Question 260 - The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 3

Ahmed al-Hasan Response:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers upon Muhammad and his family, the Imams and the Mahdis, and grant them abundant peace. Answer to Question 1: It is not permissible to assist an oppressor in any form whatsoever. Indeed, the state of al-Taghut must be destroyed by every possible means and its pillars undermined, for it is part of Satan’s kingdom. It is not permissible to take a dispute before judges who rule by other than what Allah sent down and whom Allah’s Proof has not authorized to judge among the people. But if you work to the extent possible to repel some people’s oppression of others, you must also take the foregoing into account. Do not assist an oppressor and tyrant by strengthening his kingdom and governance. Work to assist the oppressed and bring relief to the believer. I ask Allah for you all good-His satisfaction and the Garden-and that He keep all evil from you-His wrath and the Fire. Allah willing, your reckoning will be easy through the favor of your faith, and a merciful Lord will enter you through His mercy, for He is the Most Merciful of the merciful. Answer to Question 2: It is permissible. Answer to Question 3: Khums applies to surplus, not to what meets a need. If you own one house, there is no khums upon it, its used furnishings, a private car, or the source of livelihood that only meets your need without surplus. But if you own another house, land, or another car, you pay its khums. As for a source of livelihood-a shop for trade, a factory, or a farm-if its production exceeds your need, you pay khums upon the original capital in the same proportion as the excess. As for production or money, at the end of the year you pay khums upon whatever exceeds your need. Ahmed Alhasan