Questioner: Muhsin Mujtahid Shabestari (Commercial Affairs Commission of the Islamic Legislative Assembly)
[Considering that the bill on procurement and distribution of goods is under review in the Islamic Legislative Assembly, please rely to the two questions below in an explicit manner for which I shall be grateful and obliged. Meanwhile, the aforesaid bill is being presented to your Eminence. In case you have a specific opinion please honor us so that the necessary amendments are made.
1. In the book" Secondary Tahrir al-Wasilah" you have stated," The Imam (`a) and the trustee of the Muslims is empowered to take action based on the interests of the Muslims regarding fixing the price and industry and restricting trade and so forth are matters that are connected with the interest of the society and the social system." Does this religious ruling" fatwa" directly apply to the government of the Republic of Iran or is it necessary that the Islamic Legislative Assembly be permitted and delegated on your behalf to distribute and delegate this authority to the relevant authorities such as for example, the Higher Council?
2. From the point of view of administrative affairs, is the above subject matter a primary ruling or is it a secondary one? If it is the latter, in case of commissioning the assembly concerning determination of prices of goods that has been stated in Section 6 article 2 of the bill; and likewise the procurement and distribution of essential goods that according to Section 2, article 5, it is the responsibility of the government and requires a time limit and two-thirds of the vote of the representatives.
With highest respects,
Muhsin Mujtahid Shabestari, on behalf of the Commercial Affairs Commission of the parliament]
In His Most Exalted Name
1. The legislators of the assembly are permitted to give permission to the government.
2. The ruling is secondary.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini