Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(175): "The Wife`s Father is Given Priority over Husband in Determining her Place of Burial in Case She Passed away"

Date Added : 02-11-2015

 

Resolution No.(175)(7/2012) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"The Wife`s Father is Given Priority over Husband in Determining her Place of Burial in Case she Passed away"

Date: 14/7/1433 AH, corresponding to 4/6/2012 AD.

 

All perfect praise be to Allah. Blessings and peace be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

On the above date, the Board reviewed the following question:

Who should be given priority to receive the dead body of the  wife or the husband, take care of the burial process, and accept the condolences, whether their marriage was valid or they were divorced. Should the husband be given the priority, the wife, the children, the husband`s or the wife`s family?

Since death suffices as a lesson, there should be no room for dispute; rather, people should agree on what is best for the deceased as regards his/her burial place and funeral.

In case of dispute, priority should be given to the close paternal relatives of the deceased. If they disagreed about his/ her burial place, then the father is given priority, then the children, then the brothers.

The four jurists have given the wife`s relatives the priority in performing her funeral prayer. In fact, the Hanafite jurists have stated: "The husband enjoys no guardianship over his deceased wife; however, he is obliged to pay for the costs of enshrouding her and all the other costs of her burial." {Rad`d Al-Mohtaar, vol.2/pp.220,206}. This opinion has been adopted by the Jordanian Civil Status Code, 2010 /Article (71).

The Malikites as well as the Shafites gave priority to the husband over his wife`s male Mahrams as regards washing her (Ghusl) and placing her in the grave, because he is allowed to look at parts of her, which others aren`t allowed to look at; therefore, her Mahrams are given priority to take care of her funeral`s affairs, and her husband has more right to handle matters which may involve her indecent exposure.

Accordingly, when there is dispute as regards determining the place of the wife`s burial, priority is given to her father, then her sons over her husband, as stated by Al-Imam Ar-ramli (May Allah bless him): "If there is a dispute as regards the burial place of the husband, who made no bequest in this regard, then priority should be given to his closest paternal relatives in deciding where to bury him. If the deceased was the wife, then her closest paternal relatives should be given priority over her husband as to where she should be buried." {Nihayat Al-Mohtajj}. Moreover, Al-Khateeb Ash-Shirbini stated: "If the father and the mother had disputed over where to bury their deceased son, then the father should have the final say." {Moghni Al-Mohtajj}.

As regards accepting the condolences, we advise both parties to reach an agreement on that  for the sake of Allah and the deceased`s. And Allah Knows Best.

 

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

Vice-Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Prof. Ahmad Helayel

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

His Eminence, Sheikh Sa`ied Hijjawi/ Member

Pro. Mohammad Al-Qhodat/ Member

     Dr. Wasif Al-Bakhri

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Essa/ Member

Dr.Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

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.

A person prays in a certain spot within the rows of the mosque, and gets angry if someone else prayed at his spot. What is the ruling on this behavior?

All Perfect Praise be to Allah The Lord of The Worlds and may His Peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) make it prohibited for a Muslim from having/taking a certain spot in the mosque when performing prayers if they arrived and find it occupied, furthermore; it is the religious duty on others (praying people) to offer a piece of advice to alert the ones who don't know, that whoever reaches a spot first at the mosque having a priority/privilege upon others in that spot. And Allah Knows Best.

I`m a Muslim woman and have fallen in love with a Christian man. Supposing that he embraced Islam. Is it permissible that he proposes to me?

Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
The relationship between you two is forbidden; however, if he wants to embrace Islam then he should pay a visit to a Sharia court. Once he becomes a Muslim, we will address the matter of proposing to you. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

 Is Hyena's Meat Permissible or Impermissible?

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
There is disagreement amongst the jurists as regards the ruling on eating hyena`s meat. Shafi`i and Hanabli jurists are of the view that eating hyena`s meat is permissible. The proof is the Hadith related by Al-Baihaqhi on the authority of Ibn Abi Ammar who said: "I asked Jabir bin Abdulla about hyenas, and he told me to eat them. I said: "Is it not game? He said: 'Yes' I said: 'Did you hear that from the Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Yes."  And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.