Question:Many scholars and Muftis say that saying "Ya Ali madad" is not permitted even it was for seeking intercession or invocation as it is considered polytheism. Is that correct? Is there a source saying that the infallibles said "Ya Ali madad?"

Answer:In the name of Allah: There is no doubt that resorting to other than Allah is not considered polytheism if it was within the permissible limits. My son, don’t you resort to your hand to take a thing, don’t you resort to clothes to protect yourself from cold, and don’t you hear the channels all over the Islamic countries broadcast after Athan "May Allah accept the intercession of the prophet (PBUH and elevate his position in heaven? Didn’t Allah order the Messenger (PBUH&HF) to resort to Ali (PBUH) for assisting him to break down Khaiber gate, where they failed to do so? Then, what is the meaning of polytheism, son? Polytheism is to worship other than Allah and to put a god with Allah (SWT). When you resort to a friend for doing something, you do not make a partner with Allah (SWT). There are supplications narrated about Imams' (PBUH) pilgrimages in which they ordered us to seek intercession from them (PBUH). These are narrated in the books of supplications and pilgrimage texts. Allah is the All Guide.

Question:Is it right that the two Imams, Hassan and Hussain (PBUH), were first named as Hamza and Jaafar, then the Messenger (PBUH&HF) changed their names into Hassan and Hussain?

Answer:In the name of Allah: That is not confirmed for me in an authentic source.

Question:I want to ask about the speech of Imam Ali ibin Al-Hussain (PBUH) when he complained about Kufa people, as narrated in Kitabul Ihtijaj by Sheikh Al-Tabrasi- Vol.2. He (PBUH) went out of the tent and rebuked them for their betrayal. Page 394. "Oh, people, for Allah's sake, I appeal for your answer. Do you know that you wrote for my father and deceived him, and you gave him the covenant, and the pledge, and then you fought and betrayed him?" The first question: what does the Imam's (PBUH) speech implicates? Did Kufa people deceive Imam Hussein (PBUH), and Imam Zainul Abideen (PBUH) is informing a throng of people a wrong belief or a belief that does not go with the right and actual belief of heavenly Imamate? That belief is that the Imam (PBUH) can be deceived by people. The second question: the objector or the contravener asks "how could an infallible Imam describe another infallible Imam as deceived by people?"

Answer:In the name of Allah: Son, what do you understand from Allah's saying "They deceive Allah and the believers, but in fact they deceive themselves." So, what this Ayah says is what is to be understood from the speech of the Imam (PBUH). Consequently, what is meant by deception is attempting to deceive. Otherwise, Imam Hussain (PBUH) came to Kufa after their insistence, for they had a cogent argument from the Imam (PBUH) as he (PBUH) declared that in some of his speeches. Allah is the all Guide.

Question:Imam Mahdi (AJ) has written in his last writing: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful O Ali ibin Muhammad Al-Samri, I offer my condolences to you and your brothers about you as you will die within six days. So, be prepared and do not inform anybody to be in your place after your death, for the absolute disappearance has started and there will be no appearance until Allah (SWT) orders. This will be after a long time, hearts to become like rocks and the earth to be filled with oppression. Some will come to my Shia and claim meeting me. Thus, whoever claims that before the appearance of Al-Sufiany and the Great Cry is an utter liar and slanderer and there is no power but from Allah. The Questions are: First: Through the writing of the Imam (AJ) to the fourth Ambassador not to recommend anybody, can we conclude from the text that meeting the Imam (AJ) is the representation (conciliation)? Second: He (AJ) said (Whoever claims seeing) which means whoever claims meeting the Imam (AJ). Why did not he say (Whoever claims seeing) which means that he saw the Imam (AJ)?

Answer:A/First/ In the name of Allah: What is mentioned in the question is one of the interpretation. It is also possible to say that the verdict is not confirmed for the one who did not see the Imam (AJ) like the one who saw. And, the scholar does not have to say that he heard the imam saying so, but he has to say that the verdict is as such. Furthermore, he has to be informed that if he has honoured with meeting the Imam (AJ), he must not tell anybody as mentioned in the writing of the Imam (AJ). Allah is the Guide and there is no power but from Almighty Allah. A/Second/ In the name of Allah: The word (see) (in the meaning of meet) will be confused with vision in dream.

Question:Is it right that the two Imams, Hassan and Hussain (PBUH), were first named as Hamza and Jaafar, then the Messenger (PBUH&HF) changed their names into Hassan and Hussain?

Answer:In the name of Allah: That is not confirmed for me in an authentic source.

Question:There is a suspicion among the Husseini preachers regarding that Imam Hussain (PBUH) has a daughter named Ruqayia? Was she present at the event of Karbalaa?

Answer:In the name of Allah: It is known from the narrations that he (PBUH) has a daughter with such a name and the shrine in Damascus is for her. Allah knows best.

Question:What is the religious position towards those who claim meeting the Imam (AJ)?

Answer:In the name of Allah: If one reaches the levels of piety to the extent that the Imam (AJ) loves him, he will be blessed with seeing him (AJ). Yet, one mustn’t reveal that to anyone and he must make sure that he saw the Imam (AJ) before he believes for sure that he got blessed in seeing. However, this means that he must not say that he takes the instruction from the Imam (AJ) and he is a mediator between Shia and the Imam (AJ) like being an ambassador because this ended with the death of the fourth ambassador. Allah knows best.

Question:Is the Yamani from Yamen or Basra? Does his movement set out from Basra or Yamen?

Answer:In the name of Allah: Narrations in this regard are not clear. It has not been confirmed in authentic documentation where this Yamani is from. The person who claims Yamani nowadays is a liar and slanderer. Allah is the all Guide.

Question:How many daughters does Imam Hussain (PBUH) have? Did he (PBUH) have a daughter named Ruqayia?

Answer:In the name of Allah: It is known from the narrations that he (PBUH) has a daughter with such a name and the shrine in Damascus is for her. Allah knows best.

Question:During the minor disappearance, did all the public know the four ambassadors or was it restricted to special people? And was the answer which was transferred by the ambassador from the Imam (AJ) signed by him (AJ)?

Answer:In the name of Allah: Not all the Shia people knew the ambassadors (May Allah be merciful with them). That was as per the orders of the Imam (AJ) himself fearing that the oppressive regime would kill whoever has a contact with the Imam (AJ), so they would do worse if they knew somebody was an ambassador. The signature of the Imam (AJ) was given to his ambassadors written in his hand. Besides, the ambassador was not allowed to reveal the signature unless the Imam (AJ) allows him to do son. All knows best.