living in the west

In The Name of Allah Here I'll show u some Ayatullah Sanei's opinions that many people don't know it about food : ◉ He says that it is permissible to eat the carcass of Kafir (People of the Book and Hindu etc ...) if it was slaughtered according to the legitimate slaughtering (mentioning God’s name on it and other conditions) . Note : The deference between him and Sayyid Fadlullah's opinion that fadlullah says that it's impermissible to eat Kafir's (not Kitabi) carcass (Ehtiyat Wojobi) . Source 1 : http://saanei.org/?view=03,05,13,52,0 (in Arabic) . Source 2 : http://english.bayyn.../qa.aspx?id=104 (In English) . ◉ He says that it is permissible to eat all kinds of sea animals, except the scaleless fishes (fishes that have no scales) and the animals that it's name is same as a land animal . e.g. : ☞ It's permissible to eat Salmon (fish has scales) . ☞ It's permissible to eat Oyster (sea animal that it's name isn't same as a land animal) . ☞ It's impermissible to eat Catfish (scaleless fish) . ☞ It's impermissible to eat Seahorse (animals that it's name is same as land animal) . Note : The deference between him and Sayyid Fadlullah's opinion that fadlullah says it is permissible to eat all kinds of sea animals without any exceptions . Source 1 : http://saanei.org/?v...0#03,05,13,54,0 (in Arabic) . Source 2 : http://english.bayyn.../qa.aspx?id=103 (In English) . Note : It's impermissible to eat harmful animals . e.g. if Catfish is harmfull it's impermissible to eat it even for Sayyid Fadlullah Followes .

