Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (AS) student proves: Imamate is guidance we need

Basra is a big city and themain port of Iraq. It is situated at the
mouth of river Euphrates.
There, in a big mosque, people used to assemble to discuss various
subjects on Islamic rules and laws. A famous learned
priest/clergymanby name Amr Bin Ubeid was once preaching on the
subject of Imamate (An Islamic term referringto "leadership" of Imams
who followed Prophet Muhammad (saw) in leadership of Islam, according
to Shi'a belief ).He was surrounded by a big crowd of people whowere
asking various questions on the subject. Suddenly, a young and
intelligent student of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (AS) by name of Hesham,
entered the gathering and sat down in the first row. He addressed the
priest saying that he was a stranger and would liketo ask some
questions. Ongetting the permission todo so, he asked the following:
Hesham: First, Sir! May I please know if you have eyes?
Amr: Young Boy! Is this a question to ask?
Hesham: Whatever it maybe, this is my question to which I shall
appreciate your answer.
Amr: Alright! You are at liberty to ask, even though it is a foolish question.
Hesham: As I have alreadyasked, Sir, may I please know if you have eyes?
Amr: Yes, I have.
Hesham: For what use arethey?
According to a verse (2:124) of Noble Qur'an, Imamate is a station
that was granted to prophet Ibrahim al-Khalil (pbuh) after that great
test, trial by Kalimat (words). According to traditions that are
consecutively narrated (mutawatir) and which both Shi'a andSunnis have
related, this station was also placed inAhlul Bayt of the Prophet
Muhammad (saw). Amr: With eyes, I can see faces of people and color of
various things.
Hesham: And you have a nose also?
Amr: Yes. I do have one.
Hesham: What is its function?
Amr: I smell the scent andodor by it.
Hesham: And do you havea mouth?
Amr: Yes I do have.
Hesham: For what use is it?
Amr: I can talk to people or taste food and drink with it.
Hesham: Do you have ears?
Amr: Yes, I have two ears.
Hesham: What is their function?
Amr: I can hear voices by them.
Hesham: And do you havea mind?
Amr: Almighty has bestowed me with that also.
Hesham: What is its use?
Amr: With that I am able to distinguish things whatever is felt by the
other senses like hands, eyes, ears, nose, tongue etc. In case of a
difference, I am able to solve with its help. In case of a doubt, I
can dispel with it and be sure.
Hesham: So, does it meanthat despite being sound and healthy, all
these organs cannot function independently without the help of the
mind.
Amr: No, No! None of the organs can function independently without the
help of the mind.
Hesham: Why is it so? After all, the organs are perfect and strong
enough to differentiate between things?
Amr: Young Boy! When any organ has some doubt about a thing, which it
smells, sees or tastes, it brings the matter to the mind and itis the
mind, which confirms the truth and removes the doubt.
Hesham: So, from what you have said, do you want me to understand that
Almighty Allah (SWT) has created and designedthe mind to guide the
organs and remove doubts?
Amr: Yes! It is so.
Hesham: So the mind is a necessity, otherwise the organs could not
work independently.
Amr: Yes.
Hesham: Please Sir! Proclaim your opinion with fairness and justice on
this point also. If Almighty Allah (SWT) has not left the organs of
man's body without the guidance of the mind, how is it possible that
Almighty Allah (SWT) could leave millions of Hiscreatures without an
IMAM to guide and solve their problems arising out of doubts and
conflicts? Should not our common sense accept this fact?
On hearing this logic argument, and having noanswer to give, Amr Bin
Ubeid kept silent and went into deep thinking.
Hesham was a deeply learned person and one of the closest companions
of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (AS) from whom he had obtained his knowledge.
Note: There is a Hadith, according to which Prophet Muhammad (saw)
said: "If (as few as) three persons go on a journey, they must appoint
one out of themselves as their leader." From this one may infer to
what extent our Prophet Muhammad (saw) regarded as harmful the
disorder and absence of an authority that could resolve social
conflicts and serve as a unifying bond among individuals.

Performing Hajj or In-Vitro fertilization first?

