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Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(190): "Ruling on Turning an Old Mosque into a Centre for Teaching the Holy Quran"

Date Added : 18-11-2015

 

Resolution No.(190)(10/2013) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Turning an Old  Mosque into a Centre for Teaching the Holy Quran"

Date: (27/ Thu`l Qidah/1434 AH) corresponding to (3/10/2013AD)

 

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of The Worlds. Peace and blessings be upon Prophet Mohammad, and upon all his family and  companions.

The Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies reviewed, in its eighth session held on the above given date, the question submitted by The Secretary-General of The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Holy Places, and reads as follows:

I would like to draw your Grace`s attention to the fact that some old mosques are not utilized for offering prayers due to the availability of newly-built ones near them. Would you please clarify the Sharia ruling on turning these into centers for teaching Quran, or Islamic centers?

After careful study and deliberation, The Board decided what follows:

Muslim scholars are of the view that it is impermissible to sell, give, or change a Mawquf (an endowed property) because it is not the property of the Waqif (owner), thus he is not at liberty to run it in any manner that nullifies its original benefit. However, some scholars made exceptions where they allowed changing Waqf (endowment) into something else for the purpose of achieving benefit and preserving interest. This is the view of the Hanbali scholars, such as Al-Imam Al-Bardawi who says: “Each Waqf that does not serve its original purpose should be sold.” {Al-Inssaf/vol.7/pp.103}.This includes any factor that hinders the proper utilization of the Waqf . It is stated in {Al-Inssaf/vol.7/pp.103}: ”Not achieving the benefits intended by the Waqf due to damage or else, or even  the narrowness of the mosque is what is intended by the deactivation of Waqf utilities.” Not offering prayer in these old mosques-as mentioned in the above question-could be adapted to that which the Hanbali scholars mentioned in the former quotes.

Accordingly, it is allowed to turn these mosques into centers for teaching Quran to make them beneficial, provided that it is done under the supervision of an Islamic committee which ascertains meeting the aforementioned conditions stipulated by the Muslim scholars. However, it is better for the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Holy Places to exercise caution in this regard by retaining rules of mosques and utilizing them (mosques) for teaching Quran at the same time, since there is no contradiction between the two objectives particularly in case of a future need for performing prayer in them due to crowdedness of other mosques. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board

The Grand Mufti of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Sheikh Abdul Karim Al-Khasawneh

Vice Chairman of Iftaa` Board, Prof. Ahmed Helayel

Prof. Abdul Nnasir Abu Al-Basal/member 

His Eminence Shaykh Sa'id Hijjawi/member

Dr. Yahya Al-Btoush/ member 

Dr. Mohammad Al-Qudah/member

Dr. Mohammed Al-Khalayleh/member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Zoubi/ member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

A man donated a burial plot, but before registering it in favor of the Ministry of Awqaf and before burying anybody there he said that he didn`t want to donate it and planted it. What is the ruling of Sharia on this?

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.

If he had endowed it as a cemetery, then he can`t take it back, even if he didn`t register it in favor of the Ministry of Awqaf. If he said: "I have endowed this plot as a cemetery, then it becomes an endowment." However, if he didn`t endow that plot-but it was his intention to do so-then he is allowed to back down. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

Is it permissible for me to eat from the animal that I slaughtered for Allah to protect my family?

It is permissible to eat from the non-vowed animal sacrifice, and the person is rewarded based on the amount of meat that he had given to the poor. However, there is no evidence in Islamic Sharia indicating that slaughtering an animal protects one`s family, but it is a way for thanking Allah, The Almighty, for his grace.

My mother is 70 years old and wishes to perform Hajj and Umrah, as she has never done so before. However, she also takes care of my ill father and is afraid of falling ill herself. What should she do?
 
 
 
 
 
 

If this is the obligatory Hajj – meaning she has not previously performed Hajj or Umrah – then it is permissible for her to go even without her husband's approval. However, she must travel with a Mahram (a male guardian) or a trustworthy group of women, and she should leave someone to care for her husband and attend to his needs. And Allah Knows Best.
 
 
 
 
 

 I am an employee at Social Security, and I have heard that working with them is forbidden (haram) because they impose an interest rate of 2% on companies and individuals who are late in making payments. Is my job with them haram or questionable?

Please clarify the type of work. If it does not involve the usury (Riba) mentioned, we hope that there is no issue with it, as most of their funds are acquired in a lawful (Complies with the teachings of Sharia) manner. And Allah, The Almighty, Knows Best.

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