Ritual prayers and fasts
Q15: Is it permissible for a person to delay his prayers from their earliest time by participating in the commemoration ceremonies (majalis) of (Imam) Husayn established during the ten days of Muharram?
A: It is permissible, but it is best to perform the prayers at their earliest time, and the organizers of the majalis ought to arrange them in such a way as to avoid conflict with the performance of prayers at their earliest time. (MMS, pp. 35-36, Q74)
Q16: Is it permissible for a person who wakes up a few minutes before the time of morning prayer to go back to sleep if he knows or considers it a strong possibility that he will not wake up again before sunrise?
A: If this is considered a sign of contempt or trivialization with regard to prayers, then it is not permissible. (FM, p. 400)
Q17: A woman is performing prayer and she is unaware that some of her hair is outside of her head-cover. Is it obligatory for me to inform her of this during or after her prayer?
A: Certainly not. It is not obligatory for you to inform her. Even if she does not become aware of it until her prayer is complete, her prayer will be valid. If she becomes aware of it during (the prayer) and hastens to cover it (her hair), again her prayer will be valid. (FM, p. 400)
Q18: What about another (woman) who offers prayer while the upper part of her feet are exposed.
A: This is permissible for her since it is allowed for the upper part of the feet and the soles to be exposed in prayers. (FM, p. 431)
Q19: What is the ruling on a person who used to pray and fast but committed several mistakes in the major ablution (ghusl). He is absolutely sure now that some of his previous ghusls were void, but he does not know how many. As a result he is not aware of how many invalid prayers and fasts he offered with them.
A: His fasts are valid even if his ghusl is invalid. However, it is obligatory for him to offer qada of all the prayers he offered with the invalid ghusl. If he is unsure about the minimum and the maximum, he may limit himself to the minimum. (FM, p. 399)
Q20: A person fasts in the month of Ramadan for several years and he does not know, due to ignorance, that the ghusl of janabah is obligatory, so he does not perform ghusl.
A: His fast is correct and no expiation (kaffarah) is obligatory for him. (FM, p. 402)
Q21: Some allergy sufferers use an apparatus which we call an ́inhalatorî to assist them in easy breathing. After its placement in the mouth and pressing it, this apparatus emits what is like pressurized gas. Can this apparatus be used at the time of fasting?
A: Yes. One who uses this (apparatus) remains on his fast and his fast is valid. (FM, p. 402)
Q22: Food or serum in a plastic bag containing water, sugar and some medication is administered to a patient by injection directly into the blood ó due to sickness or some other reasons such as to provide nourishment. Is the fasting person obliged to avoid it?
A: It is not obligatory, although it is more appropriate (for him) to do so. (FM, p. 403)
Q23: Is it permissible to offer meals to those who are not fasting ó that is, those with and without an excuse for not fasting in the month of Ramadan ó whether in restaurants or in homes, if this offering is not considered disrespectful to the sanctity of the noble month?
A: It is permissible (to offer meals) to those who have an excuse (for not fasting) [but not to the others]. (FM, pp. 402-3)