Miscellaneous Issues Related to Khums 8item There is a cultural institution in which a shop for business has been opened and its capital is obtained from religious tithes so as to provide for the institution’s future expenditures. Is it necessary to pay khums on the profits which the business makes? Can the khums be used for the development of the institution? A person has spent some religious tithes, an Imam’s (a.) share of khums, and other things - spending of which depends on acquiring permission from one of the mujtahids - for one of the religious institutions, school building, masjid, or a ḥusayniyyah. Now according to shar‘, is he allowed to claim back what he spent as his religious tithes, to claim its piece of land, or even try to sell the building of the institution? If we doubt whether we have paid khums on a particular thing or not - although we are almost sure that we have paid - what is our duty then? I paid money as khums on something which was not subject to khums, could I consider it as the khums I owe at the moment? Approximately seven years ago, I had to pay an amount of khums. I made mudāwarah for the payment with a mujtahid and paid off a part of it. I am indebted for the balance, but at present I am unable to pay it. What is my duty? Can religious tithes be converted into hard currency which has a fixed value, unlike those that always fluctuate in their price? Would this be considered permissible according to Islamic law? Are khums and zakāt obligatory for children who are not mature? In 1962, I became a follower of Imam Khomeini (q.) in taqlīd and used to forward my khums money to His Holiness. In 1967, while asking about religious tithes and general taxes, he replied that religious tithes are khums and zakāt in which general taxes are not included. Now that we are living in the period of Islamic Government, please explain to me my duty regarding religious tithes and general taxes.