Qaḍā Prayers and Our Duty
Question1: A person does not know how many qaḍā prayers he owes since reaching puberty. Because of his obsession, he considers a large number and this has caused him not to perform qaḍā prayers at all. What is his duty?
Answer: It suffices that he performs the number of prayers that he is certain he has missed. He does not have any duty regarding the doubtful number.
To Change Your Mind after Adopting a City as Your Watan
Question2: A person who resides in Tehran with the intention of permanent or long-term residence, but leaves there for some reason after a short period of time (of course, with the intention of reside in Tehran again but after a long period of time). What is the ruling on his prayers and fasting in Tehran until he reside there again? Is Tehran considered his hometown?
Answer: In the given case, Tehran is not considered his hometown. Therefore, without the intention of staying for ten days, the prayers are shortened and the fast is not valid.
Eating in the Mourners’ House
Question3: In our city, it is customary for the close relatives of the deceased person to invite people to a Fātiḥah gathering and a meal. Is this custom lawful or is it considered against the Islamic law?
Answer: If it is done in accordance with the shar‘ (such as respecting the rights of minor heirs), it is not considered against shar‘. Of course, eating in their house is makrūh, and it is mustaḥabb to send them food for three days.
Found Property
Question4: If I find something that is worth less than two and a half grams of silver (whether it has a sign or not); can I take it for myself?
Answer: If the owner is unknown, you can take it for yourself.
Hugging a Baby during Prayer
Question5: During prayer, is it permissible to hug a baby whose clothes or diaper are najis (of course, without the impurity spreading to the clothes or body of the person praying)?
Answer: It should be avoided by obligatory caution.
Selling a Men's Gold Ring
Question6: Given that it is forbidden for men to wear gold, if someone receives a men's ring as a gift, can he sell only the gold without intending to use it? (There is no intention to use the ring at all).
Answer: In the given case, if he sells only the gold and does not get any money for the manufacturing fee, there is no problem in itself.
The Remainder of the Financial Will of the Deceased
Question7: A person leaves a sum of money in trust with another so that after his death, it can be spent on the expenses of burial, shrouding, a certain period of prayer and fasting, as well as compensating for maẓālim (i.e. the property you owe to an unknown/inaccessible person) and the funeral ceremonies. If after the aforementioned matters are completed, does any amount remain, does it belong to the heirs or should it be spent on good deeds?
Answer: If, after deducting the debts and financial obligations of the deceased, the total amount of the property entrusted is not more than one-third of the deceased's property, the remainder should be spent on maẓālim.
Changing the Khums Year
Question8: If someone wants to advance their Khums year, for example, change it from the first of January to the first of March, is mere intention or calculation sufficient or must they definitely pay some amount for Khums in order to change the Khums year?
Answer: Mere intention and calculation are not sufficient and they must pay Khums to change the Khums year.
Original Watan
Question9: Which city is considered as the original watan?
Answer: If a person is born in watan of his parents and resides there for about six months, it is his watan as well. If he is born in a city other than his parents' watan, if he resides there for 5-6 years, it is his original watan.