Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

"resolution No.(307): "Organized Banking Tawarruq is Forbidden from the Perspective of the Higher Objectives of Sharia"

Date Added : 09-01-2022

Resolution No.(307)(15/2021): By The Board of Iftaa', Researches and Islamic Studies:

"Organized Banking Tawarruq is Forbidden from the Perspective of the Maqasid of Sharia"

Date: (25th of Jumada Al Oula, 1443 AH), corresponding to (30/12/2021 AD).

 

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

On its sixteenth meeting held on the above date, the Board of Iftaa`, Research, and Islamic Studies reviewed the issue of organized banking Tawarruq* or what is sometimes called "Personal Finance" offered by some Islamic banks.

After careful consideration, the Board decided the following:

Unlike conventional banks, Islamic banks rest on meeting the Maqasid of Sharia (The higher objectives of Sharia) as well as observing its rulings. For this, their transactions, in essence, are based on supporting the real economy and applying the methods of investment, which comply with the rules of Sharia.

From the perspective of Sharia, in contracts, intentions and meanings, not words and structures, as well as outcomes shall be taken into consideration, so dealing with organized banking Tawarruq is prohibited  based on the maxim "Prohibition of what may lead to sins", which is, in this case, Riba (Usury/interest). This is in addition to emphasizing that the difference between Islamic and conventional banks isn`t a mere difference of form. Moreover, this Tawarruq will have a negative impact of the Islamic economy because there is no real growth nor rotation of the economic sectors; consequently, many Fiqh academies, Fatwa houses, and the majority of the scholars issued Fatwas prohibiting organized Tawarruq.

During its 19nth meeting/2009 AD, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy issued a resolution prohibiting the organized banking Tawarruq or what is called "The Personal Financing." The reason for this is that there is explicit, implicit, or customary collusion between the financier (Bank) and the customer whereby the latter gets instant cash for a higher amount that he/she owes to the bank, and this is usury per se. We can add that this has been confirmed by the Iftaa` Board of Jordan through Resolution No.(3/2012) which considered organized Tawarruq as a form of circumventing Riba because the real objective is obtaining instant money in return for paying extra amount to the bank.

In conclusion, we confirm this Resolution and rule that Islamic banks must abide by the Sharia-compliant investment methods that achieve the higher objectives of Sharia. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best. 

 

 

Chairperson of Iftaa` Board,

Grand Mufti of Jordan,

Dr. Abdulkareem al-Khasawneh

Dr. Mohammad al-Khalayleh

Prof. Mahmoud al-Sartawi/ Member

Dr. Majed al-Darawsheh/ Member

Sheikh Sa`eid Al-Hijjawi, Member

Judge Samer Al-Khobbaj/ Member

Prof. Adam Nooh Al-Qhodaat/Member

Prof. Amjad Rasheed/Member

Dr. Jamil Khatatbeh/Member

Dr. Ahmad al-Hasanat/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Younis Al-Zou`bi/ Member

 

 

* Tawarruq means a sale contract in which the buyer obtains merchandise on credit and then sells it at a loss to the original seller for cash. And Allah Knows Best

 

Decision Number [ Previous | Next ]


Summarized Fatawaa

Should one who doesn`t perform prayer out of laziness make it up later, and how should he/she do so?

All perfect praise be to Allah,The Lord of The Worlds                                                                                                                                                              He/she is obliged to make up missed prayers by offering with each obligatory prayer another one, and if he/she offers two, then it is better. And Allah Knows Best.

I wish to purchase an online account (a gaming account), and its ownership will be transferred to me. However, my friend will purchase it on my behalf, and I will repay him in deferred installments with an added profit margin to account for the installment sale. What is the ruling of Islamic Law on this transaction?

 
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The ruling on selling electronic games depends on the ruling of the game itself: if the game is permissible, then selling it is likewise permissible. However, if the game contains Sharia violations that render playing it impermissible, then selling it in that case is neither valid nor permissible. Therefore, we advise the necessity of reviewing the Sharia guidelines for electronic games set forth in Fatwa No. (3369).
 
Accordingly, if the game is permissible, a person may purchase it, take legal possession of it, and subsequently sell it in deferred installments for a price higher than its purchase price. The General Iftaa' Department has permitted dealing through Murabaha, while emphasizing the necessity of observing the Sharia conditions required for this transaction; please refer to Fatwa No. (2861). And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on working in hotels?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is permissible to work in hotels, restaurants, and shops in jobs that involve no direct handling of forbidden things and do not assist in them, such as administrative work.
As for jobs in which one directly handles forbidden things or assists in them, such as serving, transporting, or purchasing alcohol, receiving payment for it, or agreeing to buy it, working in them is forbidden, based on the saying of Allah the Mighty and Majestic: “And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.” [al-Māʾidah/2]
The basic nature of the work of hotels and restaurants is permissible, and the sin of any forbidden element that arises incidentally in some of what takes place in a hotel or restaurant is borne by those who run it.
The scholars have also permitted dealing with one whose lawful wealth is mixed with unlawful wealth, as previously explained in Fatwa no. (2697). And Allah Almighty knows best.

How many rak‘ahs are there in Tarawih prayer?

The most complete form of Tarawih prayer consists of twenty rak‘ahs, excluding Shaf‘ and Witr. This is the opinion of the majority of scholars, both past and present, and it is the practiced tradition in the two Holy Mosques.
However, Tarawih is valid with any even number of rak‘ahs, even two rak‘ahs, as long as it is performed with the intention of Qiyam al-Ramadan.