The Press Release on the Martydom of Shaikh Tawakkuli

The Press Release on the Martydom of Shaikh Tawakkuli
2018/06/23

“And reckon not those who are killed in the way of Allah as dead; rather, they are alive; they are provided substance from their Lord.” (3:169)

The terrorists attacked last night Allama Shaikh Mohammed Ja’far Tawakkuli, the head of the office of His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Al-Hakim (may God prolong his life) in the Afghani city of Herat, after having lead the congregational prayers in the mosque. This heinous attack led to his martyrdom. Through his active his efforts – for many years – he aided the application of His Eminence’s programs in supporting and helping those injured in acts of terrorism, as well as orphans and needy families, and in implementing his programs in the propagation of the message of Islam on a wide scale across Afghanistan.

We condemn this act of terrorism in the strongest terms, and we urge the government of Afghanistan to strive seriously to uncover the criminals, to punish them and to protect the lives of the scholars, the students of the religious seminary and the innocent civilians there. We pray to the Almighty Creator to cover the felicitous deceased with His vast mercy, and to raise him amongst the righteous martyrs, and to bestow patience and solace upon those he left behind.

And there is no power, nor might, save that of Allah, the Most High, the Supreme.

Office of His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Al-Hakim (may God prolong his life)

9th of Shawwal, 1439

Day Questions

My Grandmother has declared her house as a Hussainia. Later she decided to sell it. Is she allowed to do so?

If the house was placed under endowment in a religiously correct way, it is not permissible to dissolve it and return it to a private ownership.

Did the Imams (peace be upon them) claim to be infallible?

There is no doubt that the followers of the Ahlulbait (peace be upon them) base the belief in the infallibility of the Imams (peace be upon them) on solid sources, starting from verse 33:33. Other texts indicate this directly and sometimes indirectly. As an example, in Ziyarat al-Jami’ah, which was narrated from Imam Ali Al-Hadi (peace be upon him) with an authentic chain: "Allah has guarded you from lapses and saved you from attractions (of life, Satan, etc)."

I have performed my first Hajj, and I did the Taqseer of my hair based on what I have read, and not Halq (complete shaving). Is this sufficient?

One who performs the pilgrimage (Hajj) for the first time must shave the hair (halq) and not shorten it (taqseer). Since you did not deliberately contravene the ruling, then your pilgrimage is in order and you are not liable for Kaffara.