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:
- One judge from the Religious (Sharee’ah) Appeal Court to be named by the Supreme Judge (presently: Judge Wasef Al-Bakry)
- 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)
- Mufti of the Jordanian Military Forces (presently: Dr. Yahya Al-Btoush).
- Mufti of the Capital Amman (presently: Dr. Muhammad Al-Zu’bi)
- 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.
- 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
- Set the general policy of Iftaa’ in the Kingdom.
- 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.
- 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.
- Issue religious answers (fatawa) to questions referred to it.
- Revise any draft laws and regulations referred to the Board to determine the religious opinion.
- 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.
- Appoint Muftis in the Department and in governorates as nominated by the General Mufti
- 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:
- Death
- Resignation
- 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.
