Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(130): “Ruling on Quranic Verses Written on Pieces of Paper and Dissolved in Water to be Used for Healing”

Date Added : 27-10-2015

 

Resolution No.(130): “Ruling on Quranic Verses Written on Pieces of Paper and Dissolved in Water to be Used for Healing”

Date: 1/8/1430 AH, corresponding to 23/7/2009 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.

During its third session held on the above given date, the Board of Iftaa` reviewed the letter, No. 40/658-15/4/2009, sent by His Excellency, the Director General of the Press and Publications Department, which reads as follows:

I would like to inform you that our department has received Qura'nic verses written on paper to be dissolved in water and used as a cure. Could your grace inform us of the opinion of Islamic Law in this regard?

After thorough studying and deliberating, the Board decided what follows:

The Noble Quran is Allah`s word and His eternal miracle until the Day of Judgment. Allah Has Sent down in it that which is healing to the believers. He Says (What means): “We send down (stage by stage) in the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe: to the unjust it causes nothing but loss after loss...” {Al-Isra`/82}. He also Says (What means): “O mankind! There hath come to you a direction from your Lord and a healing for the (diseases) in your hearts,- and for those who believe, a guidance and a Mercy.” {Younis/57}.

Healing by the Quran is achieved by reciting it on the patient i.e. the Ruqyia. It is also permissible to write verses on paper, or a pot then dissolve it in water to be drunk by the patient. It was narrated from ‘Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “You should take the two that bring healing: Honey and the Qur’an.” [Fatih Al-Bari vol.10/pp.170]

As regards writing the whole Quran or part of it on paper to be used as a readymade recipe  to be dissolved in water and drunk by the patient, this is impermissible, because it degrades the Quran and negates the purpose for which it has been revealed. Allah Says (What means): “This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear God” {Al-Baqarah/2}. He also Says (What means): “Blessed is He who sent down the criterion to His servant, that it may be an admonition to all creatures." {Al-Furqaan/1}.

Accordingly, we recommend the Department of Press and Publications not to approve of such a thing. And Allah Knows Best.

 

 

                     Chairperson of the Iftaa` Board, Grand Mufti of Jordan,
Dr. Nooh al-Qhodah
                                                    Vice Chairman of the Iftaa` Board,Dr. Ahmad Hilayel
                                         Sheikh Abdulkareem al-Khasawneh/ Member
                 Sheikh Sa`eid Hijjawi/ Member
                              Dr. Muhammad Khair Al-'Eisa/Member
        Judge Sari Attia/Member
                      Dr. Abdul-Rahman Ibdah/Member
                                   Dr. Muhammad Aiqla Al-Ibrahim/Member
                              Dr. Abdul Naser Abu Al-Basal/Member
                                       Executive Secretary of The Iftaa' Board Dr. Muhammad Al-Khalylah

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on performing the Witr prayer as a single rak`ah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible to perform the Witr prayer as a single unit (rak‘ah). It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that a man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the night prayer, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied: 'The night prayer is offered two by two (mathna mathna). If one of you fears the approach of dawn, let him pray a single rak‘ah to make what he has prayed odd-numbered (Witr) for him.' (Related by al-Bukhari & Muslim)). However, limiting the prayer to only one rak‘ah is considered 'contrary to the preferred way' (Khilaf al-Awla).
 
It is stated in Al-Minhaj al-Qawim Sharh al-Muqaddimah al-Hadramiyyah (p. 137): 'The minimum of Witr is one rak‘ah, but limiting it to that is contrary to what is best.'
 
The most complete form of Witr is eleven units, while the minimum level of 'perfection' is three units. It is stated in ‘Umdat al-Salik (p. 60): 'The minimum of Witr is one rak‘ah, and its maximum is eleven, performing the taslim (salutation) after every two units. The lowest level of perfection is three units with two separate taslims (meaning 2+1).' And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on wearing energy stones?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
There is no objection to a woman adorning herself with precious and semi-precious stones — such as ruby, carnelian, or the like — so long as these are stones that women customarily wear as adornment.
As for what are known as "energy stones," if they are used with the intention of seeking remedy and healing, then such matters are governed by experimentation and scientific study — which either establishes that they have a tangible effect or does not — and all of this operates by the permission and will of Allah, Glorified and Exalted. If studies or practical experience do establish that such stones carry a beneficial effect upon human health, then there is no objection to using them. They are, after all, part of Allah's creation, much like medicinal substances extracted from plants or derived from other created things — provided that the Muslim does not believe that the stone itself is the source of benefit or harm. It is nothing more than a means among the many means that Allah has placed in this world, and the reality of all affairs belongs to Allah alone. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Is a person who forgot to make up missed fasts until the next Ramadan began required to pay expiatory compensation (Fidyah) alongside the makeup fast (Qada')?

 
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Whoever forgets to make up missed fasts of Ramadan (Qada') until the following Ramadan begins incurs no sin, pursuant to the statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): "Indeed, Allah has pardoned for my nation their mistakes, their forgetfulness, and that which they are coerced into doing." [Narrated by Ibn Majah, and Al-Bayhaqi in Al-Sunan Al-Kubra]
 
Furthermore, such an individual is not obligated to pay a expiatory compensation (Fidyah). It is stated in Bushra Al-Karim (p. 580)—one of the authoritative Shafi'i jurisprudential texts: "As for delaying it [the makeup fasts] due to a valid excuse—such as travel, breastfeeding, forgetfulness, or ignorance of the prohibition of delay (even for one living among scholars)—no Fidyah is required. This is because delaying performance during the actual month is permissible due to these excuses; hence, delaying makeup fasts is even more permissible, even if it continues for years."
And Allah Almighty knows best.

My father has debts and asked me to repay them years ago, and I promised him I would do so upon his death — is it permissible for me to go back on my promise given that I am unable to repay them, especially since he refuses to contribute to repayment on the grounds that the debt has become my responsibility by virtue of my promise?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The established principle is that a father's debt is to be repaid from his own wealth, if he possesses sufficient means. As for the promise made by the son to repay it on his father's behalf, fulfilling such a promise is strongly recommended, and breaking it is considerably disliked. Shaykh al-Islām Imām al-Nawawī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "Fulfilling a promise is emphatically recommended, and breaking it is severely disliked. The evidences for this from the Qurʾān and the Sunnah are well known." [Rawḍat al-Ṭālibīn,Vol. 2/P.278] Shaykh al-Islām Imām Zakariyyā al-Anṣārī, may Allah have mercy upon him, further states: "The reason fulfilling a promise is not obligatory and breaking it is not forbidden is that a promise is in the nature of a gift, and a gift does not become binding except upon receipt." [Asnā al-Maṭālib fī Sharḥ Rawḍ al-Ṭālib,Vol. 2/P.487]
Given that the son does not possess the financial means to fulfil his promise to his father, breaking this promise falls beyond his capacity — and Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. Since the father himself possesses sufficient wealth to settle his own debt, repayment must be made from his own funds. Should he pass away before doing so, the debt is to be settled from his estate. And Allah the Almighty knows best.