SIMPLIFIED
ISLAMIC LAWS
FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS
Accordıng ot the Fatawa of:
Hadrat Ayatullah Al-Uzma AS-Sayyid
Al-Hajj Ali Al-Husaini AS-Seestani
Translated by:
Saleem Bhimji
Imam Ali foundation
The Book identity
Name: SIMPLIFIED ISLAMIC LAWS
For YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS
رسالة الأحكام للشباب
The author: Hadhrat Ayatullah Ali al-Husaini as-Seestani
The translator: Salem Bhimji
Edition: first edition
Year: 1999 A.D, 1420 A.H
Place: Iran-Qom
Namber-3000
Printer-MIHR
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Bismillahir-Rahmanir Rahim
In The Name Of God
Imam Ali Foundation
P.O.Box. 737 / 37185
Qom R.I.Iran
Tel: 743996
Fax: 743199
Publisher: Imam Ali Foundation
Iran-Qom
SIMPLEFIED ISLAMEC LAWS FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS
((رسالة الأحكام براى جوانان و نو جوانان))
Accordıng to the Fatawa (Islamec Rulıngs) of
Hadrat Ayatullah al Uzma al Hajj as Sayyed Alı al Husayne as Seestanı
حضرت آية الله العظمى الحاج السّيّد عليّ الحسيني السّيستانيّ (دام ظلّه)
Translated by saleem Bhımjı
Edıted by Arıfa Hudda
Islamec Humanıtarıan servıce
HEAD OFFICE
153 Frederıck Street Suıte 101 kıtchener Ontarıo Canada N2H 2M2
Tel (519) 576 7111 Fax (519) 576 0129
E- Mael his casynet on ca Inter Net www sımplecom net:
CENTRAL CANADA OFFICE:
P.O box 55050, Knotwood RPO. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. T6K-4C5
Tel:( 403 ) 461-7746Fax: (403 ) 461-3882
E-Mali: yasmin @ junctionnet.com
CENTRAL CANADA ORRICE:
5451 mCcOLL Crescent. Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. VV-2l6 Tel: (604) 526-7869 Fax: (604) 589-2020
E-Mail : abusajjad @imb.net
EUROPEAN ORRICE:
78 Galpins Road. Thornton Heath. London, England. Cr7 6ED
Tel: (181) 689-7884Fax: (181) 664-8392
Published and Distrbuted by: Islamic Humanitarian Service
1998 by: Islamec Humanitarian Service
FIRST EDITON: 1998 / 1419
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This publication may not be reprinted without the written permission of the translator.
TRANSLITERATION TABLE
Symbol / Translıteratıon / Symbol / Trnslıteratıonء / ، / ق / Q
ب / B / ك / K
ت / T / ل / I
ث / Th / م / M
ج / J / ن / N
ح / H / و / W
خ / Kh / ه / H
د / D / ي / Y
ذ / Dh / ة / Ah
ر / R / Long Vowels
ز / Z / ا
س / S / و / Ā
ش / Sh / ى / Ū
ص / S / Short Vowels / Ī
ض / D / َ / A
ط / T / ِ / I
ظ / Z / ُ / U
ع / ،
غ / Gh
ف / F
Table of Contents
A Summary of the life of the Marja' Taqlid of the Shi'i World1
Introduction to Islamic Principles5
Itjihad and Taqlid7
The Difference between Ihtiyat Mustahab and Ihtiyat Wajib9
Taharat 11
The Rules of the Corpse 12
The Rules of Blood 13
How does something become Najis?14
Mutahirat 15
The Rules of Water16
The Divisions of Pure Water 16
Qalcel Water 16
Kurr, Flowing and Well Water 17
How to wash something Najis in Water 18
The Ground 19
The Sun 19
Islam 20
Removal of the 'Ayn Najasat 21
Wudhu 23
How do we perform Wudhu? 23
An explanation of the actions in Wudhu 23
Wiping 24
Conditions for Wudhu 25
Summary of the conditions of Wudhu 26
Wudhu Jabirah 29
Things for which Wudhu must be performed 30
How does Wudhu become void? 31
Ghusl33
The method of performing Cihusl 33
Conditions necessary for a correct Ghusl 33
Wajib Ghusis 34
Gihusl Janabat 35
Actions Haram for a Junub 35
Ghusl Mayyit 37
Ghusl Mass Mayyit 37
The Ghusis related to Girls and Women 37
Ghusl ofHaidh (Menstruation) 37
Ghusl of Istihada 38
