skills/sistani-guidance/references/books/west/pages-169-180.md

# A Code of Practice for Muslims in the West

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## PDF PAGE 169

```text
..……………………………………………… ٩٦١A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
Various sayings have come from the Prophet Muhammad
(s.a.w.) and the Imams (a.s.) describing clearly the benefits
gained by the person who gives in charity, not only in this
world, but also more than what he expects on “the day when
neither wealth shall benefit [a person] nor children.”
Sustenance is one reward that a generous person gets. The
Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Let sustenance flow [from God] through
charity.” )٠٥( ١Curing disease is another benefit of giving in
charity. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Cure your sick ones
through charity.”  )١٥(٢Prolonging life span and averting tragic
death is another result of giving in charity. Imam al-Baqir (a.s.)
said, “Benevolence and charity eliminate poverty, prolong life
span, and spare the charitable person seventy kinds of tragic
deaths.” )٢٥( ٣Fulfillment of debts and [increase in] blessings are
also benefits of giving in charity. Imam as-Sadiq (a.s.) said,
“Charity fulfills the payment of debts and yields.” )٣٥( ٤The
children of a charitable person are taken care of after blessing
his death. Imam as-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “No person has given
good charity in this world but that Allah has made good
provision for his children after his departure [from this
world].”  )٤٥( ٥
 ١Al-Majlisi, Biharu 'l-Anwar, vol.  ,٩١p.  .٨١١
 ٢Al-Himyari, Qurbu 'l-Asnad, p.  .٤٧
 ٣As-Sadûq, al-Khisal, vol.  ,١p.  .٥٢
 ٤Wasa'lu 'sh-Shi'a, vol.  ,٦p.  .٥٥٢
 ٥Ibid, vol.  ,٩١p.  .٨١١
```

## PDF PAGE 170

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..……………………………………………… ٠٧١A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) said, “If I could take care of a Muslim
family, feeding the hungry among them, clothing the naked
among them, and protecting their honour in society [their
having not to beg], this is preferable than going for hajj, [then
another] hajj, [then a third] hajj until I go ten times or even
until I go seventy times.”  )٥٥(١Doing charity for the sake of
Allah is a vast subject that cannot be fully covered in this short
treatise.   )٦٥(٢
Gifts for Family members
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) had encouraged heads of
family to buy gifts for their families so as to make them happy.
Ibn ‘Abbas narrates from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) that
he said, “Whosoever enters a market and buys a gift, and takes
it to his family is like a person who do charity to those who are
in need of it.”  )٧٥( ٣
Concern for the Muslim Ummah
One of the issues that the Islamic shari‘a has emphasized is the
the of being concerned for the affairs of Muslims. The
Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said, “Whosoever get up in the
morning and has no concern for the affairs of Muslims is not a
 ١As-Sadûq, Thawabu 'l-A'mal, p.  .٢٧١
 ٢For more information on this, see as-Sayyid 'Izzu 'd-Din
Bahru 'l-'Ulûm, al-Infaq fi Sabilillah.
 ٣As-Sadûq, Thawabu 'l-A'mal, p.  ٩٣٢
```

## PDF PAGE 171

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..……………………………………………… ١٧١A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
Muslim.”  )٨٥(١He also said, “Whosoever gets up without being
concerned with the affairs of Muslims is not one of them.” )٩٥( ٢
There are many other sayings on this issue cannot be
mentioned here.   )٠٦(٣
 ١Jami'u 's-Sa'adat, vol.  ,٢p.  .٩٢٢
 ٢Ibid.
 ٣See al-Usûl mina 'l-Kafi, section on "Being Concerned for
Affairs of the Muslims."
```

## PDF PAGE 172

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..……………………………………………… ٢٧١A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
Question and Answers
Question: Is it permissible to participate in the funeral
ceremony of a non-Muslim, if he was, for example, a
neighbour?
Answer: If the deceased and those organizing the funeral are
not known to have hatred towards Islam and Muslims, there is
no problem in participating in the funeral. However, it is better
to walk behind the coffin and not in front of it.
Question: Is it permissible to exchange greetings and gifts
with a non-Muslim, if he is a neighbour or a co-worker, etc.?
Answer: If he does not express hatred towards Islam and
Muslims in words or actions, there is no problem in doing what
is required in friendship like being good and charitable towards
him. Almighty Allah has said, “Allah does not forbid you in
regard to those who have not made war against you on account
of (your) religion, and have not driven you forth from your
homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly;
surely Allah loves the doers of justice.” [ ]٨:٠٦
Question: Is it permissible for the people of Ahlul Kitab and
other non-Muslims to enter the mosques (masjid) and other
Islamic places of worship [like husayniyya or imambargah
which are not masjid]? And is it necessarily for us to enforce
the hijab on those [non-Muslim women] who do not observe
```

## PDF PAGE 173

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..……………………………………………… ٣٧١A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
hijab and allow them to enter [the mosque or places of
worship], if it is permissible?
Answer: Based on obligatory precaution, it is not permissible
for them [i.e., non-Muslims] to enter the mosque (masjid). As
for their entering the places of worship, etc, there is no problem
in it. If their entry [in imambargah or a husayniyya or a center]
without hijab is considered as a sign of disrespect, hijab should
be enforced on the [non-Muslim] women.
Question: Is it permissible to harass a Jewish, or a Christian,
or an Atheist neighbour?
Answer: It is not permissible to harass them without
justification.
Question: Is it permissible to give charity to the poor among
non-Muslims? Would a person get reward [thawab from Allah]
for this charity?
Answer: There is no problem in extending charity to [a non-
Muslim] who does not show hatred against Islam and Muslims;
and one who gives such a charity will be rewarded for this
deed.
Question: Is it obligatory to enjoin the good (amr bi ’l-ma‘rûf)
and forbid the evil (nahi ‘ani ’l-munkar) in regard to those who
are not followers of Islam or are from the Ahlul Kitab, who are
receptive, without any harm coming our way?
```

## PDF PAGE 174

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..……………………………………………… ٤٧١A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
Answer: Yes, it is obligatory, provided that the other
conditions also exist. One of those other conditions is that the
person to be admonished should not have an excuse for doing
the evil or neglecting the obligation. Being ignorant out of
negligence is not an acceptable excuse. So, such a person
should first be guided to the right conduct, and then if they do
not act accordingly, they should be asked to do good or be
forbidden from doing evil.
However, if the evil deed is of a category that one knows Allah
does not like it to happen in any circumstances —like creating
corruption in the earth, killing an innocent person, etc— it is
necessary to prevent it, even if the doer is ignorant out of
innocence.
Question: In European schools, there are teachers who do not
believe in any religion and reject the idea of God in front of
their pupils. Is it permissible for Muslim pupils to remain in
such schools, knowing that they can be greatly influenced by
their teachers?
Answer: It is not permissible; and the guardian of the child is
fully responsible for that.
Question: Is it permissible for male and female pupils
/students in elementary and secondary schools to mix when one
knows that this mixing will surely lead one day to a forbidden
act by the male or the female student, even if that is just [as
minor an act as] a forbidden glance?
```

## PDF PAGE 175

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..……………………………………………… ٥٧١A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
Answer: It is not permissible under the circumstances
described [in the question].
Question: Is it permissible for a Muslim man to go to a mixed
swimming pool with the knowledge that the women there
swimming suits form and would not listen to any admonishing?
Answer: Although looking without bad thoughts or lustful
intentions at the women who are indecently dressed (and who
would not listen to you if you wish to admonish them) is
allowed, yet based on obligatory precaution, going to such
places is absolutely forbidden.
Question: Is it permissible for those who reside in the West to
send their muhajjaba daughters to co-ed schools (irrespective
of whether or not education is compulsory) while there exist
non co-ed schools which obviously are expensive, located
faraway or of a low academic standard?
Answer: It is not permissible, [even] if it [just] corrupts their
character, let alone if it harms their beliefs and commitment to
the faith which is what normally happens!
Question: Is it permissible for a Muslim youth to accompany
the girls who study with him in foreign universities for walking
together, in vacation tours, etc.?
Answer: It is not permissible, except with surety that he will
not commit a forbidden act.
```