Question
My husband and I have been married for four years but we do not
haveany children. We went to a doctor and she told us that we need to
perform an In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedure if we are to have a
child. We have not yet performed Hajj and only have enough money to
cover the costs of either the IVF, which isvery expensive, or our
obligation of Hajj, which is also very expensive as we live in the
United Arab Emirates. It will cost both of us about twenty-five
thousand Dirhams in total. We are of modest means, praise be to Allaah
The Almighty, and Ido not know whether or not we will be able to save
such a sum of money later on. I am yearning to have a child in my life
and fear that my husband's relatives would convince him to marry
another woman soas to have a child. What should I do? Which of thetwo
matters should be prioritized?
Fatwa
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad
isHis slave and Messenger.
Hajj is obligatory upon a Muslim who is capable of performing it. This
is supported by the verse (which means): {And [due] to Allaah from the
people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find
thereto a way.} [Quran 3:97]
Ability means having money that enables a person to pay the expenses
of Hajj provided that it is in surplus to his necessary needs, like
residence andlife expenditures.
As for having children, there is no doubt that it is one of the most
important needs in a person's life but it does not reach the degree of
necessity. Hence, you have to give priority to performing Hajj over
the IVF which you mentionedis very costly.
We would like to point out that the costs of Hajj vary according to
the means of transportation, accommodation services in the sacred
cities and soon. If you choose a cheaper Hajj package, you may reduce
its costs in a way which helps yousave some money that may help you
with the IVF procedure. We ask Allaah The Almighty to assist you in
realizing all your aims and make reproduction easy for you.
Allaah Knows best.

Entering Makkah intending to perform `Umrah (lesser-Hajj) takesthe same ruling as that ofthe Makkans

Question
I live in Jeddah and have daughters who live in Makkah. Sometimes I
visitthem and stay in Makkah for a week or two. I am now in Makkah and
wantto perform 'Umrah so should I return to Jeddah to assume Ihraam or
just do the same as the people of Makkah?
Fatwa
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad
isHis slave and Messenger.
If you want to assume Ihraam (ritual consecration) when you are in
Jeddah, then your Meeqaat (point at which the rites are initiated) is
the same town which you are in. This is based on the statement of the
Prophet as he explained the locations of the Meeqaats: "…And whoever
is living within these boundaries can assume Ihraam from the place
where he decides (to perform Hajj or 'Umrah)". [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]
Thus, if you came to Makkah with no intention of performing 'Umrah or
came to it intending 'Umrah, stayed for some time and then wanted to
assume Ihraam for 'Umrah while still there, then the rulingof Ihraam
of the people of Makkah is applicable to you. Hence, you have to go to
a place outside the sacred precincts of Makkah, be it At-Tan'eem or
any other place, and assume Ihraam for 'Umrah from there. You do not
have to return to Jeddah because, in such acase as you mentioned, the
ruling of the people of Makkah applies to you.
Allaah Knows best.

Her parents sponsored the construction of her house on her husband’s land

Question
As-salamu-alaikum Mufti,Iam married without any issue,Alhamdulilah
having husband,both parents,3 siblings all married with issues,2
brothers and 1 sister.Recently my parents gifted me and has sponsered
construction cost on a portion of the site(land) which is on my
husband'sname,my question is what should i do so as myheirs can get
what gift/money my parents gave me & which belongsto me now, to be
distributed impartially according to sharia,in case of my death.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad
isHis slave and Messenger.
According to the preponderant opinion of the jurists the parents are
obliged to bejust between their children in gifting them, so they
should not favor some of them over the others without a valid reason.
For more benefit,please refer to Fatwa 119032 .
If we presume that there is a reason for you being favored over your
siblings, like your need for accommodation while your husband is
incapable of offering it, then this need can be fulfilled by renting
an accommodation, and there is no need to pay for the construction
costs. We have already issued Fataawa 94685 and 96941 clarifying this
issue.
Therefore, this gift is considered invalid unless all your siblings
agree to it or that the father gives each one of them the same like
it.
If the donor is unjust in gifting his children and he does not take
back the gift [from the person whom he had favored over others], then
the person who is favored should do so (i.e. give back the gift),
otherwise he would be sinful according to the opinion that it is an
obligation to give back the gift that was received unjustly.
To conclude, the construction costs which you mentioned are not
considered as your property except with the conditions that we have
mentioned to you, i.e. that your siblings should consent to it or that
they should be gifted the same like it.
If this is not achieved, then you should give back what your father
had given to you as construction costs, or that you make your siblings
co-owners of your share of the estate, in which case, all of you will
own it. Hence, your heirs will only get your share of it.
Allaah Knows best.