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Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No. (150): "Ruling on Competitions Conducted Via Mobile Phone Messages"

Date Added : 06-09-2015

Resolution  No.(150) (15/2010) by The Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

                "Ruling on Competitions Conducted Via Mobile Phone Messages"

Date: (2/9/1431A.H); (12/8/2010 A.D)

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds; and may his peace and blessings be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions:

During its ninth session held on the above given date, the Board reviewed the following question:

What is the ruling on competitions that are conducted via mobile phones, where a person competes by sending an SMS/MMS that costs more than the regular message. The prize is usually won by one of the competitors while others get nothing in return for their participation ?

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

Competitions that are conducted via mobile phone messages which cost more than their regular cost, where the competitor is likely to win or lose whether he won the prize, or lost the cost of the message, is from the forbidden gambling mentioned in the Quran and the Prophetic tradition, and  which the Muslim scholars have considered one of the major sins. Allah Said in this regard (What means): “O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan’s handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper. Satan’s plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: will ye not then abstain?” {Al-Ma`ida/91-92}.

The Islamic Law (Sharia) forbids all forms of transactions that are based on gambling, whether they are part of a competition , or else. The Islamic Law has also forbidden gambling since it is a means of eating up people`s money unjustly and employing it in matters that are useless to the Muslim Ummah (nation). As for the modern forms of gambling, they are most corruptive to societies  and most consuming to their fortunes. And Allah Knows Best.

 

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

Vice Head of the Iftaa` Board, Dr. Ahmad Helayel

Dr. Yahia Al-Botoosh/ Member

His Eminence, Sheikh Sa`ied Hijjawi/ Member

Judge Sari Attieh/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Essa/ Member

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

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Gharaibeh/ Member

Dr.Abdulrahmann Ibbdah/ Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the amount of food to be given to a needy person for fidyah and kaffarah?

The amount of food to be given to a needy person is 600 grams of wheat or rice.
According to the Hanafi school, it is permissible to give the monetary equivalent instead, and this is the ruling issued by the General Iftaa` Department.

Is it permissible for one to shake hands with his uncle`s daughter?

No, it isn`t because he is a non-Mahram (Marriageable) to her.

How is the Night Prayer (Qiyam al-Layl) performed?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Night Prayer (Qiyam al-Layl) refers to the voluntary (Nafl) prayers performed by a person after the Sunset prayer (Maghrib) and before the Dawn prayer (Fajr). As for Tahajjud, it is the voluntary prayer performed during the night specifically after waking up from sleep, as an act of devotion to Allah. Allah the Exalted says {what means}: "And from [part of] the night, pray with it [i.e., recitation] as additional worship for you." (Al-Isra/79). Thus, in terms of reward,Tahajjud is superior to voluntary prayers performed before sleeping. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

 
What is the ruling on someone who eats or drinks while uncertain about the arrival of dawn, then later finds out that dawn had not yet broken?

If a person does this, their fast remains valid, as it is confirmed that they ate during the night. Similarly, if someone eats while uncertain and remains unsure whether they ate before or after dawn, their fast is still valid. This is based on the maxim of Sharia Law, which states: "Certainty is not removed by doubt." Certainty, here, is the presence of night, and the doubt concerns the arrival of dawn. Therefore, one relies on certainty and disregards doubt.

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