Get Answers

These days, video games attract many youths, including children and adolescents, and as it happens, some adults as well. There are many different types of games. Some involve playing cards or chess, with or without betting, some are in the form of sports (e.g., soccer) teams that compete against each other, and others include group participation in simulated violence, murder, theft, fraud, and similar acts. What is the ruling on playing these games, and buying, selling, or renting them?

Anything that is considered gambling and betting is forbidden, whether it is done by external means (i.e., using gambling/betting devices) or electronically. It is also forbidden to engage in such activities even if it does not involve betting based on obligatory precaution, and it is not permissible to deal with it [in any form of trade]. Other than these games, there is no problem in playing, for example sports competitions, provided that it does not contain/constitute something forbidden, leads to moral corruption, or leads to addiction to that game or others similar to it. As such, they must be avoided if they cause a person to neglect their religious duties, such as performing prayers in their prescribed times, or have detrimental psychological effects like making the player aggressive towards others, or similar effects.  

• gambling
• video games

Believers often encounter difficulty in getting enough water to purify themselves beyond the urinary orifice when using public restrooms where faucet water is not available [near the toilet]. Thus, for example, is it permissible to purify oneself from feces by wiping with toilet paper?

The urinary orifice must be washed with water once in order to purify it, and should be washed twice, or even three, times as a recommended precaution. As for the fecal orifice, it can be purified by wiping it once with any object (such as a cloth, tissue paper, or something similar) that will remove the impurity, provided the impurity does not spread beyond the orifice. If the impurity spreads to other parts of the body (i.e., surrounding the orifice) then water must be used to purify.

• najis
• urine

Rental apartments (for residing, while traveling, etc.) are sometimes equipped with household furniture and appliances such as refrigerators, mattresses, utensils, and so on. What is the ruling of ritual purity when it comes to these items, especially when we know that the previous tenant or guest in most cases is not a Muslim, such as someone from the people of the book, a Buddhist, a Hindu, or even someone without a religion, who does not believe in the existence of God, prophets, and messengers?

They should consider everything pure as long as they do not know for certain, or have contentment, that the item has become mutanajjis (i.e., ritually impure due to contact). Strong presumption (dhan) of the ritual impurity of something should be disregarded.

• najasat
• najis
• purity

Air travelers often face difficulty in performing prayer, determining the qiblah, and sometimes finding a stable place to pray due to the movement of the aircraft or turbulence, especially when traveling for long distances. What is their obligation in such cases?

The obligatory prayers are never revoked and it is not permissible to delay them beyond their allotted time under any circumstance. As for the qiblah, if it is difficult to determine, then the duty-bound person can ask the captain or flight attendants, and if their answer creates contentment or strong presumption that it is as they describe, then it is necessary to act accordingly. As for the condition of stability during prayer, it is revoked when it is impossible to maintain. In any case, a person must fulfill all the requirements of prayers to the extent they are able to do so.

• prayers
• qiblah

What is the view of the religious authority regarding participation in elections (i.e., voting) and candidacy for political office?

Participation in elections (municipal, local or federal, or for representative councils or other such bodies) is of great importance in shaping the future of a country, society, and future generations. Whoever does not participate in elections to express their view, passively allows others to shape their future and the future of their children; this is a mistake that no citizen should fall into.
In fact, the critical interests of Muslims in non-Muslim countries may require that they seek membership in political parties. In such cases, it is permissible for Muslims to engage in these activities to the extent that it is needed to serve the interest [of the Muslim community], which should be determined by consulting the trustworthy experts in the community who have familiarity with such matters.

• elections
• sociopolitical matters

What is the advice of the religious authority to Shia Muslims in various countries of the world, including the West, about their societal role?

The religious authority believes in the [harmonious] coexistence of all citizens of any nation regardless of their different religions, sects, and viewpoints. In addition to the importance of preserving their religious identity and noble traditions, Shia Muslims should integrate into the society of their home-countries, wherever they may be. Accordingly, the religious authority wants Shia Muslims to manage their day-to-day affairs [within the boundaries of Islam] by referring to the trustworthy experts in their country, and according to what suits them and their circumstances. Hence, the religious authority does not interfere in their affairs unless requested by them, and provided that its involvement is beneficial to them given their conditions and circumstances.

• social issues

What role does the religious authority see itself playing with regards to the sociopolitical matters of Shia Muslims in the world, including the United States?

The religious authority adopts a rational approach in assessing the current state of affairs, as well as in identifying solutions, and adopting specific positions. As such, the religious authority only considers the fulfillment of religious affairs to be its duty, and therefore, it does not interfere in politics. Instead, it leaves those activities to the political entities and professionals in the field. It only intervenes in the crucial matters of the nation and the implementation of its interests if the political apparatus is unable to deal with them or provide comprehensive solutions.
Administering social justice, regulating security, fighting corruption, preserving national sovereignty, and other such functions are the duties of the government, and the religious authority only provides advice and guidance.

• sociopolitical matters

If a couple gets divorced and one of them has received gifts and items entrusted to them from the other (cash, rings and jewelry, a passport, property documents, etc.), what is the ruling on these gifts and entrusted items after the divorce?

It is obligatory to return the entrusted items to their rightful owner.

• divorce
• gifts
• jewelry

Some companies offer financial leverage or borrowed capital to their clients so that they can buy more shares in the stock market, even if it is more than what is currently owned in their investment account. The loaned amount is then paid back to the company after the client sells the shares and completes the transaction. If the customer loses money then the company withdraws the amount loaned to the client anyway, even if it has to offset the loss by taking from their investment account. Thus, the company is not responsible for the client’s profit or loss and it protects the loan from any risk. Is this transaction permissible?

From the description, there is nothing wrong in such a transaction if a manager or representative of the company lends you the mentioned amount and then allows you to buy and sell it in return for a specified commission if the company has the authority and power to do so.

• investment
• permissibility
• stock market

Could the 40th, or Arbaeen, of Imam Hussain (p) fall on the 19th or 20th of Safar given that the lunar month can be 29 or 30 days? Will the visitation (ziyarah) be fulfilled if the visitor cannot stay until the actual 40th? What if the visitation is to fulfill a vow?

It is hoped that the visitation will be fulfilled (i.e., the visitor will receive the special reward from God), even if it is performed before the 40th. The 40th of Imam Hussain (p) falls on the 20th of Safar; therefore, the vow would not be fulfilled unless the visitation is performed on the actual day of the 40th (i.e., the 20th of Safar).

• arbaeen