Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(44): “Ruling on the Proposed Amendments of Mutual Insurance for those Engaging in Murabaha with the Orphans` Fund Development Found"

Date Added : 02-11-2015

 

 

Resolution No.(44): “Ruling on the Proposed Amendments of Mutual Insurance for those Engaging in Murabaha with the Orphans` Fund Development Foundation“

Date: 15/11/1420 AH corresponding to 10/2/2000 AD.

 

The Board has received the following question:

What is the Sharia ruling on the proposed amendments of mutual insurance for those engaging in Murabaha with the Orphans' Fund Development Foundation?

Answer: All success is attributed to Allah.

The Board is of the view that the above type of insurance is permissible in Sharia for in this type, a number of individuals agree upon paying a certain sum, by each, as a contribution to be saved in a private fund or account, and to be spent in case an accident occurs to any of them. Its permissibility rests on the principle of cooperation, which is acknowledged by Islamic Sharia and its general rules. Allah, The Almighty, Says (What means): “Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancour: fear Allah. For Allah is strict in punishment.” {Al-Maidah/2}.

The idea of this insurance exists in the Aqila (male blood relatives of the killer) system, which is based on solidarity and cooperation amongst the relatives of the murderer in unintentional killing when paying the Diya (blood money) of the murdered. In addition, mutual insurance lessens the financial burden on the family members of the deceased participant (mutual insurance), so they aren`t obligated to pay on his behalf, and he is acquitted Before Allah, The Almighty. Also, mutual insurance preserves the funds of the Orphans` Fund Development Foundation and secures its right to collect the debt due on the participants in case of their death.

This resolution {permissibility of mutual insurance} agrees with the theme of the second conference of the Islamic Research Academy , held in Al-Azhar during the month of Moharram,1385AH,  the Council of the Fiqh Academy held in Makkah in 1399AH, and the opinion celebrated by many contemporary scholars. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Iftaa` Board

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Chief Justice, Izz Al-Deen Al-Tamimi

Dr. Mohamoud Al-Bakheet

Dr. Abdulsalam Al-Abbadi

Dr. Yousef Gheezaan

  Dr. Umar Al-Ashkhaar

  Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Khayyat

Sheikh Saeid Hijjawi

Sheikh Na`eim Mojahid

   Sheikh Mahmoud Shwayaat

Decision Number [ Previous | Next ]


Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on fasting?

Fasting in Ramadan is an individual obligation (Fard ‘Ayn) upon every mature, sane Muslim who is capable of fasting.
Fasting can also be recommended (Mustahabb), such as voluntary fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, fasting on the Day of Arafah for those not performing Hajj, and fasting on Ashura.
Fasting can be prohibited (Haram), such as fasting on the two Eid days, the Day of Doubt (Yawm al-Shakk), and the Days of Tashreeq.
Some types of fasting are disliked (Makruh), such as singling out Friday or Saturday for fasting without a specific reason and fasting on the Day of Arafah for a pilgrim.

Which is better for a traveler: fasting or breaking the fast?

Fasting is better, unless it causes hardship—in that case, breaking the fast is better.

I have a date farm, and the dates come in different categories, and within each category there are different sizes. How is zakāh paid on the yield?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
If the yield reaches the niṣāb (the minimum threshold for zakāh to become obligatory) — which is five awsuq (plural of wasq), equivalent to (611) kg — then zakāh becomes obligatory upon it, at a rate of one-tenth ('ushr) if irrigated by rainwater (i.e., naturally, without the use of machinery), or one-twentieth (half of the 'ushr) if irrigated using machinery/equipment.
If the yield of dates consists of different varieties, then zakāh should be paid from each variety according to its respective proportion. If this proves difficult, it is permissible to pay from a medium-quality variety [representative of the average].
It is stated in Ḥāshiyatā Qulyūbī wa ‘Umayrah (Vol.2/P.22): "Different varieties are combined together [for the purpose of calculating the niṣāb] — such as the various types of dates, the various types of raisins, and so on — and zakāh is paid from each type according to its respective proportion. However, if this becomes difficult due to the large number of varieties and the small quantity of each individual type, then zakāh should be paid from a medium-quality variety among them — neither the best nor the worst — out of consideration for both sides [the giver and the poor recipient]. If one goes to the trouble of paying from each variety according to its proportion, this is also permissible." And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

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.