1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

25 Questions

I am a follower of Ayatollah Syed Ali Sistani, living in Japan. If packaged food has ingredients like emulsifier, shortening, gelatin, etc., and their source is not mentioned, is it halal or should I avoid it?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'āla

Wherever you are, and whichever country you may be in, if its non-Muslim country, or even in some cases Muslim country, it is important to check and verify the ingredients of it is not made by Muslim manufacturer. 

1. If it does not have anything haram, and you have assurance that there is no shar'i issue with it, you can consider it halal.

2. Ihtiyat is always good. If you are uncomfortable about a certain product, being halal or haram, best to avoid. 

3. It is not you absolute duty to investigate, and pry into everything, but you cannot easily turn away from it as well. 

Try to stick with things you know are made in Muslim country. Try to find alternatives, and remember that with the difficulty you endure, you will be rewarded more.

And Allah knows best
I chose a Marja based on his reputation for knowledge, but as a Baligh Shia, I am now reconsidering my choice. Are my past prayers and fasting valid? Am I allowed to switch to Sayyid Sistani or Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Your previous prayers and fasts and worship are valid as far as your intention was for the sake of Allah, and you did not violate any basic rule of worship.

Taqleed is acting upon the verdicts if the most learned scholar (Al-A’lam) who is considered by the high caliber scholars in the Hawza who are known as Ahlul Khibra أهل الخبرة.

Switching should be to the most learned Al-A’lam.

Wassalam.
I am a new follower of Shia Islam and wish to begin Taqleed. Could you please guide me on who are the top three recognized Maraji' of our time that I can follow? I understand I must follow one of them, but this matter is very confusing for me.
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Taqleed is obligatory to keep based on authentic evidence from Quran and Sunnah. The most knowledgeable Marje' is to be followed. The highly learned scholars in Hawza know who is the most knowledgeable Marje'. It is not an option between three unless all of them are in the same level of knowledge.

Wassalam.
What narrations of the Prophet (s) and the Ahlulbayt (a) can be used to prove the concept of Taqleed during the occultation of the Imam (a)?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

In Quran we read ( So, ask those who know if you don't know ( Sura 21, verse 7).

'Many Hadeeths from the Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS) order Muslims to learn the religious rules from those who know and never act with out knowledge. The Prophet (SAWA) said: Ask those who know. ( Amaali al-Tousi). Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq (AS) said: People who don't ask the knowledgeable persons will perish. (Munyatul al Merced).

Muslim needs to know the right Islamic knowledge to follow it and be on the right path. Right knowledge can't come from lay people or from the parents or friends etc, but it must come from knowledgeable persons Ulamaa' who have spent their life in studying and researching the Islamic knowledge from Ahlul Bayt (AS). This following the evidence taken by Mujtahids is called Taqleed, without which your religious acts will be with out authentic evidence.

Wassalam.