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A Statement on the Importance of the Muslim Nation`s Unity and the Need to Discard Disputes
Author : The General Iftaa` Department
Date Added : 17-08-2015

A Statement on the Importance of Muslim Nation's Unity and the Need to Discard Disputes  

 

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.

 

Based on Allah`s words (What means): "Verily, this brotherhood of yours is a single brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore serve Me (and no other)." [Al-Anbia`/92], in adherence to His injunction (What means): "And hold fast, all together, by the rope which God (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves;" [Al-Imraan/103], as well the decisive heavenly guidance (What means): "And obey God and His Apostle; and fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and persevering: For God is with those who patiently persevere." [Al-Anfaal/46].

 

Out of the religious, historic, and human responsibility, which makes it imperative upon Muslims to be candid and advise one another through calling for maintaining the nation`s unity, man`s dignity, and the security of the Muslim countries, the General Iftaa` Department in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan-which is closely watching the dangers threatening our nation, the voices calling for revenge, the statements released through mass media inciting to trial, fanaticism and hatred-turns to our brothers in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and other Muslim countries to stress the following:

 

First: Today, the Muslim nation has arrived at a situation, which contradicts with the teachings of Islam as regards belief, adherence to observing obligatory acts of worship, and the intentions of Sharia that call for unity and forbid bloodshed. This situation also contradicts with the historic models of our bright Islamic experience, which rested on values of brotherhood, advice and maintaining man`s dignity. Allah, The Almighty, Said (What means): "Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance" [An-Nahil/125].

 

Second: The nation`s unity, which was a reality over centuries as well as a dream for its sons, is experiencing a severe trial and repeated attempts to undermine it; therefore, it is the duty of its sons; especially the wise to be aware of this grave danger and stand up to it, in response to the call for brotherhood (What means): "The Believers are but a single Brotherhood" [Al-Hujuraat/10].

 

Third: The call for firmly establishing the nation`s unity dictates ending various political conflicts and Fatwas, which call for shedding blood, labeling Muslims as disbelievers (Takfeer), and undermining the peace and security of societies.

 

Fourth: We call on the scholars as well as the thinkers of the Muslim nation to favor the nation`s interest, maintain its solidarity and resort to reason in order to stop the killing of Muslims and to render the plots of those trying to undermine the internal peace and security of our societies a failure.

 

Fifth: We call on our Muslim nation to ignore voices that call for accusing Muslims with disbelief and treason, and to abide by the teachings of our true religion, which promotes the values of brotherhood, solidarity, cooperation and reconciliation.

 

We remind our nation with the themes of the Amman Message, which was launched by His Majesty King Abdullah the 2nd. It calls for adherence to the way of Islam in inviting people to Allah through wisdom, beautiful preaching, mercy and good deeds. Moreover, Islam forbids killing people and calls for discarding all forms of violence and extremism and at the same time expressing the importance human's dignity and sanctity which is one of Sharia objectives, as Allah, The Most Exalted Said (What means): We have honoured the sons of Adam." [Al-Israa'/70].

 

Sixth: In order for our nation to free itself from the trial that it is experiencing, its scholars and rulers are required to exert every effort possible to stop all forms of conflict, and resort to wisdom through constructive dialogue and giving priority to the nation`s interest over that of the individual`s. This in order for it to regain trust in itself, enhance the common aspects and delay disputes, as stipulated in the Sharia maxim: warding off harm takes precedence over making benefit, since the Prophet (PBUH) said: "

Whoever helps to kill a believer, even with half a world, he will meet Allah (PBUH) with (the words) written between his eyes, 'He has no hope of the mercy of Allah (PBUH).” [Ibn Majah].

 

We pray that Allah unites all Muslims, spares their lives, and bestows peace and security upon Jordan and the rest of the Muslim countries.

The General Iftaa` Department

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on offering a sheep as a sacrifice (Udhiyah) if its fat-tail is sound, except that when it was young, the tip of its fat-tail was cut so that it would grow larger? And what is the ruling in case of doubt regarding the amount that was cut?

 
In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Cutting a minor, insignificant portion from the tip of an animal's fat-tail (al-alyah) to encourage it to grow larger is not considered a defect, and it does not prevent the animal from being valid for sacrifice (Udhiyah).
 
