Question:The awaiting Imam (AJ) says “Blood, I shall cry on you, not tears”. Is this considered metaphor from the Imam or real? Can man cry blood?

Answer:In the name of Allah, the speech can be interpreted in both ways; the second way is nearer to rhetoric. Allah knows best.

Question:What is your view of what Al-Mirza Al-Naini (may Allah rest his soul in peace) as reported in the answer to a question, as in Fatwas 3: 558 concerning the reciting of the horrific Husseini killing text? “The greatest righteous ancestors (may Allah be pleased with them all) used to be careful mentioning the tragedy for which heavens and earths were shaken till the day of Ashura. However, there is no evidence of hatred of the terminology of jurisprudence, but because the greatness of the disaster requires that the loss of life when hearing, and it is not given its due otherwise. Allah knows best.”

Answer:In the name of Allah, what the Mirza attains is to be followed because mentioning the tragedy of Hussein (PBUH) in the way it happened cannot be tolerated for the devoted ones. Hardheadedness might be created for the listeners, a reason why the predecessors, when reciting the killing text, only referred to what happened without stating. It has no harm to commit to it. Allah is the all-Guide and Helper.

Question:My question is about the work of Shazdah Qassem Mandi in Pakistan, many scholars reject it. Is it permissible to perform such rituals?

Answer:In the name of Allah, be advised that the narrations that come from the different ways related to the details of the tragic event of Taff are different and contradictory and some of them are vague. Most of the partial events of this tragedy cannot be confirmed. Rather, we assert that the master of the martyrs came out with his family from the city to Mecca and then to Karbala and martyred with a group of his family and his companions, and then the family was captured, whereas the rest of them who stayed alive returned to the Madina. As for the issue of marriage Qasim Ibin Hassan (PBUH) was not proved in an authentic reference. Those who read regarding such topics must pay attention to that. Allah is the all-Guide and Helper.

Question:Why do we begin to commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein (PBUH) from the first day of Muharram and end on the tenth day? Should not we start directly from the 10th day onwards?

Answer:In the name of Allah, we follow our Imams (PBUH) in doing this. They were adhering to the grief of the first of Muharram, in addition to the fact that the calamity on the master of the martyrs started from the first Muharram. He came down in Karbala on the second day of Muharram and before he came down he was besieged by the army of Obeid Allah ibn Ziad and skirmishes between enemies and among the companions of Hussein began before the tenth day. Allah is the all-Guide and Helper.

Question:Does lighting candles degrade the idea of mourning and solace or distorts it?

Answer:In the name of Allah, it does not degrade, but it adds fuel to the fire of sadness in the hearts of people in the light of what we have written above. Allah knows best.

Question:Where did the idea of holding memorial gatherings come from?

Answer:In the name of Allah, the answer of this question is implicated in the answer above. Allah is the all-Guide.

Question:What is the position of your Eminence from lighting the candles in the nights of sadness on Muhammad and his Infallible family in terms of religion and application?

Answer:In the name of Allah, be advised, brother, that the Imams (PBUH) have ordered us to commemorate the tragedy of Karbala with all means possible. It is known that the commemoration of every occasion in every region and every sect is to be in a way that belongs to its people. In addition, it should not be in contradiction to any way in the Sharia. Lightening the candles on the days of grief has been old habits of Shiites. In some respectable houses, they extinguish the light to make the place dark, to remind them of the darkness that the Prophet (PBUH&HF) lived on the eleventh night of Muharram after the tents were burned and there was no light, no moon, no sun, and no other way. These candles that we see in Karbala have been burning for a long time even after the coming of electrification where the municipal used to quench street lamps, especially in the camp area to replace the darkness, and the families used to take their children to the camp to remember the situation of children of the Prophet’s (PBUH&HF) family. Moreover, as long as the intention is a good one which is to commemorate that tragedy and Islam does not prevent this act, it continues and the one who practices it shall have rewards because it complies with the order of tragedy. Furthermore, we should know that all the communities in the world take their familiar ways of reviving the events that have passed on these sects. The Christians, for instance, every year embodies the crucifixion of Christ and others, as they believe that the religion of Christianity and the religious ones experienced such circumstances. We find no intellectuals like you denouncing this. I am surprised by your surprise at this, though we believe that Christ has not been crucified and has not been killed, however there are many customs of communities throughout the world that are going on like this. So, my son let the Shiites commemorate the tragedy of Karbala in every way that is not prohibited by Islam. Allah is the all-Guide and Helper.

Question:What is the rank of the one who weeps on Imam Hussein (PBUH)?

Answer:In the name of Allah, the one who weeps on Imam Hussein (PBUH) will be cornered with the loved ones of Hussein (PBUH) because weeping on him reveals the love of the weeping one to him (PBUH). This is enough pride and honor of the one who weeps on the Imam (PBUH). Allah knows best.

Question:How would you define weeping on the master of martyrs (PBUH)?

Answer:In the name of Allah, It is a blessing because it relieves the burning of grief on the one hand and it brings the intercession of Hussein (PBUH) and the intercession of his grandfather, his mother, his father and the infallible (PBUH) on the other hand. It includes obedience because we have been ordered to weep on him. Allah knows best.

Question:Is there a certain intention when weeping on the Master of Martyrs?

Answer: In the name of Allah, if weeping is due to your influence by what happened to the master of martyrs and to his sons and companions, and if weeping is due to the love to those pure souls, then it is an actualization to the infallibles saying (O Allah, show mercy on those who weep for our tragedies). Allah is the all Guide and best Knowing.