Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(139): "Ruling on Changing the Use of the Land Endowed as a Graveyard"

Date Added : 02-11-2015

                            

Resolution No.(139)(4/2010): "Ruling on Changing the Use of the Land Endowed as a Graveyard"

Date: 23/4/1431 AH, corresponding to 8/4/2010 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 third session held on the above given date, the Board of Iftaa` reviewed the question whereby the Ministry of Awqaf expressed its desire to exchange a piece of land endowed as a graveyard for another piece of land.

After thorough studying and deliberating, the Board decided the following:

In principle, an endowment can neither be sold nor given as a present, nor bequeathed, as indicated by the Hadith of Ibn Umar. When `Umar got a piece of land in Khaibar, he came to the Prophet (PBUH) saying: "I have got a piece of land, better than which I have never got. So what do you advise me regarding it?" The Prophet (PBUH) said: "If you wish you can keep it as an endowment to be used for charitable purposes." So, `Umar gave the land in charity (i.e. as an endowment on the condition that the land would neither be sold nor given as a present, nor bequeathed)" {Bukhari&Muslim}.

Therefore, if the state, the municipality, or a person has endowed a piece of land as a graveyard, then it is obligatory that it be used as such, because the condition set by the owner of the Waqf (endowment) must be abided by.

Accordingly, due to the fact that people have already been buried in this graveyard, the Board believes that exchanging it for another piece of land is impermissible, because if it has been endowed as a graveyard, it must be used as such until the Day of Resurrection. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Grand Mufti of Jordan, Dr. Abdulkareem al-Khasawneh

Vice Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, 

Dr. Ahmad Hilayel

    Dr. Yahia al-Botoosh/ Member

      Sheikh Sa`eid Hijjawi/ Member

                    Dr. Mohammad Khair al-Eesa/ Member

Judge Sari Atieh/ Member

            Dr. Abdurahamn Ibbdah/ Member

       Dr. Mohammad Okla/ Member

              Dr. Abdunnasir Abulbasal/ Member

                    Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member

                    Dr. Mohammad al-Gharaibeh/ Member

                                                         Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat/ Executive Secretary of the Iftaa Board

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible to purchase the Udhiyah on installments?

It is permissible to purchase the sacrificial animal (uḍḥiyyah) on installments or by borrowing its price. However, it is not recommended for the poor to do so, because they are not required to offer a sacrifice, and Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. If doing so would lead to negligence in providing for one's dependents (nafaqah wājibah), then giving precedence to obligatory maintenance over borrowing to buy the sacrifice is appropriate. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "It is sufficient sin for a person to withhold food from those whom he is responsible to support."
 
Furthermore, the sacrifice is valid from one who has a debt, but it is preferable (awlā) to repay the debt first, especially if the debt is due immediately (ḥāll). And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the wisdom behind the legislation of fasting?

Fasting is a divine school from which the believer learns much and trains in virtues that may be needed in life. Among these virtues is patience, as it is the month of patience. Fasting also teaches honesty and consciousness of Allah in both private and public, for there is no observer over the fasting person in abstaining from lawful pleasures except Allah alone.
Fasting strengthens willpower, sharpens determination, and nurtures mercy and compassion among the servants of Allah. It is a struggle against the self, a restraint of desires, a purification of the soul, and a cultivation of goodness.
The Prophetﷺ said: "Allah, the Almighty, said: ‘Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except for fasting; it is for Me, and I shall reward for it. Fasting is a shield. So when one of you is fasting on a day, let him not engage in obscene speech or raise his voice in anger. If someone insults him or fights him, let him say: I am a fasting person. By Him in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the breath of the fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than the fragrance of musk.’" [Bukhari and Muslim]

Is it permissible for a person to give the Zakah (obligatory charity) to his daughter-in-law?

Yes, it is permissible for a person to give the Zakah to his daughter-in-law if she was poor, and none provided for particularly by whom are obliged to provide for her. And Allah Knows Best.

Is it acceptable to perform the Aqiqah for a male child by slaughtering and distributing the first sheep, and bringing the second one cooked from the restaurant?

 

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.

It is permissible to slaughter the first sheep with the intention of Aqiqah (the newborn's sacrificial offering) and distribute it entirely [uncooked], and to slaughter the second sheep and have it cooked at a restaurant to bring home for the household. However, it must be noted that it is obligatory to give some portion of the Aqiqah in charity to the poor, even if it is a small amount, though it is preferable to send the food cooked to them.

Buying a pre-cooked, ready-made sheep from a restaurant does not suffice as an Aqiqah. However, if an agreement is made with the restaurant to explicitly slaughter a sheep with the intention of Aqiqah for the newborn, and then cook it afterward, this is permissible.

In conclusion, slaughtering the sheep and distributing it with the intention of Aqiqah is permissible, and through it, the foundational prophetic tradition (Sunnah) is fulfilled. As for simply buying a cooked sheep from a restaurant that was not specifically slaughtered with the intention of Aqiqah, it will not count as such. Conversely, if the restaurant owner is commissioned (Wakala) to handle both the slaughtering and the cooking as an Aqiqah, it is valid. And Allah the Almighty knows best.