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Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(153): "Ruling on Taking Charge of Orphans` Funds and Transferring them to other Parties"

Date Added : 02-11-2015

 

Resolution No.(153)(18/2010) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Taking Charge of Orphans` Funds and Transferring them to other Parties"

Date: 2/9/1431, corresponding to 12/8/2010 AD.

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds; and may his peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions:

During its ninth session held on the above given date, the Board reviewed the letter of His Grace, The Supreme Judge, with which was enclosed the letter of her Excellency, The Minister of Social Affairs, where she asked for clarifying the rule of Sharia on cancelling the sponsorship of orphans who are cared for by alternative families after changing their names, and the possibility of transferring the funds deposited in their bank accounts to the account of the foundation, where they were raised in the first place?

After prolonged deliberations, the Board decided:

It is permissible for the sponsor to cancel his sponsorship for a certain reason, such as: improvement of the orphan`s living conditions, the sponsor is unable to provide for him or another person volunteered to sponsor him. Therefore, ending the sponsorship, in these cases, is permissible.

As regards the funds that have already been deposited in the account of a certain orphan or those being donated to him, they are considered his own property, and it is impermissible for the givers to take them back, whatever the case may be. This is because once a person gives a Hibah (grant/donation), he isn`t permitted to take it back. This is indicated by the Hadith of the Prophet: "One who gets back the gift is like one who eats vomit" (Muslim).

Accordingly, it isn`t permissible for anyone to take from an orphan`s funds, save to be spent in matters beneficial to him and with the approval of his guardian and without any sort of compulsion. Allah, The Almighty, Says (what means): "Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat up a Fire into their own bodies: They will soon be enduring a Blazing Fire!" { An-Nisa`}. The Prophet (PBUH) also said (what means):"It is unlawful to take the property of a Muslim, save with his cheerfulness" {Narrated by Darqotni}. Moreover, changing an orphan`s name or being cared for by another family isn`t an excuse for taking the funds donated to him or giving them to any party because they have become his own property. Since these orphans haven`t reached puberty, it isn`t permissible to transfer the funds deposited in their accounts to any party. This is because it isn`t permissible for anyone to take charge of another`s property because the latter is placed under interdiction for being underage or the like, save in matters that are beneficial to him. Therefore, once these orphans reach puberty, they can do whatever they want as far as their property is concerned. Allah, The Almighty, Says (what means): "if then ye find sound judgment in them, release their property to them." (An-Nisa`/6). And Allah Knows Best.

 

Head of the Iftaa` Board, The Grand Mufti of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, His Grace Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh

Vice Head of the Iftaa` Board, Dr. Ahmad Hilayel

Dr. Yahia Al-Botoosh/ Member

His Eminence, Sheikh Sa`ied Hijjawi/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Essa

Judge Sarrie Attieh

Dr. Abdulrahman Ibbdah/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Oklah/ Member

Dr. Abduln`nassir Abu Al Bass`al/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Gharaibeh/ Member

Executive Secretary of the Iftaa` board, Dr. Ahmad Al-Has`sanat

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

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.

What is the ruling on one who doubts washing a limb before or after finishing ablution?

If a person performing ablution doubts leaving the washing of a limb from the limbs of ablution during his ablution, he must repeat washing that limb and wash what comes after it. If he doubts leaving the washing of a limb after finishing the ablution, there is nothing upon him. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Does the intention (niyyah) of the principal (muwakkil) suffice for the sacrifice (dhabḥ) of the udhiyyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
If a person appoints an agent (wakīl) to perform the slaughter (dhabḥ) on their behalf, the intention (niyyah) of the principal (the one appointing the agent) suffices, and there is no need for the agent to have this intention himself. In fact, even if the agent is unaware that he is performing the sacrifice on someone's behalf as an udhiyyah (sacrificial offering), this does not affect its validity. And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

Does undergoing an endoscopy during the day in Ramadan affect the validity of fasting?

Undergoing an endoscopic procedure during the day in Ramadan—whether through the mouth, nose, front private part, or back private part—invalidates the fast.
Whoever undergoes such a procedure must refrain from eating and drinking for the rest of the day out of respect for the sacred month and make up for that day after Ramadan.

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