Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No. (323): "Sighting the Crescent Moon of the Month of Shawwal, 1444"

Date Added : 27-04-2023

Resolution No.(323)(4 /2023) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Sighting the Crescent Moon of the Month of Shawwal, 1444"

 

Date :(29/Ramadan/1444 H), corresponding to (20/4/2023).

 

Praise be to the Lord of all worlds. Prayers and peace be upon our Prophet, Muhammad, his family and all of his companions.

 

 On its fifth session held on the above date, the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies reviewed sighting the crescent of the month of Shawwal for this year (1444 H). 

 

After deliberating, the Board decided the following:

 

"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"

 

  Almighty Allah Says (What means): "A token unto them is night. We strip it of the day, and lo! they are in darkness.And a Sign for them is the Night: We withdraw therefrom the Day, and behold they are plunged in darkness;And the sun runs his course for a period determined for him: that is the decree of (Him), the Exalted in Might, The All-Knowing. And the Moon,- We have measured for her mansions (to traverse) till she returns like the old (and withered) lower part of a date-stalk.is not permitted to the Sun to catch up the Moon, nor can the Night outstrip the Day: Each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit (according to Law)." {Ya-Sin/37-40}. He, The Exalted, also Says: "(He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful." {Al-Baqarah/185}. In addition, the Prophet (PBUH) says: "The fast is the day the people fast, the breaking of the fast is the day the people break their fast." {At-Tirmithi}.

 

 Based on the findings-which were harmonious with the astronomical calculations-of the Crescent Sighting Committee of the General Iftaa Department and the concerned authorities, it was ascertained to the Board that tomorrow, Friday, 21/4/2023, will be the first of Shawwal for this year: (1444 H), and so it is the first day of the Eid of Fitr.

 

  Accordingly, the Board is pleased to extend the warmest of congratulations to His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein, His crown Prince, and the Hashemite Family on this blessed occasion. May Allah Protect His Majesty and Grant Him good health.

 

  The Board also extends its congratulations to the people of Jordan and the Arab and Muslim Nation. It asks Allah to Accept our fast and night prayers and shower our beloved Jordan as well as the Muslim world with peace, security, stability and blessings. We pray that Allah, The Almighty, accepts our acts of devotion and erases our sins. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the Islamic ruling on the aqiqa?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The 'aqīqah is a confirmed Sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah). Two sheep are to be slaughtered for a newborn boy, and one sheep for a newborn girl. This is established by numerous Prophetic traditions, among them:
The narration of Samurah ibn Jundub, may Allah be pleased with him, who reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Every child is held in pledge for his 'aqīqah, which is slaughtered on his behalf on the seventh day, and he is named, and his head is shaved." — Narrated by al-Tirmidhī, who graded it as ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ.
And the narration of 'Ā'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to slaughter one sheep as 'aqīqah for a girl, and two sheep for a boy." — Narrated by Aḥmad and Ibn Mājah.
The imperative in these narrations is understood to denote recommendation rather than obligation, based on the ḥadīth of 'Amr ibn Shu'ayb, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about the 'aqīqah, whereupon he said: "Allah does not love 'uqūq" — as though he disliked the name itself — and then said: "Whoever has a child born to him and wishes to offer a sacrifice on their behalf, let them do so: two equivalent sheep for a boy, and one sheep for a girl." — Narrated by Aḥmad and Abū Dāwūd.
The legal inference drawn from this narration is that the Prophet ﷺ linked the slaughter to the wish and willingness of the individual, saying: "whoever wishes to offer a sacrifice... let them do so" — thereby indicating that the 'aqīqah is recommended (mustaḥabb) and not obligatory (wājib).
And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on omitting the prostration of recitation?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The prostration of recitation (Sajdat al-Tilawah) is a Sunnah for both the reader and the listener. There is no sin in omitting it, though doing so results in missing a great reward. Muslim narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said: 'When the son of Adam recites a verse of prostration and prostrates, Shaytan withdraws weeping, saying: "Woe to him! (and in the narration of Abu Kuraib: "Woe to me!") The son of Adam was commanded to prostrate and he prostrated, so Paradise is his; and I was commanded to prostrate and I refused, so the Fire is mine."'
 
Sheikh al-Islam Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated: 'It is recommended to prostrate immediately after reciting or hearing a verse of prostration. If one delays it but the interval is short, he may still prostrate. However, if the interval is long, the opportunity is missed.' [Rawdat al-Talibin Vol.1/P.323].
 
Furthermore, the prostration of recitation becomes obligatory (Wajib) in congregational prayer if the Imam prostrates, out of the necessity of following him. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling on the ablution of one who touches women prohibited to him by a temporary prohibition (mahram bi-hurma mu'aqqata)?

It is prohibited to touch a woman who is temporarily prohibited (meaning one whom it becomes permissible to marry after the impediment is removed, such as the wife of a brother or paternal uncle). Touching her without a barrier invalidates ablution. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Does excessive sleep during Ramadan invalidate fasting?

Sleeping a lot in Ramadan does not invalidate the fast, but a Muslim may miss out on great rewards from prayer, Quran recitation, and acts of worship due to excessive sleep.