Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(170)"Ruling on Benefiting from what Remains from the Lands Endowed for Building Mosques after Fulfilling the Purpose for which they were Endowed"

Date Added : 27-10-2015

Resolution No.(170)(11/2011) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies: "Ruling on Benefiting from what Remains  from the Lands Endowed for Building Mosques after Fulfilling the Purpose for which they were Endowed"
Date: 25/9/1432 AH, corresponding to 25/8/2011 AD.

 

Praise be to Allah, peace and blessings be upon   Prophet Muhammad and upon His Family and companions.

During the above given date, the Board reviewed the question of the Director General of the Awqaf Funds Development Foundation, which reads as follows:
What is the ruling of Sharia on investing the remaining part of the plots of land which were endowed for building mosques after having built them?
After prolonged deliberation, the Board decided what follows:
Muslim jurists are of the view that a Waqf(an endowment) is neither to be sold, given as a present nor bequeathed; rather, it should be spent on any charitable field that it is endowed for and that( the condition set by the donor is tantamount to the stipulation made by the law-giver).
This is emphasized by the texts of Sharia, such as the following narrations:" When `Umar got a piece of land in Khaibar, he came to the Prophet (PBUH) saying, "I have got a piece of land, better than which I have never got. So what do you advise me regarding it?" The Prophet (PBUH) said, "If you wish you can keep it as an endowment to be used for charitable purposes." So, `Umar gave the land in charity (i.e. as an endowments on the condition that the land would neither be sold nor given as a present, nor bequeathed, (and its yield) would be used for the poor, the kinsmen, the emancipation of slaves, Jihad, and for guests and travelers; and its administrator could eat in a reasonable just manner, and he also could feed his friends without intending to be wealthy by its means."{Related by Bukhari}. Also, Abu Talhah came to Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and said, "Allah says in His Book: 'By no means shall you attain Al-Birr, unless you spend (in Allah's Cause) of that which you love,' and the dearest of my property is Bairuha' so I have given it as Sadaqah (charity) for Allah's sake, and I anticipate its reward with Him; so spend it, O Messenger of Allah, as Allah guides you."{Bukhari and Muslim}.
The majority of the Muslim jurists have defined a Waqf as keeping the endowed thing and using it for charitable purposes. This indicates that a Waqf should be spent on any charitable field that it is endowed for in line with the condition set by the donor. Therefore, if his condition was fulfilled and part of the endowed land remained, then it is permissible to invest that part for the benefit of the Waqf.
Accordingly, it is permissible to invest the parts of the lands which were endowed for building mosques after having built them.
However, mosques built on these lands should meet the following conditions:
First: The donor hasn`t  clearly stipulated using his land for a purpose other than building a mosque.
Second: The revenue of the investment should be to the benefit of the Waqf .
Third: The investment shouldn`t affect the use of the mosque and its expansion in the future. And Allah knows best.

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board :
The General Mufti of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan:His Eminence , Abd Al-Kareem Al-Khasawneh
Vice Head of 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
His Honor : Judge Sari Attieh/member
.Dr.Abdulrahman Ibdaah/member
Dr.Mohammad Oglah Al-Ibrahim/member
Dr.Abdulnasir Abulbasal/member
Dr.Mohammad Al-Zo`bi/member
Dr.Mohammad Al-Gharaibeh/member
Executive Secretary of Iftaa`Board:Sheikh Mohammad Al-Hinaiti

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on eating from one`s Udhiyah?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) is divided into two categories: the vowed sacrifice (Al-Mandhurah) and the voluntary sacrifice (Al-Tatawwu').
 
First: The Vowed Sacrifice (Al-Mandhurah)
This refers to a sacrifice that has become strictly obligatory due to a formal vow (Nadr). It is completely impermissible for the person offering it, or any members of their family whom they are financially obligated to maintain, to eat any of its meat or fat. Furthermore, it is unlawful for them to personally benefit from its hide, wool, or any other part of it. If they happen to eat any portion of it, the offerer is legally obligated to give an equivalent amount of meat or its monetary value to charity. (As noted in Tuhfat al-Muhtaj by Imam Ibn Hajar al-Haytami,Vol. 9/P.364).
 
Second: The Voluntary Sacrifice (Al-Tatawwu’)
This is a recommended, non-obligatory sacrifice. The person offering it is fully permitted to eat from its meat, distribute portions as charity to the poor, and give pieces as gifts to those who are well-off. However, it remains a mandatory requirement to donate at least a minor portion of it to charity; this should not be less than approximately half a kilogram of raw, uncooked meat. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

I bought an apartment, and I am saving money to pay the remaining balance of its price — is zakāh obligatory on this money?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Zakāh is obligatory on all saved/hoarded wealth. Once the total wealth reaches the niṣāb (minimum threshold liable for zakah— equivalent to the value of 85 grams of pure 24-karat gold) and a full ḥawl (lunar year) has elapsed over it, zakāh becomes obligatory at a rate of (2.5%) — even if the wealth is earmarked for basic future needs, and even if the wealth's owner is in debt. Debt does not prevent the obligation of zakāh, nor is it deducted when calculating the zakāh due, based on the general and unrestricted wording of all the Qur'anic verses commanding zakāh, which draw no distinction between someone in debt and anyone else.
It is stated in ‘Umdat as-Sālik, from the books of the Shāfi‘ī school: "If someone possesses exactly the niṣāb, and owes an equivalent amount in debt, zakāh remains obligatory on what is in his possession, and the debt does not prevent this obligation" — meaning, the obligation of zakāh on what is presently in his possession.
The ḥawl (annual cycle) recognized for zakāh, as well as for the other sharī‘ah obligations that Allah, the Exalted, has imposed upon Muslims, is the Hijrī (lunar) year. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on mentioning Allah`s name upon slaughtering an animal?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is a Sunnah (prophetic tradition) for the person slaughtering to say: "Bismillah" (In the Name of Allah), though the most complete and perfect phrasing is to say: "Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim" (In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful). This is in accordance with the words of Allah Almighty: "So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned." (Al-An'am/118)
 
However, pronouncing it is not an obligatory requirement (Wajib). If someone omits it—whether deliberately or out of forgetfulness—the meat remains entirely lawful (Halal) to eat, though purposely omitting it is considered disliked (Makruh). And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

Is it valid for the 'aqīqah to be performed using the newborn child's own wealth?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is not permissible for the guardian to perform the 'aqīqah using the newborn child's own wealth, because the 'aqīqah is a voluntary act of giving (tabarru'), and a guardian is prohibited from making voluntary expenditures from the child's wealth. Should he do so, he becomes financially liable for what he spent. And Allah Almighty knows best.