Najafi Q&A: Shrines

There is a project to expand the shrine of the Companion Abdullah ibn Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) by the General Secretariat of the Honorable Shia Shrines. However, there is an old cemetery with effaced graves near the holy shrine, which is obstructing the work. The land is not endowed (waqf) and belongs to the shrine, and there is a public interest in expanding the holy site while preserving the sanctity of the graves and avoiding any exhumation. What is the ruling?

Why was Mecca chosen for the construction of the Kaaba?

Do you consider it correct that the shrine of Al-Hamza Al-Gharbi which is located in Babylon that it is for Al-Hamza Ibn Al-Qasim Al-Alawi Al-Abbasi who was the noble trusted man? He is the one whom Al-Najashi gave his biography and referenced and mentioned by Al-Sheikh in the book of "Al-Rijal". This shrine is for him as per the famous story which happened with Syed Muhammad Al-Qizweeny and mentioned by Al-Mirza Al-Noori in the book Janatul Ma'wa". Syed Al-Khoiee pertains this shrine to Al-Hamza Ibn Al-Qasim. It that correct?

There is an issue that made me think when visiting the graves of the martyrs in the shrine of Imam Hussein (PBUH). It is: how can a small place like that contain more than seventy graves? There are narrations saying that each of the women who returned from captivity sat at the grave of her deceased, as well as the women of their companions?

What is your opinion regarding the grave of Sheikh Al-Kulainy (may Allah have mercy on him), where there is a well-known grave in Baghdad/ Al-Risafa, but there is a narration saying he is buried in Al-Karkh?

Do the shrines of the sons of the Imams and the shrine of Hazrat Abbas and Lady Zainab (peace be upon them) take the title of the mosque such that it is forbidden for the person on the state of Janabat and menstruating woman to enter it?

I have two sons, one of them is ten years old and the other eight years old who is autistic. I would like to visit the holy shrines in Iraq and Iran. Can I take my sons to the shrine, or is it not permissible for them because they boys?

In Ghammas suburb in Iraq, there is a grave which is said to be of Syed Abdullah son of Imam Kadhim (PBUH). 1. Is it proven to you that this grave is of Syed Abdullah son of Imam Kadhim (PBUH)? 2. Is it correct to infer the existence of the grave which is twelve centuries old from the sayings of the centenarians and through the vision? 3. Where is the current grave now according to His Eminence Sheikh Al-Najafy (may Allah prolong his life)?

There is an Indian village called Tanda in the city of Ahmed Karankar in which a shrine for Imam Ali (PBUH) was built 300 years ago by the governors of Tanda. This holy shrine is very dilapidated due to lack of maintenance and funding. The Shiites in that region are not financially able to restore. Therefore, we request the following from your Excellency: 1. kindly take this issue into consideration so as to preserve this shrine as it is the symbol of Shiites and Shiite rituals and if neglected, it will be ruins by the passage of time. 2. We need an urgent financial help for maintenance.

In the name of Allah, be advised, my son, that we have repeatedly stated that the particulars of the events in Karbala are difficult to be authenticated in the scientific approaches, especially after the offence and destruction of Imam Hussein’s (PBUH) tomb. However, such places could be located by the Infallibles (PBUH) who used to visit Imam Hussein (PBUH). Accordingly, we should respect the sources that of these reports such as the Zainabi Hill, the place where Ali Al-Akbar was martyred and the hands of Abbass. Allah knows best.

I have two sons, 10 and 8 years old. The second one is autistic. I wish to visit the holy shrines in Iraq and Iran. Can I take them with me inside the holy shrines or not as they are boys? A. In the name of Allah, if the boys keep their religious purity, there is no objection to that. Allah knows best.

Can places and holy shrines of sons of the Imams and of our masters Abbas and Zainab (PBUH) be regarded as mosques where it is forbidden for the one who is in state of janabat or the woman who is in menses to enter to these shrines?

I have two sons; one is 10 years old and the other is only 8. The second is autistic. I would like to visit the holy shrines in Iraq and Iran. Can I take them with me inside or not (as they are boys)?

Are the shrines of sons of the Imams (PBUH), Hazrat Abbas (PBUH) and Lady Zainab (PBUH) considered as masjids? In such case, the person who is in the state of Janabat or menstruation are not allowed to enter.

Where is the grave of Al-Aqeela Zainab (PBUH) as per the best authentic narrations?

Has the holy Rawdha (spot from paradise) be enlarged as a result of enlarging Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi? The visitors who come to the Messenger (PBUH&HP) consider themselves in the Rawdha when they enter the Masjid. Or, Is it the place between the grave and the pulpit only?

What is his Eminence’s opinion about the narrations which say that the place of putting and burying Imam Hussein’s (PBUH) head is with his father, the master of believers (PBUH)? Those narrations are found in Al-Kafi, Al-Tahtheeb and Kamil Al-Ziarat. Regarding the maqam of the head, is there a trace remaining there?

We are a group of people from Dewanyia province. We would like to ask your eminence a question. It is about a negative phenomenon in some areas, including where we live. The issue is that some people act on what they see in dreams or visions. Some see in the dream there is a light in the place of a deceased person. They call this light as the Light of Abbas (PBUH). Then, they order to build a mosque (Maqam) for him where people come to ask for their needs and present vows (Nazir).

Is it permissible to raise donations for a specific Husseinyia in the name of serving Imam Hussein from the people who have a problem with the manager of the Husseinyia, where if they are told the manager’s name, they would not donate? Is this considered deceiving?

I have some funds in the name of Imam Hussein (PBUH). Is it permissible to donate it to the hospital of Imam Hussein (PBUH) because they are in need of fund? Or, do I have to give it to an orphanage institution here in Kashmir “Al-Masomeen Orphanage”?