Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(37): “Ruling on Murabaha Transactions with a Lower Percentage than that Certified by the Orphans` Fund Development Foundation“

Date Added : 02-11-2015

 

Resolution No.(37): “Ruling on Murabaha Transactions with a Lower Percentage than that Certified by the Orphans` Fund Development Foundation“

Date: 29/2/1417 corresponding to 15/7/1996 AD.

 

The Board has received the following question:

What is the ruling of Sharia as regards the request of the above Foundation`s employees, who demand approving a percentage of Murabaha which is lower than that certified by the Foundation in its Murabaha contracts?

Answer:

All success is due to Allah.

The Board has decided the following:

In principle, the most beneficial for an orphan as regards his property should be sought. The law has granted the ”Orphans` Fund Development Foundation” the right of custody and management of orphans` property in a manner that fulfills their best interest. However, since it is impermissible for a guardian to donate an orphan`s property because it does him/her much harm, and since the highlighted issue is clarifying the Sharia ruling on a lower percentage of Murabaha, which isn`t beneficial to the orphans , and  contradicts what the Quran mentioned in this regard: “ but consume it not wastefully “ {An-Nissa`/6}; therefore, carrying out Murabaha transactions with the employees of the above Foundation for a percentage lower than the certified one isn`t in the best interest of the orphans, and so such an act is impermissible in Sharia for Allah Says in this regard (What means): “They ask thee concerning orphans. Say: "The best thing to do is what is for their good. “ {Al-Baqarah/220}. He also Says (What means): “And come not nigh to the orphan’s property, except to improve it. “ {Al-An`naam/152}. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairperson of the Iftaa` Board, Chief Justice Izzaddeen Al-Tamimi

Acting Mufti General, Sheikh Saeid Hijjawi

Mufti General of Jordanian Armed Forces: Mhamood Shwayat

           Dr. Abdassalam Al-Abbadi

  Dr. Umar Al-Ashkaar

          Dr. Mahmoud Al-Bakheet

         Dr. Mahmood Al-Sartawi

          Dr. AbdulAziz Al-Khaiyaa

Dr. Fathi Ad-Draini

     Dr. Abdulfataah Umar

                Sheikh Ibrahim Khash-shaan

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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.

If someone starts the day sick or traveling while fasting, is it permissible for them to break their fast?

● A sick person who finds fasting difficult is allowed to break their fast, whether they began the day fasting or not.
● As for a traveler:
○ If they were still at home at dawn and then traveled after Fajr (dawn), they must continue fasting unless they experience extreme hardship, in which case they may break their fast.
○ However, if they were already traveling when dawn broke—meaning they had left their town before Fajr—then they are permitted to break their fast. This is what the Prophetﷺ did during the year of the conquest (of Makkah).

Which hour coincides with the last third of the night?

This hour could be figured out by calculating the number of night hours which start at sunset, and end at dawn break, then the total is divided on three to get the result.

 
What is the ruling on someone who eats or drinks while uncertain about the arrival of dawn, then later finds out that dawn had not yet broken?

If a person does this, their fast remains valid, as it is confirmed that they ate during the night. Similarly, if someone eats while uncertain and remains unsure whether they ate before or after dawn, their fast is still valid. This is based on the maxim of Sharia Law, which states: "Certainty is not removed by doubt." Certainty, here, is the presence of night, and the doubt concerns the arrival of dawn. Therefore, one relies on certainty and disregards doubt.