In response to an Istiftā’, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi issued a fatwa, authorizing people to pay half of the portion of the Imam (sahm al-Imam (‘a) ) to the needy. This Istiftā’ was sent to his eminence’s office regarding the inability of the government to provide all the needy with their needs and solve their problems under the current conditions and the lack of any immediate prospect for the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In response to this Istiftā’, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi issued a fatwa, granting people permission to use some of the portion of the Imam to take care of the needs of the deprived and solve their problems.

Part of the Istiftā’ sent to his eminence by some of his followers read: “Considering that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many businesses to close down or to operate at a minimum capacity, a large number of people are now under tremendous financial pressure. Under the current conditions, the fatwas of great religious authorities toward solving some of the problems of people will be extremely helpful.

Moreover, given the inability of the government to meet all of the needs of people, and the lack of an immediate prospect for the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of people are now in need of help some of whom have been directly affected by the disease and many others have been affected by its repercussions.

Therefore, we ask you to kindly grant your followers permission to spend all or a part of the portion of the Imam (ʻa) for solving the problems of the non-Sayyid, and to pay all or a part of the Sayyids’ share only to the Sayyids who have been most adversely affected by this pandemic.”

In response to this Istiftā’, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi issued a fatwa which is as follows: “The believers are authorized to used half of the portion of the Imam and half of the Sayyids’ share for solving the problems of the needy and to send the other halves to my office so that we could send them to the deprived areas.”