Got a Question for the Ayatollah?

[SoDesuKa]

The Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani is as accessible as Howard Dean. If you have a question for him, send him an e-mail. No guarantee he'll answer it personally, but you never know -- you might just catch him on the right day.
http://www.sistani.org/html/eng/menu/4/new.php

Some questions are off the wall, but His Eminence takes them seriously. For instance,

• Are devout Muslims allowed to play cricket? Yes, but not chess.
• Is it lawful, when taking a shower, to hold your head under the water for more than a minute? No, it's forbidden.
• May a man shake hands with a woman? No, he may not.
• What is an orgy? Don't even ask.
• Is anal sex forbidden? Only if the woman objects.

http://www.sistani.org/html/eng/menu/4/?lang=eng

Don't laugh. This guy is a pretty shrewd operator. He outmaneuvered the American generals and still refuses to take a phone call from George Bush. Sistani got us to get rid of Saddam, and now he's going to insist we leave.

http://www.sistani.org/html/eng/

[Clark2008]

1. That first one is a joke, btw.

Muslim men are renowned for their chess abilities, actually. The discipline is also revered.

This pretty cute. I'm going to e-mail him. My ex is a Sunnah Muslim, so I do have some questions about the Shi'ite side. So, maybe it's only Shi'ite Muslims who cannot play chess.


:)

[Clark2008]

2. Tee-hee. I'm such a stinker.

Here's what I asked Sistani:

Given the fact that many Americans believe Republican-owned voting machines co-opted the United States elections in favor of George W. Bush, effectively putting him back into the White House, how confident are you that an American-led election in Iraq will result in a proper vote?

[NAO]

3. This guy is a pretty shrewd operator - It he really Karl Rove in disguise?

His positioning tactics and ascent to power have 'the mark of Rove' - "This guy is a pretty shrewd operator. He outmaneuvered the American generals and still refuses to take a phone call from George Bush. Sistani got us to get rid of Saddam, and now he's going to insist we leave."

[Skink]

4. I understand Sistani used to be a big proponent of direct mail..

[Jamastiene]

5. Can't say I would want to

take a call from Bush either. I've tried outmaneuvering Bush and the Repugs for years, but still fall victim to their oppression just like most of America over and over again.

I would go to Gitmo or God knows where they'd stick me if I could ask the question I'd like to ask... :D