Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

y" Resolution No.(12): “Evaluating Diya in Jordanian Currency

Date Added : 02-11-2015

Resolution No.(12) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

“Evaluating Diya in Jordanian Currency“

Date: 9/11/1408 A.H, 23/6/1988 A.D.

The Board has received the following question:
What is the value of Diya in Jordanian currency?
Answer: All success is due to Allah.
The Jordanian Board of Iftaa` has discussed the issue of evaluating the Diya (blood money) in Jordanian currency, and after reviewing the opinions of Muslim scholars, the evidences that they have relied on, and the different conditions of the people, it found out the following:
1- In principle, the Diya is a hundred camels whose ages vary in accordance with the type of killing: premeditated murder, quasi-intentional murder, or accidental killing. Evaluating the Diya in a form other than camels relied on the value of camels. This is based on the narration of Abu Dawood and An-Nassai who reported that the Prophet (PBUH) used to evaluate the Diya for the people of villages as four hundred dinars, or what equals that in silver based on the value of camels, which varied from time to time and market to market. At the time of the Prophet (PBUH), it ranged from four hundred dinars to eight hundred, or what equals that amount in silver: eight hundred dirhams. He (PBUH) added that those who possess cows should pay two hundred cows, and those who possess sheep should pay two thousand sheep. The Prophet (PBUH) said {what means}: “The Diya is to be paid by the Aqila (relatives of the killer from his father`s side) of the killer; each according to his degree of kinship.“ {Abu Dawood&An-Nassai}.
2- Due to the fact that camels aren`t the circulated property in the majority of the Islamic countries, the Board deems that their prices should be evaluated in the currency of these countries to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet(PBUH) who evaluated them in gold and silver (currency circulated at that time) to villagers because they possessed a few camels as mentioned in the above Hadith. Also, evaluating the price of camels in the circulated currency facilitates the payment of the Diya.
3- After consulting the people of experience as regards the value of a hundred camels in the neighboring Islamic countries, it was found out that it equals ten thousand Jordanian dinars, and the Board has approved this evaluation because it agrees with that paid as Diya in the neighboring Islamic countries. Consequently, the Board has decided that the Diya of one person killed accidentally is ten thousand Jordanian dinars.
4- The Board confirms that the Diya in accidental and quasi-intentional killing is due on the Aqila of the killer; whereas, in premeditated murder, it is due on the killer himself.
5- The Diya in premeditated and quasi-intentional killing is denser because the Prophet (PBUH) added an extra third on its original amount.
6- If the family of the killed demands Qisas (retribution) from the killer, then no Diya is due to them since Islamic Law stipulates that they demand either Diya or Qisas.
7- If a group of people collaborated in the act of killing which led to the death of someone, then each of them pays a percentage of the Diya in accordance with the degree of their liability if that was exactly determined. However, if that wasn`t possible, then all of them should pay equal amounts, whether it was premeditated murder, quasi-intentional, or accidental killing.
8- If the killed had made a mistake, or committed an act of negligence that played a role in his death, then a percentage from his Diya is reduced accordingly.
9- Recipients of the Diya may waive their share since Almighty Allah Has Urged Muslims to be forgiving. He Says (What means): “and the remission (of the man’s half) is the nearest to righteousness.“ {Al-Baqara/237}. However, none may waive the right of minors in the Diya and such an act isn`t considered effective.

10- The Diya becomes part of the killed person`s estate and is subject to the rulings of Sharia on inheritance.
11- If a pregnant woman was attacked and that attack led to the abortion of her fetus who came out dead, his Diyah is Ghorah {star or white mark on face of a horse} which equals half-tenth of a man`s Diyah (five hundred dinars). However, if her fetus came out alive, then died later on as a result of that offence, then his Diya is similar to a free man`s. And all success is due to Allah alone, and may His Blessings and Peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and all his family and companions. And Allah Knows Best.

