Articles

Statement regarding the Templeton Award
Author : The General Iftaa` Department
Date Added : 19-06-2023

Statement regarding the Templeton Award

 

Statement regarding His Majesty King Abdullah II`s Winning of the Templeton Award

 

The General Iftaa` Department extends its warmest congratulations to His Majesty King Abdullah Ibn Al Hussein, the Jordanian people and the Arab and Islamic nation over His Majesty's winning of the Templeton World Award. This Award comes in recognition of His Majesty's efforts in bringing about inter-faith harmony, protecting Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and safeguarding religious freedoms.

 

This Award reflects the West’s appreciation and respect for His Majesty’s efforts in accomplishing harmony between Muslims themselves and between Islam and other religions, which reflects the royal intellectual vision that rests on love, peace and harmony amongst all people. His Majesty launched a number of initiatives enhancing the unity of the Muslims, which is a key purpose of Sharia. One of these was "The Amman Message", (9th of November, 2004). This Message paved the road for recognizing Islamic Schools of Thought, called for establishing dialogue and Muslim`s accepting each other and cooperating amongst themselves, rejecting the approach of tagging Muslims with disbelief (Takfir) and shunning them out. The aim is to achieve harmony between fellow Muslims and followers of Islam.

In addition, the initiative “A Common Word” was launched from Amman in 2007 under the patronage of The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought. It called for peace and coexistence between Muslims and Christians as well as establishing a common platform that rests on love of God, love of neighbor. Under this initiative, periodical meetings are held to activate Muslim-Christian dialogue to achieve harmony between the members of society of different sects and beliefs. 

 

On October 20, 2010, the United Nations adopted the (Interfaith Harmony Week) initiative presented by His Majesty the King, may Allah protect him, so that the first week of February becomes the Interfaith Harmony Week. The aim of this initiative is to provide a focal point through which all individuals of good intentions realize that the common values that they believe in outweigh the points of disagreement, thus forming a strong source of peace and harmony among all people of different ideas and orientations.

His Majesty's winning this Award constitutes respect for the moderate path that Jordan adopts following in the footsteps of His Majesty the King. We call on everyone to follow this approach derived from the verse in which Allah says {what means}: "Invite to your Lord's Way with wisdom and good advice, and debate with them in the most dignified manner."

 

We ask Allah to protect Jordan and the rest of the Muslim countries and that peace and stability prevail all over the world.

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Summarized Fatawaa

I bought an apartment, and I am saving money to pay the remaining balance of its price — is zakāh obligatory on this money?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Zakāh is obligatory on all saved/hoarded wealth. Once the total wealth reaches the niṣāb (minimum threshold liable for zakah— equivalent to the value of 85 grams of pure 24-karat gold) and a full ḥawl (lunar year) has elapsed over it, zakāh becomes obligatory at a rate of (2.5%) — even if the wealth is earmarked for basic future needs, and even if the wealth's owner is in debt. Debt does not prevent the obligation of zakāh, nor is it deducted when calculating the zakāh due, based on the general and unrestricted wording of all the Qur'anic verses commanding zakāh, which draw no distinction between someone in debt and anyone else.
It is stated in ‘Umdat as-Sālik, from the books of the Shāfi‘ī school: "If someone possesses exactly the niṣāb, and owes an equivalent amount in debt, zakāh remains obligatory on what is in his possession, and the debt does not prevent this obligation" — meaning, the obligation of zakāh on what is presently in his possession.
The ḥawl (annual cycle) recognized for zakāh, as well as for the other sharī‘ah obligations that Allah, the Exalted, has imposed upon Muslims, is the Hijrī (lunar) year. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

How does one with a continuous condition (like urinary incontinence or non-menstrual vaginal bleeding - mustahada) perform ablution?

A person with a continuous condition must do three things:
1. Not perform ablution except after the prayer time has entered.
2. Change the bag or diaper placed to reduce the flow of urine or blood after the prayer time enters, wash the private part from blood or urine, and perform ablution immediately.
3. Perform the actions of ablution in immediate succession, then pray immediately without delay, unless he intends to pray with the congregation.
It is not permissible for a person with a continuous condition to combine two obligatory prayers with one ablution, as he must perform ablution for each obligatory prayer, even if making it up (qada'). And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on one who died owing debts and left no wealth? Is it obligatory upon the heirs to settle these debts?

 

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
The general rule is that if a person dies owing rights to other people, such as debts, these are settled from his estate, if he left any wealth, before the estate is divided. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The believer's soul is suspended by his debt until it is settled for him.” Graded ḥasan by al-Tirmidhī. Repayment of debts takes precedence over the heirs’ right to inheritance.
If the deceased left no estate, or left wealth that was insufficient to cover his debts, it is not obligatory for the heirs to pay from their own wealth, but it is recommended for them to do so, because the deceased’s dhimmah (legal liability) remains occupied by the debt. It is reported in some narrations that he remains held in suspension until his debt is paid, and it is not part of filial righteousness for a child to leave his father’s dhimmah burdened with debt.
All of the children may contribute to settling the debt on behalf of their father and cooperate in doing so, even in installments, according to their ability. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the wisdom behind the legislation of fasting?

Fasting is a divine school from which the believer learns much and trains in virtues that may be needed in life. Among these virtues is patience, as it is the month of patience. Fasting also teaches honesty and consciousness of Allah in both private and public, for there is no observer over the fasting person in abstaining from lawful pleasures except Allah alone.
Fasting strengthens willpower, sharpens determination, and nurtures mercy and compassion among the servants of Allah. It is a struggle against the self, a restraint of desires, a purification of the soul, and a cultivation of goodness.
The Prophetﷺ said: "Allah, the Almighty, said: ‘Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except for fasting; it is for Me, and I shall reward for it. Fasting is a shield. So when one of you is fasting on a day, let him not engage in obscene speech or raise his voice in anger. If someone insults him or fights him, let him say: I am a fasting person. By Him in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the breath of the fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than the fragrance of musk.’" [Bukhari and Muslim]