His Eminence the Grand Ayatollah al-Hakeem called the researchers in theology to think freely to reach the truth, to spread it, to hold on to it and to act according to it.

His Eminence the Grand Ayatollah al-Hakeem called the researchers in theology to think freely to reach the truth, to spread it, to hold on to it and to act according to it.
2018/12/30

His Eminence, the Grand Ayatollah al-Sayyid Muhammad Saeed al-Hakeem, advised the academics and scholars of various religious backgrounds to be free and unshackled in searching for the truths and realities, and to hold on to them and act according to them. He advised them not to place their recorded research and studies securely in their files and treat them as heritage documents. He expressed his advice during a meeting with a group of Muslim and Christian scholars and academics researching on Islamic studies from France, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Egypt and Iraq.

His Eminence mentioned to the guests how the Quran, the Holy Prophet and the Imams (peace be upon them all) revere and highly respect the Prophet Jesus and Mary (peace be upon them), more so than any other holy book. It is necessary to recognize this truth.

At the end of the discussion, His Eminence advised all the academics and scholars of religion to disseminate the spirit of love, co-existence and communication, and that they call to understanding and calm discussion, and to frequent visitations, in order to remove confusions and to reach the essential aim of all those concerned, i.e. the search for truth, and their work can be fruitful to all.

The guests expressed their thankfulness and appreciation to His Eminence in allowing this opportunity to meet him, hoping that this can be repeated.

Day Questions

What prayers can one offer in congregation?

It is permissible to offer the five daily prayers, including the Friday prayers, in congregation as well as the prayer of Signs (Ayat), prayer on the deceased, Eid prayers and the prayer of Istisqa (for the seeking of rain).

I have hired various persons who are poor and pious believers and mostly careful in Sharia laws to make up for the lapsed prayers of my late wife. Now I have been told that they cannot offer prayers at the same time. Is this true?

It is not a requirement in the prayers on behalf of the deceased that they are not offered at the same time. They can offer the prayers based on their own circumstances and time.

If the husband becomes an apostate (murtadd), should the children stay with the Muslim mother?

If the father of the children became an apostate, then his guardianship over the children is no longer valid.