Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

y" Resolution No.(12): “Evaluating Diya in Jordanian Currency

Date Added : 02-11-2015

Resolution No.(12) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

“Evaluating Diya in Jordanian Currency“

Date: 9/11/1408 A.H, 23/6/1988 A.D.

The Board has received the following question:
What is the value of Diya in Jordanian currency?
Answer: All success is due to Allah.
The Jordanian Board of Iftaa` has discussed the issue of evaluating the Diya (blood money) in Jordanian currency, and after reviewing the opinions of Muslim scholars, the evidences that they have relied on, and the different conditions of the people, it found out the following:
1- In principle, the Diya is a hundred camels whose ages vary in accordance with the type of killing: premeditated murder, quasi-intentional murder, or accidental killing. Evaluating the Diya in a form other than camels relied on the value of camels. This is based on the narration of Abu Dawood and An-Nassai who reported that the Prophet (PBUH) used to evaluate the Diya for the people of villages as four hundred dinars, or what equals that in silver based on the value of camels, which varied from time to time and market to market. At the time of the Prophet (PBUH), it ranged from four hundred dinars to eight hundred, or what equals that amount in silver: eight hundred dirhams. He (PBUH) added that those who possess cows should pay two hundred cows, and those who possess sheep should pay two thousand sheep. The Prophet (PBUH) said {what means}: “The Diya is to be paid by the Aqila (relatives of the killer from his father`s side) of the killer; each according to his degree of kinship.“ {Abu Dawood&An-Nassai}.
2- Due to the fact that camels aren`t the circulated property in the majority of the Islamic countries, the Board deems that their prices should be evaluated in the currency of these countries to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet(PBUH) who evaluated them in gold and silver (currency circulated at that time) to villagers because they possessed a few camels as mentioned in the above Hadith. Also, evaluating the price of camels in the circulated currency facilitates the payment of the Diya.
3- After consulting the people of experience as regards the value of a hundred camels in the neighboring Islamic countries, it was found out that it equals ten thousand Jordanian dinars, and the Board has approved this evaluation because it agrees with that paid as Diya in the neighboring Islamic countries. Consequently, the Board has decided that the Diya of one person killed accidentally is ten thousand Jordanian dinars.
4- The Board confirms that the Diya in accidental and quasi-intentional killing is due on the Aqila of the killer; whereas, in premeditated murder, it is due on the killer himself.
5- The Diya in premeditated and quasi-intentional killing is denser because the Prophet (PBUH) added an extra third on its original amount.
6- If the family of the killed demands Qisas (retribution) from the killer, then no Diya is due to them since Islamic Law stipulates that they demand either Diya or Qisas.
7- If a group of people collaborated in the act of killing which led to the death of someone, then each of them pays a percentage of the Diya in accordance with the degree of their liability if that was exactly determined. However, if that wasn`t possible, then all of them should pay equal amounts, whether it was premeditated murder, quasi-intentional, or accidental killing.
8- If the killed had made a mistake, or committed an act of negligence that played a role in his death, then a percentage from his Diya is reduced accordingly.
9- Recipients of the Diya may waive their share since Almighty Allah Has Urged Muslims to be forgiving. He Says (What means): “and the remission (of the man’s half) is the nearest to righteousness.“ {Al-Baqara/237}. However, none may waive the right of minors in the Diya and such an act isn`t considered effective.

10- The Diya becomes part of the killed person`s estate and is subject to the rulings of Sharia on inheritance.
11- If a pregnant woman was attacked and that attack led to the abortion of her fetus who came out dead, his Diyah is Ghorah {star or white mark on face of a horse} which equals half-tenth of a man`s Diyah (five hundred dinars). However, if her fetus came out alive, then died later on as a result of that offence, then his Diya is similar to a free man`s. And all success is due to Allah alone, and may His Blessings and Peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and all his family and companions. And Allah Knows Best.

The Board of Iftaa`
Chairman of the Board, Chief Justice, Mohammad Mohailan
The Grand Mufti of Jordan, Vice Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Izz alDeen Attamimi
        Dr. Nooh al-Qodat, Mufti of Jordanian Armed Forces 
    Dr. Ibrahim al-Keelani         Dr. Abdulsalam Abbadi
         Dr. Abdulfatah Amr              Dr. Abdulhalim Ar-Ramahi
        Mostafa Az-Zarqa                 Dr. Mahmood al-Sartawi
        Dr. Abdulssalam Al-Abbadi Dr. Mahmood Al-Awattli

This resolution was modified, Kindly refer to RES No.(26) issued on 19/12/1992AD   

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is the niṣāb calculated based on the price of 21-karat gold, or 24-karat gold?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Zakāh is obligatory on cash and on gold designated for saving or for trade, provided the total reaches the niṣāb (minimum threshold liable for zakah), and a full ḥawl (lunar year) has elapsed over it. The niṣāb is (85) grams of 24-karat gold; for 21-karat gold, the niṣāb equals (97) grams; and for 18-karat gold, it equals (113) grams.
The relied-upon position is to calculate the zakāh based on the buying price [i.e., the price the gold merchant would pay the owner to purchase the gold from him] on the day the zakāh obligation is due.
The one paying zakāh may assess/calculate the niṣāb using any of the aforementioned gold karats [i.e., he may choose whichever karat standard he wishes for the purpose of the calculation]. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Must a woman seek her husband's permission to fast a make up fast (qada)?

● If there is ample time to make up for the missed fasts, a woman should seek her husband's permission before fasting.
● However, if the time is running out—such as when only the remaining days of Sha'ban are sufficient to complete the qada—she does not need his permission and must fast, because Allah’s command takes precedence over the husband's consent.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on performing prayer on the upper floors of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Facing the actual structure of the Ka‘bah (‘ayn al-Ka‘bah) is one of the conditions for the validity of the prayer. The scholars have clarified what is meant by "the actual structure of the Ka‘bah."
Imam ash-Sharwānī (raḥimahullāh) said: "What is meant by its ‘ayn (actual structure) is its physical body, or the airspace directly aligned with it — if the person praying is not inside it. But if he is inside it, then the airspace alone does not suffice; rather, the actual physical structure must be faced, such that even if he faces a projecting part of it measuring roughly two-thirds of a dhirā‘ (cubit) or more, this would be sufficient." [Ḥāshiyat ash-Sharwānī ‘alā Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj, Vol.1/P.484]
Sheikh al-Qulyūbī (raḥimahullāh) said: "Unlike one who prays outside it — i.e., outside the Ka‘bah — for him the airspace (directly above it) suffices, even if he is higher than it, or even if he is at the location where it (hypothetically) has been demolished." [Ḥāshiyat al-Qulyūbī ‘alā Sharḥ al-Minhāj,  Vol.1/P.154]
Accordingly, the prayer is valid on the upper floors of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, even though these floors are higher than the roof of the Ka‘bah itself. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

If someone starts the day sick or traveling while fasting, is it permissible for them to break their fast?

● A sick person who finds fasting difficult is allowed to break their fast, whether they began the day fasting or not.
● As for a traveler:
○ If they were still at home at dawn and then traveled after Fajr (dawn), they must continue fasting unless they experience extreme hardship, in which case they may break their fast.
○ However, if they were already traveling when dawn broke—meaning they had left their town before Fajr—then they are permitted to break their fast. This is what the Prophetﷺ did during the year of the conquest (of Makkah).