Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Al-Hakeem receives a Sufi group from the UK

Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Al-Hakeem receives a Sufi group from the UK
2020/01/03

Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammed Saeed Al-Hakeem received a Sufi group from the UK on Thursday, 2nd January 2020. He advised that the Muslims in all nations across the world to increase the dialogue, cooperation and affection amongst each other. He emphasized the importance of unity, through entrenching the commonalities and strengthening them.

His Eminence narrated to his guests the narration of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny): “Compassion has not been placed in something, but that it adorns it; and foolishness has not been placed in anything, but that it causes it disgrace.”

His Eminence called all Muslims to act upon the straight path shown by the Holy Quran and the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny), with beautiful ethics, taking the Prophet as an example in how he was able to establish his personality amongst the polytheists, with his beautiful etiquettes and ethics.

Day Questions

How do we explain the punishments imposed by the Sharia for various crimes, such as the death penalty for apostates, while the Quran says that there is no compulsion in religion?

Applying the Sharia-defined punishments is the duty of the Prophet and the Imams (peace be upon them). No doubt, applying them is a form of justice and not an oppressive act. The punishment is set in the Sharia after the evidence is established and becomes clear in such a way that the noncompliant is considered as an oppressor against himself and the society. As such, the Sharia-defined punishment is not considered against human rights. The verse alluded to refers to the fact that the religion is based on beliefs, and beliefs are not imposed, and does not indicate that there is no punishment imposed by the Sharia for disbelief out of stubbornness and transgression.

Can we eat food prepared by a non-Muslim? Are the foods only prohibited if they touch it with wet hands? and can we eat the food if they wear gloves?

Non-Muslims are tahir and they do not make what they come in contact najis. Food presented by them is considered tahir if the food was not najis, and can be consumed if it is otherwise permissible to consume.

If I am in the middle of the second Surah, but I forget a part of it, am I allowed to start reciting a new Surah?

It is permissible to change from one surah to another one, in the mentioned case.