Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(107): "Proposed Amendments to the System of the Income and Sales Tax Department Fund"

Date Added : 12-04-2016

 

Resolution No.(107) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Proposed Amendments to the System of the Income and Sales Tax Department Fund"

Date: 26/4/1427 A.H, corresponding to 24/5/2006 A.D

 

We have received the following question: What is the ruling of Sharia on the instructions governing the disbursement of money from the Income and Sales Tax Department Fund, published in the official gazette?

Answer: All success is due to Allah.

First: Article (5), paragraphs (H, Z)

Paragraph (Z) stated that among the Fund`s revenues is:  "Loans obtained by the Fund from any source to be given as housing loans to the Department`s employees."

Paragraph (Z) stated that another source of the Fund`s revenues is: "Benefits and profits achieved by the Fund`s investment of the revenues referred to in the aforementioned article."

The Board is of the view that the following sentence must be added to the above paragraphs:"In line with the provisions of Islamic Law."

Second: Article (6) stated: "The committee shall deposit, the money referred to in article (5), in one or more of the non-Islamic banks."

The Board is of the view that the above money must be deposited in Islamic banks.

Third: Article (18) stated: "The administrative committee shall have the right to initiate all legal procedures against those who fall behind in repaying their monthly allocations, for whatever reason, in line with the stipulations of the concluded loan-contract."

The Board views that the above procedures must comply with the provisions of Islamic Law.

Fourth: Article (19), paragraph(A): "The loanee shall be charged with 2%, as administrative and general expenses, from the value of the loan, to be deducted instantly upon receiving the first payment."

The Board is of the view that a definite amount must be specified for all types of loans regardless of their value, and not a percentage from the value of the loan itself, in order to avoid Riba(Usury/interest).

Fifth: Article (22), paragraph (1): "The administrative committee shall have the authority, after the approval of the Director-General, to issue executive decisions concerning the following:

1- Developing the Fund`s resources.

2- Any decisions that guarantee executing the provisions of these instructions."

The Board is of the view that developing the Fund`s resources must comply with the provisions of Islamic Law. And Allah Knows Best.

 

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Chief Justice, Dr. Ahmad Hilayel

Dr. Yousef Ghizan/Member

Dr. Abdulmajeed Assalaheen/Member

Sheikh Sa`ied Hijjawai/Member

Sheikh Abdulkareem Khasawneh/Member

Sheikh Na`iem Mojahid/Member

Dr. Wasif Albakhri/Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling of Islamic Law regarding one who purchases a sacrificial animal (uḍḥiyah) and it then develops a defect before slaughter?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
If a defect that invalidates the sacrifice (uḍḥiyah) arises after its purchase — for example, if one purchased a sound, defect-free animal, and it then developed a limp, blindness in one eye, or a similar defect before slaughter — it does not fulfill the requirement of a valid uḍḥiyah, according to the Shāfi'ī school.
It is stated in Asnā al-Maṭālib fī Sharḥ Rawḍ al-Ṭālib (Vol.1/P.535): "Even if the limp develops [in the animal] while the knife is upon it, it still does not fulfill the requirement, because it is lame at the moment of slaughter — this is analogous to a case where a sheep's leg breaks and one hastens to slaughter it [in that condition]."
The Ḥanbalī school, however, held that if the one offering the sacrifice purchased the animal while it was sound and defect-free, and a defect then befell it afterward, the sacrifice remains valid and there is no obligation to replace it.
It is stated in Masā'il al-Imām Aḥmad, one of the Ḥanbalī reference works (Vol.8/P.4021): "I said: If a person purchases the sacrificial animal while it is sound, and it is then afflicted with illness, blindness in one eye, or a broken limb [before slaughter]? He [Imam Aḥmad] said: It is said that it still fulfills the requirement. Isḥāq said likewise, because he purchased it while sound, and the defect befell it only afterward, so it remains sufficient on his behalf." [End of quote]
Accordingly, a sheep afflicted with a defect that invalidates the sacrifice does not fulfill the requirement of a valid uḍḥiyah — whether the defect arose after purchase or during the slaughter itself — according to the Shāfi'ī school. However, there is no objection to following the Ḥanbalī position on this matter [as a valid alternative]. And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

Is supplicating in Qunoot, at times of affliction, during obligatory and voluntary prayer a Sunnah, and should it be done before Rukoo` (bowing), or after it?

At times of affliction, it is a Sunnah that Muslims supplicate in Qunoot after the final Rukoo` of each obligatory, or voluntary prayer as individuals, or in congregation.

Is it permissible to purchase the Udhiyah on installments?

It is permissible to purchase the sacrificial animal (uḍḥiyyah) on installments or by borrowing its price. However, it is not recommended for the poor to do so, because they are not required to offer a sacrifice, and Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. If doing so would lead to negligence in providing for one's dependents (nafaqah wājibah), then giving precedence to obligatory maintenance over borrowing to buy the sacrifice is appropriate. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "It is sufficient sin for a person to withhold food from those whom he is responsible to support."
 
Furthermore, the sacrifice is valid from one who has a debt, but it is preferable (awlā) to repay the debt first, especially if the debt is due immediately (ḥāll). And Allah Almighty knows best.

I work overtime after regular working hours and may become occupied with my phone or the work computer for personal matters — what is the ruling on this?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is obligatory upon an employee to abide by the instructions and regulations governing overtime hours, and equally obligatory to uphold honesty and avoid all forms of deception and dishonesty. Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "O you who have believed, be mindful of Allah and be with the truthful." [Al-Tawbah/ 119]
Whoever is assigned to work overtime must be present at his workplace — even if he has no specific tasks to carry out at that time. In such a case, he should strive as best he can to spend that time in a manner that benefits the institution he works for. If there is genuinely no work for him to do, there is no objection to occupying his time with something beneficial — such as reciting the Holy Qurʾān, reading, or listening to educational lessons — provided he has already completed all the responsibilities assigned to him.
If, however, he does have work to complete, he must spend that time fulfilling it. He may attend to phone calls or other personal matters to the extent that is customarily acceptable, as long as this does not result in delaying or postponing his work. If he delays his work on account of personal preoccupations, the wages he received for that wasted time are not lawfully his to keep, and he is obliged to return the equivalent amount to the institution by whatever means available to him. And Allah the Almighty knows best.