Question:Why did Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) instruct their students to sit in the mosques and, when asked, say: “The people of Iraq say such-and-such, the people of Medina say such-and-such, and Ahlulbait say such-and-such”?

Answer:In the name of Allah, because declaring openly only the rulings of Ahlulbait (PBUT) would provoke the hatred of their enemies toward the Shi‘a. There is no power nor strength except through Allah.

Question:What is the scholarly status of the book of Sulaym ibn Qays?

Answer:In the name of Allah, as for the book of Sulaym ibn Qays, it has been narrated from the Imams (peace be upon them) that they praised this book. There is no doubt about the trustworthiness of Sulaym ibn Qays, for he was among the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). Some scholars have cast doubt on whether the printed version available to us today is truly attributed to Sulaym ibn Qays, but their evidence is weak and baseless. Some researchers have undertaken the task of verifying the book and have exerted great effort in doing so; therefore, it can be benefited from. Allah is the Guide.

Question:Why did Sunni scholars precede Shia scholars in the sciences of history, language, rhetoric, and sociology?

Answer:In the name of Allah, know, my son, that when the Sunnis closed the path of ijtihad (independent reasoning) upon themselves and relied solely on the four imams, they were left with no path other than that of history. They did not grasp the sciences of hadith and jurisprudence related to Islamic law; hence, they depended on the old works of jurisprudence and legal theory. As for the Ja‘fari scholars, since they—by Allah’s help and guidance—practice ijtihad and istinbāṭ (deduction), the field of expansion and advancement in uṣūl al-fiqh (principles of jurisprudence), fiqh (jurisprudence), and the explanation of the traditions and verses of rulings is extremely vast. Those who have studied these sciences and entered their field with sincere dedication understand this well. Therefore, their intellectual efforts were divided between these essential sciences—which are the ultimate goal and purpose of the other sciences—and the disciplines you mentioned, which are regarded as preparatory and foundational to the sciences that the Ja‘fari scholars give primary attention to. Allah is the Guide and the All-Knowing.

Question:How did Al-Kafi become one of the most respected books of Hadith, despite two-thirds of its narrations having weak chains of transmission?

Answer:In the name of Allah my dear son, know that the Shi'a do not have any book that is entirely (100%) authentic except for the Noble Qur'an, which was revealed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and is preserved between the two covers of the book held by all Muslims. Yes, there are books considered reliable, meaning that their authors were scholars and trustworthy narrators who compiled their works with honesty and integrity, documenting the transmission chains they included. We believe in the authenticity of these books regarding their attribution of narrations to the individuals cited by their authors. However, the chain of transmission of a narration must be evaluated by the scholar investigating it. For this reason, we believe that Al-Kafi and similar books contain authentic narrations that must be accepted as being attributed to the Infallibles (PBUT). At the same time, there are narrations that we may not consider reliable due to weak chains of transmission, leaving their validity to be judged by those qualified in this field. It is important to understand that the reliability or weakness of a chain of transmission is a matter of scholarly discretion. A narration may be deemed authentic and reliable by one scholar while being considered unreliable by another. It is also worth noting that narrations that are not deemed reliable by virtue of their presence in these esteemed books are sometimes used by jurists under specific principles discussed in the books of jurisprudence. The esteemed books, such as the Four Books form the foundation of Muhammadan, Alawite, Ja'fari Islam. Allah is the guide.

Question:Regarding the principle of permissibility, if I am uncertain whether something is lawful or unlawful, should I apply the principle of legal permissibility? Are there exceptions where this principle does not apply, and what are those exceptions?

Answer:In the name of Allah, it is commonly known among scholars that issues concerning sexual relations and bloodshed are exceptions to this principle, and this is well-established. Some scholars have also included meats in this exception. Allah knows best.

Question:Is the following statement correct: "The validity of worship prevents punishment for neglect but does not imply acceptance or reward"?

Answer:In the name of Allah, this statement has been mentioned in the principles of jurisprudence, and it is subject to discussion. How can it be reconciled with Allah's saying, "Indeed, We do not allow the reward of anyone who does good to be lost"? The detailed discussion is in its proper place. Allah is the guide.

Question:My brother spoke inappropriately about the religious authority Sheikh Bashir Al-Najafy (may Allah prolong his life) during a disagreement with my father. My brother now seeks Sheikh Bashir Al-Najafy's (may Allah prolong his life) forgiveness and wishes to apologize for his words. He also requests prayers from the Sheikh?

Answer:In the name of Allah, my dear child, know that I made a covenant with Allah and with Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) more than fifty years ago not to hold any Shia accountable for their offenses against me, neither in this world nor in the hereafter. As for what lies between you and Allah, you can repent according to the conditions of repentance. Allah is the grantor of success.

Question:Is there a difference between "lā yajūz" (not permissible) and "ḥarām" (forbidden)?

Answer:In the name of Allah, from a linguistic standpoint, there is a difference in form and meaning. The jurist chooses each expression based on his conviction in the context of the fatwa. Allah is the Guide.

Question:Who has the authority to issue fatwas?

Answer:In the name of Allah, the competent jurist who is a mujtahid in the technical Islamic legal sense. Allah is the Guide.

Question:What books do you recommend for learning proper ethics and manners, the ethics of the Noble Prophet and the Ahlulbait (peace be upon them all)?

Answer:In the name of Allah, you should read the book Tuhaf al-Uqul An Ale-Rasool (The Masterpieces of the Intellects about the prophet) and Makarim al-Akhlaq (The Noble Ethics). Also, the book To the Youth, which has been distributed several times by our office, and The Repentant is Beloved of Allah. If you are able, make it a habit to read the works of our scholars on the biography of the Prophet and the Imams (PBUT), such as the writings of Syedd Ja'far Murtadha Al-Amili. Allah knows best.