Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(159): "Ruling on Dividing Part of the Blood Money Accepted by one of the Victim`s Heirs from the Killer`s Family, in Intentional Killing, amongst other Heirs, each according to his Share as Stipulated in Sharia"

Date Added : 02-11-2015

 

Resolution No.(159) (25/2010) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Dividing Part of the Blood Money Accepted Amongest Heirs in Intentional Killing, each according to his Share as Stipulated in Sharia"

Date: 17/1/1432 AH, corresponding to 23/12/2010 AD.

 

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

During its twelfth session held on the above date, the Board reviewed the following question:

Five years ago, my son was intentionally killed in Saudi Arabia by a Saudi citizen. Two weeks passed over his marriage to a Jordanian woman before he was murdered. When the killer was sent to court, his family offered (25) million Riyals as Diyah (blood money) in return for waiving our right to Qisas (retribution). I along with his father insisted on Qisas and obtained an authorization to that end from all the heirs of my son including his wife.

Several years later, the court ruled for Qisas. However, one hour before the execution of that sentence, we were told that it has been delayed and I was told to check with the Saudi Ministry of Interior.

When I arrived there, I found out that my son`s widow has waived her right to Qisas in return for (5) million Riyals, and so the killer`s life will be spared and we will receive (25) million Riyals as Diyah.

Is the five million Riyals received by my son`s widow hers or should that sum be divided amongst his heirs as stipulated in Sharia.

 After prolonged deliberations, the Board decided:

The five million Riyals received by the victim`s widow from the killer`s family must be divided amongst the heirs of the killed in accordance with Sharia. This is the opinion of the Malikite jurists and it is most compatible with the principles of justice, the provisions of Sharia and  the juristic principle pertaining to warding off harm. 

It is stated: "If one of the victim`s heirs waived his right to Qisas in return for an amount, which is more or less than his share from the Diyah stipulated in Sharia, other heirs become obliged to waive their right to Qisas and take their share from the Diyah as well." [Hashyat Ibn Abdeen Ala-Asharih Al-Khabeer].

As clearly stated in the aforementioned quotation, if one of the two guardians of the victim, in intentional killing, waived his right to Qisas against taking more or less than his share in the Diyah, then the other guardian is obliged to follow suit. This is also supported by the Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH): "There is no injury nor return of injury". 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, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Hunaiti

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Summarized Fatawaa

We collect funds from mosques and other sources, saying: "For the poor, the needy, widows, orphans, and those who do not beg insistently." After paying the stipends of the families registered with the Zakat Committee, an amount exceeding 6,000 dinars remained. Is it permissible for me to save it for upcoming months when I may not be able to collect the stipends?

These funds are received by the committee as representatives of the zakat payers to deliver zakat to those entitled to it. It is well-known that delaying zakat while being able to pay it is not permissible. Imam Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Zakat must be paid immediately if one is able to do so, by the presence of wealth and the eligible categories." [Al-Minhaj] Therefore, the committee must distribute the zakat to the eligible recipients without installment payments or using it to purchase material goods for them, as the committee does not have authority over the poor to allocate it in this way. And Allah Knows Best.

Is it permissible to listen to chants praising the Prophet if accompanied by musical instruments?

If singing, or chanting in praise of the Prophet was accompanied by a forbidden musical instrument, then it is forbidden.

Is Zakah (obligatory charity) due on land intended for selling?

Yes, lands intended for trade are valued, and Zakah is paid according to their estimated value after a lunar year had lapsed, but if the owner didn`t pay the due Zakah, then he should do so after selling them.

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.