Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(134): "Ruling on the Second Sa`y in Hajj-at-Tamattu

Date Added : 05-10-2015

Resolution No.(134) (14/2009): "Ruling on the Second Sa`y in Hajj-at-Tamattu"

 

Date: 30/12/1430 AH, correspondng to 17/12/2009 AD

 

 

All perfect praise be to Allah. Blessings and peace be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon his family and companions.

The Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies reviewed, in its fifth session held on (30/12/1430 A.H)-(17/12/2009 A.D), the question concerning the Islamic ruling on offering  the  second Sa`y, after Tawaaf Al-Ifadaah, by the pilgrims who are performing the Tamattu type of Hajj.

After careful study and deliberation, the Board determined the following: 

In principle, a pilgrim performing the Hajj of Tamattu must assume the Ihraam of Umrah first and perform all its pillars and obligations such as: Tawaaf (circling the Kabbah), Sa`y, shaving hair, or shortening it , then get into  the state of  Tahallul (freedom to take off the Ihraam or leave it). After that, he must assume the Ihraam again for Hajj, and perform all its pillars and obligations such as Tawaaf, Sa`y and else since Hajj and Umrah are two independent acts of worship which can`t make up for each other. Allah, The Exalted, Says in the Holy Quran (What means): “And complete the Hajj or ’Umra in the service of God." {Al-Baqarqh/196}. Therefore, the Sa`y which he offered during Umrah doesn`t compensate for the Sa`y of Hajj since each act of worship must include a Sa`y of its own.

The above is the opinion of the four juristic schools: the Hanafites, the Malikites, the Shafites, and it is the preponderant opinion of the Hanbalites. In the Harams of Mecca and Medinah, Fatwaas are delivered in line with this opinion based on what the Prophet`s companions, who performed the Hajj of Tamattu, did at his time. He (PBUH) said (what means): “Make the intention of assuming Ihraam for Umrah first, and perform all its pillars and obligations, then get out of the state of Ihram. Afterwards, assume the Ihraam again for Hajj and perform all its pillars and obligations. “{Bukhari}. Allah, The Almighty, Said in this regard (What means): “He must make an offering, such as he can afford, but if he cannot afford it, He should fast three days during the hajj and seven days on his return." {Al-Baqarah/196}.

It is incumbent on every Muslim to follow what has been confirmed in the authentic Sunnah and applied by the Muslim jurists because it is more cautious in performing acts of worship such as Hajj since a Muslim sacrifices the most precious to perform this great act. Therefore, he needs not risk his Hajj and violate the followed opinions of the Muslim jurists. And Allah Knows Best.

 

 

The Grand Mufti of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, His Grace Dr. Nooh Al-Qoudat

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

Sheikh Sa`eid Hijjawi/ Member

                                                              Dr. Yahia Al-Botoosh/ Member

              Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Eesa/ Member

                                                            Judge. Sari Attieh/ Member

     Dr. Abdulrahman Ibdah / Member

  Dr. Mohammad Oklah/ Member

               Dr. Abdonnassir Abi Al-bassal / Member

Executive Secretary of the Iftaa Board, Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh

Decision Number [ Previous | Next ]


Summarized Fatawaa

"I told my family at night: 'I will fast tomorrow as qaḍā' (a make-up fast),' but I forgot to make the intention before sleeping. Is my fast valid?"

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
 
The intention is obligatory in acts of worship. For obligatory fasting, the required intention is to resolve to fast during the night [before dawn]. Its proper locus is the heart, while verbalizing the intention out loud in acts of worship is a sunnah — so that the tongue may align with the heart. If the intent behind the statement in question was the intention to fast, then it is valid; but if the intent was merely to inform someone, or reflected hesitation or doubt, then it is not valid.
 
It is stated in *Bushrā al-Karīm* (Vol.1/P.216): "It is a sunnah to verbalize the intention — that is, whatever has already been intended in the heart, whether an obligatory or a voluntary act — such as specifying the number of rak‘ahs, just before the opening takbīr — so that the tongue may assist the heart, and because this is further removed from whispered doubts (waswasah), and in order to accommodate the view of those who held it obligatory in every act of worship that requires an intention (even though this is a minority position), by analogy with Ḥajj."
 
Accordingly: if the intention to fast arose in your heart before the second adhān [i.e., before Fajr], then your fast is valid.
 
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.

What is the ruling on praying seated due to severe obesity, given that I experience hardship in performing the prayer — especially when rising from the ground after sujūd to perform the next rak‘ah?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Standing, when one is able to do so, is a pillar of the prayer. However, whoever would experience severe, intolerable hardship, or fears harm to himself or to a limb due to obesity, or finds that standing causes him to lose his khushū‘ (humble focus and concentration) in prayer, then there is no objection to his praying seated on a chair or on the ground, performing rukū‘ (bowing) and sujūd (prostration) through gesture — provided that the gesture for sujūd is made lower than that for rukū‘. Whoever is able, at any point, to properly perform any one of these pillars, is obligated to perform it in full; for omitting it is a concession that applies only in cases of genuine inability. The Prophet ﷺ said: "When I command you to do something, do of it whatever you are able." (Related by al-Bukhārī). As the scholars of fiqh have established: what remains possible is not waived on account of what is difficult.
The criterion for determining genuine inability, as chosen by Imam al-Ḥaramayn al-Juwaynī (raḥimahullāh), is that the worshipper experiences hardship that causes him to lose his khushū‘.
As for voluntary (nafl) prayer, there is no objection to performing it while seated, even if one is able to stand. However, rukū‘ and sujūd must still be performed [in their proper physical form] by anyone who is able to do so. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on forgoing the sacrifice (uḍḥiyah) for one who is financially able to offer it?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is disliked (makrūh) for one for whom the uḍḥiyah (sacrifice) is recommended (Sunnah) to forgo offering it, on account of the scholarly disagreement regarding whether it is obligatory. And Allah, the Most High, knows best.