He is najis...

He is najis; his wife becomes haram for him, and she will observe 'iddah of death; even during his life; he loses all rights in his property-after repaying his debts the residue will be distributed among his Muslim heirs. And his repentance is not acceptable in this life, according to the well-known ruling of the scholars. But Ayatullah al-Khoui says that obviously his repentance is acceptable in the hereafter and to a certain extent in this life too.

Accordingly, if he repents he will become tahir, and if his former wife agrees he may remarry her in a fresh marriage. In short, he will be treated as a Muslim-but even then he shall not regain possession of his property unless the heirs willingly return it to him. Likewise the sentence of death shall not be waived even after repentance.

If a woman becomes Murtadd (Fitri), she becomes najis; and haram on her husband, but she does not lose her property, nor is she sentenced to death; and her repentance is accepted. If she refuses to repent, she will be imprisoned for life. Murtadd Milli: A person who was not born of a Muslim parent; and accepted Islam after attaining majority and later renounced it. He should be told to repent. If he repents within three days, his repentance will be accepted.

Otherwise he would be killed on the fourth clay. His Muslim wife will become haram for him, i.e. the marriage will become invalid automatically, and she will have to observe the 'iddah of divorse if the marriage was cosummated, but if he repents during her 'iddah period, the marriage will continue without there being any need for a new nikah. Murtadd Milli is debarred from managing his property (althought he remains its owner).

If he repents, he will regain its management; otherwise he will be given his essential requirements from it until he dies; after his death, the property will be divided among his Muslim heirs. Q. 43: SOME ITEMS OF SEA-FOOD: What is the fatwa of Late Ayatullah Al-Khoui or Ayatullah As-Sistani about eating crabs, squids, sturgeons, lobsters, ducks and rabbits? A: Duck is lawful without doubt. Crabs, squids and rabbits are haram.

Sturgeon reportedly has a few scales; therefore this fish and its eggs (caviar) are halal. Lobster like squid and crab is not counted as fish; and is haram. Q. 44: LEADERSHIP OF JAMA 'AT: (a) Can we vote for a leader or a person in any position to represent the community if we are certain of his shortfall in religious behaviour?