Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Date Added : 27-10-2015

Resolution No. (171) (3/2012) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies: "Ruling on Organized Tawaroq Sale Carried out by some Islamic Banks"
Date:  29/4/1433 AH, corresponding to 22/3/2012 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.
On the above given date, the Board reviewed the following question:
What is the ruling of Sharia on organized Tawaroq sale carried out by some Islamic banks?
In modern terms, in this type of sale the purchaser of a commodity in installments may re-sell it in cash amounts less than the purchase amount. The commodity can also be sold either by the purchaser`s deputy, or the financer.
Organized Tawaroq sale carried out by some Islamic banks is a form of evading usury (Riba), because the real purpose behind it is collecting a sum of money against an increase, where the bank carries out sham purchase of certain commodities, then sells them to the purchaser in installments. Afterwards, the bank  re-sells them to a third party against a cash amount which is less than the first amount, then gives that cash amount to the purchaser in installments, but the bank obliges the latter to pay off the first amount.
In terms of Islamic Sharia, this is considered a usurious loan, even though it seems a form of Tawaroq sale from the outside.
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "The deeds are considered by the intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intention. So whoever emigrated for Allah and His Messenger, his emigration will be for Allah and His Messenger; and whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration would be for what he emigrated for". {Agreed upon}.
Therefore, it is a prohibited a contract , because it  is a form of evading prohibited usury. Umar Bin Abdulaziz used to say about Tawaroq:"It is the brother of usury (Riba)."This is based on the following saying of the Prophet (PBUH): "Don`t you imitate the Jews who made the unlawful lawful by resorting to the meanest of tricks." {Ibtaal Al-Heyal 47}.
On its part, the Board is of the view that organized Tawaroq carried out by some Islamic banks is forbidden. This is confirmed by resolution No.(179) (5/19) of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, 2009.
The Board, advises Islamic banks and institutions to adhere to the Sharia approved forms of investment and financing, and to avoid suspicious tricks, in compliance with the legal rules that realize the objectives of Sharia. And Allah knows best.

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board :
The Grand Mufti of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan :His Eminence , Abdull-Kareem Al-Khasawneh
Vice Chairman of the Iftaa` Board:  His Eminence Dr. Ahmad Hilayel
Dr.Yahia Al-Botosh/member
His Eminence :Sheikh Sa`id Al-Hijawi/member
Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Essa/member
Dr. Wasif Al-Bakkri /member
Dr. Mohammad Al-Qhodat/Member
Dr.Mohammad Al-khalayleh/member
Prof. Abdulnasir Abulbasal/member
Dr.Mohammad Al-Zo`bi/member
 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible to pay the expiation of an oath to a charitable party as it feeds the poor and needy such as Tkiyet Um Ali?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and May His Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.

There is no harm on authorizing someone to handle the expiation of another to the poor and needy, since Shafiee's jurists stated that authorizing someone for the purpose of distributing Zakah, expiation and vow is permissible as stated in [Mughni Al-Muhtajj, vol.3 pp.237]. At last, the intention of the person who intends to authorize someone else suffices in this regard. And Allah Knows Best.

A man married a woman at the Islamic Centre in Brussels through a regular marriage contract. However, the husband left her for two years now and never provided her with financial support. Currently, she is staying in Amman, Jordan, and wants to remarry. Is her first marriage considered void and what should she do to remarry lawfully?

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
This issue is within the jurisdiction of the Islamic courts and they have the final say regarding the dissolution of the first marriage contract if there is valid ground for that. Therefore, her first marriage remains valid unless a court decision says otherwise. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

I have a question regarding the deferred portion of the dowry (Mahr)*. Is the wife entitled to it only upon divorce or she can claim it even if divorce hasn`t taken place? Moreover, does she have the right to claim this portion after death of husband, even if he didn`t divorce her before that?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of The Worlds. May His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
In the marriage contract, it is recorded that the deferred portion of the dowry is due upon divorce or death, whatever comes first. If divorce took place first then the woman is entitled to it and if the husband died this amount must be paid from his estate. On the other hand, if the woman died then the husband becomes liable for this portion and it becomes part of the woman`s estate. We advise every husband to give this portion to his wife while alive because it is a right of hers. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.
* In Islam, a Mahr is the obligation, in the form of money or possessions paid by the groom, to the bride at the time of Islamic marriage (payment also has circumstances on when and how to pay). While the mahr is often money, it can also be anything agreed upon by the bride such as jewelry, home goods, furniture, a dwelling or some land. Mahr is typically specified in the marriage contract signed upon marriage.

Is it permissible for the wife to give the Zakah (obligatory charity) of her money to her poor husband?

Yes, it is permissible for the wife to give from the Zakah of her money to her poor husband. And Allah Knows Best.