Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(34): “Ruling on the Investments of the Social Security Fund for Education through Depositing Funds in Usurious Banks or Purchasing Stocks“

Date Added : 28-10-2015

 
Resolution No.(34): "Ruling on the Investments of the Social Security Fund for Education through Depositing Funds in Usurious Banks or Purchasing Stocks"

Date: 28/11/1413 AH corresponding to 20/5/1993 AD.

The Board has received the following question:

What is the ruling of Sharia on the investments of the Social Security Fund for education, where funds are deposited in the Housing Bank against an interest, stocks are purchased from Jordan-Gulf Bank and General Arabia Insurance Company, development bonds are purchased from Jordan`s Central Bank, debenture bonds of Water Authority are purchased from Jordan`s Central Bank, and stocks are purchased in the Arab International Hotels Company?

Answer: All success is due to Allah.

The Board is of the view that purchasing stocks in a usurious institution is forbidden because it involves employing the invested money in forbidden activities, and this applies to purchasing funds in Jordan-Gulf Bank, development bonds issued by the Central Bank, and debenture bonds of the Water Authority from the Central Bank.

As regards depositing funds in a usurious bank against an interest, such an activity is forbidden as well, and this applies to depositing funds in the Housing Bank against an interest.

However, the permissibility of purchasing shares in companies in general depends on the nature of the activity of such companies, so if the activity is lawful, then purchasing the shares is lawful; if not ,then it isn`t. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Chief Justice Dr.Nooh Al-Qodaat

Acting Mufti General, Sheikh Saeid Hijjawi

Mufti General of Jordanian Armed Forces: Mhamood Shwayat

             Dr. Abdassalam Al-Abbadi

Dr. Ahmad Hilayel

   Dr. Yousef Ghizaan

           Dr. Mahmood Al-Sartawi

             Dr. AbdulAziz Al-Khaiyaat

            Dr. Ibrahim Khash-shaan

       Sheikh Ratib Az-zahir

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Summarized Fatawaa

Can a menstruating woman listen to the Quran from the radio or television?

Yes, a menstruating woman is allowed to listen to the Quran from the radio or television. What is forbidden for her is reciting the Quran and touching the Mus-haf, but listening is permissible—in fact, it is an act of worship.However, she should not repeat along with the Qur’an or try to keep pace with it. 

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.

Why was the exact date of Laylat al-Qadr concealed?

The wisdom behind this is to encourage Muslims to strive in worship throughout all the nights of Ramadan, or at least in the last ten nights. By doing so, they will earn the reward of observing Laylat al-Qadr as well as the reward of worshiping on other blessed nights.

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.