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

An Imam stood to offer a fifth Rak`ah in a four-Rak`ah prayer, and he was reminded to sit by those behind him, but he wouldn`t listen. What is the ruling on those who followed his lead knowingly and intentionally?

If the Imam stood to offer a fifth Rak`ah, those praying behind him shouldn`t have approved of that, and the prayer of those who did is considered null and void.

What is the ruling on the existence of cattles' marketplace of (Sheeps, cows and chickens ) inside a graveyard?

Graves must be respected, and it is not permissible to sit on them or show any disrespect. Establishing a marketplace within a cemetery is undoubtedly a form of disrespect to the deceased and is not permissible. Such actions should not be tolerated. And Allah Knows Best.

How many Rak`ahs (unit of prayer) are offered in Witr prayer?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds                                                                                                                                                                  Witr (an odd number prayer performed between Isha`a and Fajr) is offered with a minimum of one Rak`ah, and a maximum of eleven, but offering three Rak`ahs is the minimum of its complete form. And Allah Knows Best.

What is the ruling on having brotherly ties between a strange man and a strange woman, and is the former considered a Mahram (unmarriageable) to the latter?

Such a relation between a strange man and a strange woman is forbidden in Islam because it involves forbidding what Allah has allowed by marriage, and allowing what Allah has forbidden such as looking and the like. Such a relation doesn`t render any act lawful between them, thus they are forbidden to look at each other, have a Khulwah (seclusion), and travel together.