Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(54): "Amending the Act of the Post Office Savings Bank"

Date Added : 27-01-2016

 

Resolution No.(54): "Amending the Act of the Post Office Savings Bank"

Date: 15/8/1422 AH, corresponding to 31/10/2001 AD.

 

The Board has received the following question:

What is the ruling of Sharia on the articles of the post office savings bank act, and any recommended amendments?

After extensive deliberations, the Board decided what follows:

Article (3), Paragraph (B):

(The above savings bank accepts the invested funds, employs them, and gives them back to their owners in accordance with the regulations of this act. It is also allowed to accept funds allocated for investment through a special agreement with the financing party).

The Board is of the view that the following phrase should be added to this paragraph (All of which must adhere to the rules of Islamic Law)

Article (12), Paragraph (B):

(The Board may invite anyone to its meetings for consultation purposes regarding issues presented to it)

The Board is of the view that this article should be amended to read as follows:

(The savings bank has the right to decide investing its reserve, and that the made profits are automatically added to its account, which has accumulated over the years).

The Board is of the view that the word (benefits) stated in this article should be replaced with (profits).

Article (68):

(The Board may, with the approval of the cabinet, lay down the regulations needed for putting the rules of this act into effect).

The Board is of the view that this article should read as follows:

(The Board shall issue the regulations needed for implementing the rules of this act). And Allah Knows Best.

 

Iftaa` Board

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Chief Justice, Izz Al-Deen Al-Tamimi
            Dr. Mohammad Abu Yahia
           Dr. Abdulsalam Al-Abbadi
    Dr. Yousef Gheezaan

Dr. Wasif Al-Bakhri
   Sheikh Saeid Hijjawi
       Sheikh Na`eim Mojahid

 

Decision Number [ Previous | Next ]


Summarized Fatawaa

Should the Zakah (obligatory charity) giver tell the poor recipient that this is the Zakah of his money?

No, he shouldn`t. But, the Zakah giver should make an intention in his heart that it is the Zakah of his money when paying it to the poor. And Allah Knows Best.

What is the ruling on the ablution of one who washes his arms from the wrist to the elbows?

In the school of Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him), washing the arms (hands) is achieved by washing the arms completely, from the fingertips to the elbows. Washing only the palms at the beginning is insufficient, as washing them at the beginning is a Sunnah, but after washing the face, it becomes obligatory (fard). The person performing ablution must wash his palms along with the arms after washing the face. If he does not wash his palms, his ablution is invalid and not correct. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on a vowed animal sacrifice?

A vowed animal sacrifice is to be distributed amongst the poor and needy, and neither the vow-maker, nor those supported by him are to eat from it.

What is the ruling on someone who possesses gold with the intention of saving/hoarding it, and owns nothing else — is he obligated to sell a portion of it in order to pay the zakāh due on it?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Zakāh becomes immediately obligatory on cash, and likewise on gold — that which is not designated for a woman's personal adornment— once both reach the niṣāb (minimum threshold liable for zakah) and a full ḥawl (lunar year) has passed over them. It is not permissible to delay payment when it is genuinely possible to pay — meaning, when the wealth and the eligible recipients are both available. It is stated in Mughnī al-Muḥtāj (Vol.2/p.129): "Zakāh is obligatory immediately once it becomes feasible to pay it, meaning when the wealth and the eligible recipients are both present."
The one paying zakāh must discharge the obligatory zakāh due on saved (hoarded) gold either from the gold itself, or from its equivalent monetary value, in the event that no other funds are available — since paying from the gold itself is the original default (al-aṣl). It becomes permissible to pay from other funds instead only because zakāh is built upon the principle of ease and leniency, as stated in Asnā al-Maṭālib (Vol.1/p.366): "When a full ḥawl has elapsed on wealth other than trade goods... zakāh attaches to the actual asset itself (al-‘ayn), and the poor effectively become partners in it — even, for example, [becoming partners] in camels through the value of a sheep [owed as zakāh on them]... Paying from other wealth is permitted only because zakāh is built upon the principle of ease and leniency."
Accordingly: the one paying zakāh must discharge it either from the actual saved gold itself, or by selling a portion of the gold equal to the amount of zakāh owed. He may also borrow money to pay the zakāh, or pay the zakāh in installments before the ḥawl is complete [as an advance payment]. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.