Articles

The Iftaa` Department Appreciates the King`s Speech
Author : The General Iftaa` Department
Date Added : 12-04-2023

Statement on the Speech Delivered by his Majesty King Abdullah II at the European Union

 

Although innocent, Islam is facing an unjust campaign aimed at distorting its true image and tying it with extremism and terrorism under the pretext of the practices of some who pretend to be followers of Islam. His Majesty`s speech at the European Parliament reflected the true Islam, its message of tolerance, values, sublime meanings and noble intentions. We, the Iftaa` Department, appreciate His Majesty's speech and its vital role in conveying the correct message of Islam to the whole world. Having said that, we affirm the following points:

 

Islam is a universal religion and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was sent to all of humankind. Allah the Almighty says {What means}: "We have not sent thee but as a universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most men understand not." {Saba`, 28}. It is the duty of every Muslim to convey this universal message in its true luminous shape to different peoples while taking into consideration the fact that difference between people is both realistic and natural. This is why Allah said {What means}: "If thy Lord had so willed, He could have made mankind one people: but they will not cease to dispute. Except those on whom thy Lord hath bestowed His Mercy: and for this did He create them: and the Word of thy Lord shall be fulfilled: "I will fill Hell with jinns and men all together." {Hud, 118-119}. This means that Allah created mankind to have mercy on them or that they differ. A Muslim should respect the will of Allah in His creation. Consequently, this divine honoring encompasses all people regardless of their faith. He the Almighty says {what means}: "We have honoured the sons of Adam" {A-Isra`, 70}. Islam honors and respects people as human beings regardless of race, color or religion. Allah created the difference between the people so that they get to know each other and exchange experiences to populate the world and be successors on the earth. Allah says {What means}: "O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)." {Al-Hujurat, 13}.

 

Second: Islam calls for holding dialogue with the followers of different faiths and agreeing on common terms to achieve harmony. Allah says {What means}: " Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but God; that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than God." If then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to God’s Will)." {Al-Emran, 64}.

 

Third: The moral aspect has a high status in the life of the Muslim at times of war and peace in the sense that he/she wouldn`t compromise the principles and constants emanating from believing in Allah the Message of His Prophet (PBUH). Allah says {What means}: "We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures." {Al-Anbiya`, 107}. In addition, Anas reported God's Messenger as saying, “Go in God’s name, trusting in God, and adhering to the religion of God’s Messenger. Do not kill a decrepit old man, or a young infant, or a woman; do not be dishonest about booty, but collect your spoils, do right and act well, for God loves those who do well.” {Transmitted by Bukhari}.

 

Fourth: We affirm the right of the people of Palestine to their land and their independent state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital as well as the right of Muslims in Al-Aqsa Mosque. In light of Sharia, it is the duty of all Muslims, be they peoples, leaders, governments and thinkers, to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque against the dangers and violations it faces.

 

We affirm that the custodianship of the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the right of Muslims represented by the Hashemite leadership whose custody of sanctities has been derived by virtue of its historical legacy, and the custodianship agreement signed with the Palestinian Authority. In addition, it isn`t allowed to waive this custodianship over sanctities whatsoever.

 

We pray that Allah keeps this country safe and spare it trials and tribulations, revealed and concealed. And All praise be to the Lord of the Worlds.

 

The General Iftaa` Department

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible to give to the poor from among the People of the Book from the Udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and prayers and peace be upon our Master the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible to give to the poor among the People of the Book from a voluntary sacrifice (uḍḥiyyat taṭawwuʿ), just as it is permissible to give charity (ṣadaqah) to them. This opinion is a view (wajh) within the Shāfiʿī school, which was favored by al-Muḥibb al-Ṭabarī and Imam al-Nawawī. [See: Ḥāshiyat Ibn Qāsim al-ʿAbbādī ʿalā Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj (Vol.9/P.365)]. And Allah Almighty knows best.

How should I deal with the whispers of the devil with regard to ablution and purity?

Whispers in ablution are from the devil, and so you should take refuge in Allah from the devil`s evil suggestions that aim to distort the religion. Thus, once an organ is completely pure, don`t question its purity since having whispers doesn`t mean that the purity is invalid as it has already been established.

What is the ruling on waiving a debt owed by a debtor and counting it toward zakāh?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Waiving a debt owed by a debtor, with the intention of counting it toward zakāh, does not fulfill the zakāh obligation. Rather, it constitutes an ordinary act of charity, for which Allah rewards the giver generously — since one of the conditions for the validity of zakāh is that the person paying it must form the intention of zakāh at the actual moment the wealth is paid out. In this case, the debt has already been established as a standing obligation upon the borrower, so it is not valid to simply redirect the intention toward zakāh after the fact.
It is preferable, instead, for the creditor to first collect the debt from the debtor, and then return to him the amount of money he is required to pay as zakāh — or a portion of it — if the debtor happens to fall under one of the eight categories that Allah, the Exalted, has commanded be given from zakāh.
It is stated in ‘Umdat as-Sālik, from the books of the Shāfi‘ī school: "If someone gives [money] to a poor person, stipulating that the recipient return it to him in payment of a debt owed to him, or says, 'I am making what you owe me into zakāh, so take it [as such]' — this is not valid. But if he gives it to him with the [unstated] intention that the recipient will use it to repay him, or says, 'Repay what you owe me, so that I may [then separately] give it to you as zakāh,' or the debtor himself says, 'Give it to me, so that I may [then] repay you with it' — this is valid, and there is no binding obligation for the recipient to actually fulfill this [informal understanding]." And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is it permissible to offer an Udhiyah on behalf of the deceased?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial animal) on behalf of a deceased person is permissible. This is the official position of the Hanbali school (as stated in Kashshaf al-Qina’ by al-Bahuti,Vol.6/P.428) and was also upheld by the prominent Shafi'i scholar Al-’Abbadi (mentioned in Bidayat al-Muhtaj by Ibn Qadi Shuhbah,Vol. 4/P.358). It has likewise been narrated as a valid view among some Maliki and Hanafi scholars.
 
In fact, Imam Abu Dawud dedicated an entire chapter in his Sunan collection entitled, "Chapter on Sacrificing on Behalf of the Deceased." In it, he recorded a narration from Hanash, who said: "I saw 'Ali sacrificing two rams, so I asked him, 'What is this?' He replied, 'The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded me to offer a sacrifice on his behalf, so I am sacrificing on his behalf.'"
 
Imam Abu Dawud also narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Allah, this is from You, for You, and on behalf of Muhammad and his Ummah (community). In the Name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest," and he then slaughtered the animal.
 
The textual evidence here lies in the fact that our Master, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), offered a sacrifice on behalf of his entire community—and it is well-established that his community includes those who have already passed away.
 
Furthermore, there is an abundance of sacred texts demonstrating that the rewards of righteous deeds reach the deceased. For instance, it is permissible to fast on behalf of a deceased person who passed away with missed obligatory fasts, and it is equally permissible to perform Hajj on their behalf, both of which are firmly established in authentic Hadiths. Therefore, if the reward of fasting (which is a purely physical act of worship) and Hajj (which is a joint physical and financial act of worship) can reach the deceased, then the reward of an Udhiyah reaches them with greater reason (by way of A Fortiori argument). This is because it is a purely financial act of worship, falling under the general category of charity (Sadaqah).
 
Additionally, scholars have reached a consensus (Ijma') that the rewards of charity reach the deceased, and since the Udhiyah is inherently an act of charity, it falls under the same ruling. Consequently, based on all the aforementioned evidence, we hold the view that offering a sacrifice on behalf of the deceased is entirely permissible. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.