His Eminence, Grand Ayatollah al-Hakeem, receives the Swedish Ambassador to the OIC and Calls the International Community to Block the Sources of Terrorism and Extremism

His Eminence, Grand Ayatollah al-Hakeem, receives the Swedish Ambassador to the OIC and Calls the International Community to Block the Sources of Terrorism and Extremism
2019/04/27

His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammed Saeed al-Hakeem received Mr. Joachim Bergstrom, the Swedish Ambassador to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on 27 April 2019.

During the meeting, His Eminence called the international community towards a serious attempt to blocking the sources of terrorism and extremism, in all its types and manners, and to eliminate this cancerous illness from its roots, and not to ignore it. It has created much misery and tragedy in different societies and is spreading its culture, as well as distorting the true image of Islam, which the Holy Quran and the Holy Infallibles (peace be upon them) deliver.

His Eminence indicated the importance of the international community giving due regard to noble ethical traits, which will lead to participating in forming good societies and families.

His Eminence also mentioned the role of Marji'iyya, which requires of its followers to follow the laws of the land, to be truthful, responsible, sincere and to abstain from creating hardships. The Marji'iyya emphasizes the peaceful coexistence and respect for others, whatever ethnicity or creed they may have.

Mr. Bergstrom thanked His Eminence, appreciated his warm welcome. He also expressed his appreciation of the role of Marji'iyya in bringing about peace and easing religious tension in the region.

Day Questions

If I wish to renew the temporary marriage contract with a man, is it permissible to change some conditions before the renewal, like take a different amount as a dowry?

In the mentioned circumstances, one is permitted in a new contract to change the particulars, such as the stipulation of a different amount as the dowry and variations in conditions.

I am a professional photographer. Can I take photographs of women and men in wedding ceremonies where women wear traditional clothes (not proper Hijab) and there is mix gathering, but there is no chance of me falling into a sin and there is no alcohol served there? Would the income from this be lawful? Is photography of women by itself prohibited? Can I employ a woman who does the photography so that I do not have to go the mix gathering?

Taking photographs is a permissible profession. You can also take photographs in mixed gathering such as weddings where women are not observing Hijab, but it is prohibited to look at non-Mahram women with lust. Having said that, women must wear the Hijab in the presence of non-Mahram men even in wedding ceremonies. Observing Hijab is obligatory on the woman in any place in the presence of non-Mahram men, even at her own house. It is better to hire a woman to do the photography in such cases.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said that those who disclose their hardship will always face humiliation. In Karbala, we see Ali al-Akbar (peace be upon him) and others expressing their thirst and hardships to Imam Hussain (peace be upon him). So what does Imam Ali (peace be upon him) mean by those words?

Imam Ali (peace be upon him) means that we should avoid disclosing difficulties in front of those who do not care, which will cause humiliation for the individual. This has nothing to do – no doubt – with the expression of hardships in Karbala as you mentioned.