Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(224): "Exhuming a Graveyard to Build a School in it is Prohibited"

Date Added : 26-05-2016

 

Resolution No.(224) (7/2016) by the Board of Ifta`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Exhuming a Graveyard to Build a School in it is Prohibited"

Date: 5/Sha`ban/1437, corresponding to 12/5/2016 AD.

 

 

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

During its sixth session held on the above date, the Board reviewed the question-originally sent by the UNRWA-of His Excellency the Minister of Endowments about the ruling of Sharia on the above issue?

According to Sharia, graveyards are of great sanctity and Muslims must show respect to their inhabitants and protect them against harm, as indicated in the following Prophetic tradition: "Breaking a deceased body’s bones is exactly like breaking them when he is alive.” {Related by Abu Dawood}.

Therefore, Muslim jurists haven`t permitted exhuming graves for no legitimate necessity until the bones have transformed into earth, which isn`t the case with [An-Nadeef Graveyard] since it contains fresh graves, as shown by the report of the special committee formed to that purpose.

In conclusion, it isn`t permissible to exhume the graves of " An-Nadeef Graveyard" for building a school there. And Allah Knows Best.

 

 

Chairman of the Iftaa Board, Sheikh Abdulkareem  Al-Khasawneh

Dr.Hail Abdulhafeez/Member Prof. Abdulnasser Abulbasal/ Member

Dr. Yahia Al-Botoosh/ Member

Dr. Sa`eed Hijjawi/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Eesa/ Member

Dr. Khalid Woraikaat/ Member

Prof. Abdullah Al-Fawwaz/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh

Dr. Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

I own a pharmacy and have only merchandise. A full year (*ḥawl*) has passed and I have no cash. How do I pay the zakāh?

 

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
Zakāh must be paid immediately from the day it becomes due, and delaying it is forbidden when one is able to pay it, because it is the right of the poor, and it is forbidden to delay giving people their rights except for a valid Sharīʿah excuse. Shaykh al-Islām Imam al-Nawawī (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “In our school, zakāh must be paid out immediately. Once it becomes due and he is able to pay it, it is not permissible to delay it. If he is unable, he may delay it until he is able. If he delays it after being able, he is disobedient and becomes liable for it.” [al-Majmūʿ Sharḥ al-Muhadhdhab, Vol.5/p.333]
If cash is not available to pay the zakāh and the only option is to pay in installments, he must pay it, even if in installments, from the proceeds of the merchandise that is sold after the time the zakāh became due, by deducting a set amount from each day’s takings. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the Islamic ruling on the aqiqa?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The 'aqīqah is a confirmed Sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah). Two sheep are to be slaughtered for a newborn boy, and one sheep for a newborn girl. This is established by numerous Prophetic traditions, among them:
The narration of Samurah ibn Jundub, may Allah be pleased with him, who reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Every child is held in pledge for his 'aqīqah, which is slaughtered on his behalf on the seventh day, and he is named, and his head is shaved." — Narrated by al-Tirmidhī, who graded it as ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ.
And the narration of 'Ā'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to slaughter one sheep as 'aqīqah for a girl, and two sheep for a boy." — Narrated by Aḥmad and Ibn Mājah.
The imperative in these narrations is understood to denote recommendation rather than obligation, based on the ḥadīth of 'Amr ibn Shu'ayb, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about the 'aqīqah, whereupon he said: "Allah does not love 'uqūq" — as though he disliked the name itself — and then said: "Whoever has a child born to him and wishes to offer a sacrifice on their behalf, let them do so: two equivalent sheep for a boy, and one sheep for a girl." — Narrated by Aḥmad and Abū Dāwūd.
The legal inference drawn from this narration is that the Prophet ﷺ linked the slaughter to the wish and willingness of the individual, saying: "whoever wishes to offer a sacrifice... let them do so" — thereby indicating that the 'aqīqah is recommended (mustaḥabb) and not obligatory (wājib).
And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on eating or drinking during the first Adhan?

It is permissible to eat and drink during the first Adhan because it takes place before the break of dawn. The purpose of this Adhan is to notify Muslims of the approaching dawn so they can prepare to stop eating when they hear the second Adhan.

Is it permissible to offer an absentee funeral prayer?

Yes, it is permissible to offer an absentee funeral prayer.