Ghusl of Nifas 39
Tayammum41
The Rules of Tayammum 41
Things that Tayammum is permitted on 43
The Rules of Tayammum 44
Salat 45
The Divisions of Salat 45
Times for the Daily Salat 46
The Time for Fajr Adhan 47
Zuhr 47
Maghrib 47
Midnight 47
The Rules of the times of Salat 48
Qiblah 49
Clothing in Salat 49
The Place of Salat 51
The Rules of the Place of Salat 52
The Rules of the Masjid 52
The Preparation for Salat 54
Adhan and Iqamah 54
Adhan 54
Iqamah 54
The Actions in Salat 56
Wajibat of Salat 56
Rukn of Salat 57
The Difference between Rukn and Ghair-Rukn 57
The Rules Pertaining to the Wajibat of Salat 57
Niyyat 57
Takbiratui Ihram 58
Qiyam 58
Qira'at 59
The Rules of Recitation (Qira'at) 60
Ruku' 61
Sujud 61
The responsibility of one who can not
perform Sajdah in the normal way 63
The Wajib Sajdah of the Qur'an 64
Tashahhud 65
Sal am 65
Tartib (Sequential) 65
Muwalat (Succession) 65
Qunut 66
Ta'qib Salat 66
Mubtilat of Salat67
The Rules of the Mubtilat of Salat 67
Speaking 67
Laughing and Crying for the affairs of the World 68
Turning away from die Qiblah 68
Eating and Drinking 69
Changing the form of the Salat 69
Translation of the Adhan and Iqamah 70
Translation of the Adhan 70
Translation of the Iqamah 71
Translation of the Salat 71
Takbiratui Ihram 71
Surah al-Fatiha 71
Surah al-Ikhlas 71
Dhikr in Ruku 72
Dhikr in Sujud 72
Tasbihat al-Arbah 72
Tashahhud and Salam 72
Doubts in Salat75
Doubt in the Parts of the Salat 75
Doubts that make the Salat void 76
Doubts that are Correct 76
Salatui Ihtiyat 78
Sajdah Sahw 79
Salatui Musafir81
Where is one's Homcplace (Watn)? 83
The intention of ten days 83
Salatui Jama'at87
Importance of Salami Jama'at87
Conditions for Salatui Jama'at88
Connecting or Joining in Salatui Jama'at 89
First Rak'at89
Second Rak'at89
Third Rak'at90
Fourth Rak'at90
The Rules of Salatui Jama'at91
Salatui Jumu'ah93
How to read Salatui Jumu'ah93
The Conditions for Salatui Jumu'ah93
The responsibility of the person making Salatui Jumu'ah 94
Salatui Ayat95
How to pray Salatui Ayat95
First Rak'at95
Second Rak'at96
The Rules of Salatui Ayat96
Mustahab Salat97
Salami 'Eid97
The time of Salatul-'Eid97
How to pray Salatul-'Eid97
The Nafilah of the daily Salat98
Salatui Lail (The Night Prayers)99
The time for Salatui Lail99
Salatui Ghufailah99
The Method of praying Salatui Ghufailah 99
Fasting101
Niyyat of Fasting101
The things that make the Fast void 101
The Rules of those thongs that make the Fast void 102
Eating and Drinking102
Having an Injection102
Allowing thich dust or smoke to reach the
Throat 103
Placing me complete head under water 103
Vomiting 103
The Qada' and the Kafarah of the Fast 103
The Qada' Fast 103
Kafarah of the Fast 104
The Rules of the Qada' and the Kafarah of the Fast 104
The Fast of a Traveller 105
Zakatui Fitrah 106
The amount of Zakatui Fitrah 106
The items that can be given for Zakatui Fitrah 106
Khums 107
The Rules of Khums 108
The Spending of Khums 109
Zakat111
The Rules of Zakat 113
The Disposal of Zakat 113
The Rules of Buying and Selling 115
Breaking or Cancelling a Transaction 116
Loans 117
The Divisions of Giving a Loan 117
The Rules of Giving a Loan 117
Custody or Trust 119
The Rules Regarding Custody or Trust 119
Lending and Borrowing 121
Items that are Found 121
Losing one's Shoes 122
Usurption 125
Eating and Drinking 127
The Etiquettes of Eating 127
The Etiquettes of Drinking Water 127
The Rusles of Slaughtering 131
