Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Date Added : 27-10-2015

Resolution No.(138): "Ruling of Sharia on Discount Cards

Date: 23/4/1431 AH, corresponding to 8/4/2010 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 session held on the above given date, the Board reviewed the question concerning the ruling of Sharia on buying and using cards issued by some malls which sell them to customers against a nominal price. Whenever the customer purchases an item, points are recorded in his favor and when they reach a certain number; he receives a prize or a discount.

After thorough studying and deliberating, the Board decided the following:

There are different situations as far as these cards are concerned:

1- If they are given by the mall or the company to the customer for free in order for him to take part in prize drawing or to receive some discounts, then they are permissible. This way, they are tantamount to a promise, to cut down prices or grant prizes, made to the customer. A promise to grant a benefit is permissible provided that the mall or company doesn`t employ this as a trick to increase the prices of the products.

2- If they are paid for by the customer against an amount which is greater than the cost of processing and issuing them, or they are processed against paying an annual subscription, then this type of cards is definitely forbidden because it involves gambling. This way, the mall makes a profit out of selling them; whereas, the customer enters a gambling process, where he may win the discounts and the prizes, or nothing; because he didn`t have the needed number of points to be qualified for receiving  the benefits of these cards, or because he didn`t purchase from that particular mall. The probability that relies on chance is the forbidden gambling and called Gharar (risk and uncertainty) that Islamic Sharia has forbidden in commutative contracts.

3- If the cards are bought by the customer against a certain amount, which is only intended to cover the cost of processing and issuing them, without the mall making any profit, then this is suspicious and requires further examination. To be on the safe side, a Muslim should avoid such suspicious matters.

The above is the view adopted by the Islamic Fiqh Assembly of the Muslim World League No. (103)(2/18) and it reads: 

First: It isn`t permissible to issue or purchase the aforementioned discount cards against a fixed price or an annual subscription, because they involve Gharar; the purchaser pays money and doesn`t know what he will get in return i.e. definite loss against potential benefit. It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah forbade Gharar transaction and Hasah transactions." {Sahih Muslim}.

Second: If these cards are issued for free, then their issuance and acceptance are permissible, because they are tantamount to a donation or a grant. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairperson of the Iftaa` Board, Grand Mufti of Jordan, Dr. Abdulkareem al-Khasawneh

Vice Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, 

                                                            Dr. Ahmad Hilayel

                                                            Dr. Yahia al-Botoosh/ Member

                                                            Sheikh Sa`eid Hijjawi/ Member

                                                            Dr. Mohammad Khair al-Eesa/ Member

                                                            Judge Sari Atieh/ Member

     Dr. Abdurahamn Ibbdah/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Okla/ Member

        Dr. Abdunnasir Abulbasal/ Member

              Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member

               Dr. Mohammad al-Gharaibeh/ Member

                                      Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat/ Executive Secretary of the Iftaa Board

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

How to pay Zakah (obligatory charity) due on articles of merchandise?

Articles of merchandise are estimated by their whole sale market price at the end of each lunar year, and (2.5%) of their value is paid as Zakah whether it (value) went up, or down compared to actual purchasing price, and whether the increase (profit) was in the article itself such as an increase in the animal`s weight, or in the prices themselves. And Allah Knows Best.

What is the ruling on reciting verses from the Qur'an over water, drinking it, and using it to break magic spells, heal illnesses, or burn jinn?
 
 
 
 
 

There is no harm on reciting verses of the Holy Qur'an over water and use it for cure. And Allah Knows Best.

Is it permissible for a wife`s family to demand her husband to divorce her although she doesn`t want that?

It is forbidden for them to do that in case their daughter doesn`t want divorce unless there was a sin that continues as long as the marriage survives.

Does the deceased hear the supplications or recitations of those visiting his/her grave? And does making constant supplications for the deceased who didn`t adhere to performing the prescribed prayers ameliorate his/her affliction?

Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds.

In principle, the dead hear the living since it has been rigorously authenticated that the Prophet (PBUH) ordered the bodies of the idolaters slain in the Battle of Badr to be buried. He then approached them and called them one by one and said: "Have you found what your Lord promised to be true for we have found what our Lord promised us to be true." Umar asked him: "O messenger of God! Why do you speak to lifeless bodies?" The Prophet (PBUH) replied: "By the One Who has sent me with the truth! You do not hear my words better than they do except that they cannot respond." [Agreed upon].

However, not all the deceased are in the same situation because Allah The Almighty Knows: "Before them is a Partition till the Day they are raised up." [Al-Mu`minun/100]. Moreover, supplication reaches the deceased. And Allah Knows Best..