Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



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

Is Zakah (obligatory charity) obligatory on indebted merchant?

Debt doesn`t abrogate the dueness of Zakah, thus a debtor who has money, articles of merchandise, or other Zakah funds at his disposal should pay their Zakah.

If someone unknowingly bought stolen cement multiple times, and if the seller is revealed, will my husband bear any sin?

The sin of the theft falls on the one who stole. However, the person who used the cement must pay its value to the rightful owner from whom it was stolen, and then seek reimbursement from the seller. If the thief compensates the rightful owner, there is no liability on the person who used the cement. And Allah Almighty Knows Best.

What is the ruling on paying a sum of money to Saudi citizen in return of having Saudi residence? It is worth noting that this transation is labelled as a "worker's visa" but I am not going to work as such only to facilitate having it?

Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with the truthful" [At-Tawbah/119]. False statements contradict truthfulness, and it is not permissible to write them. A Muslim has the right to live in any Islamic country, and those who prevent him will be accountable before Allah about their action and the justification for the prohibition. And Allah Knows Best.

Is it permissible for a person, who vowed to offer two Rak`ahs (units of prayer) everyday for Allah`s sake, to do so after the Fajr (dawn) prayer?

In principle, a vow should be fulfilled as it was originally intended, and if its time lapses then, it should be fulfilled at any time because of the vow. Therefore, it is permissible to offer them after the Fajr prayer, and there is no prohibition in doing so. However, it is preferable for him to offer these two Rak`ahs at some other time to avoid the disagreement amongst the scholars in this regard.