Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Date Added : 21-12-2015

Resolution No.(220)(10/2015) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on the Permissibility of the two Athans for the Friday Prayer"

Date: 24/Thulhijjah/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 sent by some citizens, and it reads as follows:

Nowadays, some students of Islamic Sharia argue that the Sunnah is to have one Athan (Call for prayer) for Friday prayer and it should be pronounced  after the Imam sits on the pulpit (Mimbar),  and not two Athans as the Sunnah which used to be practiced by the Caliphate Othman Bin Affaan (May Allah be pleased with him). As a result, this matter has led to dispute in some mosques. Would you kindly clarify the ruling of Islamic Sharia on this issue and issue a Fatwa in this regard in order to settle the dispute and  to ward off the trial?

After researching and deliberating, the Board decided what follows:
 In the lifetime of the Prophet (PBUH), the Athan for Friday prayer used to be pronounced after the Imam sat on the pulpit , and there is no dispute about its permissibility, as stated by Ibn Qodamah: "There is no dispute about the permissibility of the Athan for Friday prayer which is pronounced after the Imam sat on the pulpit, as it used to be in the lifetime of the Prophet (PBUH)." As-Saa`b Ibn Yazeed said: "In the lifetime of the Prophet, Abu Bakr and `Umar, the Adhan for the Jumua prayer used to be pronounced when the Imam sat on the pulpit." (Bukhari).
As regards pronouncing the Athan before the Imam sat on the pulpit, it is the Sunnah of Uthman Bin Affaan and it was approved by the Prophet`s companions, so this proves that it is permissible. The wisdom behind this Athan is to remind the people to get ready for the Friday prayer, one hour before its due time. As a result, this Athan remained until present, following the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs (May Allah be pleased with them). The Messenger (PBUH) said: "So you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the Caliphs Ar-Rashideen (the rightly guided caliphs), those who guide to the right way. Cling to it stubbornly [literally: with your molar teeth]. " {Mosnad ahmad}.

Nowadays, although the time between the two Athans for Friday prayer is short, it fulfills the essential purpose observed in the Sunnah of the Caliph Uthman Bin Affan (May Allah Be Pleased with him), giving prayer performers extra minutes to reach the mosque before the Imam sits on the Pulpit.

There is no sound reason for denying this Athan (the one pronounced before the Imam sits on the pulpit), nowadays, as it fulfills the aim of the Sunnah which used to be practiced by Uthman, 
and since its permissibility is based on the fact that the Prophet`s companions approved it. This is despite the fact that some traditions describe this Athan as one of the newly invented matters (in religion), as reported by Ibn Rajab in his book [Fateh Al-Bari, vol.8/pp.218-220]. It is considered newly invented (Mohdath) in the sense that it wasn`t pronounced in the lifetime of the Prophet (PBUH), and it isn`t intended for banning and forbidding. In fact, the companions invented as well as sanctioned it, and since there is no Sharia-approved evidence that it is forbidden, the four juristic schools have agreed that it is lawful as follows:

[Hashyat Ibn Adeen], a Hanafte book, stated: "The second Athan for Friday prayer is pronounced after the Imam sits on the pulpit, as a Sunnah."

[Manh Al-Jaleel], a Malikite book, stated: "The first Athan for the Friday prayer is a Sunnah."

[E`anat At-Talibeen], a Shafite book, stated: "The two Athans for the Friday prayer are permissible."

[Kash-shaaf Al-khina]," a Hanbalite book, stated: "The first Athan for the Friday prayer is recommended because Uthman has kept it as Sunnah and was observed by the Muslim Nation."

Pronouncing the Athan for the Friday prayer twice is effective in Jordan as determined by the Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and the Holy Sites. It is also adopted in the rest of  the Muslim World. Therefore, those who have a different opinion in this regard based on their Ijtihad (independent reasoning) aren`t allowed to create dispute and conflict in mosques to impose their view. In addition, they aren`t allowed to criticize others for not following suit. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, The Grand Mufti of Jordan: Sheikh AbdulKareem al-Khasawneh
Vice-Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Dr. Ahmad Hilayel
Prof. Abdulnasser Abulbasal / Member
Dr. Yahia al-Botoosh / Member
Sheikh Sae`id Hijjawi / 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

Is it permissible for the children of a deceased father to settle his debt from the Zakah(obligatory charity) money due on them?

It is impermissible to use the Zakah of one`s money for settling the debts of the deceased. However, children should settle the debts of their deceased parents out of filial piety.

Is it permissible for a father to divide his property amongst his children except one under the pretext that he has paid for the latter`s tuition? This is knowing that his other children were given the opportunity to pursue their education but didn`t because they were educationally poor. Moreover, is he allowed to give his other children who have helped him with growing his business?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah`s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
The father should be just between his children as regards gifts, in case they had similar circumstances. However, if any had a special merit, then it is permissible for the father to take that into account to be just. For example, giving his children who have helped in making his fortune and received no reward for that or giving the little ones because they haven`t taken as much as the older ones or giving the sick child who is unable to make a living. The most important thing is achieving justice. Moreover, the father is not interdicted by any of his children, and he is free to do whatever he wants with his money and Allah will call him to account as regards observing justice between his children. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the Iddah period upon death of husband? What is the ruling when the woman observing Iddah after death of husband leaves her home to visit relatives although her Iddah hasn`t ended? What is the ruling on her wearing gold during Iddah period?

All perfect 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.
For a woman whose husband has died, the 'Iddah*  is four months and ten days after the death of her husband. If a woman is pregnant, the 'Iddah lasts until she gives birth. Moreover, she has to mourn, not wear gold, perfume nor saffron-colored garment. The evidence on this is that The Prophet (PBUH) said: "It is not lawful for a Muslim woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to mourn for more than three days, except for her husband, for whom she should mourn for four months and ten days." [Agreed upon]. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.
 
*The iddah is a waiting period that a Muslim woman observes after the death of her husband or after a divorce. The Quran says: For those men who die amongst you and leave behind wives, they (the wives) must confine themselves (spend iddah) for four months and ten days.

What is Aqeeqah?

It is the sheep slaughtered on the seventh day from the child`s birth, and it is a confirmed Sunnah after the Prophet(PBUH).