SHAFAQNA

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association)-It is about a few months that so many protests against the Iraqi government in some Sunni areas have started on Iraq after the arrest of Rafie Isaavi the country’s minister of wealth. The protestors had some political requests, some of which were quite reasonable and others not as much. This dangerous situation made for a kind of crisis between different political sects which caused some precarious decisions to be made which threaten the whole political system of Iraq.

In such situations the supreme Marjaeiat of Najaf is forced to interfere in order to stop the dangerous crisis.

One of the informant sources in Najaf (form Howza Elmiya) ,who asked not to be named, said during an interview with Shafaqna(the international Shia news association) about the recent events in Iraq. He said : Tuesday night in January 10th 2013, the national coalition of the Iraq parliament, with all its wings an political groups such as legal government, supreme house Badr association, independent factions, Davah party and Fazilat party, organized a long meeting, but the Sadr group was not invited to prevent leaking of secret points of the meeting. Noori Maleki, Al Jafari, Al Khazaie, Al Shahrestani, Alameri and other important people of Iraq attended. This informant of NaJaf Howza pointed out that the participants of this meeting transferred the details of the assembly to the Marjaeiat of Najaf. The informant also said the attendants of this meeting wanted to investigate the case of 50 parliament members’ decision to disgrace the Prime Minister. Some of

the committee members in attendance even said that the parliament must be dissolved before revealing it. According to Iraqi legislation the country can dissolve the parliament by two ways, either one third of the parliament members request dissolving it or the Prime Minister orders to dissolve it in the parliament. The civil law of Iraq emphasises that dissolution of parliament is not valid while the Prime Minister is under pressure from the opposition. The informant said that one of the coalition leaders in the meeting wanted to dissolve the Iraqi parliament. Mr. Mehdat Al Mahmood, the head of the Iraqi justice committee stressed that in case of the absence of the President, the Vice Prime Minister can be referred to in order to agree upon a dissolution of the parliament. This person is Khazir-Ul-Khazaee, the Vice Prime Minister, who is one of the leaders of the Aldaava party ( the party which supports Noori Al Malicki). This matter is under investigation according to our source, however some people have refused dissolution but eventually went along with it. Some members even requested to consult with Ayatollah Sistani about it but as long as Ayatullh Sistani refused any political meeting with himself, therefore they decided to send a committee to visite Ayatullah Fayaaz to understand the view point of Ayatullah Sistani.

That source added: On Friday Ayatullah Fayaaz had a telephonic contact with Ayatullah Sistani, He hope if he can arrange a meeting between ayatollah and the national coalition committee. But ayatollah Sistani refused to meet such committee. And apologized about it. But he accept they meet with his son seyed Mohammad reza in sheikh Fayazs house, to explain Ayatullah Sistanis Point of views. This source who didn’t like to be known his name, continued: the national coalition committee, which are included of : Hossein Shahrestani, minister of

Energy and prime minister deputy , Sheykh Abdulhalim Zoheyri one of the prime minister s councils, on Saturday evening /12/January /2013, went to Ayatullah Fayazs hometo meet with Mohamad Reza Sistani to attend in the meeting with the national coalitions committee. The Hawza informed source emphasised that the coalition committee members, during their meeting with Seyed Mohammad reza Sistani, explained the dangers of different side of crisis according to demonstratins and protesting the government. Also they said : it could resulting to a sort of plot and conspiracy from the regional and international sources. They also it was because of some of our mistakes too, which pushed us to such crisis. Then they described the situation of Iraqi prisoners and all activities which has done by Iraqi humanitarian associations, to arrange some helps and facilities (under management of Iraqi P. minister) for them. Also they talked about Rafie Al Eisaavi, and all accusations related to him, and his Body gards. Then the committee dispute the protestors demands and why those protestors refuse p. minister. He added: the committee want to arrange another meetting in Baghdad, to make a decision for dissolving the parliament. The Hawza informed source said: also, Seyed Mohammad reza Sistani after listening to those conversations, said: I am very thankful that we know all about the this mitting and their decisions around dissolving of the parliament. This subject has already transferred to Ayatullah Sistani, but he believed it is impossible in this situation right now to dissolvation of the parliament now because of 3 reasons:

1- The civil law doesn’t allow it.

2- Because if the parliament dissolved then it has negative notice for the sunnis and they thought dissolve of the parliament means ,

they are not allowed to be a part of legislation house. They want to dissolve the parliament just after the sunnies got more sits in parliament now and became more strong.

