Department`s Vision:

"Leadership and excellence in fatwa-making and rigorous Islamic research"

 

Department`s Message:

" Conveying the message of Allah Almighty by clarifying the  rulings of Sharia, establishing the concept of an Islamic jurisprudential authority based on moderation and balance and founded on the recognized schools of Islamic jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali), and calling upon people to act according to these schools."

 

Department`s Core Values:

 

Sincerity and Trustworthiness 
Sincerity in work, seeking the pleasure of Allah the Glorified and Exalted, and fulfilling the trust in carrying out one’s duties.
Moderation and Balance
Establishing the concepts of moderation and balance in society by realizing the objectives of the Sharīʿah for the common good, without excess or extremism.
Institutional Work
Entrenching a culture of teamwork and building qualified teams capable of achieving the vision, mission, and objectives of the Department.
Transparency and Accountability
Dealing openly with the community and bearing responsibility, out of the conviction that we are answerable for our actions.
Quality and Excellence
Applying the principles of excellence to all elements of the Department’s performance through diligent, meticulous work and the application of quality standards, in pursuit of the best and most sound results.
Continuous Improvement
Striving for the ongoing development of the Department’s capabilities and its staff, in order to deliver the finest services in fatwa-making and Sharīʿah research.

Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible for someone who is unable to fast to pay the fidyah (ransom/compensation payment) to himself, due to his own poverty?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is not permissible, nor does it fulfill the obligation, for a sick person who is currently and permanently unable to fast to pay the fidyah (ransom/compensation payment) to himself, since it is a financial obligation owed by him, established as a standing debt upon him — much like any other debt he owes. If he were to pay it to himself, it would not thereby be discharged. So if he cannot find [anyone eligible to] pay it to, it remains a standing obligation upon him, and is not thereby waived. If Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, later grants him wealth, it becomes obligatory upon him to pay it out to the poor and needy.
Imam al-Khaṭīb ash-Shirbīnī (raḥimahullāh) said: "There is no difference in the obligation of the fidyah between the wealthy and the poor person; its benefit lies in its remaining established as a standing debt upon the poor person [until he is able to pay it] — and this is the more correct position (al-aṣaḥḥ), as indicated by the wording of ar-Rawḍah and its source text." [Mughnī al-Muḥtāj, Vol.2/P.174]
Accordingly: it is not permissible for a Muslim to pay the fidyah to himself while he remains poor. If the sick person is poor, he is not obligated to pay the fidyah immediately, and it remains a standing debt upon him until a time when he has sufficient means and wealth. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on offering the sacrifice (uḍḥiyah) using the wealth of a minor or a legally incompetent person (safīh)?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is not permissible for the guardian (walī) of an orphan or a legally incompetent person (safīh) to offer the sacrifice (uḍḥiyah) on behalf of the minor or the safīh using their wealth, because the guardian is charged with exercising caution over their wealth and is prohibited from giving any of it away voluntarily, and the udḥiyah is a voluntary act of charity (tabarru'). The guardian may, however, offer the sacrifice using his own personal wealth. And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

Does using a wet miswak while fasting break the fast?

A fasting person should ensure that the miswak is dry when using it.
However, if the miswak is slightly moist but does not release any liquid when squeezed, then its use does not break the fast.

What are the conditions governing the portion that must be distributed to the poor from a voluntary uḍḥiyyah (sacrificial offering)?

 
 
 
 
 
 

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The following conditions apply to the portion distributed to the poor from the sacrificial animal:
First: It must be meat — it isn`t valid to give the poor organs or offal such as the liver.
Second: It must be given raw — cooked meat does not fulfil the requirement.
Third: It must amount to no less than half a kilogram. And Allah Almighty knows best.