________________________________________________________________________ | w w w |\ | || || | || |\ | o_,_7 _|| . _o_7 _|| 4_|_|| o_w_, |\ | ( : / (_) / ( . |\ | |\ | || || | || |T | | || | |\ | . _, _8 |_D_|| . _,_,_,_D_|| 4_|| q ]_o_7_o _|_c 4_|_|| _|,_p q |\ | (_): / (_): . : / (_S (_S / |\ | |\ | In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful |\ | Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\ |_______________________________________________________________________|\ Dear Brothers and sisters in islam, Thanks to Shaikh Kassamali for answering the following question. Salaams and doas, Zahir Panju moderator abdg-a In His name, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Question 1: Is it permissible to make du'a or zikir together with or enjoin with some people who associate Imam Ali (A.S) with Allah (gelle gelleluhu). Answer: By making du`a or dhkir if you mean that you read and do what they do then it in not permissible. On the other hand if it is meant that you do your OWN du`a and read your own dhikr but in the same place where these people are having their du`a, then it is okay. However, if your participation in this gathering is taken as subscribing to their creed or lending support to their actions then it is preferable to avoid it. The late Ayatullah Sayyid `Abdul Husayn Dastghayb in his book "Adh-dhunoob al-Kabeerah" writes: sitting in a gathering where haram is being done (e.g. where a Muslim is being backbited) is haram. Question 2: My respected brother is it permissible to engage in or pray behind a brother who believes in (A.Y) abu bekir, umar, othman. Can I make intention for the imam leading the prayer (if he is one who believes in them). Answer: Yes it is permissible to pray with them but not with the intention of Jama'ah. You will read all the dhikr of salat including the two surahs in the first two raka'at. Our Mujtahids (jurists) are of the opinion that for us one of the necessary condition for the Imam of Jama`at (leader of a congregational prayer) is that he should be a Shi`ah Ithna-`Asheri. (See al-`Urwatul Wuthqaa, vol. 1, Qum 1412, p.628 and Islamic Laws by Sayyyid Seestani, p. 270). God knows the best. Hasnain Kassamali Humble servant of the Ahlul Bayt (a).