Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(27): “Ruling on Medical Students` Participating in Delivery Procedures “

Date Added : 02-11-2015

Resolution No.(27) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

“Ruling on Medical Students` Participating in Delivery Procedures“

Date: 26/6/1413 AH corresponding to 20/12/1992 AD

The Board has received the following question:

What is the ruling of Sharia as regards the participation of medical students in delivery procedures? Whereas; each ten or more would join an expert doctor in conducting this procedure and some of them may be Christians. In addition, they receive training on conducting internal examination for these women?

Answer: All success is due to Allah.

After extensive discussions, the Board has agreed upon the following:

Juristic maxims stipulate the following:

Necessity knows no rules and necessity is assessed by its degree.

Necessity here refers to what is crucial to man`s life.

In line with these maxims, it is an obligation to observe the following when treating women:

A Muslim woman should be examined by a Muslim female doctor, if not possible, then by other female doctors because this involves less harm from the view point of Islamic Law. However, if the Muslim female doctor wasn`t capable of treating a certain illness, then there is no harm in referring her (sick woman) to a Muslim male doctor. If there wasn`t any, then it is permissible to refer her to a non-Muslim male doctor.

As regards teaching students of the medical school:

In principle, gynecology should be restricted to female doctors as we have mentioned earlier, and faculties of medicine are responsible for fulfilling this end. If not possible, then male doctors should make up for the shortage in this field, provided that the maxim: "Necessity is assessed by its degree” is taken into consideration.

Therefore, it is evident that exposing women to medical students in the aforementioned manner isn`t permissible since it violates the juristic maxims mentioned above. And Allah Knows Best.

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Chief Justice Dr.Nooh Al-Qodaat
Mufti General of the Jordanian Armed Forces: Mhamood Shwayat
Dr. Abdassalam Al-Abbadi
Dr. Ahmad Hilayel
Dr. Ali Al-Faqheer
Dr. Yaseen Daradkeh

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on giving my mother a gift at "Mother's day", is it Halal or Haram?

Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds.

There is nothing wrong with doing that as long as it isn`t done in imitation of the disbelievers. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

Is it permissible to offer prayer at home, or should it be offered in the mosque?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds.                                                                                                                                                                      It isn`t preferable for the man to pray at home as praying in the mosque is twenty seven times more rewarding. Therefore, this should motivate him to offer prayers in the mosque. And Allah Knows Best.

Is it permissible to give lessons to mixed students of the seventh grade?

It is impermissible to give private lessons to mixed students since such an act leads to serious consequences for the students in this grade are teenagers.

I have a question regarding the deferred portion of the dowry (Mahr)*. Is the wife entitled to it only upon divorce or she can claim it even if divorce hasn`t taken place? Moreover, does she have the right to claim this portion after death of husband, even if he didn`t divorce her before that?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of The Worlds. May His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
In the marriage contract, it is recorded that the deferred portion of the dowry is due upon divorce or death, whatever comes first. If divorce took place first then the woman is entitled to it and if the husband died this amount must be paid from his estate. On the other hand, if the woman died then the husband becomes liable for this portion and it becomes part of the woman`s estate. We advise every husband to give this portion to his wife while alive because it is a right of hers. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.
* In Islam, a Mahr is the obligation, in the form of money or possessions paid by the groom, to the bride at the time of Islamic marriage (payment also has circumstances on when and how to pay). While the mahr is often money, it can also be anything agreed upon by the bride such as jewelry, home goods, furniture, a dwelling or some land. Mahr is typically specified in the marriage contract signed upon marriage.