Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



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

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.

What is the ruling on using a miswak (tooth-stick) during the day in Ramadan?

It is permissible to use a miswak before noon while fasting. However, according to the Shafi'i school, it is disliked (makruh) after noon in order to preserve the natural effect of fasting in the mouth, as the Prophetﷺ said in authentic hadith:
"The breath of a fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than the fragrance of musk."

Is Zakah (obligatory charity) due on the items used in the trading process such as: cars , shops etc..?

No Zakah is due on equipments used in the trading process such as cars and the like.

Is it permissible for one who sacrifices on behalf of another, with the latter's permission, to eat from the sacrifice?

It is permissible for someone who sacrificed on behalf of another with their permission to eat from it with their permission, and they stand in their place (act as their representative) in distributing it.
 
It is stated in Nihayat al-Muhtaj ila Sharh al-Minhaj (Vol.8/P.141): "And he—meaning the one sacrificing on his own behalf, provided he has not apostatized—has the right to eat from a voluntary sacrifice and his sacrificial gift; rather, it is recommended. As for an obligatory sacrifice, it is forbidden for him to eat from it, whether it was designated as such initially or as a liability in his dhimmah. And excluded by what has preceded is if he sacrifices on behalf of another, or if he apostatized, then it is not permissible for him to eat from it, just as it is absolutely impermissible to feed a disbeliever from it."(The text I found indicates the impermissibility of eating) ???
 
And it is stated in Hashiyat al-Jamal ‘ala Sharh al-Manhaj (Vol.5/P.262): "If a person offers a sacrifice on behalf of a living person with their permission, does he act as their representative in distributing it—on the grounds that permission to sacrifice is permission to distribute it—or does it depend on their explicit permission? This requires consideration, but the first view is not far-fetched." And Allah the Almighty knows best.