Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(176): "Ruling on Murabaha Sale where the Purchaser is Authorized to Conclude the Contract, or to Collect the Commodity in Question"

Date Added : 29-10-2015

 

Resolution No.(176)(8/2012) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Murabaha Sale where the Purchaser is Authorized to Conclude the Contract, or to Collect the Commodity in Question"

Date: (8/8/1433 A.H) (28/6/2012 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 fourth session held on Monday (8/8/1433 A.H)-(28/6/2012 A.D), the following question:

What is the ruling on a financial institution, which deals in Murabaha, authorizing the purchaser to purchase the commodity and possess it?

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

Islamic banks are in the vanguard of financial procession due to their success at times of crises and economic challenges. They have proven that the Islamic Economy is the soundest and most productive means of development and stability, and that its foundations secure the equilibrium between the benefit of the individual and the interest of the community.

In its bid to set this procession straight, and cleanse it from doubtful matters (lawful or unlawful) and trickery, the Board has decided to ban authorizing the purchaser, or his deputy from purchasing in-kind commodities and collecting them on behalf of the institution dealing in Murabaha in order to prohibit usurious borrowing  and employing trickery to legalize it. This is also because the outcome of deputizing is a factor in resembling the usurious loans, thus the transaction takes the form of cash for cash, but with an extra amount added to the original one (Usury/interest). This particularly happens when the deputizing process becomes a regular pattern adopted by Islamic Murabaha Institutions, thus we fear that these would lose  the essence of true trading which differentiates them from the usurious  banks.

The Board advises the various Islamic financial institutions to direct their employees to purchase commodities and collect them on behalf of these institutions, and to abide by the Murabaha system ratified by the Fiqh Assemblies and Islamic bodies, so as to purify the transaction from flaws and doubtful matters as well as maintain the accomplishments of Islamic banking that have been achieved recently. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of the General Iftaa` Board, His grace the Mufti General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh

Sheikh Sa`ied Hijjawi/ Member

Prof. Abdulsalam Al-Abbadi/ Member

Prof. Mohammad Al-Khwdah/Member

Prof. Abdul N`nassir Abu-Al-bas`sal/Member

Dr.Yahia Al-Boutoosh/Member

Dr. Wasif Al-Bakhri/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Az`zoubi/ Member

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) described with specific attributes and authorizing an agent to slaughter them?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) that are described with specific attributes is permissible. This falls under the category of a salam sale (forward sale) if conducted using the terminology of salam, and under the category of a regular sale if not using the terminology of salam.
 
As for authorizing the seller to slaughter the sacrificial animal, the basic principle is that it is permissible, because the agent (wakil) stands in the place of the principal (muwakkil) in achieving his objective. This is a contract that the principal (the buyer) is entitled to perform himself, so authorizing another (the seller) to do so on his behalf is valid.
 
However, it is a condition for authorization to slaughter that the intention (niyyah) is present either at the time of slaughter or at the time of handing over the sacrificial animal to the agent. The basic principle is that the sacrificial animal must be specifically designated, as it is an act of worship. It is not required to designate it at the time of slaughter; rather, it is valid to do so before that.
 
It is permissible for the principal either to delegate the intention to the agent or to formulate it himself when authorizing the agent to slaughter. However, the sacrificial animal must be designated, even if at the time of slaughter, by the agent.
 
It is obligatory to designate the sacrificial animals so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own specific animal. Therefore, charitable organizations and companies must take this into consideration and establish a specific mechanism that ensures no mixing of sacrificial animals occurs, so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own designated animal. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the Islamic ruling on breaking the bones of the 'aqīqah?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is Sunnah not to break the bones of the 'aqīqah. Rather, each bone should be separated at its joint — as a good omen and expression of hope for the soundness and wholeness of the newborn's limbs. However, if one does break the bones, it is not considered disliked (makrūh) — it is simply regarded as contrary to what is preferable (khilāf al-awlā). And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on intramuscular injections? Do they break the fast?

Therapeutic injections administered under the skin or into the muscles do not break the fast, as they do not enter the body cavity (jauf) through an open passage.
However, intravenous (IV) injections that provide nourishment do break the fast because they function like food and drink in effect.

When is Istikharah (guidance prayer) Du`a offered, before Tasleem (saying asalamu alikum warahmatu allah wa barakatuh to end the prayer), or after it?

It is offered after Tasleem.