Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(215): ”Conditions that Permit Kidney Donation”

Date Added : 05-10-2015

Resolution No.(215), (5/2015) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

Conditions that Permit Kidney Donation”

Date: 21/Ramadan/1436 AH, corresponding to 8/7/2015 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 of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies reviewed, on its 7th session held on the above date, the questions concerning the permissibility of kidney donation.

After thorough study and deliberation, the Board decided the following:

Kidney donation is permissible so long as the Sharia conditions stipulated in this regard are met. Not only that, but the Board believes that a person who does so with the intention of doing good to a patient will receive a reward from Allah, The Almighty. Allah Says in this regard {what means}: “and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.” {Al-Mai`dah/32}.

The Sharia conditions in this regard are:

First: The donor should have complete capacity, with making sure of his willingness to do so and that he isn`t being used; particularly if that person is a woman.

Second: It has been medically proven that the kidney transplant is a success and useful to the patient, and that the donor`s health won`t be jeopardized, because the Sharia maxim states: “Harm shouldn`t be eliminated with a reciprocal harm.” Therefore, specialized expert doctors must be sure with certainty about the success of this procedure in every case.

Third: There should be no material benefit behind this donation, and this should be ascertained through the medical, legal, and supervisory bodies. They have the right to confine the donation in accordance with the degree of kinship that they see fit. This depends on the facts that they arrive at, and what they see fit for making benefit and warding off harm.

Fourth: All other treatments and medical procedures have been tested. And Allah Knows Best.

 

The Iftaa` Board

The Grand Mufti of Jordan/ Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh/ Chairman

Vice-Chairman of the Iftaa` Board/Prof. Ahmad Hilayel

Dr. Hail Abdulhafeez/ Member        Sheilh Sa`id Hijjawi/ Member

Dr. Yahia Al-Botoush/ Member        Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Esa/ Member

Dr. Wasif Al-Bakri/ Member                         Prof. Mohammad Al-Qodat/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member   Dr. Mohammad Al-Zo`bi/ Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What are the disliked (makruh) acts of fasting?

● Excessive rinsing of the mouth and nose (during ablution), as it may lead to swallowing water.
● Tasting food or doing anything that may risk breaking the fast.
● Engaging in idle talk, and it is even more emphasized to avoid lying, backbiting, and gossiping.

What is the ruling on deliberately breaking the fast while being capable of fasting?

Whoever intentionally breaks their fast in Ramadan without a valid excuse has committed a major sin and bears great guilt. They must repent, seek forgiveness, refrain from eating and drinking for the rest of the day, and make up for that day after Ramadan.
They have lost an immense reward, which cannot be compensated even by fasting an entire lifetime as a voluntary act, because an obligatory fast cannot be equaled by voluntary fasting.
If the fast was broken through sexual intercourse, the person must:
● Make up for the missed fast (qada), and
● Perform kaffarah by fasting two consecutive months.
● If they are unable to do so, they must feed sixty needy people.

What is the ruling on offering a sheep as a sacrifice (Udhiyah) if its fat-tail is sound, except that when it was young, the tip of its fat-tail was cut so that it would grow larger? And what is the ruling in case of doubt regarding the amount that was cut?

 
In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Cutting a minor, insignificant portion from the tip of an animal's fat-tail (al-alyah) to encourage it to grow larger is not considered a defect, and it does not prevent the animal from being valid for sacrifice (Udhiyah).
 
It is stated in Tuhfat al-Muhtaj (Vol.9/P.352): "There is some scholarly deliberation regarding the common practice of cutting the tip of the fat-tail so that it grows larger. It could potentially be likened to a partial cut of the ear—supported by the jurists' general rule: 'even if it is a small amount.' On the other hand, if it is an exceptionally minor cut, it might have no effect on validity. This is explicitly clarified by the juristic exception to the general rule, which states that cutting a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm. This latter view is more well-founded.
 
Furthermore, I found that some scholars investigated this matter and concluded: 'It should not affect validity if a custom-sanctioned portion of its fat-tail is removed during its youth to make it grow larger and look better, just as castrating a male animal causes no harm.' However, applying this unconditionally contradicts the established texts of the jurists, as understood from what I have laid out; thus, the restriction I specified is what must be relied upon."
 
Similarly, it is mentioned in Nihayat al-Muhtaj (8/135): "If a small piece is cut from the fat-tail to help it grow larger, the most well-founded view is that the sacrifice remains valid, as was given in a formal legal verdict (Fatwa) by my father [Shihab al-Din al-Ramli], may Allah be pleased with him. This is proven by the jurists' maxim: 'The loss of a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm.'"
 
In cases where there is doubt as to whether the portion cut was large or small, the animal is still deemed valid for sacrifice. It is noted in Hashiyat al-Shubramallisi ‘ala Nihayat al-Muhtaj (Vol.8/P.135):
 
"This matter requires careful consideration, but the closer and more correct view is that it is valid. This is because soundness is the default state for the animal from which the piece was cut, and it aligns with what usually occurs—namely, that the part removed to help the fat-tail grow larger is naturally very small." And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

What does (Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward) mean?

This phrase is part of a hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeks his reward from Allah, their past sins will be forgiven." [Agreed upon]
The meaning is:
● They fast Ramadan with firm belief that Allah has made it obligatory.
● They fast out of obedience to Allah, knowing they will meet Him.
● They hope for reward from Allah and fast purely out of their faith while seeking His reward.