Article (1):

This regulation shall be cited as "Al-Iftaa` Personnel Regulation System/2008 "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.

-The Mentor: Family mentor at the Dept. or governorate.

-The Researcher: Any researcher at the Dept. or governorate.

 

 

Article (3):

Salaries and raises of Iftaa` employees shall be as follows:

A-The Grand Mufti shall receive the salary and allocations of a Minister, in addition to (1500JDs) per month as an allowance for representing Al-Iftaa`.

B-The Secretary General shall receive the salary given to occupants of second class positions of the high category and the raises stipulated in the effective Civil Service Regulation, and an additional raise of (115%) from the basic salary.

C-A Mufti shall receive the following salary, annual increase and additional raise with a percentage from the basic salary:

Degree   Basic Salary (JD)   Annual Increase (JD)   Additional Raise

Special          715-815                   10                                         95%

First               655-705                   10         75%

Second          595-645                   10          75%

Third              535-585                   10                             75%

Fourth           475-525                   10           75%

Fifth               415-465                   10           75%

Sixth               355-405                   10           75%

 

D-Occupants of the  positions mentioned in this article(3) shall receive (40 JDs), per month, as an individual allowance, in addition to the family allowance stipulated in the effective Civil Service Regulation.

 

 

Article (4):

The Mufti shall be hired in accordance with the following requirements:

 

A-One who holds a BA in Sharia Sciences, at least (10) years have passed over his receiving this degree and have passed the tests conducted by the Iftaa` Council shall be given the salary of the first year based on the sixth degree. This is provided that years of experience, other than the ten years, are calculated. In addition, he shall be granted one annual increase for the first five years.

B-Master degree holders shall be granted two annual increases; whereas, PhD. holders shall be granted three annual increases.

C-By decision of the Iftaa` Council, the situations of the Muftis appointed before the provisions of this regulation were put into effect shall be adjusted, and in accordance with them.

 

Article (5):

A-An employee occupying the position of mentor and researcher shall be given an additional raise with a percentage of(100%) from the basic salary which he collects in accordance with the provisions of the effective Civil Service Regulation.

B-The rest of the Department`s employees shall be given an additional raise with a percentage of (50%) from the basic salary that each receivesin accordance with the provisions of the effective Civil ServiceRegulation.

C-It is permissible, by decision of the Iftaa` Council, to give bonuses to researchers against conducting research, entrusted to them, based on instructions issued by the Grand Mufti to that end.

 

Article (6):

In cases not stipulated for in this regulation, the effective Civil Service Regulation shall apply to the Department`s employees. To this end, the Iftaa` Council shall exercise the powers of the cabinet, and the Grand Mufti shall exercise the powers of the minister stipulated in this regulation.

 

Article (7):

Any text stipulated in another regulation that contradicts the provisions of this regulation shall not be effective.

 

Article (8): The Grand Mufti shall issue the necessary instructions for the execution of the provisions of this regulation.

 

 

 

Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on following the actions of the imam in prayer and how this following is achieved?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
The follower (ma'mum) is required to follow his imam in the actions of the prayer. This "following" (mutaba'ah) means that the follower performs each action of the prayer after the imam has begun it but before he has finished it. For example, the follower bows (in ruku') after the imam has reached the position of bowing, then rises after the imam has risen. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The imam is only appointed to be followed, so when he says the takbir, say the takbir; and when he bows, then bow; and when he prostrates, then prostrate" (agreed upon, i.e., reported by both al-Bukhari and Muslim).
It is stated in Mughni al-Muhtaj (1/505): "Among the conditions of valid congregational prayer (iqtida') is following the imam in the actions of the prayer... meaning that following the imam is obligatory in the physical actions of the prayer, not in its verbal utterances... Complete following (kamal al-mutaba'ah) is achieved when the follower's beginning of an action comes after the imam's beginning of that same action, while the follower's beginning of the action precedes the imam's completion of it" — end of quote, with slight paraphrasing.
And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on discharging one's zakāh obligation through the provision of a specific benefit (manfa‘ah) — such as performing a surgical operation for a patient, or providing housing to a tenant, and counting the value of this service as zakāh?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is obligatory to pay zakāh from the actual asset (‘ayn al-māl) upon which zakāh is due, except in the case of zakāh on trade goods ('urūḍ at-tijārah), which is paid based on their monetary value. In all cases, zakāh must be given in the form of tamlīk (a full transfer of ownership), based on the words of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic (which mean): "Zakāh expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy, and for those employed to collect [zakāh], and for bringing hearts together [for Islam], and for freeing captives [or slaves], and for those in debt, and for the cause of Allah, and for the [stranded] traveler — an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise" [at-Tawbah/60]. The letter "lām" (لِ) in this verse — as in "lil-fuqarā'" ("for the poor") — indicates possession/ownership (lām al-milk).
It is not permissible to fulfill one's zakāh obligation by providing a benefit or service (manfa‘ah) — such as housing, education, or medical treatment — in place of the zakāh itself. This is because zakāh must be paid as wealth (māl) that is transferred into the ownership of the poor recipient, whereas such services are intangible benefits that are not, in themselves, capable of being formally transferred in ownership (ghayr qābilah lit-tamlīk). And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

I own a pharmacy and have only merchandise. A full year (*ḥawl*) has passed and I have no cash. How do I pay the zakāh?

 

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
Zakāh must be paid immediately from the day it becomes due, and delaying it is forbidden when one is able to pay it, because it is the right of the poor, and it is forbidden to delay giving people their rights except for a valid Sharīʿah excuse. Shaykh al-Islām Imam al-Nawawī (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “In our school, zakāh must be paid out immediately. Once it becomes due and he is able to pay it, it is not permissible to delay it. If he is unable, he may delay it until he is able. If he delays it after being able, he is disobedient and becomes liable for it.” [al-Majmūʿ Sharḥ al-Muhadhdhab, Vol.5/p.333]
If cash is not available to pay the zakāh and the only option is to pay in installments, he must pay it, even if in installments, from the proceeds of the merchandise that is sold after the time the zakāh became due, by deducting a set amount from each day’s takings. And Allah Almighty knows best.

Who is the one required to slaughter the 'aqīqah?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is Sunnah for the 'aqīqah to be slaughtered by the guardian of the newborn — the one upon whom the child's financial maintenance is obligatory — provided he is financially capable of doing so. 'Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed the 'aqīqah for al-Ḥasan with one sheep." — Narrated by al-Tirmidhī. And Allah Almighty knows best.