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

A man wishes to offer more than one uḍḥiyah (sacrificial offering), and intends by these sacrifices "on behalf of everyone whom Allah and His Messenger love." Is this intention valid?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The uḍḥiyah (sacrificial offering) is not valid with this intention, because if the sacrificial animal is from sheep or goats, it suffices for one person only; and if it is from cattle or camels, it suffices for seven persons.
However, one may sacrifice it on his own behalf, and then gift the equivalent of its reward to whomever he wishes.
Imam ar-Ramlī (raḥimahullāh) says: "Ash-Shāfi‘ī (raḍiyallāhu ‘anh) said: It is within the vastness of Allah's bounty, the Exalted, that He rewards the one giving charity as well. From this, the scholars of the madhhab said: it is recommended for a person to intend the charity on behalf of his parents, for example — for Allah, the Exalted, will reward them, without this diminishing his own reward in any way." He then relates, as the relied-upon position, the permissibility of saying: "O Allah, convey the reward of what I have recited specifically to so-and-so, and to the Muslims generally." Az-Zarkashī said: "For reward varies in degree — its highest form is what one designates specifically, and its lowest form is what one dedicates generally [alongside others]." [End of quote from Nihāyat al-Muḥtāj]. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is it permissible to include others in the reward of one`s sacrifice?

 

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible for the person offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) to include others in the spiritual reward of the sacrifice. However, it is not permissible for multiple people to jointly share the purchase price of a single sheep or goat, unless one person gifts the money to the other.
 
It is stated in Mughni al-Muhtaj (6/137) by Al-Khatib al-Shirbini:
 
"If a person includes someone else in the reward of his sacrifice and slaughters it on his own behalf, it is permissible."
 
It should be carefully noted that including someone else in the reward of one's sacrifice is completely distinct from offering a sacrifice on behalf of someone else. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

Is it acceptable to perform the Aqiqah for a male child by slaughtering and distributing the first sheep, and bringing the second one cooked from the restaurant?

 

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.

It is permissible to slaughter the first sheep with the intention of Aqiqah (the newborn's sacrificial offering) and distribute it entirely [uncooked], and to slaughter the second sheep and have it cooked at a restaurant to bring home for the household. However, it must be noted that it is obligatory to give some portion of the Aqiqah in charity to the poor, even if it is a small amount, though it is preferable to send the food cooked to them.

Buying a pre-cooked, ready-made sheep from a restaurant does not suffice as an Aqiqah. However, if an agreement is made with the restaurant to explicitly slaughter a sheep with the intention of Aqiqah for the newborn, and then cook it afterward, this is permissible.

In conclusion, slaughtering the sheep and distributing it with the intention of Aqiqah is permissible, and through it, the foundational prophetic tradition (Sunnah) is fulfilled. As for simply buying a cooked sheep from a restaurant that was not specifically slaughtered with the intention of Aqiqah, it will not count as such. Conversely, if the restaurant owner is commissioned (Wakala) to handle both the slaughtering and the cooking as an Aqiqah, it is valid. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on someone who doesn`t perform prayer?

All perfect praise be to Allah,The Lord of The Worlds                                                                                                                                                                    Not performing prayer is a major sin, and one who doesn`t pray out of laziness is considered an oft-sinner ;whereas, the one who denies that it is mandatory is considered a disbeliever. And Allah Knows Best.