The Conditions for the Slaughter 131
Hunting by Weapons 131
Fishing 132
Looking at Others and Marriage 133
Marriage 136
The Rules of Greeting one Another 137
Etiquettes of greeting one another 137
The Bules of the Quran139
Touching the Script of the Qur'an 139
Taking an Oath 141
Note143
Glossary of Terms 145
1
A Summary ofthe life ofthe Marja' Taqkd ofthe Shi'a World:
Ayatullâhal-'Uzmaas-Sayyid'Allah-Husaym as-Seestam
- His birth and studies:
Ayatullah Seestâni was born in 1349 A.H. (1928) in the month of Rabi al-Awwal in the holy city of Mashad, Irân. His noblc father was one of the devout 'Ulamâ of his region, and in order to help his son conrinuc his Islamic studies and to gan a deeper knowledge of the Islâmic sciences, his fathcr exposed him to the 'Ulamâ and scholars of the Havvza 'Ilmiyyah.
He took his introductory 'Arabic studies, including doquence (balâgha) from onc of the renouncd teachers of 'Arabic in. Khurasân by the name of Muhammad Taqi آdib Nishaburi. He also studied Fiqh, Usul, Mantiq, and Aaâid under the great 'Ulamâ and teachers of Khurasân, and in that same city, took part in Dars-e-Khârij (the highest levcفofstudics in the Hawza). At this rime, he also bencfittcd by thc presence of Allamah Muhaqqiq Mirzâ Mahdi Isfahani (May Allah sancûfy his spirit).
To advancc fürthcr and to completc his studics, hc travclled to the city of Qum in 1368 A.H. (1957), so that he would be able to make use of thc various 'Ulamâ at thc grand Hawza in this city.
The Hawza 'Ilmiyyah of Qum, was at that time under the supervision and guidance ofthe sole Marja' ofthe Shi'a world, آyatullâh al-' Uzma as-Sayyid al-Hâjj Husayn Burüjerd (May Allâh sanctify his spirit).
yatullâh Seestani who was present in the lcssons of Fiqh and Usül, which at that time were bcing taught by آyatullah Burüjerd, was quickly counted as one of his brightest students in the fields of Fiqh, Usül, and Rijâl.
Healso took part in the classes of Ayatullah al-'Uzma Hujjat Kuhkumrai and other teachers and scholars to quench his thrist for knowledge.
In the year 1371 A.H. (1960), Ayatullah Seestani once again moved, this time to Najaf al-Ashraf. At that time, the Hawza of Najaf was blooming and full of splendor and glory, and Ayatullah Seestani, with all that he could, took part in the classes being offered, and learnt the Islamic sciences from the most well known 'Ulama (if that time.
For more than 10 years he took part in the lessons of Ayatullah al-'Uzma as-Sayyid Abul Qasim al-Musawi al-Khui (May Allah be pleased with him). At this time, he also took part in the lessons taught by Ayatullah al-'Uzma Mohsin al-Hakim (May Allah sanctify his spirit). He also completed one complete course in Usul al-Fiqh under the auspices of Ayatullah al-"Uzma ash-Shaykh Husayn Hilli (May Allah be pleased with him).
After years of studies and participation in the lessons of Usul, Fiqh, and Mantiq, and spending time deeply reflecting and pondering on the sacred texts of the Hawza, and after years of studies in the Hawzas of Mashad, Qum, and Najaf, in the year 1381 (1970), he started to teach his own lessons of Dars-e-Kharij, revolving around the book, al-Makasib by Shaykh Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him). After teaching Dars-e-Kharij based on the framework found in al-Makasib for years, he advanced his lessons onto a higher level by teaching from the book al-Urwatu! Wuthqa.