3- The 3rd reason is if parliament dissolved and we arrange the fast election before time, in this dark atmosphere( with different tribes and different political groups) if they entered into the parliament , then don’t let our country to have an united and strong government. it means after 10 years struggle to obtain a legal and powerful state which respect to Islamic law, we must let the people to elect their leaders from different political parties without any respecting to each other and without respecting to Islamic Law.

The Iraqi informed source said: that Seyed Mohammad reza Sistani gave this message from his father that the Iraqi national coalition committee must investigate to all of the political events and knowing their problems with paying attention to their desires and knowing their legal requests. We should remind the experiences of other countries such as south Africa as well, to establish a national and legal state.

1-Communicate with tribes and ghabayel and families and all of the opposition groups , and pay attention to their problems and difficulties and their point of views .

2-The importance of no fighting with demonstrators and avoid of felling even one drop of blood on the earth. Accept of their legal requests and having the support of police at any region. .

3-the necessity of acceleration to establish the legislation and civil law, for our country which some of them are part of the

demonstrators and other Iraqis requests ,such as approving the supreme court law ,and making some change in those law.

The meeting was ended at this time.

The informed sources of Hawzah of Najaf said: after finishing the meeting in Najaf Ashraf, the Iraqi national coalition committee returned back to Baghdad, and according to Ayatullah Sistanis advices they decide to do not dissolve the parliament for now. And take another way to find a solution for Iraqi crisis .

The same source emphasised that the ayatollah Sistanis Office in Najaf Ashraf noted to Hujatul islam sheikh Abdul Mehdi Karbalaee , to explain all of his advices and solution for Iraqi crisis in his speech of Juma Prayer and within his speech must emphasise to the government duties to pay attention to these road map to avoid of all conflict between the groups and Government.

www.shafaqna.com

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - Some of the cheese products manufactured in non-Muslim countries contain rennet extracted from the calf or other animals. We do not know whether the rennet was taken from the animal that was slaughtered according to Islamic laws; neither do we know that it has transformed into something else. So is it permissible to eat such cheese?

Answer : There is no problem in eating such cheese.

www.shafaqna.com/English

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — this morning, George lingo, ambassador of Vatican in Baghdad accompanying with a great group of Christian representatives such as 15 priests, are going to visit grand ayatollah Sistani.
This is happening during the time that immigration of Christians especially from Iraq is experiencing a new phase. Disrespecting to Prophet Mohammad has affected the region and rumor of Pop Benedict, the 16th's future visiting to Iraq has been spread along the news. www.shafaqna.com/English

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - Top Shia cleric Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Al-Hussaini Al-Sistani, emphasised that there are no real differences between Shia and Sunnis and that he is a servant to all the people in Iraq.

His eminence also added, in a speech that was read on his behalf on the opening ceremony of the first Shia and Sunni Scholars Forum in the holy city of Najaf, “I love everybody and religion is love. I am shocked how enemies can divide the Islamic sects.”

He also mentioned that “these gatherings and meetings are important and fruitful, from which people can know that there are no disputes between them (referring to Islamic sects). Differences between Shia and Sunnis are in jurisprudence (Fiqh) issues, which also exist between the people of the same sect.”

In addition, he said that “Shia have to defend the social and political rights of the Sunnis before the Sunnis themselves. Our call is for unity; and I said that before, but still say it, do not say our Sunni brothers, but say ourselves. I listen to the Sunni Friday prayer leaders more than I listen to Shia Friday prayer leaders. We do not distinguish Arabs and Kurds. Islam is what unites us.”

He clarified that he mentions the Sunni fatwas, in his jurisprudence researches. “We are united towards one Ka’ba, one Prayer and one Fasting. Whenever a Sunni comes and tells me that they be became Shia, in the time of the previous regime, I ask him why? He responds to me that it is for the obedience of Ahlulbayt (A.S.) (Wilaya). So I tell him that the Sunni scholars always defended and supported the obedience of the Holy Household (A.S.).”

Ayatollah Al-Sistani concluded by saying that “the mass burials (graves where many people used to be buried together at the time of Saddam Hussein’s regime) affected the Sunnis as equally as the Shia. I support everyone who demands their rights.”

