Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No. (323): "Sighting the Crescent Moon of the Month of Shawwal, 1444"

Date Added : 27-04-2023

Resolution No.(323)(4 /2023) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Sighting the Crescent Moon of the Month of Shawwal, 1444"

 

Date :(29/Ramadan/1444 H), corresponding to (20/4/2023).

 

Praise be to the Lord of all worlds. Prayers and peace be upon our Prophet, Muhammad, his family and all of his companions.

 

 On its fifth session held on the above date, the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies reviewed sighting the crescent of the month of Shawwal for this year (1444 H). 

 

After deliberating, the Board decided the following:

 

"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"

 

  Almighty Allah Says (What means): "A token unto them is night. We strip it of the day, and lo! they are in darkness.And a Sign for them is the Night: We withdraw therefrom the Day, and behold they are plunged in darkness;And the sun runs his course for a period determined for him: that is the decree of (Him), the Exalted in Might, The All-Knowing. And the Moon,- We have measured for her mansions (to traverse) till she returns like the old (and withered) lower part of a date-stalk.is not permitted to the Sun to catch up the Moon, nor can the Night outstrip the Day: Each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit (according to Law)." {Ya-Sin/37-40}. He, The Exalted, also Says: "(He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful." {Al-Baqarah/185}. In addition, the Prophet (PBUH) says: "The fast is the day the people fast, the breaking of the fast is the day the people break their fast." {At-Tirmithi}.

 

 Based on the findings-which were harmonious with the astronomical calculations-of the Crescent Sighting Committee of the General Iftaa Department and the concerned authorities, it was ascertained to the Board that tomorrow, Friday, 21/4/2023, will be the first of Shawwal for this year: (1444 H), and so it is the first day of the Eid of Fitr.

 

  Accordingly, the Board is pleased to extend the warmest of congratulations to His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein, His crown Prince, and the Hashemite Family on this blessed occasion. May Allah Protect His Majesty and Grant Him good health.

 

  The Board also extends its congratulations to the people of Jordan and the Arab and Muslim Nation. It asks Allah to Accept our fast and night prayers and shower our beloved Jordan as well as the Muslim world with peace, security, stability and blessings. We pray that Allah, The Almighty, accepts our acts of devotion and erases our sins. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on supplicating with other than the transmitted (Ma'thur) supplications in prayer?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is permissible to supplicate (make du'a) during the prayer for anything from the affairs of religion or worldly life, and the prayer is not invalidated by doing so.
Shaykh al-Islam, the Imam an-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: "Our madhhab [i.e., the Shafi'i madhhab] holds that it is permissible for a person to supplicate during it [the prayer] with anything that is permissible to supplicate with outside the prayer, from the affairs of religion or worldly life. He may say: 'O Allah, grant me wholesome sustenance, offspring, a house, and a beautiful young wife' — describing her; or: 'O Allah, free so-and-so from prison,' or 'destroy so-and-so,' and other such things — and none of this invalidates his prayer according to us. And this is also the view of Malik, ath-Thawri, Abu Thawr, and Ishaq." [Al-Majmu', Vol.3/P.454]. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on following the actions of the imam in prayer and how this following is achieved?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
The follower (ma'mum) is required to follow his imam in the actions of the prayer. This "following" (mutaba'ah) means that the follower performs each action of the prayer after the imam has begun it but before he has finished it. For example, the follower bows (in ruku') after the imam has reached the position of bowing, then rises after the imam has risen. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The imam is only appointed to be followed, so when he says the takbir, say the takbir; and when he bows, then bow; and when he prostrates, then prostrate" (agreed upon, i.e., reported by both al-Bukhari and Muslim).
It is stated in Mughni al-Muhtaj (1/505): "Among the conditions of valid congregational prayer (iqtida') is following the imam in the actions of the prayer... meaning that following the imam is obligatory in the physical actions of the prayer, not in its verbal utterances... Complete following (kamal al-mutaba'ah) is achieved when the follower's beginning of an action comes after the imam's beginning of that same action, while the follower's beginning of the action precedes the imam's completion of it" — end of quote, with slight paraphrasing.
And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Are school exams a valid excuse for breaking the fast in Ramadan?

School and university exams are not considered a valid excuse for breaking the fast, as most students take their exams while fasting without experiencing extreme hardship. Fasting does not conflict with exam preparation, and a Muslim seeks strength in obedience to Allah for both worldly and spiritual matters.

What is the ruling on praying in congregation at the mosque?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Congregational prayer (Salat al-Jama‘ah) is a communal obligation (Fard Kifayah) for resident men regarding the performance of the prescribed (obligatory) prayers. For men, praying in congregation at the mosque is better than praying elsewhere, such as at home. On the authority of Abdullah bin Umar, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Prayer in congregation is twenty-seven degrees more excellent than the prayer of a person alone' (Reported by Bukhari & Muslim). Furthermore, on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Shall I not tell you that by which Allah erases sins and raises ranks?' They said, 'Of course, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'Performing wudu thoroughly despite difficulties, taking many steps toward the mosques, and waiting for the next prayer after the prayer; that is your Ribat (steadfastness)' (Narrated by Muslim).
 
As for a woman, her praying in congregation at home is better for her than in the mosque, according to the saying of our Master the Prophet ﷺ: 'Do not prevent your women from attending the mosques, but their homes are better for them' (Narrated by Abu Dawood). Young boys should be encouraged to attend the mosques and congregational prayers so they may become accustomed to them. And Allah the Exalted knows best.