Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

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A Code of Ethics for Muslim Men and Women

According to the Fatawa (Verdicts) of Eight Marja’ Taqlid of the Shi’a World

Author(s): Sayyid Masud Masumi

Translator(s): Arifa Hudda and Shaykh Saleem Bhimji

Publisher(s): Islamic Humanitarian Service (IHS)

www.alhassanain.org/english

Notice:

This versionis published on behalf of www.alhassanain.org/english

The composing errorsare not corrected .

Table of Contents

Foreword 6

Notes before you read this Book 7

Brief Biographies of the Maraja’ presented in this Book 9

Ayatullah al-‘Udhma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh ‘Ali Araki 9

Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh Muhammad Taqi al-Behjat 10

Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj as-Sayyid Muhammad Riza al-Gulpaygani 10

Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj as-Sayyid Ruhullah al-Musawi al-Khomeini al-Hindi 12

Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh Muhammad Fazil al-Lankarani 14

Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh Nasir Makarim ash-Shirazi 16

Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj as-Sayyid ‘Ali al-Husaini as-Seestani 17

Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh Mirza Jawad at-Tabrizi 19

Note 19

Rules related To looking At others 20

The Rules of Looking Related to Men 20

A) Men Looking at Other Men 20

B) Men Looking at Mahram Women 21

C) Men Looking at Non-Mahram Women 21

D) General Rules 23

E) Non-Muslim Women 26

F) Men Looking at Children 27

The Rules of Looking Related to Women 28

A) Women Looking at Other Women 28

B) Women Looking at Men who are Mahram 29

C) Women Looking at Non-Mahram Men 30

D) Women Looking at Children 30

Rules of Looking When in a State of Doubt 31

The Rules of Looking at Photographs 32

A) Men Looking at the Photographs of Non-Mahram Women 32

B) Women Looking at the Photographs of Men 34

The Rules of Watching Films 34

Note 36

Rules related To covering 37

Covering for Men 37

A) Clothing Forbidden for Men 37

B) Covering for Men in Front of Maharim, Men, and Others 38

C) Covering of Men in the Presence of Non-Mahram Women 39

D) Covering for Men in the presence of Children 40

Covering of Women 41

A) Covering for Women in the Presence of Non-Mahram Men 41

B) Rules Related to Wearing Socks 43

C) Rules Related to the Chador 44

D) Rules Related to Beautification (Zinat) 45

E) Covering of a Woman in the Presence of Other Women 48

F) Covering of a Woman in the Presence of Children 49

Clothing that is haram for Men and Women 49

1. Notorious Clothing 49

2. Clothing which is Specific to One Gender 50

3. Arousing or Stimulating Clothing 52

4. Usurped Clothing 53

5. Clothing Specific to the Non-Muslims 53

Notes 54

Rules related To socializing 55

Rules Related to Speaking 55

A ) Men Speaking to Non-Mahram Women 55

B) Women Talking to Non-Mahram Men 56

The Rules of Touching 58

The Rules of Kissing 60

General Rule 60

Masturbation 60

Rules Relating to Gatherings, Guests and Visiting 61

Rules Relating to Showing off 63

Rules relating to marriage and its ceremonies 64

Specific Rules of Marriage and Ceremonies 64

Research and Investigation about the Spouse 65

A) Rules of Indirect Investigation 65

B) Rules of Direct Investigation 65

According to the First Condition (mentioned above): 65

According to the Second Condition (mentioned above): 66

According to the Third Condition (mentioned above): 66

Rules on Istikhara 66

Rules of the Engagement Period 67

Temporary Marriage (Mut’a) before the Permanent Marriage 67

Rules Relating to the Preparation of Things for the Wedding Ceremony 72

Overall Rules 72

Rules Relating to the Wedding Party 72

Dancing 72

Music 74

General Rules 75

Reciting 77

Rules Regarding the Gatherings of Men in Wedding Ceremonies 80

Rules Relating to Women’s Wedding Ceremonies 83

Miscellaneous Rules 85

Note 88

Glossary of Terms 89

Sources Used for the Compilation of this Book 91

Foreword

The Laws and Regulations of Islamare divided into two major and distinct categories – the first being those laws that deal with a human being’s relationship to his Creator and Master. The second category is those laws that regulate and govern our relationship with each other. Seeing as how in the branch of Islamic Law, known is Fiqh, 90% of the rules govern our interaction with eachother, it is a requirement that we become familiar with how we should carry ourselves when around members of the same sex and more importantly, those of the opposite sex.

و سلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

Notes before you read this Book

This book contains the fatawa of eight Maraja’ Taqlid, three of whom have passed away, namely: Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj as-Sayyid Ruhullah al-Musawi al-Khomeini, Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj as-Sayyid Muhammad Riza al-Gulpaygani, and Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh ‘Ali al-Araki. The other five Maraja’, who are presently living, May Allah protect them all, include: Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh Muhammad Taqi Behjat, Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh Nasir Makarim Shirazi, Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj as-Sayyid ‘Ali al-Husaini as-Seestani, Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh Mirza Jawad Tabrizi, Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh Fazil Lankarani.

The actual reference from the Arabic and Farsi texts of the various Maraja’ Taqlid in this book have been omitted. As for the rulings for each of the Maraja’ we have used symbols, whichwill be mentioned at the end of this section, for brevity. In the event that one or more of the Maraja’ have not been mentioned in any ruling, this means that we were not able to get a hold of his rulings in that matter.

The main ruling which is given is in accordance tot he rulings of Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj as-Sayyid Ruhullah al-Musawi al-Khomeini, and in the event of any difference between his rulings and those of the other Maraja’, the opinions of those who differ will follow the original ruling. If there is no difference between the rulings, then we will only mention (with their appropriate symbols), those Maraja’ who share the same opinion.

Since the views of eight of the Maraja’ Taqlid of the Shi’a World have been mentioned, in case the Marja’ to whom one is doing taqlid to expresses an Ihtiyat Wajib, with ease the reader is able to refer one of the Maraja’ who have expressed a ruling (perform Ruju’).

Although we have referred to all of the printed books detailing the various laws of Islam from each of the Maraja’, but just to be completely satisfied that what we have compiled is correct, we had three of the major scholars who work in the offices of each of the Maraja’ look over our work.

For ease of reading, it is possible that the rulings we have included in this book, which we may put forth as a “Rule”, may have been posed to the office of the Marja’ in the form of a question, or vice-versa.

The abbreviations for the Maraja’ Taqlid are as follows:

A

Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh ‘Ali al-Araki

Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh Muhammad Taqi al-Behjat

G

Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj as-Sayyid Muhammad Riza al-Gulpaygani

K

Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj as-Sayyid Ruhullah al-Musawi al-Khomeini

L

Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh Muhammad Fazil al-Lankarani

M

Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh Nasir Makarim al-Shirazi

Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj as-Sayyid ‘Ali al-Husaini as-Seestani

T

Ayatullah al-Udhma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh Mirza Jawad al-Tabrizi