It is stated in Tuhfat al-Muhtaj (Vol.9/P.352): "There is some scholarly deliberation regarding the common practice of cutting the tip of the fat-tail so that it grows larger. It could potentially be likened to a partial cut of the ear—supported by the jurists' general rule: 'even if it is a small amount.' On the other hand, if it is an exceptionally minor cut, it might have no effect on validity. This is explicitly clarified by the juristic exception to the general rule, which states that cutting a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm. This latter view is more well-founded.
 
Furthermore, I found that some scholars investigated this matter and concluded: 'It should not affect validity if a custom-sanctioned portion of its fat-tail is removed during its youth to make it grow larger and look better, just as castrating a male animal causes no harm.' However, applying this unconditionally contradicts the established texts of the jurists, as understood from what I have laid out; thus, the restriction I specified is what must be relied upon."
 
Similarly, it is mentioned in Nihayat al-Muhtaj (8/135): "If a small piece is cut from the fat-tail to help it grow larger, the most well-founded view is that the sacrifice remains valid, as was given in a formal legal verdict (Fatwa) by my father [Shihab al-Din al-Ramli], may Allah be pleased with him. This is proven by the jurists' maxim: 'The loss of a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm.'"
 
In cases where there is doubt as to whether the portion cut was large or small, the animal is still deemed valid for sacrifice. It is noted in Hashiyat al-Shubramallisi ‘ala Nihayat al-Muhtaj (Vol.8/P.135):
 
"This matter requires careful consideration, but the closer and more correct view is that it is valid. This is because soundness is the default state for the animal from which the piece was cut, and it aligns with what usually occurs—namely, that the part removed to help the fat-tail grow larger is naturally very small." And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "There will emerge from my nation people who will drink the Qurʾān as they drink milk" — is this ḥadīth authentic, and what does it mean?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "There will emerge from my nation people who will drink the Qurʾān as they drink milk." (Reported by al-Ṭabarānī in al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr, and cited by al-Haythamī in Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid, who stated: "Its narrators are trustworthy.")
The meaning of this ḥadīth is that there will emerge from this blessed nation people who recite the Holy Qurʾān without reflecting upon its meanings or pondering its rulings — the noble verses passing over their tongues just as milk passes over them when it is drunk, leaving no trace of thought, understanding, or contemplation behind. [See: al-Taysīr bi-Sharḥ al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr,Vol.2/P.63] And Allah the Almighty knows best.

I vowed to give a specific charity if a certain matter came to pass — what is the ruling on giving that charity before the matter is realised?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Fulfilling a vow (nadhr) is obligatory, in accordance with the word of Allah the Almighty: "And let them fulfil their vows." [Al-Ḥajj/ 29] And the saying of our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: "Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him; and whoever vows to disobey Him, let him not disobey Him." (Reported by al-Bukhārī.)
The Shāfiʿī scholars distinguished between a financial vow (nadhr mālī) and a bodily vow (nadhr badanī). They permitted the fulfilment of a financial vow to be brought forward — before the stipulated condition is met — but did not permit the same for a bodily vow, which may only be fulfilled after the condition has actually been realised.
Shaykh al-Islām Imām Zakariyyā al-Anṣārī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "It is permissible to bring forward the fulfilment of a financial vow before the condition stipulated in it is met — such as saying: 'If I am healed, I vow to free a slave' or 'to give such-and-such in charity' — just as it is permissible to pay zakāh in advance. This is unlike a bodily vow, such as fasting." [Asnā al-Maṭālib, vol. 4/P.246]
Imām al-Bājūrī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "Like expiation other than fasting, a financial vow — such as saying: 'If Allah heals my sick one, I vow to free a slave for the sake of Allah,' or 'If Allah heals my sick one, I vow to free a slave on the Friday following the recovery' — it is permissible to bring it forward before the recovery in the first case, and before the Friday following the recovery in the second case." [Ḥāshiyat al-Bājūrī ʿalā Sharḥ Ibn Qāsim, Vol.2/P.596] And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Is it permissible to slaughter a single sheep with the combined intention of both the uḍḥiyyah and the 'aqīqah?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
According to Shaykh al-Islām Imam Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī, it is not permissible to combine the intention of the uḍḥiyyah and the 'aqīqah in a single animal, as each of the two has a distinct and separate cause that differs from the other.
However, Shaykh al-Islām Imam al-Ramlī permitted the combining of both intentions in a single animal — and this position offers a degree of latitude and ease. And Allah Almighty knows best.