Al-Iftaa` Administrative Organization Regulation


 

Article (1):

This regulation shall be cited as "Al-Iftaa` Administrative Organization Regulation/2007" and shall come into effect after the date of its publication in the official Gazette.

Article (2):

The following words and expressions, wherever used in this Regulation, shall have the meanings hereunder assigned to them, unless the context otherwise provides:

-The Grand Mufti: Grand Mufti of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

-The Department: General Iftaa` Department.

-The Secretary General: Secretary General of Iftaa` Department

-The Mufti: Any Mufti at the Department or its branches in governorates.

Article (3):

The organizational structure of the department shall consist of:

A-The Grand Mufti.

B-The Secretary General.

C-The Muftis.

D-The following directorates:

1-The Directorate of Islamic Research and Studies.

2-The Directorate of Public Relations & Media.

3-The Directorate of Administrative & Financial Affairs.

4-The Directorate of Bureau.

H-The following two units:

1-Internal Auditing.

2-Information Technology (IT).

I-Iftaa` offices in governorates.

Article (4):

An Iftaa` office shall be established in every governorate and shall be supervised by a Mufti.

Article (5):

A-The Secretary General shall be associated with the Grand Mufti and shall be responsible before him for the flow of work at the Department or any of its branches.

B-Muftis shall be administratively associated with the Secretary General.

C-Managers of directorates and units shall be associated with the Secretary General, and each shall be responsible before him for delivering the tasks & obligations entrusted to them.

Article (6):

A-A committee shall be established at the Department cited as (Planning Committee). It shall be presided by the Grand Mufti, and the following names shall be members:

1-The Secretary General-Vice president.

2-Muftis cited by the Grand Mufti.

3-Managers of directorates at the Dept.

B-The committee shall undertake the following tasks and obligations and report the proper recommendations to the Grand Mufti:

1.Studying the Department`s plan of action and proposing the best methods of development to enable the Dept. to deliver its message.

2-Preparing job classification system of the Dept.

3-Preparing draft laws, regulations and instructions pertaining to the function of the Dept.

4-Preparing the annual budget draft and the man-power table budget of the Dept.

5-Any other matters transferred by the Mufti.

C-The committee shall convene upon invitation of its chair or vice chair, in case the former was absent, at least once a month or whenever the need arises. Its meeting shall constitute a quorum by the attendance of two thirds of the members; provided that the chair or his deputy is amongst them, and recommendations shall be adopted through, at least, the majority voting of the members.

D-The Grand Mufti shall name an employee as secretary of the committee. The latter shall be entrusted with preparing the agenda, following up meetings invitations, keeping record of sessions, following up the execution of recommendations and filing documents and correspondence.

E-The Chair of the committee may invite whoever he sees fit from the employees of the Dept. or others, seeking their professional opinion on issues presented to the committee, but without giving them the right to vote.

 

Article (7):

A-Based on a letter from the Secretary General, the Grand Mufti shall have the right to establish, abolish or merge any directorate or unit at the Dept.

B-Based on a letter from the manager in question, the Secretary General shall have the right to establish, abolish or merge any department or section in a directorate or an office.

Article (8):

The Grand Mufti shall issue the instructions needed for the implementation of the provision of this regulation, including the following:

A-Specifying the tasks of directorates and units and the responsibilities of their managers.

B-Classifying jobs at the Dept.

C-Defining the relationships and the channels of communication and coordination amongst the different directorates, units, and sections at the Dept.

 

Article (9):

Iftaa` Regulation (17/1997) shall be abolished.

Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on performing istinja' before every ablution?

Istinja' is not from the conditions for the validity of ablution. It is only obligatory for prayer when there is impurity from urine or stool on the private part, or if there is fear of the impurity spreading to the body or clothing. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

The imam recited a verse containing a prostration of recitation (*sajdat al-tilāwah*) but did not prostrate. After the imam's *salām*, a follower (*maʾmūm*) performed a prostration of forgetfulness (*sujūd al-sahw*) because the imam had not performed the prostration of recitation. Is it permissible to go against the imam in this way?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
There is no sin on the imam if he omits the prostration of recitation (sujūd al-tilāwah), even deliberately. The maʾmūm (the one following the imam) is obliged to follow the imam in the prayer, so if the imam does not perform the prostration of recitation, it is not permissible for the follower to prostrate, because the imam is appointed only to be followed.
If the follower introduces a prostration after the imam’s salām but before his own salām, in a case where there is no prostration of forgetfulness (sujūd al-sahw), his prayer is invalidated if he knew it to be prohibited. Otherwise, he is excused on account of his ignorance and his prayer is not invalidated.
It is stated in Ḥāshiyat al-Imām al-Jamal ʿalā Fatḥ al-Wahhāb: “His statement: ‘So the omission of the hayʾāt (the non-essential sunnahs of the prayer) is not compensated for by prostration; if one prostrates for any of them deliberately, his prayer is invalidated, unless he is excused due to his ignorance.’”
Since this issue is one that is hidden from the laymen, as it is among the subtleties of knowledge, and the laymen are excused for ignorance of whatever is of such a nature, and their act of obedience is not invalidated because of it, it may be said that the prayer of one who has not acquired knowledge of this issue is not invalidated, with the necessity of learning the rulings remaining. As for after knowing it, the prayer is invalidated. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on performing istinja' after passing wind from the anus?

Ablution is invalidated by passing wind from the anus, even without a smell. Only ablution becomes obligatory from it. Istinja' is not obligatory nor recommended. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on bypassing a nearby mosque for a distant one?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
If a distant mosque has a larger congregation (Jama‘ah) while the congregation in the nearby mosque is smaller, and the congregation in the nearby mosque is not adversely affected by the worshiper's absence, then it is better for him to pray in the distant mosque with the larger congregation. However, if the congregation in the nearby mosque would be affected by his absence—such as if he is its Imam, or if his presence encourages others to attend—then praying in the nearby mosque is better. This ensures that the congregation is established in two different locations within the community. This is based on the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: 'A man's prayer offered with another man is purer than his prayer which he offers alone, and his prayer with two men is purer than his prayer with one and if they are more (in number), it is more beloved to Allah, the Mighty the Majestic' (Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood, and An-Nasa'i). And Allah the Exalted knows best.