(bismillah) (salam) The Story of a Christian Girl Who Becomes Muslim This Girl Changed Her Name from “Jakelin Zakaria - ye Sani” to “Zahra Alamdar” (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - I asked “Who is Alamdar?” I asked this question because I had not heard his name. That great man answered: “Alamdar is the same person who has guaranteed you in order to come to the south.” I suddenly woke up. In the morning of that night, I told my father: “I will have my breakfast only in condition that you let me go to the south.” And he permitted me to go to the south. I was surprised why he had agreed once. While registering for this trip to the south, I introduced myself with the name of “Zahra Alamdar” [Alamdar means flag- carrier and it was the name of a martyr]. According to the reporter of Navideshahed; a Christian girl has become a Muslim. As her story of becoming Muslim; this girl has said as the followings: “I am Jakelin Zakaria - ye Sani. I like my name to be “Zahra” [Zahra is the other name of Hazrat Fatemeh, the daughter of Hazrat Mohammad, the Islam Prophet]. I come from a Christian family. And I have a little information about Islam. I did not have good “Hijab” [The full covering of hair and body for women in Islam] when I entered the high school. And it was rooted in the culture of our life. There was a girl in our class whose name was “Maryam”. She had memorized 18 chapters of the Holy Koran. She was a member of “Basij” in the high school. And she was also one of the honor students in our high school. I liked to certainly make friends with her. It was Tuesday that day. And the pray of “Tavassol” was being held in the prayer hall of our school. I was walking in the school yard that suddenly one person put her hands on my eyes from the back. I was shocked and stood transfixed when she took her hands from my eyes. Yes. It was Maryam who showed willing to make friends with me. I became very happy. She suggested me to attend the ceremony of “Tavassol” Pray that was being held in the pray hall of the school. First, it was strange for me; but I was very interested to find out what was happening in such Islamic religious sessions. I saw that every one was praying and crying when we entered the pray hall of the school. Since I did not know any thing about that ceremony of praying; I sat in once corner of the pray hall. But unconsciously, I started to cry. Since that day, I went to the school along with Maryam; because we should go to the school through the same path. And I learnt more things every day. And “Hijab” was the first thing that I learnt. Following her guidance; I decided to conduct more studies and researches about the religion of Islam. I became more interested in Islam day after day. Maryam brought Islamic books for me. And in addition to those books, she brought the photos and wills of martyrs of the imposed war. And we read them together. This way, she taught me how to live. I can tell you that I became familiar with six martyrs every week. It was late Esfand Month, 1377 [Early March, 1999] that we could register to go to a trip to the south of Iran and the war regions in there. One of my kidneys had got infected for a while. And I should certainly go under surgery to cure it. Maryam insisted very much that I go to the war regions along with them. I told my mother and father about that trip and asked them for permission. But they disagreed. I went on hunger strike for two days; but it was useless. It was Esfand 28th. And it was 3:00 in the morning. I remembered that Maryam had told me that the Muslims read “Tavassol” Pray in order that their problems are solved. Then, I decided to read “Tavassol” Pray. And I started to read “Tavassol” Pray. I don’t know in what part of the pray I fell to sleep! I dreamt that I have stood in a desert. And it was near the sun set. A man came towards me and said: “Zahra come! … Come! …. I want to show some thing to you.” I followed that man. Then we reached to a point in which there was a hole on the ground. He pointed me to go into that hole. Down in the hole was a strange place. It was a big hall with high and white walls with blue light. The walls were full of photos of martyrs and finally one photo of Ayatollah Khamenei was there on the wall. I felt that they were speaking with me when I was looking at the photos; but I did not understand what they said to me. That great man started to speak. He told me: “Martyrs had a special love and enthusiasm that caused them to achieve to the high position of martyrdom. It is true for all the martyrs such as Martyr Jahan - Ara, Martyr Bakeri, Martyr Hemmat and Alamdar.” I asked him: Who is Alamdar? I have not heard of his name.” That great man answered to me: “Alamdar is the same person who is next to you; the person who has guaranteed you to come to the south.” Then I suddenly woke up. In the morning of that night, I told my father: “I will have my breakfast only in condition that you let me go to the south.” And he permitted me to go to the south. I was surprised why he had agreed once. While registering for this trip to the south, I introduced myself with the name of “Zahra Alamdar” [Alamdar means flag- carrier] and it was the surname of a martyr]. Along with the “Basiji” people I was dispatched to the war regions in the south of the country on Farvardin 1st, 1378 [The first day of the Iranian New Year. March 21st, 2000]. I bought a tape of Martyr Alamdar’s speeches from a cassette shop that was located beside the Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeini. The more I listened to this tape, the more I found out abut the valuable things he spoke about. During the ten - day trip that we had, I really found out what an honorable religion is Islam. When other children in our group participated in the public prayer, I hugged my knees and cried for my bad situation. When we reached to Shalamcheh City, I found a great and sincere atmosphere in there. I did not mention that Maryam was the sister of three martyrs. And two of her brothers had been martyred in “Shalamcheh” City. I went along with her to a corner. She started to read “Ziarat - e Ashoura” Pray. In once moment, I felt that martyrs had gathered all around us and they were reading “Ziarat - e Ashoura” Pray with us. It was the time and place that my heart was greatly turned and was touched by that situation. Then I became unconscious. The day after that was “Ghorban” Celebration [The day on which haji people [The people who have gone to Mecca for hajj ceremony] sacrifice a sheep in the way of God]. Ayatollah Khamenei was going to come to Shalamcheh City on that day. It was almost 11:30 AM that Ayatollah Khamenei came there. It was a great scene there in Shalamcheh City. Every one was crying unconsciously. The whole my worries changed into calmness by seeing Ayatollah Khamenei. Because I saw that my dream was interpreted in an appropriate way. To speak briefly, I should say that the whole my doubts changed into certainty when I came back from the war regions in the south. It was the time I asked Maryam to teach me how to become a Muslim person. She became happy to hear the news too. I was in a special mood when I said “Shahadateyn” [The sentences that one person says in order to become a Muslim]. I felt that I had become like Maryam and her friends. I had become a Muslim too. I should also mention the fact that I fulfilled my Islamic religious duties secretly. And God blessed me and both of my kidneys got fully well. … “ Source: http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&Id=220479

Contrary to what anti- Islamic iranian nationalists say, the old standard of Iran, the Lion and Sun, does actually have an Islamic background. The Lion stands for Ali, the sword it is holding is the zulfiqar, and the sun represents the light of God. Also contrary to what the Islamic republic sais, the emblem is not a symbol of Pahlavi regime , secularism,corruption, or foreign influence. The standard was in use in Iran way before the Pahlavis even came to power.. It was first used as far back as the Safavids and became the flag of the Qajar dynasty. It was also used by the Mughals in India and some of the Turkic states. So should Iran bring back this emblem as its coat of arms? if not the actual flag itself.I know this is a small, and by comparison of all the other bigger issues going on right now It has alot of historical value and is a matter of national pride , and in my opinion, is a very powerful and unique symbol of Iran.