Question:We know that for each issue there is a primary or secondary religious ruling. If you do not mind that we want the ruling of the fact that some people name themselves as “dogs of Al Muhammad”. We all know that Allah honoured man by making him humane apart from the other creatures. We also know that although naming is metaphoric, yet as you see that the reaction of the society is so negative because they see it disgusting. We find that offence and such names are concomitant in the mind of the public even though the second parts of the names are such a great noun. Some people deliberately put some chains in their necks, crawl like dogs and issue barking sounds like dogs. This fact has made the Shia refrain from this phenomenon before other people do?

Answer:In the name of Allah, what you mentioned is not related to the rituals in any way. Purifying the souls is to be done by repentance, enjoying good and forbidding evil and applying the piety literally, but not like what you mentioned. Be advised, my son, I prefer that those people choose other names like servants of Alulbait, Fedayee Alulbait (self-sacrificers for Ahlulbait), or lions of Alulbait. Regarding naming, humans are free to name himself whatever they want, provided that it is not offensive for religion, themselves or others, especially that names are to show submission to Imam Hussein (PBUH) or readiness to do anything hard work just to protect the Imam (PBUH) and his principles. Arabs used to name themselves as beasts like Bano Asad (Lion Tribe), Bano Kilab (Dogs Tribe) and others. However, although dogs have negative properties like najasa, they have positive characteristics like loyalty and faithfulness in protecting the owner. The person who names himself as a dog may mean these good characteristics towards the infallibles. Allah is the all Guide and best Knowing.

Question:There has been a lot of talk recently about the acting (in a movie of series) the life of the infallibles: Fatima, her father, her husband and her progeny. The acting is to show their oppression. What is your opinion in this regard?

Answer:In the name of Allah, acting itself is permissible, but two problematic issues are to be borne in mind: First: Acting cannot be performed as per the scenario required because the scenario is written to match the acting and thus it will change the narrations. Besides, the narrations which relate the whereabouts of any event in the life of the Imams (PBUH) are contradicting and conflicting. Therefore, setting and writing the scenario will definitely lead to using one narration more than another without following the rules which are used in such cases; such rules are only known by the specialized people. Second: We do not know who is appropriate to represent those pure people, whether male or female. The difficulty does not lie in uncovering the face or representing the face of the pure people, but the difficulty is far bigger. It is that any part of the existing people is not in a position to represent any of the parts of the infallibles and the voice of all the existing people is not in a position to match the voice or tone of the infallibles. For these two issues and some other, acting becomes a grand sin as it includes lying to Allah, the prophet (PBUH&HF) and the Imams (PBUH). So, fear Allah, O men of understanding that you may prosper, and peace be upon those who follow guidance. Moreover, the incidents which are used as an argument against the wrong people should be presented in the way in which Islam and Ahlulbait (PBUH) instructed us. Conveying religion to the people is to be in a peaceful way like what Allah says ((Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and have disputation with them in the best manner; surely your Lord best knows those who astray from His path, and He knows best those who follow the right way)). We hope that Almighty Allah will enable us all to serve the religion and to spread it in a way that is required. He is the Benevolent Guardian.

Question:Is it permissible to produce international movies about Ahlulbait (PBUH) with actors who are unbelievers or Muslim sinners?

Answer:In the name of Allah, acting itself is permissible, but two problematic issues are to be borne in mind: First: Acting cannot be performed as per the scenario required because the scenario is written to match the acting and thus it will change the narrations. Besides, the narrations which relate the whereabouts of any event in the life of the Imams (PBUH) are contradicting and conflicting. Therefore, setting and writing the scenario will definitely lead to using one narration more than another without following the rules which are used in such cases; such rules are only known by the specialized people. Second: We do not know who is appropriate to represent those pure people, whether male or female. The difficulty does not lie in uncovering the face or representing the face of the pure people, but the difficulty is far bigger. It is that any part of the existing people is not in a position to represent any of the parts of the infallibles and the voice of all the existing people is not in a position to match the voice or tone of the infallibles. For these two issues and some other, acting becomes a grand sin as it includes lying to Allah, the prophet (PBUH&HF) and the Imams (PBUH). So, fear Allah, O men of understanding that you may prosper, and peace be upon those who follow guidance.