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It is sometimes noticed that certain believers are preoccupied with social media, news, advertisements, pictures, videos, and similar materials during [religious] Hussaini gatherings while Holy Quran, supplications, or ziyarah are being recited, or during the sermon, for example. What is your advice to believers in this regard?

One of the etiquettes of attending these gatherings is to listen attentively as Allah Exalted says, “Whenever the Quran is recited (to you), listen to it quietly so that you may receive mercy.” The same conduct should be observed in the case of supplications, ziyarah, and sermon. Thus, whoever attends these gatherings and listens attentively to what is being said has honored them and is deserving of reward. On the other hand, if a person is unable to listen attentively they should not show disregard for it because this takes away the reward and blessings of these gatherings, “That. And whoever venerates the sacraments of Allah—indeed that arises from the God wariness of hearts.”

• majalis
• ziyarah

What are the days on which fasting is recommended?

Fasting is one of the highly recommended acts and it has been reported that it is a haven from the hellfire and a purification for the body. Moreover, the sleep of a fasting person is [a form of] worship, their breaths and silence are a [form of] glorification, their deeds are accepted, and their supplications are answered. There are many days on which fasting is recommended, most importantly, fasting three days every month (the best method is to fast the first and the last Thursdays and the Wednesday that falls in the second ten days of the [lunar] month. It is also recommended every Thursday and Friday (if they do not coincide with one of the two Eids [al-Adha & al-Fitr]), the day of Arafah, Eid al-Ghadeer (for its reward is equivalent to a hundred pilgrimages and a hundred Umrahs that are accepted by God), the day of Mubahalah, the first, third, and seventh of Muharram, the birthday of the Prophet (pbuh&hp), the day of Maba’th, and the entire months of Rajab and Sha’ban.

• fasting
• mustahab

What is the definition of ghina (singing)? What constitutes unlawful singing and music? What if it was used in the celebrations of Islamic events like Eid al-Ghadir and the birth anniversaries of the infallible Imams (pbut)?

Ghina (singing) is speech that is characterized as amusement and expressed in melodies that are known as such by people of entertainment and play. This is established according to common view (urf) and it is impermissible to sing, listen to it, or earn through it. It is also not permitted to recite the Holy Quran, supplications, praise of Ahl al-Bayt, and anything similar with such melodies, and even non-amusement speech based on obligatory precaution. And, there is no problem in something that is doubted to be ghina or falls into that category. As for music, like singing, it is prohibited if it is suitable for gatherings of entertainment and play, like playing the trumpet. As for other music, like the type used by the army, at a funeral or classical music, it is permissible, although based on a recommended precaution it should be avoided.

• music
• singing / songs

Is it permissible for a pregnant woman to exercise freedom over her body by aborting her fetus if it was conceived by mistake or if medical examination indicates that the fetus is disabled, such as having Down syndrome?

A person’s freedom over their body is only limited to what is permissible in Islamic law. As such, it is not permissible for a pregnant woman to abort her fetus unless the pregnancy poses a danger to her life or results in unbearable hardship (even if the unbearable hardship is due to caring for the child after birth). Then abortion is permissible before the soul enters the body (the 4th month, if it has not been proven to happen before then by modern means). As for after the entry of the soul, abortion is not permissible based on obligatory precaution. Moreover, the mere statement of the doctor or medical reports of the fetus being deformed or disabled is not a justification for abortion.

• abortion
• women

Since it is common for many people to offer annual [animal] sacrifices on Eid al-Adha, what are the rulings on offering a sacrifice?

Offering a sacrifice is highly recommended for those who are capable. Those who cannot find an animal to sacrifice or are not capable of it are recommended to offer its value as charity (sadaqah) instead. 
The time of offering a sacrifice begins at sunrise on the day of Eid al-Adha and continues for three days.
The sacrificed animal must either be a camel, cow, or sheep.
It is permissible for a person to sacrifice one animal on behalf of themselves and their family. It is also permissible for a group of people to sacrifice and collectively offer one animal.
It is permissible for the person who sacrifices an animal to allocate a third of it for themselves or to feed their family, just as it is permissible for them to give a third of it to whomever they wish from among Muslims, and based on recommended precaution, one-third of the sacrifice should be offered to poor Muslims.

• eid

Is it permissible for women to wear immodest clothes in their private gatherings or at a wedding party where men do not see them, and where sometimes dancing is involved?

It is not permissible if doing so arouses others, or is intended to do so, even if the onlooker is of the same gender. Dancing must be refrained from based on obligatory precaution except when a wife dances with her husband, or vice versa, far from the sight of others.

• clothing
• women

Is it permissible to transfer khums to another country where the duty-bound person does not reside?

It is not permissible unless the person is transferring it to give to a deserving relative who lives in another country.

• khums
• permissibility

Children may disagree with their parents in many matters, including travel, marriage, choosing a university major, a professional trade, and other similar decisions. What are the limits of obedience to the father and the mother?

The first, which relates to the affairs of the parents, includes two kinds of duties:
1- Being good to their parents, by fulfilling their daily and financial needs, and meeting the normal and usual demands of their lives such that it would be regarded as a denial of their favors [upon the child] if neglected.
2- To behave with them in an acceptable manner by not offending them through words or actions, even if the child feels that they have been wronged by them. 
The second aspect includes two types of duties that relate to the affairs of the child and the decisions and actions that cause the parents distress, which results from:
1- The parents’ compassion and concern for their child. As such, it is forbidden for the child to do something that would cause them distress, irrespective of whether or not they have forbidden them from it.
2- The parents’ own reprehensible characteristics (e.g., they do not want what is good for their child, possibly for personal reasons) then it is not obligatory upon the child to submit to their desires of this kind.

• child
• parents

Is it permissible to deal with cryptocurrency such as bitcoin, ethereum, etc.?

It is not permissible based on obligatory precaution. [Obligatory precaution means the duty-bound person may resort to another qualified jurist.]

• bitcoin
• investment
• investments
• permissibility

Is khums due on the money deposited into an employee savings account, such as a 401-K or IRA account? The savings in these accounts increase over time as a small percentage is taken from the employee’s salary and the employer adds a similar percentage to it. Both are then invested and the entire savings are given to the employee upon retirement.

Khums is immediately due on the percentage that is contributed from the employee’s salary. On the other hand, the amount contributed by the employer and the investment profits are not subject to khums until received by the employee and they have exceeded the expenses for the year of receipt.

• 401K
• savings