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

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on bypassing a nearby mosque for a distant one?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
If a distant mosque has a larger congregation (Jama‘ah) while the congregation in the nearby mosque is smaller, and the congregation in the nearby mosque is not adversely affected by the worshiper's absence, then it is better for him to pray in the distant mosque with the larger congregation. However, if the congregation in the nearby mosque would be affected by his absence—such as if he is its Imam, or if his presence encourages others to attend—then praying in the nearby mosque is better. This ensures that the congregation is established in two different locations within the community. This is based on the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: 'A man's prayer offered with another man is purer than his prayer which he offers alone, and his prayer with two men is purer than his prayer with one and if they are more (in number), it is more beloved to Allah, the Mighty the Majestic' (Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood, and An-Nasa'i). And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the Sharia basis of the Udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The Sharia basis of the Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) is firmly established through the Quran, the Sunnah, and the Consensus (Ijma') of the Muslims:
1. Evidence from the Holy Quran
Allah the Exalted says {what means}: "And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good." [Al-Hajj/36]. He also says {what means}: "So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone]" [Al-Kawthar/2]. According to the most well-known scholarly interpretations of this verse, "prayer" refers to the Eid prayer, and "sacrifice" refers to the slaughtering of the Udhiyah.
2. Evidence from the Sunnah
Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The first thing we start with on this day of ours is to pray, then we return and sacrifice. Whoever does that has followed our Sunnah, and whoever slaughters before [the prayer], it is merely meat he has provided for his family; it is not part of the ritual sacrifice in any way" [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim].
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet ﷺ sacrificed two white rams with horns. He slaughtered them with his own hand, mentioned the name of Allah (Tasmiyah), and said the Takbir" [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim].
3. Evidence from Scholarly Consensus (Ijma')
The Muslims have reached a unanimous consensus on the Sharia basis of the Udhiyah, and no one among the scholars has disagreed with this. [Al-Sherbini, Mughni al-Muhtaj, Vol.6/P.122].And Allah the Exalted knows best.

Is a person rewarded for refraining from all that breaks their fast when required to do so, and is it considered a valid fast?

If a person eats or drinks thinking that Fajr has not yet arrived, but then someone informs them that Fajr had already begun, they must refrain from eating for the rest of the day and make up the fast later.
If they observe the required restraint (imsak), they will be rewarded for obeying the command because fulfilling an obligation brings reward.
However, this is not considered a valid fast in terms of rulings. For example:
● It is not disliked (makruh) for them to use a miswak after noon.
● They are not encouraged to hasten the breaking of the fast at sunset.
● Other fasting-related rulings do not apply to them.

What is the ruling on performing istinja' before every ablution?

Istinja' is not from the conditions for the validity of ablution. It is only obligatory for prayer when there is impurity from urine or stool on the private part, or if there is fear of the impurity spreading to the body or clothing. And Allah the Almighty knows best.