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - The office of Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Al-Hussaini Al-Sistani answered questions and suspicions concerning the alleged reports that his eminence gave approval of the content of Imam Sadiq (A.S.) TV series “Imam Al-Fuqaha’a” and authorizing the show of Imam Sadiq’s (A.S.) face by the actor.

SHAFAQNA has asked Ayatollah Al-Sistani’s office about the issue and the question came as follow:

There are media reports saying that Ayatollah Ali Al-Hussaini Al-Sistani gave his approval to the content of the TV series, being aired currently in the holy month of Ramadan on different channels including Al-Iraqia channel (of Iraq). According to these reports, it is being said that Ayatollah Al-Sistani allowed the showing of Imam Sadiq’s (A.S.) character’s face played by the main actor. Are these reports true?

Ayatollah Al-Sistani’s office responded by saying:

What has been spread in the media has no truth. The content of this TV series was never shown to his eminence to take his opinion. Ayatollah Al-Sistani never gave approval of filming the actor’s face playing the role of one of the infallible Imams (A.S.). None of these issues have been asked to his eminence and everything related to this issue has no truth.

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - Three years ago, six Shia scholars in London’s Islamic centers asked about the subject of the moon sighting after explaining the problems that happen due to the difference in opinion of our great scholars.

After showing his opinion about this subject, Ayatollah Ali Al-Hussaini Al-Sistani recommended that everyone follows their own scholar, like it is in all Fiqh issues, and the importance of educating the believers to accept the differences in opinions and avoid making conflicts out of it.

It can be mentioned that the answer to this question (moon sighting) had the personal stamp of Ayatollah Al-Sistani on it.

SHAFAQNA considered it important to re-publish the question and its answers due to its high religious scientific and timing importance.

Here is the original letter sent by the UK scholars to Ayatollah Al-Siatani

Question

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST BENEFICENT THE MOST MERCIFUL

May peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you,

We would like to inform your eminence that a monthly meeting takes place in the presence of six of the scholars responsible of several Islamic centres belonging to Ahlulbayt’s (A.S.) school of thought to discuss relevant issues concerning the community. The scholars mentioned, discussed the moon sighting issue in Britain during their last meeting. They observed a general discontent in the public regarding the difference in opinion among the great scholars on the issue of moon sighting, especially the difference about the beginning of the month (of Ramadan) or on the Eid for up to three days, like what happened last year, which generated confusions that are hard to respond to.

On this occasion, we present to your eminence the conclusion of what has been discussed.

1. According to the scientific rules and the testimonies of the experts, it is possible to see the moon in most of Europe before sunset, this Friday, by telescope.
   
   
2. If the rule according to your eminence is the correlation of scientific and astronomical moon sighting between one country and another without obstacles, is it possible to generalize this correlation among the meridians also or does it concern only the latitudes?

We hope from your eminence to help us take the right decision that reduces the disputes among the families in Europe and more specifically in the UK.

Sheikh Ali Al-Alemi, Sheikh Abdl Hussain Al-Muazzi, Sayyed Mohammed Al-Mousawi, Sheikh Dhafar Abbas, Sheikh Fadhel Al-Milani, Sayyed Murtadha Al-Kashmiri.

Answer

IN THE NAME OF ALMIGHTY ALLAH

1. It is known that the beginning of the lunar month is marked by the sighting of the moon in the horizon of the concerned country in a way that it can be seen by naked eye without any obstacles like clouds, fog or such. Therefore, sighting with telescope only is rejected.
   
   
2. Common horizon between two countries in moon sighting means that actual sighting in the first country has to be related to the sighting in the second country if external obstacles do not exist. It also important to know that one of the most important issues that affect sighting is the moon elevation compared to the horizon on sunset. The involvement of two countries on the same meridian does not mean that sighting will be possible in both countries on the same night and the same elevation. Generally, moon is possible to see in most countries that are south of the equator, because of its appearance at a reasonable elevation. This also mean that moon will not be possible to see in countries that are situation in the north of the planet earth, even though they are on the same meridian  as the previously mentioned countries.
   
   
3. The differences at the beginning of the lunar months cannot be avoided because of the opinions of the scholars. It is the duty of every person to follow the Fatwa of their own scholar in all Fiqh issues and we ask believers to be educated to accept the differences in opinions among the scholars and avoid making disputes and problems out of it.

May Allah help and guide your path. Peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.

Ali Al-Hussaini Al-Sistani

26 of Shaba’an 1430