Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



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

Must a person refrain from eating for the rest of the day if they break a fast of a vow (nadhr) or a make up fast (qada)?

 

Whoever observes a vowed fast (nadhr) or a makeup fast (qada) is prohibited from breaking it without a valid excuse. If they break it without a legitimate reason, they are sinful.
However, they are not required to refrain from eating for the rest of the day, because such restraint is only required out of respect for the month of Ramadan, not for other types of fasting.

What is Aqeeqah?

It is the sheep slaughtered on the seventh day from the child`s birth, and it is a confirmed Sunnah after the Prophet (PBUH).

Is it permissible for someone who is unable to fast to pay the fidyah (ransom/compensation payment) to himself, due to his own poverty?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is not permissible, nor does it fulfill the obligation, for a sick person who is currently and permanently unable to fast to pay the fidyah (ransom/compensation payment) to himself, since it is a financial obligation owed by him, established as a standing debt upon him — much like any other debt he owes. If he were to pay it to himself, it would not thereby be discharged. So if he cannot find [anyone eligible to] pay it to, it remains a standing obligation upon him, and is not thereby waived. If Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, later grants him wealth, it becomes obligatory upon him to pay it out to the poor and needy.
Imam al-Khaṭīb ash-Shirbīnī (raḥimahullāh) said: "There is no difference in the obligation of the fidyah between the wealthy and the poor person; its benefit lies in its remaining established as a standing debt upon the poor person [until he is able to pay it] — and this is the more correct position (al-aṣaḥḥ), as indicated by the wording of ar-Rawḍah and its source text." [Mughnī al-Muḥtāj, Vol.2/P.174]
Accordingly: it is not permissible for a Muslim to pay the fidyah to himself while he remains poor. If the sick person is poor, he is not obligated to pay the fidyah immediately, and it remains a standing debt upon him until a time when he has sufficient means and wealth. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on the ablution of one who cuts his nails, and is it permissible to cut them before the ritual bath for major impurity (janabah)?

Cutting nails does not invalidate ablution, and it is permissible to cut them before the ritual bath for major impurity. And Allah the Almighty knows best.