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Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(205): "Ruling on Prohibiting the Offence Against Forest Trees"

Date Added : 27-10-2015

 

Resolution  No.(205) (15/2014) by The Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Prohibiting the Offence Against Forest Trees"

Date: (16/Zolqhidah/1435  A.H); corresponding to (11/9/2014  A.D)

 

All praise is due to Allah. May His blessings and peace be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon his family and companions.

The Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies reviewed, in its eleventh session held on Thursday: (16/Zolqhidah/1435 A.H); (11/9/2014 A.D), the question sent by the chairperson of the Jordanian Society for Eco Tourism and reads as follows: 

We would like to inform you that forest areas in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan are severely endangered by some citizens and influential persons through cutting and burning  in order to sell their wood to citizens, and this has done a great damage to these areas. We kindly ask your Grace to discuss this issue with the Board of Iftaa` in order to issue a ruling on cutting down state-owned forest trees and selling them for personal profit.

After careful study and deliberation, the Board decided:

 

Trees are a vital aspect of life and a reason of survival on this earth. Allah, The Exalted, has made them  a mercy, a blessing, a greenery, a favor that He has bestowed on humanity. He Said in this regard (What means): “It is He who sends down rain from the sky: from it ye drink, and out of it (grows) the vegetation on which ye feed your cattle. With it He produces for you corn, olives, date-palms, grapes and every kind of fruit: verily in this is a sign for those who give thought.” {An-Nahl(10-11)}.

The Holy Quran contains frequent reminder of this blessing so as to draw man`s attention to its significance in order for him to thank Allah, The Exalted, on the one hand and to protect it as well as look after it on the other hand. Allah Says (What means): “Glory to God, Who created in pairs all things that the earth produces, as well as their own (human) kind and (other) things of which they have no knowledge.” {Ya-Sin/36}.

Therefore, a person thankful of this blessing wouldn`t endanger, or desecrate it because he knows deep down that if matters get out of hand, no tree will be left on the face of the earth due to the greed of those who seek to make profit at the expense of life on this earth and Allah`s creatures on it. Therefore, the necessary measures had to be taken to protect this blessing.

 

We should always remember that Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) urged us to populate the earth by saying: “There is none amongst the Muslims who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a charitable gift for him.” {Bukhri &Muslim}. He also said: “If the Day of Resurrection starts while one of you is holding a cutting, then he should plant it.” {Ahmad}.

We should remember that any offence against trees by cutting, breaking, or burning is a violation of public property, and this is included in the warning of Abdullah Bin Habashi (May Allah be pleased with him) who reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever cuts down a lote tree, Allah shall send him to Hell head first.” {Abu Dawood}. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Head of the Iftaa` Board, The Grand Mufti of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, His Grace Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh.

Vice Head of the Iftaa`Board, Prof. Ahmad Helayel

Prof. Abduln`nassir Abu Al Bass`al/ Member

His Eminence, Sheikh Sa`ied Hijjawi/ Member

Pro. Mohammad Al-Qhodat/ Member

Dr. Yahia Al-Botoosh/ Member

     Dr. Wasif Al-Bakhri

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Summarized Fatawaa

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.

Is a person who is in a state of Janabah (major ritual impurity due to having a marital intercourse, ejaculation, menstruation, and post-delivery impurities) sinful if he/she goes about his/her daily life activities in that state i.e. without making Ghusl (ritual bath)?

It goes without saying that a Muslim should always be in a state of ritual purity so as to be able to perform prayers and recite Quran. It is from Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) that a Muslim hastens to make Ghusl from Janabah, but he/she is not sinful in case he/she delayed that provided that he/she doesn`t miss prayers. However, it is permissible for him/her to go about their daily activities while in a state of Janabah, but had better bathe in order not to miss any prayer.

What is the ruling on one who feels drops of urine falling during ablution?

If he is certain that urine is exiting from him during ablution, then his ablution is invalidated. He must remove the impurity from his clothes and body and repeat the ablution.
However, if what he feels regarding urine exiting is merely doubt or illusion, then ablution is not invalidated by doubt and illusion. He should not pay attention to it, and it is not permissible for him to follow the doubt and whispers that corrupt his religion. And Allah the almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on someone who combines two prayers as an early combination (jam‘ taqdīm), and then arrives at his place of residence during the time of the second prayer — is he obligated to repeat it?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Whoever combines Ẓuhr and ‘Aṣr while traveling — that is, before he has reached the built-up boundaries of his hometown [upon returning] — his combination (jam‘) of the two prayers remains valid, even if he arrives at his place of residence before the time for the second prayer has actually begun. This is because the combination was already validly completed with its proper conditions fulfilled, and he is not obligated to repeat the second prayer [upon arrival].
A traveler is permitted to make use of the concessions of shortening (qaṣr) and combining (jam‘) prayers once the distance of travel reaches (81 km) or more, provided that his journey is a permissible one, and that he begins shortening and combining only after actually setting out on the journey and passing beyond the built-up limits of the city in which he resides. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

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