UPDATE: scroll down to the bottom of this post to receive the Iranian Supreme Leader's guidance on breaking DRM and visiting dirty websites.
On his blog, Sayyid Ali Khameini offers advice to the faithful about appropriate conduct during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan:
Q: "If somebody masturbates during the
month of Ramadan but without any discharge, is his fasting invalidated?"
Iranian Supreme Leader: "If he do not intend masturbation and discharging semen and nothing is discharged, his fasting is correct even though he has done a ḥarām (forbidden) act. But, if he intends masturbation or he knows that he usually discharges semen by this process and semen really comes out, it is a ḥaram intentional breaking fasting."
Link (thanks, John Parres)
Reader comment: Joe asks,
The Ramadan fast is only from sunrise to sunset. Does this mean it's
OK after dark?
Joe, that would be a question for the Iranian Supreme Leader. You can submit queries on his blog right here.
Scott Eric Kaufman says,
I clicked over Xeni's link to Iran's Supreme Leader's stance on copyright. Now, I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I thought Cory'd be interested to know that the Supreme Leader of Iran has definitively (if confusingly) addressed the topic. Here's the text:
To Break Soft-wares’ Protecting System
Q: Some of the computer soft-wares work for 15 days only and are made by foreign companies. What is the ruling of breaking the protecting system of these soft-wares to make them free and work forever or taking the ready-made broken file? Knowing that these soft-wares are useful and are so expensive in the market and one can download them from the company’s site to be tested on the computer. Moreover, when breaking the protecting system, nothing is stolen from the company or the market and by this act I will benefit many people who cannot afford the soft-wares’ price. Also, what can I do with the cracks I used? Can I just use them instead of making them?
A: As long as the soft-ware companies – be it foreign or local – have the right that nobody can use these programs by breaking their protection without their permission; it is impermissible to break the protection and use these programs without the consent of the producing company. The mere intending to benefit people by breaking or high prices and inability of most people to take advantage of these programs due to their price does not justify, according to shar‘, violating others’ legal rights. As per the crack you have used until now, you should acquire the agreement of the original company in this regard; otherwise, you are not allowed to continue with using them.
Ed. Note: it's kind of hard to find this, but from the main site, click on "Newly Asked Questions," then "Cultural and Artistic Issues," then "To Break Soft-wares’ Protecting System."
In this category, you'll also find a Q&A titled "Visiting Web Pages on Which Sexually Exciting Scenes Would Be Seen":
Q: I use internet so much and enter so many unknown sites. I like to visit all sites, even the non-Muslim ones, to know everything about them in spite of the fact that I know I may encounter some obscene scenes. Anyhow, when I open a page I just have a look at it and if it is an obscene one, I immediately close it and go to see another one and so on. I only look to know and not for lustful aims. But sometimes, the sexual passion overcomes. Is it permissible for me to do so?
A: If upon opening a web page your eye will fall on sexually exciting scenes, opening and looking at the page is ḥarām for you.
Reader comment: Kendall Willets says,
There are entire books full of that sort of advice, published by very senior Muslim leaders. For instance the Ayatollah Khomeini had a whole book (available in English as well) full of clarifications on locker-room principles like "if you shake it more than twice you're stroking it", and what to do if you marry a woman who has a bone obstructing her vagina.
Since Islam has all the answers, Imams are expected to provide them, interpreted directly from the Koran. For instance, it was the Ayatollah who enlightened me to the fact that sex is only for married people, but you can get married for as little as 30 minutes provided certain financial details are agreed upon.
