Office Of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid M.S.Al-Hakeem - Books-Muslims' Guide: Guidance and Edicts

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GENERAL MATTERS

Q1: What is the meaning of the phrase “Ta`arrub ba`d al-hijra” which is listed among the major sins?

A: It is a migration to a country where the religious knowledge of a Muslim decreases due to him being distant from the centers of religious knowledge and culture.

Q2: One who resides in non-Muslim countries feels he has become a stranger to the religious atmosphere in which he was born and raised: There is no sound of recitation of the Holy Qur'an, no Adhan and no sacred shrines to visit. Is such a migration considered as loss in his religion?

A: This by itself does not suffice to be regarded as a diminution in the creed if residing in those countries does not by necessity result in a decrease in one's knowledge of his creed.

Q3: If one's presence in a particular city results in his falling into doing what is unlawful, is he obligated to leave it?

A: What the Sharia mandates is abandonment of doing what is unlawful and nothing else. However, if this depends on him leaving that city then he must do so.

Q4: If an immigrant is concerned about the faith of his children weakening, is it unlawful for him to stay in countries such as these?

A: He must protect his children's religion through all means possible.

Q5: Should an individual in western countries express a keen interest in their children knowing the Arabic language since it is the language of the Holy Qur'an and the Sharia? Also, ignorance of it will lead in the future to ignorance of the basic sources of legislation which are recorded in Arabic. His religious knowledge will then decrease. Subsequently, so will his religion as a result.

A: One must learn what is required of the Arabic language in order to perform the daily prayers, such as the obligatory recitation of Suratul-Fatiha and another full chapter after it as well as the recitations in the prostrations and bowings. Actually, one should learn Arabic and stay connected with it in a way which facilitates for him understanding the Holy Qur'an and the traditions of the Prophet and Infallible Imams (peace be upon them all), as well as their great legacies, which includes their supplications, sermons, ethical teaching, etc. This has a great impact on strengthening the roots of faith and on firming it in one’s soul in a way which manifests itself in conduct and behavior. The thirteenth chapter of the Introduction contains useful information in this regard.

Q6: If backbiting and calumny spread and one finds himself unable to reform his society, should he keep himself distant from the society and prefer isolation?

A: He does not have to stay distant from the society, and he does not have to isolate himself. Yes, he is forbidden from listening in a way which helps the achievement of the purpose of one who is backbiting, i.e. paying him attention, listening to his talk and interacting with him. As for merely hearing someone backbiting without making him aware that someone is listening to him and paying attention to his words, it is not unlawful.

Q7: If I see somebody who is not a follower of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) who is doing something wrong, do the laws of enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong apply in this case, if he might be influenced and I feel safe from any harm? What if this person was from the People of the Book?

A: Yes, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong becomes obligatory in such a case.

Q8: Is good companionship permissible with non-Muslims if they are neighbors, business partners or the like?

A: Yes, amicable companionship is permissible with them, actually the Sharia recommends it. Islam has urged good conduct, nobleness, honesty and good companionship. Abu al-Rabee' al-Shami narrates saying, "I visited Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) … and he said, 'O Followers of the Progeny of Muhammed (peace be upon him and his progeny)! Be informed that there is nobody from us [our followers] who does not control himself when he is angry, nor one who is not a good companion to his companion, nor one who does not show good manners to those who show good manners to him, nor one who is not a good neighbor to his good neighbor … O followers of the Family of Muhammed (peace be upon him and his progeny)! Fear Allah as much as you can, and there is no will and no power except that of Allah.'"^{^[i]}. In the eleventh chapter of the Introduction there is useful advice.

Q9: Is it permissible to annoy a neighbor who is Jewish, a Christian, or an atheist?

A: No, it is not permissible. Islam has emphasized on the right of neighbors. The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) has been quoted as saying, "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) wrote the following by way of a covenant between the Muhajirun and the Ansar and whoever lived in the city of Yathrib [Medina]: 'A neighbor is like oneself, who should not be harmed. The sanctity of a neighbor towards a neighbor is like that of his own mother."^{^[ii]} Zurarah quotes Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) in a tradition saying, "Fatima (peace be upon her) went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) with a complaint. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) gave her a small sheet of paper and said, 'Learn what it contains.' This text was written on it: 'One who believes in Allah and in the Last Day must not harm his neighbor. One who believes in Allah and in the Last Day must be generous to his guest. One who believes in Allah and in the Last Day must say what is good or remain silent.'"^{^[iii]} In a tradition narrated by Abu Mas'ud, Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) says, "Good neighborliness lengthens one’s life and establishes homes."^{^[iv]} Such traditions are numerous. According to a tradition narrated by al-Hassan ibn Abdullah, Imam al-Kazim (peace be upon him) said, "Good neighborliness is not just keeping harm away. Good neighborliness is patience when harm is inflicted."^{^[v]}

Q10: How should we in non-Muslim countries deal with the non-Muslims?

A: You have to pay their trust back to them, fulfill your promises to them and be good neighbors to them. These matters are not restricted to only Muslims and the People of the Book. You must give them good company and give them a good impression about Islam and about the sect of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) who requested their followers to invite others to their creed with their actions rather than their words. In fact, it is unlawful to live and deal with them in such a way that harms Islam and reflects a bad image of it and of Muslims.

Q11: Is it permissible to congratulate non-Muslims on the festivals and occasions which they celebrate such as Christmas, Easter, New Year’s Day, etc.?

A: There is no harm in acting courteously with them, as much as good fellowship and socializing requires, but one should not go too far. In fact, it is unlawful if it leads to promoting falsehood and dealing with it as an established recognized reality.

Q12: Is it permissible to attend their celebrations and exchange gifts with them as they do among themselves on such occasions?

A: It is not permissible as long as it can be avoided.

Q13: One became familiar with another's secret, so he started extorting the latter, telling him that he wanted a sum of money in exchange for not revealing that secret; otherwise, the secret would be revealed and spread. Does the Sharia permit such blackmailing? What is the ruling of the money taken?

A: It is unlawful to reveal the secret of a believer if it harms or shames him. But if the latter trusted him with it, then it is prohibited to reveal it regardless, even if it does not harm or shame him. When revealing it is unlawful, it is likewise unlawful to threaten him about it in order to get money, and the money taken this way is unlawful.

Q14: Does the ruling in the previous question differ if the secret belongs to a non-Muslim?

A: If a non-Muslim man entrusts someone with his secret, the latter is prohibited from betraying the trust and revealing the secret.

Q15: Is it permissible to offer charity to poor non-Muslims, be they from among the People of the Book or others?

A: Yes, it is permitted when there is necessity for it such as averting hunger or thirst because there is a reward for meeting the need of any living being.

Q16: What is the ruling in respect to the desertion between brothers in faith?

A: If the desertion is based on hostility towards a believer, or on insulting him, taking him lightly or shirking away from him, it is unlawful. There are two cases which are excluded from this rule:

(i) If the cause of it is the ill conduct of one party from the religious viewpoint.

(ii) If the relationship was a cause of humiliation and insult to the person who initiated the relationship.