## PDF PAGE 176

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..……………………………………………… ٦٧١A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
Question: Is it permissible to look at a passionate scene taking
place on the street?
Answer: It is not permissible to look at it with lustful
intentions or with ill thoughts; rather, based on obligatory
precaution, one should refrain from watching it totally.
Question: Is it permissible to go to a mixed [i.e., co-ed]
cinema and other haram places of entertainment without
having any guarautce that one will not engage in a forbidden
act?
Answer: It is not permissible.
Question: Is it permissible to swim in a mixed swimming pool
without having any lustful intention?
Answer: Based on obligatory precaution, it is not permissible
to go to the places of indecency at all.
Question: Is it permissible to go to sea beaches and public
parks during sunny days for walking while one might come
across scenes which are against the norm of decency?
Answer: Without a guarantee that one will not commit a
forbidden act, it is not permissible.
Question: In European countries, public baths are built with
certain considerations. Whether or not it is in the direction of
```

## PDF PAGE 177

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..……………………………………………… ٧٧١A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
qibla is not one of their considerations unlike the situation in
Muslim countries:
Is it permissible for us to use such facilities, if we do not know
where the direction of the qibla is?
And if we know the baths do face the direction of the qibla, is
it permissible for us to use them? If it is not permissible, what
is the solution?
Answer: In the first case, based on obligatory precaution, it is
not permissible to use them except after failing to know the
direction of the qibla and that it is not possible to wait or that
waiting would entail harm and place the person in difficulty.
In the second case, based on obligatory precaution, it is
necessary —while using the bathroom— to refrain from facing
the qibla or turning one’s back to it. However, in the event of
emergency, one should sit with their back towards the qibla.
This is based on obligatory precaution.
Question: Suppose that Muslim, residing in a non-Muslim
country finds a suitcase (full of clothes) with or without the
owner’s nametag on it. What should he do with it?
Answer:A suitcase of personal belongings normally has the
nametag through which the owner can be contacted. If he
knows that it belongs to a Muslim or a non-Muslim whose
property is sacrosanct (or even if there is a likelihood —a
considerable likelihood— [that it belongs to a non-Muslim
```

## PDF PAGE 178

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..……………………………………………… ٨٧١A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
whose property is sacrosanct]), it is necessary for him to
announce it for one whole year that he has found that item [so
that the owner can come forward and claim it]. If he cannot
find the owner [even after the lapse of one year], he should,
based on obligatory precaution, give it in charity.
However, if he knows that it belongs to a non-, it is permissible
for him to keep it provided that he is not legally bound to
announce what he finds in that country or to hand it over to the
authorities, etc. )١( ١In the latter case, he is not allowed to take
possession of it; rather it is compulsory on him to act in
accordance with the legal undertaking.
Question: If I find an item in a European country without any
distinctive sign on it [identifying the owner], is it permissible
for me to keep it?
Answer: If it has no distinctive sign by which one can contact
the owner, it is permissible for you to keep it except in the case
[of the legal undertaking] mentioned earlier.
Question: Some people, be they Muslim or non-Muslim, in the
West approach you with expensive items for sale at a price so
cheap that the potential buyer is almost convinced that the item
is stolen. Is it permissible to buy it, if one knows for sure, or
 ١Translator's Note: Agreement, in the above context, means
"the immigration agreement made between the host country
and the immigrant."
```

## PDF PAGE 179

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..……………………………………………… ٩٧١A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
feel a strong probability, that it is has been stolen from a
Muslim?
Answer: If one knows or gets a strong feeling that the item has
been stolen from a person whose property is sacrosanct, it is
not permissible to buy it or keep it.
Question: The price of cigarettes is very high in Western
countries. Would it be forbidden to buy them because of
extravagance and waste, especially when one knows that they
are harmful [to one’s health]?
Answer: It is permissible to buy them; and using them would
not become haram for the reasons mentioned [in the question].
Of course, if smoking causes great harm to the smoker while
quitting, it can comses him no harm or lesser harm, it is
necessary for him to quit it.
Question: There are machines used in telephone tapping. Is it
permissible to use such devices without the knowledge of the
intended personin order to use it against them when the need
arises?
Answer: It is not obligatory on one speaker to ask the
permission of the other speaker to record the conversation on
the telephone line. However, he is not allowed to publicize it or
let others listen to it if it will cause an insult of a mo’min or
disclose his secret — unless that is over-ridden by another
equal or more important obligation.
```

## PDF PAGE 180

```text
..……………………………………………… ٠٨١A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
Question: A photographer is asked to take pictures at a
wedding reception where intoxicating drinks are served. Is this
permissible for him?
Answer: It is not permissible to take pictures of the scenes of
drinking intoxicants and other forbidden substances.
Question: What are the limits of obeying one’s parents?
Answer: The duty of a child towards his parents is of two
kinds:
The First: To be kind towards them by providing for them, if
they are in need. To provide for their day-to-day needs. To
respond to their requests that are related to their daily lives at a
level that is normal and usual for a human being, in the sense
that if he refuses to fulfill them, it would be regarded as “not
being good to them” — and that would differ depending on
whether they are healthy and strong or ill and weak.
The Second: To behave towards them kindly, by not offending
them in word or action, even if they are unjust to him. In some
religious text, it says, “And if they hit you, do not shun them;
instead say, ‘May Allah forgive you.’”
This is as far as it relates to the parents’ situation. As for those
issues concerning the affairs of the child himself by which he
could offend one of the parents, these are of two kinds:
```