Catholic Answers’ question-and-answer shows on "Catholic Answers Live" are very popular and so it can sometimes be difficult for listeners to get through to ask their question of an apologist on-air. If Catholic Answers’ apologists find that more questions are asked than they have time and resources to answer on-air, one can only imagine how difficult it must be for the Grand Ayatollah Sistani to empty his question queue.
Really. Sayyid Ali Husaini al-Sistani, a Grand Ayatollah of the Shiite Muslims and a political activist in Iraq, has his own website on which he answers questions posed to him on topics ranging from abortion to zakat (obligatory charity).
(Nod to Katie Allison Granju for the link.)
Ordinarily, I would copy-‘n-paste a selection from the site to give you a sample of the ayatollah’s apologetics, but his site specifically warns that such reproduction is strictly forbidden. So, you’ll have to log on to the site yourself to take a peek.
Michelle, it seems you can copy-and-paste if you cite the source:
“Unless source is mentioned, copying or reproducing these questions and answers in any manner is not allowed.”
It is mustahab to greet one another, but it is wajib to reply to the greeting.
Ohhhhhhhh. See, I thought it was the other way around.
I love this little chestnut. Count em down for me, Ali.
The following ten things are essentially najis:
1. Urine
2. Faeces
3. Semen
4. Dead body
5. Blood
6. Dog
7. Pig
8. Kafir (a Non-Muslim)
9. Alcoholic liquors
10. The sweat of an animal who persistently eats najasat.
So cockfighting, while frowned upon, is permissible in some circumstances, but shaking hands with a woman is not?
Thanks for clearing that up for me, Ayatollah.
“Unless source is mentioned, copying or reproducing these questions and answers in any manner is not allowed.”
Al, I must have misread that. I thought it was talking about not copying unless there was a source cited by the Grand Ayatollah within his response. In other words, you could copy if it was non-original material that the Ayatollah was citing, but not if it was his own original material. Sorry for the confusion.
Michelle, what is the Catholic Church’s position on “temporary marriage” anyway? 🙂
Apparently you can neither play chess nor black gammon.
Speaking of similar sites:
http://www.askmoses.com
🙂
Abortion is ok, trousers, not ok!
# Question: If pregnancy causes great difficulty for a daughter and a disgrace for her family, is she allowed to abort the foetus?
Answer: It is permissible before the soul enters the feotus, if the difficulty reaches a level that is usually unbearable and there is no way out for her except abortion.
# Question: Is a woman allowed to wear trousers and take to the streets and markets?
Answer: It is not allowed, if it reveals the contours of her body or would normally arouse temptation.
Question : When a woman is in her period, can she have anal intercourse?
Answer : If wife is consenting to it, it is permissible but it would be extremely abominable.
Maybe something is lost in translation.
It must be the Religion of Peace – I didn’t see any information concerning beheadings of infidels.
Question : When a woman is in her period, can she have anal intercourse?
Answer : If wife is consenting to it, it is permissible but it would be extremely abominable.
WHAT?!
I see competition on the horizon: Muslim Answers Live!,.
It’s a natural fit along with the new book coming out “Surprised by Gunpoint” mentioned over at the
Curt Jester
“Question : What is the ruling about permanent and temporary marriage with a Christian woman? It is a matter of real urgency. Please, try to reply as soon as possible?”
Got a big weekend planned, Mohammed?
It is mustahab to greet one another, but it is wajib to reply to the greeting.
Ohhhhhhhh. See, I thought it was the other way around.
That’s it. Off with your head!
“A woman with whom temporary marriage is contracted, is not entitled to share the conjugal bed of her husband…”
Well, what exactly is the point of the temporary marriage then? 😉
What is it with internet religious experts wearing beards, headgear, and dark shirts?
Some of the English is a little spotty in some of the answers, but I can see some of the logical distinctions being made (not that I believe they are right).
By the way, if I’m not mistaken, the “abortion BEFORE soul enters fetus is OK IF and ONLY if it is to save the mother’s life” was a position some Catholics once took, until medical advances made it clear to the Church that the soul enters the fetus at the moment of conception, and no later. See http://amywelborn.typepad.com/openbook/2006/08/st_antoninus_re.html
§ Question : Is playing chess allowed?
