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

Decision Number [ Previous | Next ]


Summarized Fatawaa

Is the son of the sister by breastfeeding considered a mahram in Islam, and is it permissible for a woman to go for Hajj with him?

Everything that is prohibited by lineage is also prohibited by breastfeeding. The son of the sister by breastfeeding is considered a mahram, just like the son of the sister by blood, and it is permissible for him to be her mahram for Hajj and Umrah. And Allah Knows Best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on performing ṭawāf on the upper floors of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, given that these floors are situated above the level of the Ka‘bah, and that the one performing ṭawāf passes by certain barriers, such as pillars and walls, during the ṭawāf?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
There are numerous conditions for the validity of ṭawāf (circumambulation around the Ka‘bah), among them: that the one performing ṭawāf be inside the Masjid (al-Masjid al-Ḥarām) — even if the Masjid has been expanded, so long as the expansion does not extend out into al-ḥill (land outside the sanctuary boundaries). It suffices for the ṭawāf to be performed in the airspace of the Masjid or upon its roof, even if that roof is higher than the Ka‘bah (the House) itself.
Al-Khaṭīb ash-Shirbīnī (raḥimahullāh) said: "It [ṭawāf] is valid upon the roof of the Masjid, even if the roof of the Masjid is higher than the House — just as prayer [is valid] upon Mount Abū Qubays despite its elevation above the House. This is the relied-upon (mu‘tamad) position." [Mughnī al-Muḥtāj, Vol.2/P.246]
The validity of the tawaf isn`t affected by the pillars and walls standing between the one performing ṭawāf and the House, since the condition is only that the person performing ṭawāf be within the boundaries of the Masjid and outside the boundaries of the Ka‘bah itself.
Ash-Shirbīnī said: "It [ṭawāf] is valid inside the Masjid, even if it is expanded, and even if a barrier stands between the one circumambulating and the House — such as a water-supply structure (saqāyah) or pillars (sawārī)." [Mughnī al-Muḥtāj, Vol. 2/P.246]
Accordingly, ṭawāf performed on the upper floors is valid, and the presence of barriers such as pillars and walls during the ṭawāf does not affect its validity. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

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.

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]