Until today, Ayatullah Seestani has taught "Kitab at-Taharat", a good portion of the rules found in "Kitab as-Salat", and parts of "Kitab al-Khums".
- The great knowledge of the teacher:
Very quickly, the light of knowledge began to emit from the personality of Ayatullah Seestani, which was evident from his lessons in the Hawza.
Ayatullah Seestani is one of the few people who at a very young age, was given written certification that he had reached the level of Ijtihad, by his teacher Ayatullah Khm. In the same year that he received his certification
from Ayatullah Khui, the great Alim of Hadith and Rijal, 'Allama al-Hajj Aqa Buzurg Tehran! confirmed the same honour on Ayatullah Seestani in the fields of Rijal and Hadith. It should be noted that at the time of receiving these two confirmations, Ayatullah Seestani was not even 31 years old!
- Works of this Scholar:
Ayatullah Seestani, for the past 34 years, has been continuing the important task of teaching Dars-e-Kharij in Fiqh and Usul, and Rijal, and the fruits of his struggle for knowledge, and the accomplishments of this Faqhl have been preserved in writing - some of which are listed below:
- A Sharh (explanation) ofUrwatu! Wuthqa
- al-Bahuth ul-Usuliyah
- Kitab al-Qadha
- Kitab al-Bay' wa al-Khiyarat
- A Short treatise on the topic of Salat al-Musaffir (Arabic)
- A Short treatise on the topic of the Qiblah (Arabic)
- A Short treatise on the topic of Ijtihad and Taqlid (Arabic)
- A Short treatise on the topic of Interest (Riba')
- A Short treatise on the topic of the compilation of Hadith in Islam (Arabic)
...and various other books.
Ayatullah al-' Uzma as-Sayyid 'All al-Husayni as-Seestani and
Ayatullah al-'Uzma as-Sayyid Abul-Qasim al-Khui (RA)
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
The practical laws of Islam that arc related to the actions that one must perform and those that must be avoided, and are the responsibility of everyone to learn, are called the Ahkam (rules).
Every action that a person performs has a specific ruling in Islam. The various actions that we perform, which are related to our responsibility (to Allah) are divided into five catagories: Wajib, Haram, Mustahab, Makrith, and Mubah.
Wajib: Those actions which must be performed, and turning away from them, incur Allah's punishment - for example Salat, and Sawm.
Haram: Those actions which must be avoided, and performing them incur punishment from Allah, like lieing and oppression.
Mustahab: These are actions which are recommended to be performed and earn the person a reward, but turning away from such actions does not incur punishment from Allah - for example saying Salam and giving Sadaqa.
Makruh: Those actions which are better if not performed, and if avoided, earn a reward, but if performed, do not accompany a punishment - for example, blowing over hot food and eating hot food.
Mubah: Those actions whose performance or turning away from are equal; meaning neither gets a reward, nor punishment - for example walking or sitting.
(Ijtihad and Taqhd )
A person is able to perform the rites of Islam, either by way of "Ijtihad" or "Taqlid".
"Ijtihad" refers to the intense struggle in the way of extracting the rules of Islam from their sources, of which the most important are Hie Qur'an and the Ahadith of the Masiimin (Peace be upon all of them) » after learning the necessary sciences (of Islam) that enable the person to be able to extract the Ahkam from their sources. A person who has this intellectual power is called a "Mujtahid'^'.
"Taqlid" means following and to go behind someone, and in the context of Islam, refers to following a Mujtahid; meaning a person performs his responsibilities according to the fatawa of a Mujtahid.
ISSUE 1: A Mujtahid to whom others do taqlid, is refcred to as a "Mar/a' Taqlid", and the person who docs taqlid is called a "Muqallid"'.
ISSUE 2: Someone who is not a Mujtahid, and is not able to derive the rules and commandments of Allah from their sources must do taqlid to a Mujtahid; meaning he must perform his responsibilities according to the fatawa (of a Mu;'tahid), or act according to Ihtiyat.