The Board of Iftaa`
Chairman of the Board, Chief Justice, Mohammad Mohailan
The Grand Mufti of Jordan, Vice Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Izz alDeen Attamimi
        Dr. Nooh al-Qodat, Mufti of Jordanian Armed Forces 
    Dr. Ibrahim al-Keelani         Dr. Abdulsalam Abbadi
         Dr. Abdulfatah Amr              Dr. Abdulhalim Ar-Ramahi
        Mostafa Az-Zarqa                 Dr. Mahmood al-Sartawi
        Dr. Abdulssalam Al-Abbadi Dr. Mahmood Al-Awattli

This resolution was modified, Kindly refer to RES No.(26) issued on 19/12/1992AD   

Decision Number [ Previous | Next ]


Summarized Fatawaa

What is the expiation for perjury?

Perjury is forbidden and one of the major sins that require turning to Allah in repentance, seeking His forgiveness, giving back rights to whom they belong, or seeking their forgiveness, and expiating for that oath.

What is the ruling on someone who possesses gold with the intention of saving/hoarding it, and owns nothing else — is he obligated to sell a portion of it in order to pay the zakāh due on it?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Zakāh becomes immediately obligatory on cash, and likewise on gold — that which is not designated for a woman's personal adornment— once both reach the niṣāb (minimum threshold liable for zakah) and a full ḥawl (lunar year) has passed over them. It is not permissible to delay payment when it is genuinely possible to pay — meaning, when the wealth and the eligible recipients are both available. It is stated in Mughnī al-Muḥtāj (Vol.2/p.129): "Zakāh is obligatory immediately once it becomes feasible to pay it, meaning when the wealth and the eligible recipients are both present."
The one paying zakāh must discharge the obligatory zakāh due on saved (hoarded) gold either from the gold itself, or from its equivalent monetary value, in the event that no other funds are available — since paying from the gold itself is the original default (al-aṣl). It becomes permissible to pay from other funds instead only because zakāh is built upon the principle of ease and leniency, as stated in Asnā al-Maṭālib (Vol.1/p.366): "When a full ḥawl has elapsed on wealth other than trade goods... zakāh attaches to the actual asset itself (al-‘ayn), and the poor effectively become partners in it — even, for example, [becoming partners] in camels through the value of a sheep [owed as zakāh on them]... Paying from other wealth is permitted only because zakāh is built upon the principle of ease and leniency."
Accordingly: the one paying zakāh must discharge it either from the actual saved gold itself, or by selling a portion of the gold equal to the amount of zakāh owed. He may also borrow money to pay the zakāh, or pay the zakāh in installments before the ḥawl is complete [as an advance payment]. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

 
What is the ruling on the intention of fasting, where is its place, and when is its time?

The intention is a pillar of acts of worship; it is essential, and worship is not valid without it.
Its place is in the heart, and verbalizing it is recommended so that the tongue reminds the heart. Its meaning is to be determined to abstain from nullifiers of fasting during the upcoming day with the intention of worship and obedience to Allah Almighty. This meaning is naturally present in every Muslim on every night of Ramadan, so there is no need for obsessive doubts. If one says, "I intend to fast tomorrow for the sake of Allah," it removes any doubts.
Its time is from after sunset until before the true dawn.

Is it permissible for one who sacrifices on behalf of another, with the latter's permission, to eat from the sacrifice?

It is permissible for someone who sacrificed on behalf of another with their permission to eat from it with their permission, and they stand in their place (act as their representative) in distributing it.
 
It is stated in Nihayat al-Muhtaj ila Sharh al-Minhaj (Vol.8/P.141): "And he—meaning the one sacrificing on his own behalf, provided he has not apostatized—has the right to eat from a voluntary sacrifice and his sacrificial gift; rather, it is recommended. As for an obligatory sacrifice, it is forbidden for him to eat from it, whether it was designated as such initially or as a liability in his dhimmah. And excluded by what has preceded is if he sacrifices on behalf of another, or if he apostatized, then it is not permissible for him to eat from it, just as it is absolutely impermissible to feed a disbeliever from it."(The text I found indicates the impermissibility of eating) ???
 
And it is stated in Hashiyat al-Jamal ‘ala Sharh al-Manhaj (Vol.5/P.262): "If a person offers a sacrifice on behalf of a living person with their permission, does he act as their representative in distributing it—on the grounds that permission to sacrifice is permission to distribute it—or does it depend on their explicit permission? This requires consideration, but the first view is not far-fetched." And Allah the Almighty knows best.