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Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(213): “Ruling on Teaching Hajj Rituals through Shapes Simulating the Ka`bah and other Places“

Date Added : 05-10-2015

Resolution No.(213)(3/215) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

“Ruling on Teaching Hajj Rituals through Shapes Simulating the Ka`bah and other Places“

Date:25/ Jumadah Al-Akhirah/1436 AH, corresponding to 15/4/2015 AD.

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

The Board reviewed in its fourth session held on the above date the following question:

We are a public service company, and we would like to establish an educational project that aims at teaching the pillars of Hajj to school students through simulating the Hajj rituals such as the Ka`bah, sai` between Safa and Marwa, Arafaat Moutain, Mina, and the Jamaraat, to whoever desires to learn how to perform this obligatory act of worship. What is the ruling of Islamic Sharia on that?

Knowledge is prescribed in Sharia; particularly, that which is useful in worldly life and saves from Hellfire in the Hereafter, and this applies to teaching the rituals of Hajj and Umrah. Allah Says {what means}: “O ye who believe! When ye are told to make room in the assemblies, (spread out and) make room: (ample) room will God provide for you. And when ye are told to rise up, rise up God will rise up, to (suitable) ranks (and degrees), those of you who believe and who have been granted (mystic) Knowledge. And God is well- acquainted with all ye do.” {Al-Mujadilah/11}. Also, Allah`s Apostle said regarding the virtue of being knowledgeable in the rules of Sharia: “If Allah wants to do a favor to somebody, He bestows on him, the gift of understanding the Quran and Sunna.” {Bukhari}.

Teaching Hajj rituals through creating shapes and images of holy sites that simulate those in real Hajj is permissible, rather, it is a good deed that helps people understand the correct way of performing Hajj and Umrah, for it was reported that Allah`s Apostle used to teach his companions through signs and demonstration. Abdullah Bin Masoud narrated: “The Prophet drew a square and then drew a line in the middle of it and let it extend outside the square and then drew several small lines attached to that central line, and said, "This is the human being, and this, (the square) in his lease of life, encircles him from all sides (or has encircled him), and this (line), which is outside (the square), is his hope, and these small lines are the calamities and troubles (which may befall him), and if one misses him, an-other will snap (i.e. overtake) him, and if the other misses him, a third will snap (i.e. overtake) him.” {Bukhari}.

However, it is imperative to warn visitors of these educational sites that the images and shapes simulating the Ka`bah, Safa and Marwa, Arafat, Mina, and the Jamaraat are mere educational representations, so it isn`t allowed to turn to them or glorify them, because this is restricted to the private nature of the sacred sites. It was stated in the book: “Facing the Ka`bah is intended for honoring it.” [Al-Moheet Al-Borhani vol.5/pp.396]

Moreover, it is worth stressing two points:

First: It is impermissible to belittle these images and shapes, or make them a subject of mockery.

Second: They  shouldn`t be a meticulous copy of the real sites in Hajj, rather, they should be of smaller size and hold signs that indicate their educational nature. On its part, the Board recommends that such project is supervised by the Ministry of Religious Endowments. And Allah Knows Best.

 

 Board of Iftaa`

Grand Mufti of Jordan , Sheikh Abdulkareem Khasawneh

Dr. Hayil Abdulhafeez       Sheikh Sae`id Hijjawi

Dr. Yahia Al-Botoosh         Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Essa

Dr. Wasif Al-Bakhri             Dr. Mohammad Al-Qhodaat

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh   Dr. Mohammad Al- Zou`bi

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it acceptable to perform the Aqiqah for a male child by slaughtering and distributing the first sheep, and bringing the second one cooked from the restaurant?

 

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.

It is permissible to slaughter the first sheep with the intention of Aqiqah (the newborn's sacrificial offering) and distribute it entirely [uncooked], and to slaughter the second sheep and have it cooked at a restaurant to bring home for the household. However, it must be noted that it is obligatory to give some portion of the Aqiqah in charity to the poor, even if it is a small amount, though it is preferable to send the food cooked to them.

Buying a pre-cooked, ready-made sheep from a restaurant does not suffice as an Aqiqah. However, if an agreement is made with the restaurant to explicitly slaughter a sheep with the intention of Aqiqah for the newborn, and then cook it afterward, this is permissible.

In conclusion, slaughtering the sheep and distributing it with the intention of Aqiqah is permissible, and through it, the foundational prophetic tradition (Sunnah) is fulfilled. As for simply buying a cooked sheep from a restaurant that was not specifically slaughtered with the intention of Aqiqah, it will not count as such. Conversely, if the restaurant owner is commissioned (Wakala) to handle both the slaughtering and the cooking as an Aqiqah, it is valid. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on forgetting an integral of the prayer?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Whoever forgets an integral (Rukn) of the prayer and remembers it before reaching the equivalent point in the subsequent unit (Rak'ah), must return to it (i.e., perform it) and complete his prayer, then perform the prostration of forgetfulness (Sujud al-Sahw) at the end of his prayer. However, if he remembers it after reaching the equivalent point in the subsequent unit, the Rak'ah in which the integral was forgotten is invalidated, and the current unit takes its place; he then completes a full Rak'ah to compensate and performs the prostration of forgetfulness.
 
It is stated in Nihayat al-Muhtaj ila Sharh al-Minhaj (Vol.1/P.543): 'If he becomes certain at the end of his prayer, or after the Salam—provided the interval is not long according to custom and he has not stepped on an impurity—that he omitted a prostration from the final Rak'ah, he must perform it and repeat the Tashahhud, as his previous Tashahhud occurred before its proper place. If the omission was from a Rak'ah other than the final one, he must perform a full Rak'ah, because the deficient unit was completed by a prostration from the subsequent one, rendering the rest of that subsequent unit void.' And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the amount of food to be given to a needy person for fidyah and kaffarah?

The amount of food to be given to a needy person is 600 grams of wheat or rice.
According to the Hanafi school, it is permissible to give the monetary equivalent instead, and this is the ruling issued by the General Iftaa` Department.

What is the Sharia basis of the Udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The Sharia basis of the Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) is firmly established through the Quran, the Sunnah, and the Consensus (Ijma') of the Muslims:
1. Evidence from the Holy Quran
Allah the Exalted says {what means}: "And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good." [Al-Hajj/36]. He also says {what means}: "So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone]" [Al-Kawthar/2]. According to the most well-known scholarly interpretations of this verse, "prayer" refers to the Eid prayer, and "sacrifice" refers to the slaughtering of the Udhiyah.
2. Evidence from the Sunnah
Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The first thing we start with on this day of ours is to pray, then we return and sacrifice. Whoever does that has followed our Sunnah, and whoever slaughters before [the prayer], it is merely meat he has provided for his family; it is not part of the ritual sacrifice in any way" [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim].
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet ﷺ sacrificed two white rams with horns. He slaughtered them with his own hand, mentioned the name of Allah (Tasmiyah), and said the Takbir" [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim].
3. Evidence from Scholarly Consensus (Ijma')
The Muslims have reached a unanimous consensus on the Sharia basis of the Udhiyah, and no one among the scholars has disagreed with this. [Al-Sherbini, Mughni al-Muhtaj, Vol.6/P.122].And Allah the Exalted knows best.

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