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

Does having a wet dream during the day in Ramadan break the fast?

Having a wet dream during the day in Ramadan does not invalidate the fast. However, one must perform ghusl (ritual purification) to ensure they do not miss their prayers.

Is it permissible for the children of a deceased father to settle his debt from the Zakah (obligatory charity) money due on them?

It is impermissible to use the Zakah of one`s money for settling the debts of the deceased. However, children should settle the debts of their deceased parents out of filial piety. And Allah Knows Best.

Is it permissible to offer an Udhiyah on behalf of the deceased?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial animal) on behalf of a deceased person is permissible. This is the official position of the Hanbali school (as stated in Kashshaf al-Qina’ by al-Bahuti,Vol.6/P.428) and was also upheld by the prominent Shafi'i scholar Al-’Abbadi (mentioned in Bidayat al-Muhtaj by Ibn Qadi Shuhbah,Vol. 4/P.358). It has likewise been narrated as a valid view among some Maliki and Hanafi scholars.
 
In fact, Imam Abu Dawud dedicated an entire chapter in his Sunan collection entitled, "Chapter on Sacrificing on Behalf of the Deceased." In it, he recorded a narration from Hanash, who said: "I saw 'Ali sacrificing two rams, so I asked him, 'What is this?' He replied, 'The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded me to offer a sacrifice on his behalf, so I am sacrificing on his behalf.'"
 
Imam Abu Dawud also narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Allah, this is from You, for You, and on behalf of Muhammad and his Ummah (community). In the Name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest," and he then slaughtered the animal.
 
The textual evidence here lies in the fact that our Master, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), offered a sacrifice on behalf of his entire community—and it is well-established that his community includes those who have already passed away.
 
Furthermore, there is an abundance of sacred texts demonstrating that the rewards of righteous deeds reach the deceased. For instance, it is permissible to fast on behalf of a deceased person who passed away with missed obligatory fasts, and it is equally permissible to perform Hajj on their behalf, both of which are firmly established in authentic Hadiths. Therefore, if the reward of fasting (which is a purely physical act of worship) and Hajj (which is a joint physical and financial act of worship) can reach the deceased, then the reward of an Udhiyah reaches them with greater reason (by way of A Fortiori argument). This is because it is a purely financial act of worship, falling under the general category of charity (Sadaqah).
 
Additionally, scholars have reached a consensus (Ijma') that the rewards of charity reach the deceased, and since the Udhiyah is inherently an act of charity, it falls under the same ruling. Consequently, based on all the aforementioned evidence, we hold the view that offering a sacrifice on behalf of the deceased is entirely permissible. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

Which is more excellent for a woman: to pray in the mosque or in her house?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Our Master the Prophet ﷺ said: 'It is more excellent for a woman to pray in her house than in her courtyard, and more excellent for her to pray in her private chamber than in her house.' Therefore, a woman’s adherence to her home and her refraining from going to the mosques—in obedience to the command of Allah the Exalted—attains a great reward and abundant recompense. Furthermore, women praying in congregation within their homes is better than their attendance at the mosques, based on the aforementioned Hadith. And Allah the Exalted knows best.