Article (1):

This law shall be cited as "

Law Amending Al-Iftaa` Law/2009", shall be an integral part of Law No. (60)/2006 and shall come into effect after the date of its publication in the official Gazette.

 

Article (2):

Article (2) of the original law shall be amended by deleting the definition of (Mufti) contained therein and replacing it with the following:

 

The word (Mufti) shall refer to any Mufti in Iftaa` Department and its branches in different governorates.

 

Article (3):

Article (7) of the original law shall be amended as follows:

 

First: Item (2) contained in Paragraph (A)shall be deleted and replaced with the following text:

 

An academic staff member specialized in Islamic Fiqh in a faculty of Sharia of one of the Jordanian universities shall be designated by the Grand Mufti.

 

Second: Paragraphs (C) and (D) shall be added with the following two texts:

(C): Notwithstanding paragraph (B) of this Article, any member of the Iftaa` Council referred to in item (6) of Paragraph (A) of this Article may be replaced-during the term of their office-upon a decision by the Cabinet based on a recommendation of the Grand Mufti, if the need arises.

(D): The term of office of any member shall expire in the following situations:

1-Death

2-Resignation

3-Failure to attend three consecutive sessions without an excuse acceptable to the Iftaa` Council.

 

Third: The phrases (at least eight members) and (by a majority vote) contained in Paragraph (C) shall be deleted and replaced with (a two-thirds majority of its members) and (by a majority of its members present) respectively.

 

Fourth: Paragraphs (C), (D) and (E) shall be renumbered as : (E), (F) and (G).

 

Article (4): 

Item (3)/Par. (A)/Art. (8) of the original law shall be amended by adding the phrase (and cases transferred from any official body).

 

Article (5): 

Article (9) of the original law shall be amended by adding the phrase (and its executive secretary) after the phrase (its members).

 

Article (6):

 

The text of Article (10) of the original law shall be deleted and replaced with the following text:

 

Article (10): 

A. The Mufti shall be appointed by a decision of the Iftaa` Council based on recommendation of the Grand Mufti. This is provided that he has at least a bachelor degree in Sharia Sciences and five years passed over his receiving that degree, in addition to having passed the competition conducted by the Iftaa` Dept. according to instructions issued by the Iftaa` Council.

 

B. When appointed in any class of occupation for the first time, the Mufti shall be kept on probation for two years from starting date and the Council shall have the right to terminate his services during this period if it turned out that he is incompetent or morally unsuitable in accordance with considerations that the Council sees fit.

 

C. The Mufti`s services are terminated by the expiry of the probationary period stipulated in Paragraph (B) of this Article unless the Council issues a decision to stabilize him in service.

 

Article (7):

 

Article (11) of the original law shall be amended by deleting Paragraph (G) contained therein.

 

 

 

 

Summarized Fatawaa

What is the waiting period ('Iddah) for a woman whose husband has passed away, and what is the ruling on her wearing gold?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The waiting period ('Iddah) for a woman whose husband has passed away is four months and ten days for one who is not pregnant. As for a pregnant woman, her waiting period lasts until she gives birth. It is obligatory for her to remain in the marital home, only leaving for a necessity. During this time, it is prohibited (Haram) to display any form of adornment on the body or clothing; this includes wearing kohl, gold, all types of perfume, and dyeing the hair. Likewise, it is prohibited to receive a direct marriage proposal or to marry during this period.
 
It was narrated by Umm 'Atiyyah that the Prophet ﷺ said: 'We were forbidden to mourn for a deceased person for more than three days, except for a husband, for whom the mourning period is four months and ten days. During this time, we were not to use kohl, nor wear perfume, nor wear dyed clothing except for garments made of 'Asb (coarsely dyed yarn). We were, however, granted a concession at the time of purification—when one of us bathed following her menses—to use a small amount of Kust (costus) or Azfar (fragrant substances). We were also forbidden from following funeral processions.' (Narrated by Al-Bukhari). And Allah the Exalted knows best."

How is Laylat al-Qadr observed?

Laylat al-Qadr is observed through various acts of worship and obedience, including:
● Performing obligatory, Sunnah, and voluntary prayers
● Reciting the Quran
● Increasing remembrance (dhikr) of Allah
● Giving charity
● Performing I‘tikaf
● Inviting others to Allah
It is also Sunnah to increase in supplication and humbly beseeching Him, Glorified and Exalted be He.

What is the ruling on the ablution of one who touches his wife without a barrier?

In the Shafi'i school, a man's ablution is invalidated by touching his wife if their skins meet (in any place) without a barrier, whether the touch is intentional or accidental. An exception to this is touching hair, teeth, or nails; these do not invalidate ablution. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on offering a sheep as a sacrifice (Udhiyah) if its fat-tail is sound, except that when it was young, the tip of its fat-tail was cut so that it would grow larger? And what is the ruling in case of doubt regarding the amount that was cut?

 
In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Cutting a minor, insignificant portion from the tip of an animal's fat-tail (al-alyah) to encourage it to grow larger is not considered a defect, and it does not prevent the animal from being valid for sacrifice (Udhiyah).
 
It is stated in Tuhfat al-Muhtaj (Vol.9/P.352): "There is some scholarly deliberation regarding the common practice of cutting the tip of the fat-tail so that it grows larger. It could potentially be likened to a partial cut of the ear—supported by the jurists' general rule: 'even if it is a small amount.' On the other hand, if it is an exceptionally minor cut, it might have no effect on validity. This is explicitly clarified by the juristic exception to the general rule, which states that cutting a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm. This latter view is more well-founded.
 
Furthermore, I found that some scholars investigated this matter and concluded: 'It should not affect validity if a custom-sanctioned portion of its fat-tail is removed during its youth to make it grow larger and look better, just as castrating a male animal causes no harm.' However, applying this unconditionally contradicts the established texts of the jurists, as understood from what I have laid out; thus, the restriction I specified is what must be relied upon."
 
Similarly, it is mentioned in Nihayat al-Muhtaj (8/135): "If a small piece is cut from the fat-tail to help it grow larger, the most well-founded view is that the sacrifice remains valid, as was given in a formal legal verdict (Fatwa) by my father [Shihab al-Din al-Ramli], may Allah be pleased with him. This is proven by the jurists' maxim: 'The loss of a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm.'"
 
In cases where there is doubt as to whether the portion cut was large or small, the animal is still deemed valid for sacrifice. It is noted in Hashiyat al-Shubramallisi ‘ala Nihayat al-Muhtaj (Vol.8/P.135):
 
"This matter requires careful consideration, but the closer and more correct view is that it is valid. This is because soundness is the default state for the animal from which the piece was cut, and it aligns with what usually occurs—namely, that the part removed to help the fat-tail grow larger is naturally very small." And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.