Board of Ifta’, Islamic Studies and Research:


          The Ifta’ Law number (60) of the year 2006, and the modifying Law number (4) of the year 2009 state that a Board is to be established in the Kingdom and called “Board of Iftaa’, Islamic Studies and Research,” and that the General Mufti (who is now Shaikh Abdel Kareem El-Khasawneh) is the Head of the Board. The following are members:

  1. One judge from the Religious (Sharee’ah) Appeal Court to be named by the Supreme Judge (presently: Judge Wasef Al-Bakry)
  2. One faculty member from a Sharee’ah College in one Government University in Jordan who is a specialist in Islamic Jurisprudence (presently: Dr. Muhammad Al-Qudhah)
  3. Mufti of the Jordanian Military Forces (presently: Dr. Yahya Al-Btoush).
  4. Mufti of the Capital Amman (presently: Dr. Muhammad Al-Zu’bi)
  5. One scholar from the Ministry of Awqaf  and and Islamic Affairs, who is a specialist in the sciences of Jurisprudence and to be named by the minister—presently, Dr. Muhammad Nouh Al-Qudha.
  6. Five scholars specialists in Sharee’h sciences, who are presently:
  • Dr. Ahmad Helayel, the Supreme Judge, Imam of the Royal Court
  • Sheikh Sa’eed Hajjawi
  • Professor Abdel Naser Abu El Basal
  • Dr. Muhammad Al-Khalayleh
  • Dr. Muhammad Khair ‘Eisa

All these are appointed by a decision of the cabinet based on the General Mufti’s nomination. It is a condition that each of them must be a well known scholar who has research and studies in Islamic sciences, and must have had a university degree in Islamic Studies since fifteen years as a minimum.

The Vice President

          The law states that the board elects from among its members a vice president. Presently Dr. Ahmad Helayel has been elected as Vice President.

Board Term

                        The board serves for four years that can be renewed.

            The board conceives the following tasks and rights

  1. Set the general policy of Iftaa’ in the Kingdom.
  2. Oversee general affairs that need Ijtihad, especially in matters that need research and study in jurisprudence doctrines, and issues referred to the department of Iftaa’ by any official party.
  3. Explain the religious stand on emerging issues of public affairs that need Ijtihad (to explain the religious stand on a matter), and on issues that need research and study in jurisprudence doctrines, in addition to issues referred to the department by any official party.
  4. Issue religious answers (fatawa) to questions referred to it.
  5. Revise any draft laws and regulations referred to the Board to determine the religious opinion.
  6. Review scholarly papers presented by Sharee’ah scholars recruited by the Board or by the General Mufti and in accordance with regulations issued for this purpose.
  7. Appoint Muftis in the Department and in governorates as nominated by the General Mufti
  8. The Iftaa’ Board assumes the authorities of the Cabinet in issues related to employees of the General Iftaa’ Department.

Terminating Membership

The membership of any member will terminate in the following cases:

  1. Death
  2. Resignation
  3. Absence from three successive meetings with no acceptable excuse.

Board Meetings and Decisions:

The Board meets once every month at least, and whenever needed, upon an invitation by its president—or the vice if absent. The meeting is legal if two thirds of the members attend with either the president or the vice president. The Board makes decisions by a majority vote and if votes are even, the president’s vote wins.

The Board Secretary:

The Mufti appoints one Mufti to serve as a secretary for the Board. Presently, the secretary is Dr. Jameel Abu Sarah.

 

 

Summarized Fatawaa

Does tooth extraction during the day in Ramadan break the fast?

Simply extracting a tooth during the day in Ramadan does not break the fast. However, if water or blood enters the body cavity, the fast becomes invalid.
Whoever's fast is invalidated in this way must refrain from eating and drinking for the rest of the day out of respect for the sacred month and make up for that day later.
It is preferable to postpone the extraction until nighttime or after Ramadan if possible.

What are the Sunnahs and etiquettes related to the slaughtering of an animal?

 

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
1-The animal should not be terrified or frightened before it is slaughtered.
 
2-An animal should not be slaughtered in front of other animals.
 
3-It is recommended to offer water to the animal before it is slaughtered.
 
4-The knife must be sharpened before the slaughter to ensure that the esophagus, trachea, and jugular veins are severed as quickly and cleanly as possible. This is based on the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: "Verily, Allah has prescribed Ihsan (excellence/proficiency) in all things. So, if you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare the animal unnecessary suffering." [Narrated by Muslim].
 
5-One must not begin skinning or butchering the animal until its death has been fully confirmed.
 
6-Cows and Sheep: It is best to slaughter them while they are lying on their left side, facing the Qiblah. The right hind leg should be left untied so the animal can move it, which helps it remain more comfortable during its final moments. Unlike other livestock, it is preferred to perform Nahr (slaughtering by a swift stab at the base of the neck) while the camel is standing, with its left knee tied. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on performing Tarawih in sets of four rak‘ahs with only one Tasleem?

It is not permissible to combine more than two rak‘ahs with a single Tasleem in Tarawih prayer. Whoever does so, their prayer is invalid. Shaykh al-Islam Imam Muhammad al-Ramli (may Allah have mercy on him) stated: "If a person prays four rak‘ahs of the Tarawih prayer with a single Tasleem, it is not valid if they did so intentionally and with knowledge [of the prohibition]. Otherwise, it becomes an 'absolute voluntary prayer' (nafl mutlaq); because it is contrary to what has been prescribed." [Nihayat al-Muhtaj, Vol.2/P.127].

What is the meaning of the Udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The Udhiyah (Sacrificial Offering) refers to the livestock (An'am) that is slaughtered as an act of drawing closer to Allah the Almighty. This takes place on the day of Eid al-Adha (the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah) and during the three days of Tashreeq that follow the day of Eid. And Allah the Exalted knows best.