Problem in showing Hazrat Abulfazl’s face on screen
Date 16 February 2026 & Clock 19:20
Question 43:Question Concerning Showing Hazrat Abulfazl’s Face in a TV SerialAccording to received information, Hazrat Abulfazl’s face is supposed to be portrayed in a TV serial. Is there is any juristic problem in showing his face on screen? Is it not opposed to his dignity and wouldn’t it lower his spiritual character in public mind? That is because people have a heavenly and splendid image of him in their minds and showing his face on screen may degrade him from heaven to earth?
Answer 43: Salamun alaykum There is no doubt that such an action would lower his ranks, especially when it is likely that these actors may have previously played roles in other movies that are completely against it, and this would result in degradation of such noble personalities. So it is necessary to avoid showing his holy face vividly on screen.
Autopsy on human corpses for the students of medical science
Date 16 February 2026 & Clock 19:20
Question 38:What is the Islamic law concerning autopsy on human corpses for the students of medical science as part of their training program? What are the limits to be taken into consideration?
Answer 38: Autopsy of a corpse is not permissible by itself. It is necessary to respect the dead body of a Muslim as one respects a human being when he/she is alive. If medical training depends on it and there is no body of a non-Muslim to be used for dissection, there would be no problem in it, albeit out of necessity.
Why the Imam of Time's(a.s) name is written in disjoined letters
Date 16 February 2026 & Clock 19:20
Question 33:Why do they write the real name of the last Imam, the Imam of Time (a.s.) in the form of disjointed letters as م ح م د))? What is the reason for it?
Answer 33: There is a difference of opinion among jurisprudents as to whether it is permissible to use the same name of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) with the intention of using the Imam's name. The jurists are divided into several groups in this respect. Some jurists like Sheikh Saduq, late Allamah Majlisi, Muhaddith Noori and Mohaqiq Damad believed in absolute impermissibility. The author of the book "Shar'at al-Tasmiyah" has claimed consensus with regard the impermissibility of using the name.
Some jurists including late Sheikh Hurr Ameli, the author of Wasail Al-Shia, late Fayz Kashani and Sheikh Bahai have stated that the prohibition with respect to using the name means only undesirable (makrooh).
A third group says that in the situation of taqiyah (dissimulation), whether it is observed for guarding oneself against dangers or guarding the Imam, it is forbidden to mention his real name but when a person is not in the state of taqiyah, there would be no objection to mentioning the name. A fourth group believes that the impermissibility of using the name is particular to the period of minor occultation. Thus, those who consider mentioning the Imam's real name as "forbidden" use the disjointed letters to make a reference to the Imam (a.s.). It is necessary to mention that the existing difference among the scholars stems from the various narrations reported from the infallible Imams (a.s.). These narrations are classed into four groups:
A) Narrations indicating the forbiddenness of mentioning the name in an absolute manner. Imam Hadi (a.s.) said, (لایحل لکم ذکره باسمه) which means that it is not permissible for you to talk about the using his name. Also, Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.) said, (لایسمیه باسمه الا کافر) {No one utters his name except a disbeliever}. Usool-e Kafi, Vol.1 page 333
B) Narrations stating the prohibition of using the Imam's name until his reappearance. Abdul Azim Hasani reports from Imam Hadi (a.s.) that he said:
لایحل ذکره باسمه حتی یخرج، فیملأ الارض قسطا و عدلا کما ملئت ظلما و جورا
{It is not permissible to mention his name until he becomes manifest and fills the world with justice in the same way that it has been filled with iniquity and injustice."}
C) There are narrations which state that the prohibition of using the name is related to the situation of fear and dissimulation. In Behar al-Anwar Vol. 51 page 31, Abu Khalid Kabuli, one of the companions Imam Sajjad (a.s.) narrates that following the demise of Hazrat Sajjad, Imam Baqir (a.s.) was asked to mention the name of Hazrat Mahdi (a.s.). Then the Imam said: You asked me for something that if Bani Fatema knew him, they would try to cut him into pieces.
D) The fourth group of narrations is those narrations which imply permissibility of using the Imam's holy name. Sheikh Saduq narrates from Muhammad bin Ibrahim who reports that Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) sent a headless sheep to some known individuals and said: This is the aqiqa (slaughtered sheep) of my son, Muhammad.
The narrations concerning taqiya are weak because, we know that the name of the Imam had been already declared by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). What we can say here is that the prohibition of using his name is linked to more dignifying and revering the Imam (a.s.) because importance was to be attached to other titles of the Imam such as Hojjah, Qaim and Imam of Time. It was to encourage people to get acquainted with the reality of these titles. It would be effective in strengthening their beliefs and adherence to their faith. That is why, when Imam Hadi (a.s.) was asked what name they could use, if they were not allowed to use the Imam's real name, he said, قولوا الحجة من آل محمد صلوات الله علیه{Say, Hojjah of the Household of Muhammad peace be upon him}.
This question requires a detailed answer. Should you like to find details, you can refer to Behar al-Anwar or Usol-e Kafi in the addresses given above. May Allah grant you success.
Is Hazrat Fatima's position higher than that of her infallible sons?
Date 16 February 2026 & Clock 19:20
Question 41:Is Hazrat Fatima's position higher than that of her infallible sons?
Answer 41: Hazrat Fatima enjoyed a high rank and many virtues. She was a muhadditha (reporter of her father's words and conducts). It is narrated from Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.) in Behar Al-Anwar Vol.1 pg. 88, that after the death of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), Gabriel would descend upon Fatima to console her and talk to her about the status and position of her father and children after her. Hazrat Ali (a.s.) wrote the dialogues which were gathered into a book and later called Mushaf-e Fatima.
Mushaf-e Fatima is the source of the Infallible Imams' knowledge with details and information about all the events that have occurred and will occur until the day of Judgement. Of course, other interpretations are also there concerning the narrations about this book. In short, if we take the above into consideration, these are the virtues that have existed with Hazrat Zahra only not with the infallible Imams (a.s.). Perhaps, the saying of Imam Hasan Askari could be a good indication of her virtue and rank as compared to the Imams. He said, "We are the hojja (proofs) of God on the people and Fatima is the hojja of God on us." Yes, although Hazrat Fatima's acts, conduct and sayings are authoritative for us but she did not bear the position of Imamat which is particular to Imam Ali and his eleven infallible sons. The position of Imamat is successorship of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) as ordained and determined by God. According to the traditions, Hazrat Fatima enjoys all the ranks of the Imams (a.s.) except the position of Imamat. They are therefore from a single noor (light).
The state of Janabah during the early hours of night in the month of Ramadhan
Date 16 February 2026 & Clock 19:20
Question 20: If a person enters the state of Janabah during the early hours of night in the month of Ramadhan and he goes to bed with the intention that he will wake up and perform the ritual bathing before dawn but he remains asleep and wakes up after Adhan, what is he supposed to do?
Answer 20: If a person is in Janabat during a night in Ramadhan and knows that if he goes to sleep he will not wake up till Fajr, he should not sleep before Ghusl and if he sleeps before Ghusl and does not wake up till Fajr, his fast is void , and qadha and Kaffarah become obligatory on him.
If a person in Janabat in the night of Ramadhan feels certain that if he goes to sleep he will wake up before the time of Fajr prayers, and is determined to do Ghusl upon waking up, and oversleeps with that determination till the time of Fajr prayer, his fast will be in order. And the same rule applies to a person who, though not absolutely certain, is hopeful about waking up before the time of Fajr prayers.