§ Answer : It is absolutely unlawful.
Sigh…there goes my hopes of converting…
“Some of the English is a little spotty in some of the answers, but I can see some of the logical distinctions being made (not that I believe they are right).”
Actually, I think I could detect some of Ed Peter’s ghostwriting there!
Other religions say the darnedest things!
§ Question : Is playing chess allowed?
§ Answer : It is absolutely unlawful.
There goes “they invented chess, you know.” (No use inventing it if you can’t play it!)
While I know it is out of my own ignorance of the terms they use, it feels like I am reading the script to Coneheads.
I wonder if it would be permissible to Narfle the Garthunk?
Although the mistranslations are bemusing (www.engrish.com has some nifty Japanese-English gaffes), I can’t help but think: “well, their English is actually better than some native speakers I’ve heard here in the States; and their English is much better than my Arabic!”
“A woman with whom temporary marriage is contracted, is not entitled to share the conjugal bed of her husband…”
Well, what exactly is the point of the temporary marriage then? 😉
I’m not too up on the nuances of temporary marriage, but I’ve heard it’s often used to humiliate female prisoners, presumably while saving the tormentor from incurring the wrath of Allah. I don’t think the women are entitled to much, or even have a say in the matter more often than not.
I’ll be darned–Wikipedia has an article on temp. marriage. Apparently it’s a common means of legitimizing shacking up in some Muslim countries–the Sunnis don’t approve of it, though. No mention of its use on female prisoners there, though it’s apparently used at times as a cover for prostitution. It appears women do enter these ‘arrangements’ voluntarily at times; why I can’t imagine as the bennies are few.
Somehow, I don’t think the fact that “chess is absolutely unlawful” stops many people from playing it- clearly, there are enough people who know about it and want to play it that it warranted inclusion on his site.
I thought it was the Muslims who invented Chess, and the Moors who introduced it to Europe. At least I’m pretty sure that is what I leaned in High School, which does not mean much of anything.
Remember this is what one Shiite Ayatolla says, not necessarily the position of all Islam.
We are not comparing Jimmy Akin or Catholic answers to Ayatollah Sistani?
I think Chess was Persian in origin and predated Islam, maybe Sassenian empire or Zoarastian religion but I am not sure.
but I’ve heard it’s often used to humiliate female prisoners, presumably while saving the tormentor from incurring the wrath of Allah.
I’ve heard it’s used as a means to avoid executing virgins, because virgins automatically go to heaven.
Which raises the question of how far spread this man’s views on temporary marriage are.
If I remember my source correctly, some of that is in Reading Lolita in Tehran.
Chris Molter:
I know what you mean. There ARE a lot of Engrish here in Japan, but it’s not just a Japan thing. Other nations have their own Engrish too. One example of Engrish is the ‘All your base are belong to us’. I do agree that native English speakers make more horrible (and funny) mistakes in English. Look at those flame mails and spam in the internet.
Sorry for the rather off-topic post, now let’s get back into discussion.
“We are not comparing Jimmy Akin or Catholic answers to Ayatollah Sistani?”
Well, I did, when I asked “What is it with internet religious experts wearing beards, headgear, and dark shirts?”, referring to the photos of both men. At any rate, once a person accepts his religion’s scripture and teachings, there will still always be confused issues that will need further clarification.
Thank you, Mary–your refs are more recent than mine, and your comment does clear things up a good deal.
Remember: this fellow is a Shi’i. The Sunni may or may not agree with some of his rulings.
Jimmy Akin’s beard is different
Hi man , the answers to questions regarding lawful or unlawful you are gettin are based on scholar of religion deviated frm islam…just imagine for a minute temporary marriage is not allowed in islam , this is nonsense what is answered by this person….guess chess is not allowed in islam….biggest joke…i wouldnt be surprised if the answer was chess would put in hellfire lol…funny ..anywaz if u want to know about islam a religion which considers even jesus a respected prophet like moses,abaraham and mohammed . So i advice you to ask a proper person who really has knowledge…and best of luck for studyin more on religion