Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(203): "Ruling on Giving the Imam and the Mo`azin a Bonus from the Revenue of an Endowment (2014)

Date Added : 05-10-2015

Resolution  No.(203) (13/2014), by The Board of Iftaa', Researches and Islamic Studies:

 "Ruling on Giving the Imam and the Mo`azin a Bonus from the Revenue of an Endowment (2014)"

Date: (25/Shawal/1435 A.H); corresponding to (21/8/2014 A.D)

 

All praise is due to Allah, peace and blessings be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon his family and companions:

The Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies reviewed, in its tenth session held on Thursday (25/Shawal/1435 A.H)-(21/8/2014 A.D), the formal letter of His Eminence, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Religious Endowments, and it reads as follows:

Would Your Grace clarify the Sharee`ah ruling on the permissibility of paying a monthly bonus to the Imam and the Mo`azin of Al-Bahir Mosque from the revenue of the stores located under it ?

After careful study and deliberation, the Board decided what follows:

There is no harm in paying a bonus to both from the revenue of this

blessed endowment (Waqf) in line with the condition made by the Waqif (Founder of the Waqf) mentioned in the enclosed document of the Waqf: “The revenue of this building is to be completely spent in favor of Al-Bahir`s mosque, and at the disposal of the committee in charge of it.”

In other words, the mosque`s committee enjoys the authority of determining the channels of disbursement that it believes to be in the best interest of the mosque. Accordingly, it is Islamicaly and rationally acceptable for the committee to regard paying the bonus as an apparent interest of the mosque`s since it encourages both of them to exert all their efforts in serving the prayer performers and delivering the message of the mosque honestly and sincerely through making use of being devoted and self-sufficient. Nevertheless, it is imperative that coordination is established with the Ministry of Religious Endowments in order to obtain the special permit since it enjoys the general guardianship over all the Awqaf (Endowments), and in order for this matter to be done in line with the blessings of the officials in charge and with complete honesty, Allah willing. And Allah Knows Best.

Head of the Iftaa` Board, The Mufti General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, His Grace Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh.

Dr. Yahia Al-Botoosh/ Member

His Eminence, Sheikh Sa`ied Hijjawi/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Essa/ Member

Prof. Abduln`nassir Abu Al Bass`al/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What are the conditions governing the portion that must be distributed to the poor from a voluntary uḍḥiyyah (sacrificial offering)?

 
 
 
 
 
 

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The following conditions apply to the portion distributed to the poor from the sacrificial animal:
First: It must be meat — it isn`t valid to give the poor organs or offal such as the liver.
Second: It must be given raw — cooked meat does not fulfil the requirement.
Third: It must amount to no less than half a kilogram. And Allah Almighty knows best.

How should the udhiyah be distributed?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is obligatory to give the poor a portion of the meat from a voluntary sacrifice (Udhiyah al-Tatawwu’), which should not be less than approximately half a kilogram of raw meat. Other parts do not suffice for this obligation, such as the liver, tripe, or intestines.
It is Sunnah for the one offering the sacrifice to divide it into thirds: one-third for himself and his household to eat, one-third to be given as charity to the poor, and one-third to be given as a gift to friends and neighbors, even if they are wealthy. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Is it permissible to purchase the Udhiyah on installments?

It is permissible to purchase the sacrificial animal (uḍḥiyyah) on installments or by borrowing its price. However, it is not recommended for the poor to do so, because they are not required to offer a sacrifice, and Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. If doing so would lead to negligence in providing for one's dependents (nafaqah wājibah), then giving precedence to obligatory maintenance over borrowing to buy the sacrifice is appropriate. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "It is sufficient sin for a person to withhold food from those whom he is responsible to support."
 
Furthermore, the sacrifice is valid from one who has a debt, but it is preferable (awlā) to repay the debt first, especially if the debt is due immediately (ḥāll). And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on giving Zakat al-Fitr in cash?

The default ruling is that Zakat al-Fitr should be given as the staple food of the land. In Jordan, for example, the staple food is wheat or rice, and the amount of Zakat al-Fitr is 2,500 grams per person. It is easy to give this amount of rice to the poor and needy, and this is the correct ruling according to all Islamic schools of thought.
However, Hanafi scholars have permitted giving Zakat al-Fitr as monetary value, considering it more beneficial for the poor and easier for the giver.