Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No. (305) "Pertaining to the Beneficiary from the Compensation Payment out of Solidarity Fund"

Date Added : 16-06-2021

Resolution No.(305) (10/2021), By The Board of Iftaa', Researches and Islamic Studies:

"Pertaining to the Beneficiary from Compensation Payment out of Solidarity Fund"

Date: (22/Shawal/1442AH), corresponding to (3/6/2021AD).

In its 8th meeting held on the above date, the Board of Iftaa` reviewed the letter No.(2560/2021) sent on (10/3/2021) from the Head of Jordanian Construction Contractors - Eng.Ahmad Yaqoob, it reads as follows:

It is incumbent upon a subscriber according to the regulations of social solidarity fund, to identify the beneficiary to receive the compensation payment in case of the former's death, as is the case with: "Mr. M.L, who is a subscriber in our fund whereas his son R.L was identified as the beneficiary entitled to receive the payment; unfortunately, the latter passed away, and after a short period of time and before updating the name of the new beneficiary, the father passed away as well on 27/10/2020. What is the ruling regarding the one who is entitled to receive the above payment  in this case?

After prolonged deliberations, the board decided what follows:

In principle, it is obligatory to abide by what was stated by the subscriber in the application side by side with the regulations of social solidarity fund system of Jordanian Construction Contractors; yet, due to the death of the beneficiary as mentioned above, dividing it among the heirs of the subscriber is an obligation in accordance to their shares as stipulated by the courts of Sharia. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Grand Mufti of Jordan, Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member

Prof. Mahmoud Al-Sartawi/ Member       Dr. Majed Al-Darawsheh/ Member

Sheikh Sa`eid Hijjawi/ Member

Judge Dr. Samer Al-Kobbaj/ Member              Prof. Adam Nooah Al-Qhodah/ Member

Prof. Amjad Rasheed/ Member

Dr. Jameel Khatatbeh/ Member           Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat/ Member

Dr. Mohammad al-Zou`bi/ Member

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on waiving a debt owed by a debtor and counting it toward zakāh?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Waiving a debt owed by a debtor, with the intention of counting it toward zakāh, does not fulfill the zakāh obligation. Rather, it constitutes an ordinary act of charity, for which Allah rewards the giver generously — since one of the conditions for the validity of zakāh is that the person paying it must form the intention of zakāh at the actual moment the wealth is paid out. In this case, the debt has already been established as a standing obligation upon the borrower, so it is not valid to simply redirect the intention toward zakāh after the fact.
It is preferable, instead, for the creditor to first collect the debt from the debtor, and then return to him the amount of money he is required to pay as zakāh — or a portion of it — if the debtor happens to fall under one of the eight categories that Allah, the Exalted, has commanded be given from zakāh.
It is stated in ‘Umdat as-Sālik, from the books of the Shāfi‘ī school: "If someone gives [money] to a poor person, stipulating that the recipient return it to him in payment of a debt owed to him, or says, 'I am making what you owe me into zakāh, so take it [as such]' — this is not valid. But if he gives it to him with the [unstated] intention that the recipient will use it to repay him, or says, 'Repay what you owe me, so that I may [then separately] give it to you as zakāh,' or the debtor himself says, 'Give it to me, so that I may [then] repay you with it' — this is valid, and there is no binding obligation for the recipient to actually fulfill this [informal understanding]." And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on giving Zakat al-Fitr in cash?

The default ruling is that Zakat al-Fitr should be given as the staple food of the land. In Jordan, for example, the staple food is wheat or rice, and the amount of Zakat al-Fitr is 2,500 grams per person. It is easy to give this amount of rice to the poor and needy, and this is the correct ruling according to all Islamic schools of thought.
However, Hanafi scholars have permitted giving Zakat al-Fitr as monetary value, considering it more beneficial for the poor and easier for the giver.

Is a person who is in a state of Janabah (major ritual impurity due to having a marital intercourse, ejaculation, menstruation, and post-delivery impurities) sinful if he/she goes about his/her daily life activities in that state i.e. without making Ghusl (ritual bath)?

It goes without saying that a Muslim should always be in a state of ritual purity so as to be able to perform prayers and recite Quran. It is from Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) that a Muslim hastens to make Ghusl from Janabah, but he/she is not sinful in case he/she delayed that provided that he/she doesn`t miss prayers. However, it is permissible for him/her to go about their daily activities while in a state of Janabah, but had better bathe in order not to miss any prayer.

Can someone who begins a voluntary fast break it?

It is preferable for someone who begins an act of worship not to break it.
Allah the Exalted has said {what means}: "and let not your [good] deeds come to nought!" [Muhammad/33].
However, if a person starts a voluntary fast (nafl) and needs to break it, they are going against what is preferable, but there is no sin upon them.