Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(218): "Ruling on Accepting the Donations Made by Non-Islamic Banks to Charitable Organizations"

Date Added : 21-12-2015

Resolution No.(218)(8/2015) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Accepting the Donations Made by Non-Islamic Banks to Charitable Organizations"

Date: 24/Zolhijjah/1436 AH, corresponding to 8/10/2015 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 given date, the Board reviewed the question of His Excellency Dr. Marwan Al-Homood, which reads as follows: What is the ruling of Islamic Sharia on accepting the donations made by non-Islamic banks to establish different charitable societies, or to equip them with furniture and other supplies?

After researching and deliberating, the Board arrived at the following view:

Islam has defined certain methods for making money and spending it, and has prohibited a Muslim from resorting to unlawful means for making a living. Therefore, that which he earns from a lawful business is equally lawful, for he can eat from it, spend, and give to charity and receive a reward from Allah, The Almighty. On the other hand, that which he earns from an unlawful business is equally unlawful, so he doesn`t receive a reward for it; rather, he is considered sinful, for Allah accepts only that which is lawful. Our beloved Prophet (PBUH) said: "There is no flesh raised that sprouts from the unlawful except that the Fire is more appropriate for it." {At-Tirmizi}

Since the transactions of non-Islamic banks include that which is lawful and unlawful, there is no harm in accepting the donations that they make to charitable activities, such as establishing relief agencies, research centres, charitable societies, and schools. This is because the four Muslim Jurists have permitted accepting the gifts of those whose lawful money is mixed with unlawful money. They also said that its owner is the one accountable for committing the sin of earning unlawful money. This is provided that the donations aren`t used for promoting unlawful transactions, and that the unlawful money wasn`t considered as such because it was made by coercion, or theft. This reason of prohibition that such money should be given back to its rightful owner and can`t be accepted as a donation. And Allah Knows Best.

The Grand Mufti of Jordan / His Eminence Sheikh AbdulKareem al-Khasawneh

Prof. Abdulnasser Abulbasal / Member

Dr. Yahia al-Botoosh / Member

Sheikh Sae`id Hijjawi / Member

Dr. Wasif al-Bakhri / Member

Prof. Mohammad al-Qhodat / Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh / Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Esa / Member

Dr. Mohammad  al-Z`obi / Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What should a person do if they suffer from an incurable illness that prevents them from fasting?

A person who has an illness that is not expected to be cured and prevents them from fasting must feed a needy person one mudd (600 grams) of food (such as wheat or rice) for each missed day instead of fasting.
Allah Almighty says {what means}: "and [in such cases] it is incumbent upon those who can afford it to make sacrifice by feeding a needy person." [Al-Baqarah/184].

What is the ruling on delaying Zakat al-Fitr until after Eid day?

It is forbidden to delay Zakat al-Fitr beyond the sunset of Eid day. If someone delays it past Eid day without a valid excuse, they have committed a sin and must immediately make up for it because their obligation remains unfulfilled, and they must clear their responsibility.

What is the waiting period ('Iddah) for a woman whose husband has passed away, and what is the ruling on her wearing gold?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The waiting period ('Iddah) for a woman whose husband has passed away is four months and ten days for one who is not pregnant. As for a pregnant woman, her waiting period lasts until she gives birth. It is obligatory for her to remain in the marital home, only leaving for a necessity. During this time, it is prohibited (Haram) to display any form of adornment on the body or clothing; this includes wearing kohl, gold, all types of perfume, and dyeing the hair. Likewise, it is prohibited to receive a direct marriage proposal or to marry during this period.
 
It was narrated by Umm 'Atiyyah that the Prophet ﷺ said: 'We were forbidden to mourn for a deceased person for more than three days, except for a husband, for whom the mourning period is four months and ten days. During this time, we were not to use kohl, nor wear perfume, nor wear dyed clothing except for garments made of 'Asb (coarsely dyed yarn). We were, however, granted a concession at the time of purification—when one of us bathed following her menses—to use a small amount of Kust (costus) or Azfar (fragrant substances). We were also forbidden from following funeral processions.' (Narrated by Al-Bukhari). And Allah the Exalted knows best."

Does buying meat equivalent to the weight of a slaughtered animal and distributing it avail for an udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and prayers and peace be upon our Master the Messenger of Allah.
 
That does not avail for the sacrifice (uḍḥiyyah), because the sacrifice necessarily requires slaughtering an animal from the category of anʿām (camels, cattle, and sheep/goats) within a specified time.
 
Rather, that is considered a form of charity (ṣadaqah) for which one is rewarded. And Allah Almighty knows best.