Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(187): "Stem Cells Law, 2013"

Date Added : 17-11-2015

Resolution No.(187) (6/2013) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Stem Cells Law, 2013"

Date: (25/8/1434 A.H) (4/7/2013 A.D)

 


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

and companions.

On the aforementioned date, the Board reviewed the stem cells law for the year 2013, sent by His Excellency the Chairman of the Legislation Bureau, to clarify the ruling of Sharia regarding it:
After careful study and deliberation, the Board decided what follows: 
First: The proposed draft-law pertaining to the regulation of the medical and research-based work has focused on two types of stem cells, which are: Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Somatic, or Adult Stem Cells. Little attention was given to the three other types: The Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (IPSCs), The Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Stem Cells and The Hybrid Stem Cells.
An example on the aforesaid  is in article (Seven), where the word (Adult) should be deleted in order for the article to include all sources of the five types  of stem cells mentioned in Article (Three) because all of them contain a human source. Therefore, it must be ascertained that there is a need to obtain them for therapeutic use, or research purposes, and then it becomes insufficient for article (Seven) to be concluded with: “According to the medical protocol in use “; rather, it is imperative to restrict  it to that which goes in line with the rulings of  the Islamic Sharia.
The same applies to article (Nine/A), where we deem necessary that the word (Embryonic) should be deleted in order for the article to include all sources of stem cells so as for the General Iftaa` Department to consider the Sharia ruling regarding  the zooblast which can be used for producing hybrid stem cells. This is also to make sure that the stem cells resulting from somatic cell nuclear transfer aren`t misused since article (Three) doesn`t provide adequate precautions in this regard, rather, it sufficed with the condition that” It is not to be cultured in the womb and not to be used for the reproduction of human beings.”
Second: Article (Four/B/4) made the condition: “An insurance contract is to be concluded between the bank and one of the licensed insurance companies in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to insure the stored stem cells.” The Board recommends that the insurance should be restricted to the joint-cooperative kind which is based on donation rather than commutative and gambling contracts.
Third: We recommend nominating an employee from the Iftaa` Department  to be a member in (The National Committee of Stem Cells), as stipulated in article (Four). His Grace, The Mufti-General is to nominate this member in order for the latter to make sure that the Islamic rulings are observed.
Fourth: The Board recommends drawing up vindicatory sanctions on whoever breaks the provisions of this law. And Allah Knows Best.

 


Chairman of the General Iftaa` Department, His Grace, Sheikh Abdulkareem Khasawneh.

Prof. Abduln`nassir Abu-Albassal/ Member
Sheilkh Sai`ed Hij`jawi/ Member
Prof. Mohammad Al-Qodah/ Member
Dr. Mohammad Khair E`ssa/ Member
Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member
Dr. Wasif Al-Bakri/ Member
Dr. Mohammad Al-Zo`bi/ Member

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on vomiting, and does it invalidate ablution?

Vomit is impure (najis). Its exit is not considered one of the nullifiers of ablution. However, the mouth must be washed and purified from it, and any that gets on clothing or the body must be washed for prayer, because prayer is not valid with impurity present on the body or clothing. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

I have a date farm, and the dates come in different categories, and within each category there are different sizes. How is zakāh paid on the yield?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
If the yield reaches the niṣāb (the minimum threshold for zakāh to become obligatory) — which is five awsuq (plural of wasq), equivalent to (611) kg — then zakāh becomes obligatory upon it, at a rate of one-tenth ('ushr) if irrigated by rainwater (i.e., naturally, without the use of machinery), or one-twentieth (half of the 'ushr) if irrigated using machinery/equipment.
If the yield of dates consists of different varieties, then zakāh should be paid from each variety according to its respective proportion. If this proves difficult, it is permissible to pay from a medium-quality variety [representative of the average].
It is stated in Ḥāshiyatā Qulyūbī wa ‘Umayrah (Vol.2/P.22): "Different varieties are combined together [for the purpose of calculating the niṣāb] — such as the various types of dates, the various types of raisins, and so on — and zakāh is paid from each type according to its respective proportion. However, if this becomes difficult due to the large number of varieties and the small quantity of each individual type, then zakāh should be paid from a medium-quality variety among them — neither the best nor the worst — out of consideration for both sides [the giver and the poor recipient]. If one goes to the trouble of paying from each variety according to its proportion, this is also permissible." And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is a person who forgot to make up missed fasts until the next Ramadan began required to pay expiatory compensation (Fidyah) alongside the makeup fast (Qada')?

 
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Whoever forgets to make up missed fasts of Ramadan (Qada') until the following Ramadan begins incurs no sin, pursuant to the statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): "Indeed, Allah has pardoned for my nation their mistakes, their forgetfulness, and that which they are coerced into doing." [Narrated by Ibn Majah, and Al-Bayhaqi in Al-Sunan Al-Kubra]
 
Furthermore, such an individual is not obligated to pay a expiatory compensation (Fidyah). It is stated in Bushra Al-Karim (p. 580)—one of the authoritative Shafi'i jurisprudential texts: "As for delaying it [the makeup fasts] due to a valid excuse—such as travel, breastfeeding, forgetfulness, or ignorance of the prohibition of delay (even for one living among scholars)—no Fidyah is required. This is because delaying performance during the actual month is permissible due to these excuses; hence, delaying makeup fasts is even more permissible, even if it continues for years."
And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on participating in the prize draws (raffles) that commercial stores hold for their customers?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
There is no objection to participating in the prize draws (raffles) that commercial stores hold for their customers, provided that the buyer's intention in purchasing is not merely to enter the competition without any need for what is bought — rather, the purchase must be genuinely intended for the item itself, and one must not pay more than the item's fair market price. This is because paying an amount above the market price would effectively be paying a fee to enter the prize draw, which would render it a form of gambling (qimār).
These prizes are, in essence, gifts that businesses offer through a random drawing (qur'ah) to those who purchase from them, as a means of encouraging sales, without the customer bearing any additional monetary cost for participation. So long as the aforementioned conditions are met, there is no objection to benefiting from the prize offered by the store, as it is considered a lawful prize from the viewpoint of Islamic Law.
It is stated in the resolutions of the "Jordanian Iftaa' Board" (Resolution No. 47), in the context of outlining the conditions for permissible prizes: "The price of the ticket [or item purchased] for the sake of the prize must not exceed its original price, so that there is no payment of money in exchange for participation in the draw." And Allah, the Most High, knows best.