Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

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

Is Zakah (obligatory charity) due on owned land?

Zakah is due on the land used as an article of merchandise and was originally bought for that end. Zakah is due on it at the end of every lunar year. Its value is estimated, and (2.5%) of the total value of all such lands owned by the questioner is given as Zakah. However, no Zakah is due on the land used for building a house, or an agricultural purpose.

Is it allowed for me to donate a flat to each of my children except one considering that the tuition fees I paid for the latter`s university study are equal to the price of the flat? In other words, he has received his share and this is why I`m donating a flat to my other children?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah`s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
Yes, it is permissible because you want to treat them justly. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

What is the expiation for perjury?

One who commits perjury should repent, seek Allah`s forgiveness and offer an expiation which is: feeding ten indigent persons, or clothing them, or giving a slave his freedom, but if that is beyond his means then, he should fast for three days. Allah, The Almighty, Says in this regard (What means): "Allah will not call you to account for what is futile in your oaths, but He will call you to account for your deliberate oaths: for expiation, feed ten indigent persons, on a scale of the average for the food of your families; or clothe them; or give a slave his freedom. If that is beyond your means, fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths ye have sworn. But keep to your oaths. Thus doth Allah make clear to you His signs, that ye may be grateful." [Al-Ma`idah/89].

An engineer has to work in a circuit system of a non-Islamic bank. What is the ruling on the income she receives from doing this job?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
Necessity lies in fearing for one`s life, honor or mind, so the wage received for doing a forbidden job is equally forbidden. Kindly contact the Iftaa` Department to further clarify the nature of your work. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.