Question:A person performed actions without following any specific tradition for a period of time, then later realized the necessity of doing so but did not know how to perform the actions he had done previously. What is the ruling on this?

Answer:In the name of Allah, know, my dear, that there is no normal person who has completed their prayer and does not know how they prayed. However, it is possible that other actions, whether a long or short time ago, may have been forgotten in terms of how they were performed. In any case, they should follow the guidance of someone qualified for following (taqlid) among the Shi'a, and the most knowledgeable among them. They should compare the prayer they just completed with the rulings of the scholar they follow. Similarly, they should review their previous prayers in the same way, based on how they prayed last. They should compare their actions with the fatwas of the scholar whose rulings they have adopted. If their actions require repetition (re-doing), they must repeat them according to the fatwa of the scholar they follow. Allah is the Guide and All-Knowing.

Question:Here, in the Indian subcontinent, many people do not follow any particular religious authority. Their main arguments are: (1) Why should we follow someone who is not infallible, when only the infallible should be followed?(2) If Islamic law has one answer for each issue, why do religious authorities (marājiʿ) differ on so many matters?

Answer:In the name of Allah, we ask those who claim they do not follow anyone: if they pray and fast, how did they learn to perform these acts when they were born knowing nothing? Allah Almighty says: "And Allah brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers while you knew nothing". Whoever they learned prayer from, they are following that person. And who made their parents’ marriage lawful, making them legitimate children? Whoever gave that ruling, their parents followed that authority. As for differences among scholars, they arise from variations in interpreting religious texts, verses, and narrations, or the foundations of legal rulings. Don’t you see that several doctors may graduate from the same university with the same degree and specialization, yet differ in prescribing medicine for the same patient? Allah is the Guide.

Question:Some Shiite people say: Taqleed is not obligatory in Husseini rituals. What is your opinion?

Answer:In the name of Allah, Taqleed is obligatory in every act whether obligator, recommended, permissible, disliked or forbidden. Are Husseini rituals out of these five religious rulings? Allah knows best.

Question:Is Taqleed valid when done by the discerning boy?

Answer:In the name of Allah, it is valid in addition to the payer and other acts of worship. Allah knows best.