Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



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

Is it permissible for the mother to give her children from the Zakah (obligatory charity) of her money?

It is permissible for the mother to give her children from the Zakah of her money if they are Zakah-eligible recipients, and she isn`t obliged to provide for them.

 I`m keeping a plot of land (10 Dunums) for my children. Is it liable for Zakah?

Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds.

Land that is purchased with the intention of ownership and personal benefit—meaning to retain it for use and not for trade—is not subject to zakāh, as such property is not considered from trade commodities (ʿurūḍ al-tijārah).
 
It is stated in Al-Ḥāwī al-Kabīr:
“If it is property and one intends it for trade, then zakāh is due upon it; but if he intends it for personal possession, then no zakāh is due upon it.” And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

 

What is the ruling on a mother giving the Zakat of her wealth to her children?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible for a mother to give her children from the Zakat if they are among those who are eligible for it—such as being poor (Fuqara), possessing no wealth, and not being sufficiently provided for by the maintenance (Nafaqah) of others. This is based on the statement of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding Zaynab, the wife of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with them both): (Your husband and your children are the most deserving of those upon whom you spend in charity) [Narrated by Al-Bukhari].
 
It is stated in [Al-Hawi al-Kabir, Vol. 8/P.537]: 'As for the wife, it is permissible for her to pay her Zakat to her husband from all the designated shares... Our evidence is the generality of the saying of Allah the Almighty: "Zakat expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy", and the Hadith of Abu Hurairah that the Prophet ﷺ said to Zaynab, the wife of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud: (Your husband and your children are the most deserving of those upon whom you spend), and this is taken in its general sense.' And Allah the Exalted knows best.

Where should a woman following her husband or another man in prayer stand?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
If a single woman prays with a man—whether she is his wife or a non-mahram (Ajnabiyyah)—the Sunnah is for her to stand behind the Imam and be shielded by him. If the Imam is leading both a man and a woman, the man should stand to the Imam's right, and the woman should stand behind the male follower (Muqtadi). In this way, she is shielded from the Imam by the male follower and remains at a distance from the follower and his line of sight. And Allah the Exalted knows best.