If you find this complicated then you may act as the Sunnis do...

If you find this complicated then you may act as the Sunnis do; because they have been there longer than you and they must have come to that conclusion after having done some calculation. As for Ziyarat: Every Ziyarat may be recited facing the Qibla. Alternatively, you may resort to calculations (as described in the case of Qibla) by drawing lines to Karbala and Mashhad. Q56: QIBLA ON MOON? Suppose I were to fly to the Moon.

Whilst on the Moon or on the way to it, which direction will be my Qibla for prayers? A. According to "Fatwas" of some Mujtahids, the Qibla of a space-traveller is the Earth. You will face the Earth during your prayer Q 57: WHY USE OF GOLD IS FORBIDDEN FOR MAN? Why is gold not allowed for men? And why is gold permitted for women? A. It is not possible to know definitely the reason as to why a certain rule has been given to us by Allah and/or His Prophet.

Once we accept that Allah is our Creator and is a Wise Creator and that the Mustafa (s.a.w.) was His true Prophet, then we must accept that whatever order was given by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) must have been based on some sound reason. At the same time, however, it is not necessary that that reason be known to us. So, if reason of any rule has been explained by the Holy Prophet (saw.) or Imams, well and good. We must be thankful to them for that explanation.

But if it has not been explained, then we must obey them without any 'ifs' 'buts' or 'whys'. It is for this reason that our shari'ah says that you have all the liberty to argue and discuss concerning matters of 'Usul-e-Deen till you are fully convinced of their truth. But you have no liberty in 'Furu-e-Deen'. You must obey them faithfully, because after accepting the truth of the divine office of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and the Imams (a.s.) there is no ground for you to ignore their orders.

This is the general principle governing your two questions. Still, so far as these particular questions are concerned, our thoughts may give us the following reason (which may or may not be the actual reason). Islam wants men to be hardy, brave and tough in order that they may boldly enlist for 'Jihad'. It does not like men to be soft and meek because such men cannot stand the rigour of military discipline.

And this discipline is a MUST for every male Muslim, because he must always be ready to fight in the way of Allah as soon as our 12th Imam (as.) re-appears. Q. 58: IS IQAMAH WAJIB? Is iqamah wajib before prayer? A.