Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(207): "Ruling on Testing Drugs on People for Money"

Date Added : 05-10-2015

Resolution  No.(207)( 17 /2014), by The Board of Iftaa', Researches and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Testing Drugs on People for Money"

Date 30/Zolqidah/1435AH, corresponding to 25/9/2014AD

 

All perfect praise is due 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 twelfth session held on Thursday(30/Zolqidah/1435 A.H)-(25/9/2014 A.D), the question submitted by one of the citizens and reads as follows: 

Some research and studies centers in Jordan produce certain medications which they experiment on some people in return for money, and before distributing them in the market. What is the ruling on cooperating with such centers for this purpose in return for money ?

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

Protecting one`s life is among the five necessities which the Islamic Sharia came to preserve, whether by prevention, or by cure as shown by the following verse: “Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily God hath been to you Most Merciful!.” {An-Nisa/29}.

Protecting life is considered in its totality according to the Sharia maxim: the general interest is given precedence over the private interest. Also, Al-Izz Bin Abdusalaam (May Allah bless his soul) said: “The general interest is tantamount to the private necessity. “

Accordingly, testing a medication on a human being-if the doctors thought it was most probably useful- is a permissible act, provided that the following conditions are met:

First: The research centers should take all the necessary precautions and carry out all the experiments which indicate that the medication is chemically sound and doesn`t cause clear damage to the healthy, or the unhealthy persons.

Second: The research and the experiments should be conducted by the authorized  centers which adhere to the most elevated standards of methodical academic research under the supervision of qualified experts.

Third: The research centers should adhere to the laws and regulations that govern their work in a bid to avert suspicion, negligence, and competition among the manufacturing companies at the expense of people`s health. We call on the legislative and supervisory institutions to monitor this sector and address any shortage, or weakness in the legislations from which the defect is most likely to happen.

If the aforesaid conditions were met, then there is no harm, by The Will of Allah, and it becomes permissible for the citizen to make a sacrifice by trying the medication, even for money. This is because, in the past, the Muslim jurists permitted taking medications although they didn`t undergo any experimentations and no precautions were taken before trying them on people. Thus, the questioner should know that it is permissible for an individual to cooperate with such centers if they meet the above conditions. And Allah Knows Best.

 

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

Prof. Ahmad Helayel/ Member

Dr. Hayel Abdolhafeez/ Member

Dr. Yahia Al-Botoosh/ Member

His Eminence, Sheikh Sa`ied Hijjawi/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Essa/ Member

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

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member

Prof. Mohammad Al-Qodah/ Member

Dr. Wasif Al-Bakkri/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on applying perfume while fasting?

Applying perfume does not break the fast. However, it is better to avoid it, as fasting is a practice of simplicity and restraint, while perfume is a form of luxury.

Is it permissible to agree with a butcher to purchase the meat of an animal after it has been slaughtered — for instance, by buying the meat of a sheep at a price determined by the weight of its meat following slaughter, at a fixed rate per kilogram? And what is the ruling if the animal is being purchased with the intention of it being an uḍḥiyyah (sacrificial offering)?

 
 
 
 
 

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is not permissible to sell livestock in the manner of pricing each kilogram of meat after slaughter at a fixed rate, because the meat within the animal prior to slaughter is unseen and unknown. This leads to jahālah (ignorance of the subject matter) and gharar (contractual uncertainty), both of which are among the invalidating factors in sales transactions.
However, it is permissible for the buyer to issue a promise to purchase the meat of the animal after slaughter at a specified price per kilogram, with the actual sale being concluded at the time of weighing the meat — at which point both the quantity of the goods and the total price become known. There is no Sharī'ah objection to this arrangement.
The jurists have stipulated that for a sale to be valid, both countervalues must be present and observable. Al-Khaṭīb al-Shirbīnī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states:
"It is valid to sell a heap of grain whose total measure is unknown to both contracting parties at a rate of one sā' per dirham. This sale is valid because the subject of sale is present and observable, and ignorance of the total price is not harmful since it is known in detail — and uncertainty is thereby lifted."— [Mughnī al-Muḥtāj, Vol.2/P.355]
As for the uḍḥiyyah, the 'aqīqah, and vowed blood sacrifices (al-dam al-mandhūr) — full ownership of the animal must be established prior to slaughter. It is not valid for such animals to be slaughtered while still in the ownership of the butcher. Rather, the animal must be purchased alive and then slaughtered with the intention of uḍḥiyyah or the like. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is considered a woman`s Awrah (parts of the body that must be concealed during prayer) while offering prayer, and is her foot part of it?

A woman`s whole body is considered an Awrah while offering prayer except the hands and the face. Thus, her foot is an Awrah as well. And Allah Knows Best.

Is Zakah due on the orphan`s money?

Yes, Zakah is due on the money of the orphan.