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What is your question?

Are donor ova and gender selection permissible in Islam? We are looking into this option because we already have two girls and would like a boy. Also, my wife is unable to conceive with her own ova and so we would like to use donor ova.

Answer

It is allowed for a woman to accept a donor ovum from another woman for the purposes of carrying it in her womb and becoming pregnant (i.e. for the purposes of reproduction). However, this process is problematic from a religious perspective because it usually involves unlawful looking and touching of the private parts by those not permitted to do so. This prohibition is not lifted except if preventing the pregnancy becomes a source of unbearable dire difficulty (haraj) for both the husband and wife, or for one of them such that it results in psychological (or other) problems that make life [immensely] difficult and paralyzed. As far as gender selection is concerned, this has to do with the father’s gametes and nothing to do with the ovum.

Tags
  • permissibility
What is your question?

My husband and I had an argument after which he issued three divorces at once. He said “I divorce you” three times, therefore, does issuing all these divorces at once count as one pronouncement, or is this a full irrevocable divorce?

Answer

A correct divorce requires several conditions (e.g. wife must not be menstruating, proper pronouncing of divorce formula) among which is saying the divorce in the presence of two just (pious) men, which did not happen in your case. Hence, you are still married because divorce did not take place at all.

Tags
  • divorce
What is your question?

1. For the Sahm as-sadah portion of khums, I have been distributing amounts to IMAM and other charitable organizations in a different country, as well as to some sayyid family members in that country who are in real need. Is this permissible?

2. For the Sahm al-Imam portion, could I send it to Ayatollah Sistani's representative in a different country who will send me the official receipt?

Answer

1. There is no issue in doing this as long as you are sure the khums money goes to sayyids who are truly needy/poor and religiously observant.

2. It would be fine as long as you receive an official receipt from Sayyid Sistani’s offices. However, please note that the Shia communities across the United States and Canada are in big need of khums money as well, especially for educational projects to bolster our new generations.

Tags
  • khums
What is your question?

A mother tells her child not to do something, even though it is not haram, and the child obeys to comfort his mother and so she does not become upset. Is it a sin if he does not actually intend to obey her and actually continues to do it without her knowing?

Answer

A child is not permitted to do something that causes their mother pain, which arises out of her care and concern for the child. If the act does not entail such pain, it is permissible, however lying to the mother about it is not.

Tags
  • child
What is your question?

I received a bank loan and bought a new house. I am currently renting it out but my intention is for it to be used by my children in the future. According to the new khums fatwa of Sayyid Sistani, is it considered to be exempt from khums?

Answer

Click the following link to read the detailed answer: https://imam-us.org/clarification-on-exempting-a-debtor-from-khums

Tags
  • khums
  • loans
  • mortgage
What is your question?

I had a chance to get a bank loan with low interest to support my business. According to the new khums fatwa of Sayyid Sistani, am I considered exempt from khums?

Answer

Click the following link to read the detailed answer: https://imam-us.org/clarification-on-exempting-a-debtor-from-khums

Tags
  • khums
  • loans
What is your question?

I have a student loan. Am I exempt from paying khums according to the new khums fatwa of Sayyid Sistani?

Answer

Click the following link to read the detailed answer: https://imam-us.org/clarification-on-exempting-a-debtor-from-khums

Tags
  • khums
  • loans
  • student loans
What is your question?

I heard about a new khums fatwa that His Eminence Sayyid Sistani absolves those who have outstanding bank loans from paying khums. Could you please elaborate on this?

Answer

Click the following link to read the detailed answer: https://imam-us.org/clarification-on-exempting-a-debtor-from-khums

Tags
  • khums
  • loans
What is your question?

How should a person pray and fast if they have three residences, two in the United States and one overseas, which is used during the summer holidays? Where should they pray qasr and where should they pray full? What about fasting?

Answer

Click the following link to read the detailed answer: https://imam-us.org/rules-of-prayer-and-fasting-during-travel

Tags
  • fasting
  • prayer
  • travelling
What is your question?

I am a truck driver. Sometimes I drive within my home state and at other times I travel out of state. How should I perform my prayers (qasr or full) and fasting during the month of Ramadan?

Answer

Click the following link to read the detailed answer: https://imam-us.org/rules-of-prayer-and-fasting-during-travel

Tags
  • fasting
  • prayer
  • travelling