Friday Journal : 11th September 98 Articles in this issue Namaz - e - Jama'at Some of the Rulings on Imported Leather and Exhumation of Grave The Secret Birth of Hadhrat Mahdi (a.s.) Ali (a.s.) and Qur'an Pilgrimage sites in Karbala Drunkard on the Death - bed Five Points on Hadhat Zahra (a.s.)

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Some of the Rulings on Imported Leather and Exhumation of Grave

by Ayatullah al Uzama Sayyid Ali al Husaini al Seestani

Imported Leather

Q27: A man is wearing a watch whose strap is made of natural leather imported from a non-Muslim country and he does not know whether the leather is from the skin of an animal slaughtered in the Islamic manner or not. The belt on his pants is made from the same kind of leather. Does he have to remove them when he intends to offer prayer?

A: His prayer is valid with them as long as there is a strong probability that the strap or the belt is from the skin of an animal whose flesh is edible and that was slaughtered in the sharëi manner. (FM, pp. 397-98)

Q28: What about a wallet placed inside the pocket during prayer if it is made of the same leather as the strap previously mentioned?

A: One is permitted to offer prayer with it. (FM, p. 398)

Q29: Suppose that he is confident that the strap or the belt is made from the skin of an animal that was not slaughtered in the Islamic manner but he prays with it due to forgetfulness and then remembers while praying, and immediately removes his watch or belt.

A: His prayer is valid unless his forgetfulness is due to carelessness and not giving due importance to the matter [in which case he is obliged to repeat his prayer]. (FM, p. 398)

Exhumation of Grave

Q49: Is it permissible to excavate the grave of the deceased if it does not entail disrespect for the deceased?

A: It is not permissible except for special purposes that have been explained in the books of fiqh, such as cases of dire necessity. (FM, p. 420)

Q50: In a previous question (Q26), we informed your eminence about the differences among the Muslims regarding the direction of the qiblah. What is the ruling on one who was buried facing a direction adopted at the time of burial and then (the direction) was changed after the burial, given that exhumation and identification of those buried in the previous direction or the new direction would entail great hardship?

A: In response to the question, it is not obligatory to execute the change. (MMS, p. 11, Q2)