Question 443 - The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 5

Question and answer [link]

Question 443

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Peace be upon you, my master and guardian, Imam Ahmed Alhasan, the successor and messenger of Imam al-Mahdi (a). O locus of knowing Allah: My master, your servant and son is in hardship and deep pain known only to Allah, Muhammad, and the family of Muhammad (a). My Imam, as I learned from you, the ruling concerning the act I committed is that of shubha, as a result of my donating my sperm to my brother’s wife. I made this donation for only two reasons. The first, as I explained to you, my master, was my fear for and emotional concern about my brother’s family separating, and the severe sorrow that accompanied their lives because they had no children. My emotion and compassion for them then moved me to ask the religious law whether I had the right to donate to them after doctors informed my brother that he could not have offspring because his sperm count was zero. This matter continued with my brother for a long time. When I saw their pitiable condition, I asked the religious law, which at that time I considered to be represented by the jurists of the end time. To my misfortune and through my wrongdoing against myself, I did not know that the successor and messenger of Imam al-Mahdi (a) had appeared, so I sought the answer from the jurists of the end time. I live in a Western country, so I entrusted the matter to a religious man whose knowledge we trusted. He in turn asked on our behalf about the permissibility of the matter, because I knew him to have a share of religious knowledge, possessing partial ijtihad according to their seminary terminology. Communication began between this person and me so that we might ascertain whether this act was permissible. Our communication concerning the matter continued for a long time, nearly two months, while he presented my question to specialists among researchers and religious authorities and asked more than one person about it. I remember him telling me, ‘We must take our time and ask, so that a person like Saddam is not born to us.’ That is, its permissibility had to be known with complete certainty, and I in turn did not rush him. After inquiries and questions between us over the telephone continued for nearly two months, perhaps longer, he brought me the answer that this act was permissible. After that I placed my trust in Allah and did it. My brother’s wife became pregnant after a long struggle to become pregnant, and then she also experienced difficulties during the pregnancy. During the pregnancy, my brother’s wife saw in a vision that she was undergoing an ultrasound. The woman performing the ultrasound was veiled and told her, ‘You will pass through a hardship, and what will deliver you from it is to call upon the prophet Jesus and Mary (a).’ My brother’s wife says that, indeed, when she later went to the doctor, her blood pressure was found to be high. When she went for the ultrasound, they told her that the child was in danger, blood was not reaching her, and she might die. She continued seeking intercession through the prophet Jesus and Mary (a) and calling upon Allah through them. Allah answered her supplication, and the girl was delivered safely, although she was very small and was placed in an incubator in the hospital for months. This vision was among the reasons that reassured me concerning the act I committed by donating sperm. The vision I myself saw some time after the girl’s birth-that I was among the supporters of Imam al-Mahdi (a)-and other visions containing glad tidings for me from the People of the House all made my heart feel reassured concerning the act I committed. But my master and guardian Ahmed Alhasan-may prayers be upon you, your forefathers the Imams, and your sons the Mahdis-after your answer reached me, all my affairs changed. I am now in sorrow and severe distress, not knowing what I must do to atone for my ugly act. I intended good for myself and my brother before Allah, only to find that I had acted contrary to Allah’s law. My master and guardian, in addition to what I have mentioned, I wish to know Allah’s command concerning it. Likewise, my master: 1. What does the ruling of shubha mean? Is she an illegitimate child or not? How do we remove this ambiguity and know the reality of the matter? 2. Should I inform the girl of the truth when she grows up, and also my children and the children’s paternal uncles, or not? 3. What is my duty toward the girl? 4. Do not forget me in your supplication, my master and guardian Ahmed-peace be upon you-for you see my condition and my wrongdoing against myself. 5. After knowing this condition of mine, will you accept me as a servant and son to you? In conclusion, I apologize to you, my master, because hearing my news has also caused you distress and pain. Through obedience to you and to Allah’s law, we bring joy to your heart, but through this act of mine I have saddened you. I ask you to forgive me, my master and guardian, and implore you to supplicate for me for forgiveness of my tremendous offense and sin, and to accept me as a servant who kisses the dust of your feet. I ask Allah to grant you victory and establish you over His enemy and yours. I ask Allah and implore you that the answer come quickly, because your brother-if you accept him as your brother-waits for the answer upon hotter coals. All thanks and respect to you. Sender: Ansar Allah

Source: The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 5; Author: Imam Ahmed Al-Hasan; Question 443; Page Not available; AL-JAWAB-AL-MUNIR-V5-Q443. View Arabic source · Open the original Arabic source ↗