Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No. (288): "Allocating a Portion of Waqf Programs` Funds for the Waqf Administrator"

Date Added : 24-06-2020

Resolution No. (288) (8/2020) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Allocating a Portion of Waqf Programs` Funds for the Waqf Administrator"

Date: (24/Ramadan/1441 A.H), corresponding to (17/5/2020 A.D)

 

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

At its session on 24 of Ramadan 1441A.H (17 May 2020 A.D), the Board considered the letter of His Excellency Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr.Mohammad AlKhalayleh. It included the following:  The Ministry plans to grant scholarships at public Jordanian universities to the children of Imams and other workers of the Ministry where (50) scholarships are to be granted per year in various departments. This is of course in accordance with specific regulations issued to this end and in which it is stipulated that the tuition costs will be provided for from the funds of Waqf programs (Educational Waqf Programs) at public universities in cooperation with the Royal Hashemite Court. It is worth pointing that these staff members are in dire need for these scholarships and receive nothing from the funds of the Waqf programs. Could Your Grace clarify the ruling of Sharia on this matter?

After careful consideration, the Board decided the following:

There is nothing wrong with allocating a portion of the Waqf programs' funds for the General Administrator of the Waqf; the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs within the framework of a special system issued by the Ministry to this end and in line with achieving the intended aim. This is based on the view of the majority of scholars who deemed allocating a portion of the Waqf revenues for the Waqf Administrator permissible. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

 

Chairperson of Iftaa` Board,

Grand Mufti of Jordan,

Dr. Abdulkareem al-Khasawneh

Dr. Mohammad al-Khalayleh

Dr. Mahmoud al-Sartawi, Member

Sheikh Sa`eid Al-Hijjawi, Member

Dr. Majed al-Darawsheh, Member

Judge Khalid Woraikat, Member

Prof. Adam Nooh Al-Qhodaat, Member

Dr. Jamil Khatatbeh, Member

Dr. Amjad Rasheed/Member

Dr. Ahmad al-Hasanat, Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member

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Summarized Fatawaa

"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.

Is it obligatory to have an intention (niyyah) for every prayer?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is obligatory for the worshiper to have a specific intention (Niyyah) for every prayer, meaning they must consciously intend the act of worship they are performing. The intention is a pillar (Rukn) of the prayer, and the prayer is not valid without it. It is not a requirement to utter the intention verbally; rather, doing so is considered a recommended Sunnah. 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.

How is the meat of the 'aqīqah to be distributed?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
If the 'aqīqah is a recommended one (mandūbah), it is obligatory to give some portion of it in charity to the poor — even if the amount is small — with the minimum being approximately half a kilogram of meat.
The most preferable manner of distribution is to divide it into three equal portions, as with the uḍḥiyyah:
 
One third for the guardian and his household to eat from
One third to be given in charity to the poor
One third to be gifted to friends and neighbours, even if they are wealthy
 
It is furthermore more preferable to send the food to the poor already cooked, rather than inviting them to come and eat. And Allah Almighty knows best.