SAEDNEWS: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a series of new fatwas addressing contemporary everyday dilemmas — from the religious validity of artificial nails during prayer to the permissibility of fixed investment returns.
According to Saed News, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has responded to a set of recent istiftas (religious queries) submitted to his office, addressing an array of issues concerning religious practice, financial conduct, and ethical dilemmas faced by practicing Muslims in daily life. The new fatwas shed light on the interpretation of Islamic law in a modern context, reaffirming strict boundaries while offering nuanced guidance on evolving societal behaviors.
Among the most widely discussed rulings is one concerning artificial nails, a growing cosmetic trend. Ayatollah Khamenei ruled that the application of artificial nails is impermissible if it prevents proper performance of ablution (wudhu) or ritual bathing (ghusl), both prerequisites for valid Islamic prayer. If the nails cannot be removed without significant hardship or damage, the individual must perform a dry ablution (tayammum) and later make up for missed prayers as a matter of precaution. For those considering artificial nails without a legitimate need, the ruling is unequivocally prohibitive.
The fatwas also include practical guidance on lost property, such as finding a ring during a family outing. If the item is worth less than approximately 2.5 grams of silver, it may be kept. Otherwise, it must be publicly announced for one year before it can be owned, given as charity, or held in trust — unless there is no reasonable hope of finding the owner, in which case the finder may donate it directly.
In response to financial inquiries, Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated the Islamic prohibition of usury (riba). Receiving a guaranteed monthly profit from an investment arrangement is considered haram if the arrangement is a disguised loan. However, if structured as a business agency contract, in which the investor appoints someone as their representative to trade with the funds and share real profits, it is deemed permissible.
Additional rulings addressed matters such as:
Quranic recitation during prayer: Observing the basic articulation of Arabic letters is required, while intricate tajweed rules (elocutionary embellishments) are not.
Fish farming practices: Draining a pond to harvest fish is permissible under Islamic law and renders the fish halal.
Calculation of religious tax (khums): Income is to be evaluated based on both the time of transaction and the time of actual monetary receipt.
Prayer posture and etiquette: Congregants are encouraged, though not obligated, to sit in the tajafi position during the imam's final testimony.
Proxy pilgrimage (Hajj): A person who completes pilgrimage on behalf of another must still perform their own Hajj if financially and physically able.
Ablution techniques: Using wet hands to wipe body parts without pouring water is acceptable if the moisture suffices for proper washing.
This new series of rulings reflects the continuing effort by Iran’s Supreme Leader to apply Islamic jurisprudence to the complexities of contemporary life. While rooted in traditional doctrine, the fatwas aim to address both the spiritual integrity and practical concerns of modern adherents navigating the demands of 21st-century society.
