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Resolutions of Iftaa' Board


Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No. (127): "Ruling on Attributing the Adopted Orphan to the Surname/family Name of her/his Sponsor"

Date Added : 20-10-2015

Resolution No. (127) /4/2009: "Ruling on Attributing the Adopted Orphan to the Surname/family Name of her/his Sponsor"

On 27/4/1430AH, corresponding to 23/4/2009AD

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Wolrds.

The Iftaa Board in its session—held on 27/4/1430H (23/4/2009)—reviewed the appeal written by Mr. Amjad Muhammad Adel Abdel-Khaleq al-Kharouf in which he asked to add his family name to the name of the child he had adopted whose name was (Izzel-Deen Amjad Omar Khaled), and to add (Al-Kharouf) after the word (Khaled) in the child’s name.

After studying the request and discussing it, the Board decided the following:

One aim of the Sharia is the protection of family lineage which is a necessity that Islam called to protect because it is a grace of Allah on his worshippers. He Says (What means): “And it is He Who has created man from water, and has appointed for him kindred by blood and kindred by marriage. And your Lord is ever All-Powerful (to do what He wills).” [Al-Furqan 25].

For the sake of keeping ancestry, Islam regulates marriage and prohibits all that may lead to genealogy mix, adultery and the like. Some religious rules such as inheritance and certain forbidden marriage relations are based on genealogy issues.

Because of this, Islam prohibited adoption which means considering someone who is not genealogically related to the person as those who are. He Says (what means): “Allah has not made for any man two hearts inside his body. Neither has He made your wives whom you declare (to be like your mothers) your mothers, nor has He made your adopted sons your real sons. This is but a saying of your mouths. But Allah Says the truth and He guides to the right way. [4] Call them [adopted sons] by the names of their real fathers. That will be more just in the sight of Allah. And if you know not their fathers, then (they are) your brothers in faith, and your clients [freed slaves]. And there is no sin for you in the mistakes that you make unintentionally, but what your hearts deliberately intend (that will be a sin for you). Allah is ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Al-Ahzab 33].

Building on the previous, the questioner cannot give his family name (lineage) to the adopted child. An adopted child will not be a legal son and must not claim his sponsor’s name.

Add to this that there is a difference between what is forbidden as a consequence of breast-feeding and verification of lineage. Breast feeding leads to forbid certain marriages but it does not give the right to claim the lineage. Since the prophet (PBUH) said when the exchange of curse verse was revealed: “If a woman claimed her child to belong to a family to which this child has no blood relation, this woman has nothing to do with God, and God will not admit her into His paradise. And any man who rejects his own child while looking at her/him, God will reject him and will expose him in front of all creatures.” [Related by Abu Dawood and Al-Bayhaqi].

So, the prophet considered claiming a lineage of certain people as a crime that is punishable on the Day of Judgment.

The Prophet (PBUH) also said: “The one who claims descent from someoneother than his (real) father, and the slave who attaches himself to someone other than his (real) master, are cursed by Allah, His Angels and all the people. Allah will accept neither repentance nor ransom from such a person on the Day of Resurrection.”  [Agreed upon].

We advice our brother the questioner to support this orphan and be a good sponsor for him and he will be rewarded by God for the prophet PBUH said: “I and the one who raises an orphan, will be will be like these in the Garden (Paradise)”, and he pointed with his index and middle fingers slightly parted.” [Related by Al-Bukhari]. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Board of Iftaa’

                                                        Head of the Board of Iftaa’:

The General Mufti/his excellence Dr. Nouh Ali Salman Al-Qudhah

The Vice Head: Dr. Ahmad Hlail      

Shaikh Dr. Abdel Kareem al-Khasawneh/ member

 Sheikh Said al-Hajjawi/ member     

       Dr. Muhammad Khair al-Eisa/ member

 Judge Sari Atiyah/ member          

  Dr. Abdel Rahman Ibdah/ member

                  Dr. Muhammad Uqlah al-Ibraheem/ member

         Dr. Abdel Naser Abu al-Basal/ member

                       Executive Secretary of Iftaa’ Board Dr. Muhammad al Khalayleh

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Summarized Fatawaa

My father has debts and asked me to repay them years ago, and I promised him I would do so upon his death — is it permissible for me to go back on my promise given that I am unable to repay them, especially since he refuses to contribute to repayment on the grounds that the debt has become my responsibility by virtue of my promise?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The established principle is that a father's debt is to be repaid from his own wealth, if he possesses sufficient means. As for the promise made by the son to repay it on his father's behalf, fulfilling such a promise is strongly recommended, and breaking it is considerably disliked. Shaykh al-Islām Imām al-Nawawī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "Fulfilling a promise is emphatically recommended, and breaking it is severely disliked. The evidences for this from the Qurʾān and the Sunnah are well known." [Rawḍat al-Ṭālibīn,Vol. 2/P.278] Shaykh al-Islām Imām Zakariyyā al-Anṣārī, may Allah have mercy upon him, further states: "The reason fulfilling a promise is not obligatory and breaking it is not forbidden is that a promise is in the nature of a gift, and a gift does not become binding except upon receipt." [Asnā al-Maṭālib fī Sharḥ Rawḍ al-Ṭālib,Vol. 2/P.487]
Given that the son does not possess the financial means to fulfil his promise to his father, breaking this promise falls beyond his capacity — and Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. Since the father himself possesses sufficient wealth to settle his own debt, repayment must be made from his own funds. Should he pass away before doing so, the debt is to be settled from his estate. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islam on swearing by Allah without intending to take an actual oath?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
If someone swears by Allah without intending to take an actual oath, and without the firm resolve to bind themselves to it, then there is no sin or expiation (Kaffarah) required of them. Allah the Exalted says {what means}: 'God will not call you to account for thoughtlessness in your oaths, but for the intention in your hearts; and He is Oft-forgiving, Most Forbearing.' [Al-Baqarah/225]. However, a Muslim should avoid swearing oaths excessively so that their tongue does not become accustomed to it. Allah the Exalted says {what means}: 'And make not God’s (name) an excuse in your oaths against doing good, or acting rightly, or making peace between persons; for God is One Who heareth and knoweth all things.
' [Al-Baqarah/224]. And Allah the Exalted knows best."

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.

A person prays in a certain spot within the rows of the mosque, and gets angry if someone else prayed at his spot. What is the ruling on this behavior?

All Perfect Praise be to Allah The Lord of The Worlds and may His Peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) make it prohibited for a Muslim from having/taking a certain spot in the mosque when performing prayers if they arrived and find it occupied, furthermore; it is the religious duty on others (praying people) to offer a piece of advice to alert the ones who don't know, that whoever reaches a spot first at the mosque having a priority/privilege upon others in that spot. And Allah Knows Best.

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