The mujtahid spends the sihmu 'l-Imam in the way which he...

The mujtahid spends the sihmu 'l-Imam in the way which he thinks will be agreeable to the Present Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (upon whom be peace).

The most important causes for which the sihmu 'l-Imam is used presently are the following: • providing the necessary expenses of the poor and needy Shi`ah Ithna-`Asharis; it may also be used by the mujtahid during natural disasters like earthquake, famine, war, etc; • propagating the religion of Islam to the believers as well as the non-believers; • providing the household and academic expenses of the `ulama' (the religious scholars) who dedicate their life and efforts in teaching and preaching the religion of Islam to the people.

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