ISSUE 3: Acting according to Ihtiyat means that one performs ones actions in such a way that he has certainity that he has fulfilled his responsibility (to Allah). For example, if a group ofMujtahidin consider an action haram, and another group do not consider that action haram, one would not perform that action; and if some Mujtahidin consider anaction wajib, and others consider it mustahab he would perform tthat action.
ISSUE 4: The responsibility of most people in the rules of Islam is to perform taqlid, because the number of people who are able to perform the rules of Islam by reaching Ijtihad or by practicing Ihtiyat arc few in number.
ISSUE 5: The Mujtahid to whom one does taqlid to, must be:
- Just (Adil)
- Male
- Living
- Baligh
- Shi'a Ithna-Asheri
- In the rulings where is it clear that there arc differences, must be the most knowledgeable (A'lam).
ISSUE 6: If the Mujtahid to whom a person is doing taqlid to, passes away and he was more knowledgeable than the other Mujtahidin who are living, the Muqallid must stay on the taqlid of the Mujtahid who passed away. But if among the Mujtahidin who are alive, one is more knowledgeable that the one who passed away, one must do taqlid to that Mujtahid who is alive and who is the most knowledgeable.
ISSUE 7: A'lam is that person who is the most strong from among the Mujtahidin in extracting the rules of Islam from their sources.
ISSUE 8: There are three ways to distinguish the Mujtahid and the most knowledgeable:
- A person himself has certainity; for example he himself is of the "People of Knowledge" and himself is able to discern who is a Mujtahid and A'lam.
- The statement of two knowledgeable and Just people, who are able to discern who is a Mujtahid and A'lam, on the condition that two knowledgeable and Just people do not go against their state-ment, and if someone goes against their statement, the statement of a person whose investigation was deeper should be accepted, and even if one person whom one has trust in, states that one is a Mujtahid or A'lam.
- A group of the "People of Knowledge" who are able to determine who is a Mujtahid and A'lam, if they verify who is a Mujtahid or A'lam, and if one finds certainity in their words.
ISSUE 9: The ways to obtain the fatawa of the Mujtahid arc:
- Hearing it from the Mujtahid himself.,
- Hearing it from two Just people.
- Hearing it from even one person in whom one has certainity in his words.
- Seeing it in the Rcsalah of the Mujtahid, as long as one has certainity in its authenticity.
ISSUE 10: If a person does not know if the fatwa of the Mujtahid has changed or not, and even if he has a doubt that his fatwa has changed, he is able to act upon that which is written in the Resalah, and it is not necessary for him to do any investigation.
ISSUE 11: It is wajib (mandatory) that a person learns those rules which he will always be in need of.
The difference between Ihtiyat Mustahab and Ihtiyat Wajib
ISSUE 12: Ihtiyat Mustahab always accompanies a fatwa, meaning, in that ruling, along with the Mujtahid expressing his opinion, he also gives an precautionary measure, and in that ruling, the Muqallid can act either according to the fatwa or the Ihtiyat, and is not allowed to refer to another Mujtahid. An example of this is:
Washing a najis dish in Kurr Water once makes the dish tahir, although the Ihtiyat is that it is washed three times.
Ihtiyat Wajib does not accompany a fatwa, and the Muqallid must act according to that Ihtiyat, but he is also able to refer this rule to another Mu-jtahid (perform Ruju) to whom it is permissable to do taqlid to - for example:
The Ihtiyat is that one does not perform sajdah on the leaf of the grapi tree.
(Taharat)
Taharat (cleanliness) and keeping a clean body and surroundings arc very important in Islam. Everyone must refrain from eating and drinking those things which arc najis; and the clothing that one wears for Salat, which is the best of actions in worshipping Allah, must be clean, and it is best that they are the most pure of clothing. Because of this, it is necessary to know what things are najis and if something is najis, the method of making them tahir.
ISSUE 13: Everything that exists is tahir except for eleven things, and those things that comes into contact with them also become najis.
ISSUE 14: The things which are najis, are the following:
- Urine
- Stool
- Semen
- Corpse
- Blood
- Dog
- Pig
- Alcohol
- Beer (According to Ihtiyat Wajib)
- Kafir
- The sweat of a najis eating animal.
ISSUE 15: The urine and stool of humans and all animals whose meat is haram and whose blood gushes, are najis.