Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(60): "Proposed Amendments to the Articles of Orphans' Custody Law"

Date Added : 24-02-2016

 

Resolution No.(60): "Proposed Amendments to the Articles of Orphans` Custody Law"

Date: 23/3/1423 A.H, corresponding to 5/6/2002.

 

We have received the following question:

Could you please clarify the ruling of Sharia as regards the custody project, and any recommended amendments that you deem necessary?

Answer: All success is due to Allah.

Article (4): "The couple must be Muslims."

The Board decided that this article should be amended as follows:

"The couple must be Muslims, and five years must have passed over their embracing Islam, in case they were new Muslim converts."

Article (7): "The Minster of Social Development may approve a custody order based on the recommendations of the Ministry`s Secretary-General and the Director of Family and Children Directorate."

The Board decided amending this paragraph as follows:

"A technical committee, presided by the Director of the Technical Directorate, should be formed, including a deputy from the Department of the Supreme Judge and the Ministry of Interior to review the custody orders submitted by the families, the needed documents, and to conduct the interviews. The committee should refer its recommendations to the Secretary-General in order for him to recommend that the Minister approves of them."

The family taking custody of an orphan is accountable for the following:

A- It should provide the child under its custody with the various forms of social care, namely the alternative parental raising, medical treatment, education, outlay, and the like; provided that these are verified by the case study, which should be conducted before and after the child is taken under custody.

B- It should enjoy the capacity to provide the right orientation to the child under its custody in the various aspects of life so that he relies on himself afterwards.

C- It is imperative that the family informs the Ministry about any changes concerning its place of residence as well as its relationship with the child under its custody.

The Board decided that these articles should be amended as follows:

A- The family should provide the child under its custody with the various forms of familial care, namely the alternative parental rearing, medical treatment, education, outlay, and the like; provided that these are verified by the case study, which should be conducted before and after the child is taken under custody.

B- The family should enjoy the capacity to provide the right orientation to the child to face the different conditions of life to be able to rely on himself.

C- Informing the Ministry about any changes concerning the family`s place of residence as well as its relationship with the child under its custody.

Article (10): Termination of Custody:

Article (D) Death of a spouse or both of them, which drives their relatives to file for the termination of the custody, indicating their unwillingness to take care of the fostered child.

The Board decided amending this article as follows:

In case either spouses or one of them died, it is permissible for a relative of theirs to file a new custody request through the observed channels.

The Board also decided adding the following items to article (10):

(H) Apostasy of either spouses or one of them.

(W) Failure to meet any of the fostering conditions

*PS: Items not related to the rules of Islamic Sharia were not translated because they focus on the correction of punctuation and grammar mistakes in the original Arabic text. And Allah Knows Best.

Iftaa` Board
Chairman of the Board, Chief Justice Sheikh Ezuldeen Attamimi
Dr. Abdulsalam Alabbadi           
Dr. Mohammad Alyahia         
Sheikh Sa`eid Hijjawi      
Sheikh Na`eim Mujahid         
Sheikh Mahmoud Shewayaat                  
Dr. Wasif Albakhri

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible for a guardian (Big brother) to unlawfully stop his sister from getting married?

If the guardian denies her right in getting married for an unlawful reason, she should go to court in order to settle that matter, and the guardian is considered sinful in this case.

What is the wisdom behind legislating the Udhiyah?

The Muslim must know that through the Uḍḥiyah, he complies with the command of Allah, the Exalted, and performs a worship that brings him closer to Allah and distances him from the Fire.
 
The Uḍḥiyah holds profound wisdoms and noble meanings, including:
 
1-Reviving the Sunnah of Abraham, peace be upon him: He complied with Allah's command when He ordered him to slaughter his son Ishmael. Abraham, peace be upon him, succeeded in the test, and when he was about to slaughter his son, Allah sent down a ram to ransom Ishmael and commanded him to slaughter it instead. Allah, the Exalted, says {what means]: "And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, 'O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think.' He said, 'O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast.' And when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead, We called to him, 'O Abraham, You have fulfilled the vision.' Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. Indeed, this was the clear trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice." [Al-Ṣāffāt/102-107]. Thus, the sacrificial offering became an enduring Sunnah until the Day of Judgment, and Muslims offer their wealth as sacrifices, drawing closer to Allah, the Exalted, reviving this great Sunnah.
 
2-Providing abundance for people on Eid day and the Days of Tashrīq: Among the wisdoms of the Uḍḥiyah is that the Muslim provides generously for his family, neighbors, relatives, and the poor during these days. The Muslim is encouraged to eat from his sacrifice, give charity from it to the poor, and gift from it to his wealthy neighbors. Thus, goodness spreads throughout the entire community. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The Days of Tashrīq are days of eating and drinking." (Narrated by Muslim). Allah, the Exalted, says {what means}: "And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good." [Al-Ḥajj/36]. This good includes the good of both this world and the Hereafter.

When is supplication (du‘a) more likely to be accepted: before or after breaking the fast in Ramadan?

Du‘a is accepted at all times, and this is part of Allah’s mercy and generosity toward His servants.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "No Muslim makes a supplication that does not involve sin or severing family ties except that Allah grants them one of three things: either He grants their supplication immediately, or He stores it for them in the Hereafter, or He averts from them an equivalent harm." [Narrated by Ahmad]
However, in Ramadan, du‘a is especially likely to be accepted shortly before breaking the fast.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Three supplications are never rejected: the supplication of a fasting person until they break their fast, the supplication of a just leader, and the supplication of an oppressed person. Allah raises it above the clouds, opens the gates of heaven for it, and says: ‘By My might, I will surely grant you victory, even if after a while.’" [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi]

How is night prayer offered?

Night prayer is offering voluntary prayer after Maghrib and before Fajr (Dawn). As for Tahajjud, it is offering voluntary prayer at night after waking up voluntarily, and for Allah`s sake as He Says (What means): "And pray in the small watches of the morning: (it would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual profit) for thee: soon will thy Lord raise thee to a Station of Praise and Glory!" [Al-Isra`/79]. Offering Tahajjud is better than offering voluntary prayer before going to bed.