Question: What is His Eminence’s opinion regarding celebrating at the night of New Year? What about offering presents to our Christian friends and congratulating Christians and Muslims?

Answer: In the name of Allah, there is no problem in that, provided that it does not demand believing in what Islam says wrong or wronging in what Islam says right.

Question:What is your advice on the blessed Eid Al-Fitr?

Answer:In the name of Allah, the human nature is not capable of getting the immunity against facing the harsh circumstances of life. Sometimes, it is boring, so humans will not get rid of this feeling unless they get something happy. Only then do they continue bearing the responsibilities of life. For that, we find most of the religious nations have at least one or more days as Eid, but with different names, like the Independence Day or the National Day. For that reason, we find the divine wisdom required that in all the real divine religions there must be one Eid or more in the year. In this regards, Allah says, as part of Jesus’s dua, (O Allah, our Lord, send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You." However, the meaning and conceptuality of Eid has some implications, which are understood by the naïve people as wearing new clothes and eating the best of food and drinking the best beverages as in the scope of permissibility. There is another implication for Eid. This one is understood and comprehended by the believer. It depends on how much he has faith, that it, this implication increases with faith and decreases if faith decreases. It is the feeling of happiness and ecstasy as a result from the blessing of having done the fasting, dua and the spiritual reaction with the various worshipping acts during the month of Ramadhan. It is narrated about Imam Sadiq (PBUH) said that there is an angel calls for the fasting people at the end of Ramadhan month to take their bounties and he (PBUH) assured that these bounties are not worldly, but they are like cheques containing releasing the fasting and pious person from the Hell. It is well known that many of the supplications of Ramadan include prayer for getting blessed by going to Hajj. It is well known that this supplication, if it stems from the depth of the definite desire in the same person, requires physical, spiritual and psychological readiness and sufficient activity, with the desire to interact with the work of Hajj to produce desire and eagerness. This spiritual activity is found in both of these two acts, fasting during the month of Ramadan, Umrah and Hajj in thul Hijjah. Eid al-Fitr is similar to the opportunity given by the school to its students among the lessons. Then we should not lose sight of the social meanings that the Eid includes, that the souls desire in nature in addition to its Religious side. Moreover, there is cooperation among believers in various fields like the economic and spiritual aspects of the revival of social communication between kinship and extending help to the poor, orphans and the needy and visiting patients to encourage their spirit and make them face the problems of life. May Allah grant us success by making us reach it again, and may accept our deeds and worshiping. Allah is the All Guide. Wassalam.

Question: It is narrated that Abu Jafar Al-Baqir (PBUH) said “Oh Aba Abdillah – Son of Dinar- the sadness for Al Muhammad (PUBH) is renewed every Adha and Fitr Eid.” I said “Why?” “Because they see that their right is in the hand of others,” He answered. The question is whether we have to show sadness in the aforementioned Eids as the sadness is renewed in them. It is surely recommended to be sad for their miseries. Is it recommended to show our sadness here?

Answer: In the name of Allah, even if we take this narration to be authentic, it does not mean that we do not commit ourselves to the recommendations and rules of the Eids. There are certain commitments for Eids mentioned in the narrations like the Eid prayers and the impermissibility of fasting on the Fitr and Adha Eid. Based on the fact that the enemies of Ahlulbait (PBUH) has the control of most the world countries, we have to be sad and show our sadness for the plights or tragedies of Ahlulbait (PBUH). Allah is the All Guide and Knowing.

Question:I would like to ask about Nowruz Eid in Islam or in our Fiqh?

Answer: In the name of Allah, it is narrated that there are some recommended acts on this day. Nevertheless, it is not considered one of the Islamic Eids. Allah knows best.