Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(220): "Ruling on the Permissibility of the two Athans for the Friday Prayer"

Date Added : 21-12-2015

Resolution No.(220)(10/2015) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on the Permissibility of the two Athans for the Friday Prayer"

Date: 24/Thulhijjah/1436 AH, corresponding to 8/10/2015 AD.

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
On the above given date, the Board reviewed the question sent by some citizens, and it reads as follows:

Nowadays, some students of Islamic Sharia argue that the Sunnah is to have one Athan (Call for prayer) for Friday prayer and it should be pronounced  after the Imam sits on the pulpit (Mimbar),  and not two Athans as the Sunnah which used to be practiced by the Caliphate Othman Bin Affaan (May Allah be pleased with him). As a result, this matter has led to dispute in some mosques. Would you kindly clarify the ruling of Islamic Sharia on this issue and issue a Fatwa in this regard in order to settle the dispute and  to ward off the trial?

After researching and deliberating, the Board decided what follows:
 In the lifetime of the Prophet (PBUH), the Athan for Friday prayer used to be pronounced after the Imam sat on the pulpit , and there is no dispute about its permissibility, as stated by Ibn Qodamah: "There is no dispute about the permissibility of the Athan for Friday prayer which is pronounced after the Imam sat on the pulpit, as it used to be in the lifetime of the Prophet (PBUH)." As-Saa`b Ibn Yazeed said: "In the lifetime of the Prophet, Abu Bakr and `Umar, the Adhan for the Jumua prayer used to be pronounced when the Imam sat on the pulpit." (Bukhari).
As regards pronouncing the Athan before the Imam sat on the pulpit, it is the Sunnah of Uthman Bin Affaan and it was approved by the Prophet`s companions, so this proves that it is permissible. The wisdom behind this Athan is to remind the people to get ready for the Friday prayer, one hour before its due time. As a result, this Athan remained until present, following the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs (May Allah be pleased with them). The Messenger (PBUH) said: "So you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the Caliphs Ar-Rashideen (the rightly guided caliphs), those who guide to the right way. Cling to it stubbornly [literally: with your molar teeth]. " {Mosnad ahmad}.

Nowadays, although the time between the two Athans for Friday prayer is short, it fulfills the essential purpose observed in the Sunnah of the Caliph Uthman Bin Affan (May Allah Be Pleased with him), giving prayer performers extra minutes to reach the mosque before the Imam sits on the Pulpit.

There is no sound reason for denying this Athan (the one pronounced before the Imam sits on the pulpit), nowadays, as it fulfills the aim of the Sunnah which used to be practiced by Uthman, 
and since its permissibility is based on the fact that the Prophet`s companions approved it. This is despite the fact that some traditions describe this Athan as one of the newly invented matters (in religion), as reported by Ibn Rajab in his book [Fateh Al-Bari, vol.8/pp.218-220]. It is considered newly invented (Mohdath) in the sense that it wasn`t pronounced in the lifetime of the Prophet (PBUH), and it isn`t intended for banning and forbidding. In fact, the companions invented as well as sanctioned it, and since there is no Sharia-approved evidence that it is forbidden, the four juristic schools have agreed that it is lawful as follows:

[Hashyat Ibn Adeen], a Hanafte book, stated: "The second Athan for Friday prayer is pronounced after the Imam sits on the pulpit, as a Sunnah."

[Manh Al-Jaleel], a Malikite book, stated: "The first Athan for the Friday prayer is a Sunnah."

[E`anat At-Talibeen], a Shafite book, stated: "The two Athans for the Friday prayer are permissible."

[Kash-shaaf Al-khina]," a Hanbalite book, stated: "The first Athan for the Friday prayer is recommended because Uthman has kept it as Sunnah and was observed by the Muslim Nation."

Pronouncing the Athan for the Friday prayer twice is effective in Jordan as determined by the Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and the Holy Sites. It is also adopted in the rest of  the Muslim World. Therefore, those who have a different opinion in this regard based on their Ijtihad (independent reasoning) aren`t allowed to create dispute and conflict in mosques to impose their view. In addition, they aren`t allowed to criticize others for not following suit. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, The Grand Mufti of Jordan: Sheikh AbdulKareem al-Khasawneh
Vice-Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Dr. Ahmad Hilayel
Prof. Abdulnasser Abulbasal / Member
Dr. Yahia al-Botoosh / Member
Sheikh Sae`id Hijjawi / Member
Prof. Mohammad al-Qhodat / Member
Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh / Member
Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Esa / Member
Dr. Mohammad  al-Z`obi / Member

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on one who performs ablution or the ritual bath while having nail polish?

Nail polish must be removed before ablution or ritual bath so that water reaches what is beneath it, because it is a barrier that prevents water from reaching that area. This is based on the hadith narrated by Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Whoever leaves a hair's breadth of his body unwashed from major impurity, such and such will be done to him in the Fire." (Reported by al-Bukhari). And Allah the Almighty knows best.

How is night prayer offered?

Night prayer is offering voluntary prayer after Maghrib and before Fajr (Dawn). As for Tahajjud, it is offering voluntary prayer at night after waking up voluntarily, and for Allah`s sake as He Says (What means): "And pray in the small watches of the morning: (it would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual profit) for thee: soon will thy Lord raise thee to a Station of Praise and Glory!" [Al-Isra`/79]. Offering Tahajjud is better than offering voluntary prayer before going to bed.

What is the ruling on sending blessings and peace upon the prophet (PBUH) after the Adhan?

 

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is a Sunnah to send blessings and peace (As-Salat wa al-Salam) upon the Prophet ﷺ after the Adhan and the Iqamah, for both the caller (Mu’adhin) and the listener. It is permissible to do so aloud after the conclusion of the Adhan. However, it is preferable to maintain a brief pause between the words of the Adhan and the prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ, so that people do not mistakenly assume that sending blessings upon him is an integral part of the Adhan itself. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling on the fasting of a woman who has reached menopause if menstrual blood flows?

If a woman reaches the age of menopause (which is usually sixty-two) and her menses have ceased, then she sees blood after that, and its duration is not less than a day and a night (24 hours), it is menstruation (hayd). If it is less than a day and a night, she is considered as having non-menstrual vaginal bleeding (mustahada), so she fasts and prays. However, she must perform ablution for every obligatory prayer after its time enters, pray immediately, and be treated as a person with a continuous condition. There is no specific end limit for a woman's menstruation; it is possible as long as the woman is alive. And Allah the Almighty knows best.