An Important Rule Often Neglected 25

A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West : Youth's issues » General Rules
Fatawa of Ayatullah al Uzama Syed Ali al-Husaini Seestani


503: It is harãm to play chess, regardless of whether or not the play is with betting. It is also harãm to play chess through computerized instrument, if there are two players involved in it. Based on obligatory precaution, one must refrain from it, even if just the computer is the other player.

504: It is similarly harãm to play with instruments of gambling in which betting is involved. Based on obligatory precaution, one must refrain from it even when no betting is involved.

522. Question: Is it permissible to play games of chance of all kinds on electronic machines (computers) without betting or with betting?
Answer: It is not permissible, and it is treated the same as normal [non-electronic] gambling instruments.

Yearn from Allah

Our antecedent sheikh, Mohammad ibn Ya’qub al-Kulaini – may Allah sanctify his spirit – has reported, from a chain of narration referring back to Husain ibn Ulwan, that he said:
“We were in a gathering, seeking to obtain knowledge therein. My capital had depleted due to a number of journeys, so one of our comrades asked me: ‘In whom are you hoping (for help) with regards to what has befallen you?’
So I replied: ‘So-and-so’
He said: ‘In that case, by God your need will not be met, your hope will not be attained and your request will not produce the desired result’
I asked: ‘What do you suggest? May Allah have mercy upon you’
He said: ‘Indeed Abu Abdillah (Imam al-Sadiq) (as) told me that he read in certain books that Allah, the Blessed and Exalted says:
“By My glory, My sublimity, My majesty and My ascension upon My throne; I shall cut-off, by despair, the hope of anyone who places their hope in other than Me. I shall clothe him with the garb of degradation in front of people; I shall avert him away from My proximity; I shall distance him from ever joining Me. Does he place expectations in other than Me during hardships whilst (full control of) the hardships are in My hands? Does he hope in other than Me and contemplate knocking the door of others whilst I hold the keys to the doors when they are locked? And My door is open to whosoever may implore me. Who is it that has had hope in Me in his misfortunes and I have let him down?! Who is it that has expected from Me in adversity and I have severed his hope in Me? I have preserved the hopes of my slaves but they are not satisfied with my preservation. I have filled My heavens with those who do not tire from glorifying Me; and have commanded them not to shut the doors between Me and My servants, but they (My servants) do not have confidence in My words. Does he (My slave) not know that, when a misfortune from among My misfortunes strikes him, none but Me has the ability to relieve it, except by My permission. So why is it that I see him unmindful of Me?! I granted him, by My generosity, that which he did not even request, then I snatched it away from him; yet he does not ask Me to return it, rather he asks those other than Myself! Does he reckon that, despite Me granting initially before being asked, I would not respond to the one who begs Me after being asked? Am I such a miser that My slave has deemed Me to be miserly? Do generosity and open-handedness not behove Me? Are pardon and mercy not in My hands? Am I not suitable for hopes? Who aside from Me can break them? Do those who hope not then fear in placing hopes in those other than Me?
Had all the inhabitants of My heavens and the inhabitants of My earth, all wished together; and had I granted them all fully in accordance with their hopes – My kingdom would not have decreased even to the amount of one grain. How can a kingdom diminish whilst I am its curator? Alas, what an ill-fate for those who despair in My mercy; and what misery for he who disobeys Me and does not fear Me’”.
Al-Kafi, V.2, Pg.66. Bihaar al-Anwaar, V.68, Pg 130

Salaat - from the heart of Rumi; and the Angelic Figure

In this connection it is said
that two rak‘as of prayer are better
than the world and all it contains.
This does not apply to every person.
The person to whom this applies is one
who considers it more serious
to miss two rak‘as than to lose the world and all it contains,
that is, one for whom it would be harder to miss
those two rak‘as
than to lose possession of the whole world.


Be always at work scraping the dirt from the well.
To everyone who suffers, perseverance brings good fortune.
The Prophet has said that each prostration of prayer is a knock on heaven's door.
When anyone continues to knock, felicity shows its smiling face.


WHO IS THIS ANGELIC FIGURE WHO IS SO PARTICULAR OF THE TIME OF MEETING HIS ONLY BELOVED?

"The very same day he [Imam Khumayni] prayed his zuhr and asr prayers with wudu'.
From an hour before noon, he asked whoever came to him: 'How much time is left for mid-day?'
And his aim (behind this) was that he should not delay in praying at the beginning of its time.
From 3.30 afternoon an overwhelming anxiety overcame all (of us). The treatment had reached at a point when, following utmost efforts by the physicians and the Hospital personnel, everyone was in wait for a miracle to transpire.
During Maghrib, the doctors, considering their awareness of his sensitivity toward prayers, called him and said: 'Agha, it is time for prayer.'
Imam Khumayni, who was unconscious from 1.30 afternoon, attended to this voice. All of us witnessed that he prayed his Maghrib prayer in that state of restlessness by moving his hands and eyebrows."
Firishte I'rabi

An Important Rule Often Neglected 24

A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West : Women's issues » General Rules 
Fatawa of Ayatullah al Uzama Syed Ali al-Husaini Seestani


450: It is not permissible for a woman to expose the top part of her feet to a non-mahram onlooker. However, she is allowed to keep her feet —top as well as sole— exposed during salãt, if she is in a place where she is immune from the looks of a non-mahram person.


478: Question: A Muslim woman wears high heel shoes that hit the ground in such a way that it draws attention. Is she allowed to wear it?
Answer: It is not permissible, if it is intended to draw the attention of non-mahram men to herself, or if it generally causes temptation [for committing sin].


489: Question: Is a woman allowed to wear trousers and take to the streets and markets?
Answer: It is not allowed, if it reveals the contours of her body or would normally arouse temptation.