Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Date Added : 02-11-2015

 

Resolution No.(97) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

“Sharia Ruling on Bahai and Druze Sects“

Date: 1/2/1427AH, corresponding to 1/3/2006.

 

 

Question:

What is the ruling of Islamic Sharia on the Bahai and Druze sects and the reasons for not recognizing them as two religions?

Answer: All success is due to Allah.

Islamic Sharia rests on values of tolerance, justice, and recognition of the other. It also promotes cooperation among different nations regardless of  creed, language, and faith. Allah The Almighty Says {What means}: “O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.” {Al-Hujurat/13}. This is the approach which the Prophet (PBUH) and his companions have followed when dealing with non-Muslims.  

As a result, they were granted complete freedom of faith, freedom to perform their religious ceremonies, and their places of worship were protected. Many provisions derived from the Quran and the Sunnah make protecting the rights of non-Muslims in a Muslim community an obligation. The Prophet (PBUH) was reported to having said: “Whoever harms a Dhimmi (a non-Muslim living in a Muslim community), he has harmed me” This Hadith was never narrated by any Muslim scholar. Ibn Al-Qayim said in his book [Al-Manar Al-Moneef, pp.98]: “This Hadith is fabricated”, so the following Hadith suffices as an evidence supporting the above idea: Safwan reported from a number of Companions of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) on the authority of their fathers who were relatives of each other. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: ”Beware, if anyone wrongs a contracting man, or diminishes his right, or forces him to work beyond his capacity, or takes from him anything without his consent, I shall plead for him on the Day of Judgment.” {Sunan abi Dawood}.

 

Through Ijtihad {independent reasoning}, Muslim scholars have agreed that non-Muslims shall enjoy the same rights and duties of Muslims. However, since Islam is the seal of heavenly messages and Mohammad (PBUH) is the seal of all Messengers, and since the Bahai sect is based on the idea of believing in the prophecy of its founder (Al-Baha`), then recognizing it as a heavenly faith contradicts the creed of Islam and its rulings. 

As regards the Druze sect in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, they are treated on equal footing with Muslims based on the Ijtihad agreed upon by the Sharia courts which rule on basis of Islamic Sharia as stipulated in article (106) of the Jordanian Constitution. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Iftaa` Board
Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Chief Justice, Dr. Ahmad Hilayel
Dr. AbdulMajeed Al-Salaheen
Dr. Abdulsalam Al-Abbadi
Dr. Yousef Ghyzaan
Dr. Wasif Al-Bakhri
Dr. Abdukareem Al-Khasawneh
Sheikh Sae`id Hijjawi
Sheikh Nae`im Mujahid

Decision Number [ Previous | Next ]


Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on training dogs that are of benefit?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
 
This is permissible because Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "They ask thee what is lawful to them (as food). Say: lawful unto you are (all) things good and pure: and what ye have taught your trained hunting animals (to catch) in the manner directed to you by Allah. eat what they catch for you, but pronounce the name of Allah over it: and fear Allah. for Allah is swift in taking account." [Al-Ma`idah/4]. However, it is prohibited to keep dogs for no benefit because Salim reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Apostle (PBUH) said: "He who kept a dog other than one meant for hunting or for watching the herd, lost two qirat of his reward every day." [Moslim]. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

Is the Saum (Fasting) of someone who ate and drank forgetfully while offering fasting of oath expiation invalidated?

Whosoever eats, or drinks forgetfully is exempted by Allah; therefore, he/she shouldn`t break their fast whether it was obligatory, non-obligatory, or expiatory. And Allah Knows Best.

Is it permissible for a father to divide his property amongst his children except one under the pretext that he has paid for the latter`s tuition? This is knowing that his other children were given the opportunity to pursue their education but didn`t because they were educationally poor. Moreover, is he allowed to give his other children who have helped him with growing his business?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah`s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
The father should be just between his children as regards gifts, in case they had similar circumstances. However, if any had a special merit, then it is permissible for the father to take that into account to be just. For example, giving his children who have helped in making his fortune and received no reward for that or giving the little ones because they haven`t taken as much as the older ones or giving the sick child who is unable to make a living. The most important thing is achieving justice. Moreover, the father is not interdicted by any of his children, and he is free to do whatever he wants with his money and Allah will call him to account as regards observing justice between his children. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

Who has the right to child custody when final divorce takes place?

The wife has the right to child custody until her children reach the age of puberty. However, if she gets married, the right of custody becomes that of her mother`s.