Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(179): "Ruling on Giving up Fast by Sportsmen"

Date Added : 17-11-2015

Resolution No.(179)(11/2012) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Giving up Fast by Sportsmen"

Date: 28/8/1433 AH, corresponding to 18/7/2012 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.

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

Is it permissible for sportsmen to give up fasting in order to take part in competitions?

After researching and deliberating, the Board decided what follows:

It is not permissible for sportsmen to give up fasting in order to take part in competitions because  it isn’t one of the Sharia-approved excuses. Allah Has Said (what means): "Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting." {Al-Baqarah/185}. Since fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, it is obligatory for everyone who is competent for religious assignments and has the ability to carry them out. Therefore, such people have to reorganize their priorities to be able to observe the obligatory fast.

It is impermissible to give priority to sport events over a pillar of Islam; particularly since it is possible to hold competitions in Muslim countries  after Maghrib time, or to arrive at a certain arrangement with the sport officials of the non-Muslim countries in order to make it possible for the Muslim competitors to observe obligatory fast.

If the competitor has experienced unusual hardship because he had to take part in that competition, then he is allowed to break his fast. However, that doesn`t exempt him from making the intention to fast and to actually observe the fast of each day of Ramadan from its beginning. If he experiences unusual hardship, then he is allowed to break his fast, but he should make up the missed days later.

However, if the sportsman was travelling for a long distance-more than (81km.) - then he is allowed to break his fast during the time of his travel, although it is better for him not to break his fast, since Allah, The Almighty, Says (What means): "For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew." {Al-Baqarah/184}. If he broke his fast, then he is obliged to make it up later, as indicated by the following verse: "(Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later." {Al-Baqarah/184}. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of the General Iftaa` Board, His grace the Mufti General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh

Sheikh Sa`ied Hijjawi/ Member

Prof. Abdulsalam Al-Abbadi/ Member

Prof. Mohammad Al-Khwdah/Member

Prof. Abdul N`nassir Abu-Al-bas`sal/Member

Dr.Yahia Al-Boutoosh/Member

Dr. Wasif Al-Bakhri/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Az`zoubi/ Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible for a sick person to pray while sitting on a chair?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds                                                                                                                                                                        It is permissible for a sick person, who is unable to stand up, to offer prayer while sitting on a chair. If he/she was unable to prostrate while on the chair, the he/she should pray while sitting on the ground, but if he/she was neither able to bow (Roku),nor to prostrate, then he can do them while sitting on the chair. And Allah Knows Best.

Does undergoing surgery under anesthesia break the fast?

Anesthesia itself does not break the fast because anesthetic gases have no physical substance (jirm), and subcutaneous anesthesia injections do not reach the body cavity (jauf). However, this is on condition that the person is conscious at some point during the fasting hours:
● If they were awake at the beginning of the day, their fast remains valid.
● If they wake up even for a moment before sunset, their fast is also valid.
However, if the surgery involves the entry of foreign substances into the body cavity, their fast is invalidated, and they must make up for that day later.

Is Zakah (obligatory charity) due on the money saved for marriage?

Zakah is due on the money saved for marriage if it reached the Nissab (minimum amount liable for Zakah), and a whole lunar year had lapsed over possessing it.

Someone wiped over his shoes after wearing them in a state of purity, then took them off and prayed without them?

Ablution is not invalidated by taking off leather socks or shoes after wiping over them. However, whoever takes them off after wiping must wash his feet only. If he prayed without washing his feet, he must wash his feet and repeat the prayer. And Allah the Almighty knows best.