Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(196): "The Permissibility of Levying Administrative Fees for the Loans Taken from the Governorates Development Fund"

Date Added : 25-11-2015

 

Resolution No.(196)(5/2014) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"The Permissibility of Levying Administrative Fees for the Loans Taken from the Governorates Development Fund"

Date: 17/Rabee` Al-Awal/1435 AH, corresponding to 17/2/2014.

 

All perfect praise is due to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds; and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions:

On the above date, the Board reviewed the letter of the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation, which reads as follows:

The Governorates Development Fund offers financing through an interest-free loan (Hassan), up to (70%) from the overall cost of the enterprise. The loanee is required to repay in installments over a period of eight years, including a two-year grace period. This is in order to re-use that same amount for financing new enterprises to benefit as many individuals as possible. Moreover, up to (10%) of the enterprise`s profit is deducted in case a profit was produced so as to protect the capital of the Fund to guarantee its continuity, because it is usually used for re-loaning, and no profits are redistributed, or given back to the government. In case of loss, the installments of the interest-free loan are to be repaid, without adding any interest, or profit, and it is possible to delay repayment if the loanee is in a hard up and after examining the reasons for his loss. Based on the afore-said, what is the ruling of Sharia as regards this financing mechanism adopted by the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation?

After researching and deliberating, the Board decided what follows:

Offering loans to owners of small businesses is an accepted act of charity. It achieves comprehensive development, uproots poverty, increases individual productivity, and helps develop the areas where these enterprises are established.

Therefore, the financing mechanism adopted in the above question is an instance of clear Riba (usury) which has been prohibited by Allah, The Almighty, and His Messenger. It is impermissible for the above Fund to receive a percentage from the profits of the enterprises it finances. However, it is permissible to calculate the actual costs of offering these loans and collecting them, such as salaries of employees, paperwork, rent.. etc. but without the smallest addition, and this could be achieved through imposing a fixed amount of administrative fees. These shouldn`t be tied with the loan`s repayment period, or the enterprise`s profit; rather, they should be tied with the costs necessary for securing the continuity of the Fund, without making any profit by the loaning party. In fact, the Jordan Iftaa` Department, the accredited Fiqh assemblies, and the religious institutions have issued many Facosststwas that permit charging the loanee for the administrative fees of the loan since we believe that it  is the most suitable solution from the perspective of Islamic Sharia. We pray that Allah, The Exalted, Favors us and the Fund`s administrative board with success in serving the community and that their business remains within the boundaries of what is lawful. And Allah Knows Best.

 

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

Prof. Hayel Abdulhafeez/ Member

Dr. Yahia Al-Botoosh/ Member

His Eminence, Sheikh Sa`ied Hijjawi/ Member

Prof. Mohammad Al-Qudat/ Member

Prof. Abduln`nassir Abu Al Bass`al/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member

Dr.Wasif Al-Bak`kri/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Esa

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on using an inhaler while fasting?

Using an inhaler through the nose or mouth breaks the fast because the medication in these inhalers is intended to reach the lungs, which are considered part of the body cavity (jauf).
● If a person needs to use it occasionally, they may use it while fasting, continue refraining from food and drink for the rest of the day, and make up for the missed fast later.
● If a person needs to use it daily, they may use it while fasting, continue refraining from food and drink, and pay fidyah (feeding one needy person per missed day).

If a woman becomes pure from menstruation before the Fajr Adhan in Ramadan, is she required to fast?

If a woman becomes pure (from menstrual period) before the Fajr Adhan, she must fast, as the impediment preventing her from fasting has been removed. The Sharia maxim in this regard states: "When the impediment is removed, the obligation returns."
She should then make the intention to fast before Fajr and perform ghusl (ritual purification) for prayer, whether before or after Fajr.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on wudu (ablution) when there is an adhesive substance on the hand that is difficult to remove?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
The general principle is: if what is applied to the limbs of wudu' (ablution) does not form a barrier substance preventing water from reaching the skin, then the wudu' is valid despite its presence. However, if these substances prevent water from reaching the skin, the wudu' is not valid with their presence, and they must be removed so that water reaches the hair or skin without any barrier.
Shaykh al-Islam, the Imam an-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: "If there is wax, dough, henna, or similar substances on some of his limbs [of wudu'], and this prevents water from reaching any part of the limb, then his purification (tahara) is not valid — regardless of whether the amount is much or little. But if there remains on the hand or elsewhere only the trace and color of the henna, without its substance [i.e., the physical residue itself], or the trace of a liquid oil such that the water touches the skin of the limb and flows over it, though it does not remain [as a barrier] — then his purification is valid." [Al-Majmu' , Vol.1/P.529]. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on performing the Witr prayer as a single rak`ah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible to perform the Witr prayer as a single unit (rak‘ah). It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that a man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the night prayer, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied: 'The night prayer is offered two by two (mathna mathna). If one of you fears the approach of dawn, let him pray a single rak‘ah to make what he has prayed odd-numbered (Witr) for him.' (Related by al-Bukhari & Muslim)). However, limiting the prayer to only one rak‘ah is considered 'contrary to the preferred way' (Khilaf al-Awla).
 
It is stated in Al-Minhaj al-Qawim Sharh al-Muqaddimah al-Hadramiyyah (p. 137): 'The minimum of Witr is one rak‘ah, but limiting it to that is contrary to what is best.'
 
The most complete form of Witr is eleven units, while the minimum level of 'perfection' is three units. It is stated in ‘Umdat al-Salik (p. 60): 'The minimum of Witr is one rak‘ah, and its maximum is eleven, performing the taslim (salutation) after every two units. The lowest level of perfection is three units with two separate taslims (meaning 2+1).' And Allah the Exalted knows best.