Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(205): "Ruling on Prohibiting the Offence Against Forest Trees"

Date Added : 27-10-2015

 

Resolution  No.(205) (15/2014) by The Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Prohibiting the Offence Against Forest Trees"

Date: (16/Zolqhidah/1435  A.H); corresponding to (11/9/2014  A.D)

 

All praise is due to Allah. May His blessings and peace be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon his family and companions.

The Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies reviewed, in its eleventh session held on Thursday: (16/Zolqhidah/1435 A.H); (11/9/2014 A.D), the question sent by the chairperson of the Jordanian Society for Eco Tourism and reads as follows: 

We would like to inform you that forest areas in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan are severely endangered by some citizens and influential persons through cutting and burning  in order to sell their wood to citizens, and this has done a great damage to these areas. We kindly ask your Grace to discuss this issue with the Board of Iftaa` in order to issue a ruling on cutting down state-owned forest trees and selling them for personal profit.

After careful study and deliberation, the Board decided:

 

Trees are a vital aspect of life and a reason of survival on this earth. Allah, The Exalted, has made them  a mercy, a blessing, a greenery, a favor that He has bestowed on humanity. He Said in this regard (What means): “It is He who sends down rain from the sky: from it ye drink, and out of it (grows) the vegetation on which ye feed your cattle. With it He produces for you corn, olives, date-palms, grapes and every kind of fruit: verily in this is a sign for those who give thought.” {An-Nahl(10-11)}.

The Holy Quran contains frequent reminder of this blessing so as to draw man`s attention to its significance in order for him to thank Allah, The Exalted, on the one hand and to protect it as well as look after it on the other hand. Allah Says (What means): “Glory to God, Who created in pairs all things that the earth produces, as well as their own (human) kind and (other) things of which they have no knowledge.” {Ya-Sin/36}.

Therefore, a person thankful of this blessing wouldn`t endanger, or desecrate it because he knows deep down that if matters get out of hand, no tree will be left on the face of the earth due to the greed of those who seek to make profit at the expense of life on this earth and Allah`s creatures on it. Therefore, the necessary measures had to be taken to protect this blessing.

 

We should always remember that Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) urged us to populate the earth by saying: “There is none amongst the Muslims who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a charitable gift for him.” {Bukhri &Muslim}. He also said: “If the Day of Resurrection starts while one of you is holding a cutting, then he should plant it.” {Ahmad}.

We should remember that any offence against trees by cutting, breaking, or burning is a violation of public property, and this is included in the warning of Abdullah Bin Habashi (May Allah be pleased with him) who reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever cuts down a lote tree, Allah shall send him to Hell head first.” {Abu Dawood}. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Head of the Iftaa` Board, The Grand Mufti of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, His Grace Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh.

Vice Head of the Iftaa`Board, Prof. Ahmad Helayel

Prof. Abduln`nassir Abu Al Bass`al/ Member

His Eminence, Sheikh Sa`ied Hijjawi/ Member

Pro. Mohammad Al-Qhodat/ Member

Dr. Yahia Al-Botoosh/ Member

     Dr. Wasif Al-Bakhri

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is Zakah (obligatory charity) obligatory on indebted merchant?

Debt doesn`t abrogate the dueness of Zakah, thus a debtor who has money, articles of merchandise, or other Zakah funds at his disposal should pay their Zakah.

"I told my family at night: 'I will fast tomorrow as qaḍā' (a make-up fast),' but I forgot to make the intention before sleeping. Is my fast valid?"

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
 
The intention is obligatory in acts of worship. For obligatory fasting, the required intention is to resolve to fast during the night [before dawn]. Its proper locus is the heart, while verbalizing the intention out loud in acts of worship is a sunnah — so that the tongue may align with the heart. If the intent behind the statement in question was the intention to fast, then it is valid; but if the intent was merely to inform someone, or reflected hesitation or doubt, then it is not valid.
 
It is stated in *Bushrā al-Karīm* (Vol.1/P.216): "It is a sunnah to verbalize the intention — that is, whatever has already been intended in the heart, whether an obligatory or a voluntary act — such as specifying the number of rak‘ahs, just before the opening takbīr — so that the tongue may assist the heart, and because this is further removed from whispered doubts (waswasah), and in order to accommodate the view of those who held it obligatory in every act of worship that requires an intention (even though this is a minority position), by analogy with Ḥajj."
 
Accordingly: if the intention to fast arose in your heart before the second adhān [i.e., before Fajr], then your fast is valid.
 
And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on a latecomer who joins the imam during the standing position of the first rakʿah but was unable to complete the recitation of al-Fātiḥah?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
If a latecomer (masbuq) joins the prayer while the imam is standing, he should begin reciting Sūrat al-Fātiḥah immediately, without pausing to recite the opening supplication (duʿāʾ al-istiftāḥ) or the seeking of refuge (taʿawwudh). If the imam bows before he completes al-Fātiḥah, he follows the imam into the bow and leaves whatever remains of al-Fātiḥah — the imam bears it on his behalf.
It is stated in ʿUmdat al-Sālik (p. 47): "If a latecomer finds the imam standing and is confident that he has enough time to recite the taʿawwudh and al-Fātiḥah in full, he may do so. If he is uncertain, he should neither recite the opening supplication nor the taʿawwudh, but rather begin directly with al-Fātiḥah. If the imam bows before he completes it, he follows him into the bow — provided he had not already begun the opening supplication or the taʿawwudh. If he had begun either of them, he continues reciting al-Fātiḥah for as long as he spent on them." And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Is it permissible for a sick person to pray while sitting on a chair?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds                                                                                                                                                                        It is permissible for a sick person, who is unable to stand up, to offer prayer while sitting on a chair. If he/she was unable to prostrate while on the chair, the he/she should pray while sitting on the ground, but if he/she was neither able to bow (Roku),nor to prostrate, then he can do them while sitting on the chair. And Allah Knows Best.