Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(229): "Ruling on Transferring the Accounts of Mosques Support and Charity Committees into one General Account""

Date Added : 16-08-2016

Resolution No.(229) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Transferring the Accounts of Mosques Support and Charity Committees into one General Account "

Date: (23/Shawal/1437), corresponding to (28/7/2016).

 

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

During its ninth session held on the above date, the Board reviewed the question of His Excellency the Director of Zarqa Awqaf Directorate, and it reads as follows:

I would like to bring to your kind attention the fact that Mosques Support and Charity Committees have inactive accounts in the Jordan Islamic Bank because they were either terminated, relieved from duty or made to resign. This resulted in a daily decrease in these accounts because of banks` rules and regulations in this regard. In fact, their inactivity is due to people`s unwillingness to form such committees or procrastination in forming new ones.

Therefore, we kindly request your Grace to clarify the ruling of Sharia on combining the above accounts into one general account, under the name "Mosques Restoration Committee", in the Jordan Islamic Bank which will employ its funds in different income generating projects. This way, the above accounts are preserved from elimination and profits are made. In addition, it is possible to give back these accounts to each mosque`s committee, upon formation, along with the profits collected from the Jordan Islamic Bank.

After deliberating, the Board decided what follows:

There is no harm in combining the accounts of the mosques committees-which are relieved from their duties or terminated-into one general account that follows the Directorate of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places under the name "Mosques Restoration Committee" in order to save the Awqaf and charities funds from decreasing due to banks rules and regulations in this regard. This is permissible under the condition that the funds are spent on the mosques for which the donations were made in the first place. This is because people donate to the mosque, not to the committee in charge of collecting donations to that mosque. In other words, the mosque`s committee is just a means to an end, thus if the means becomes a liability, it must be changed to achieve the higher objective of Sharia, which is preserving donations and spending them in the right channel. On its part, the Iftaa` Board advises banks to make exceptions when it comes to accounts pertaining to Zakah and charity committees, accredited by the government, through relieving their accounts from any charges that lead to a gradual decrease in their funds. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Sheikh Abdulkareem Khasawneh

Vice Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Prof. Ahmad Helayel/Member

Prof. Abdulrazak Abulbasal/ Member

Prof. Abdullah Al-Fawaz/ Member

Dr. Wa`el Arabyat/ Member

Dr. Yahia Al-Botoosh/ Member

Sheikh Sa`id Hijjawi/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Esa/ Member

Judge, Khalid Woraykat/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

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.

What is the ruling on mentioning Allah`s name upon slaughtering an animal?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is a Sunnah (prophetic tradition) for the person slaughtering to say: "Bismillah" (In the Name of Allah), though the most complete and perfect phrasing is to say: "Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim" (In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful). This is in accordance with the words of Allah Almighty: "So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned." (Al-An'am/118)
 
However, pronouncing it is not an obligatory requirement (Wajib). If someone omits it—whether deliberately or out of forgetfulness—the meat remains entirely lawful (Halal) to eat, though purposely omitting it is considered disliked (Makruh). And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

What are the categories of the livestock permissible for Udhiyah?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
An Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) is only valid if it is selected from Al-An'am (livestock), which includes: camels, cattle, and sheep or goats—whether male or female, and even if castrated. Allah Almighty says {what means}: "And for all religion We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] livestock." (Al-Hajj/ 34)
 
In terms of preference, camels are considered the best choice, followed by cattle, then sheep, and finally goats.
A single sheep or goat is valid as a sacrifice on behalf of one person. However, a single camel or cow can be shared by up to seven people. This is based on the narration of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: "In the year of Al-Hudaybiyah, we sacrificed along with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) a camel on behalf of seven people, and a cow on behalf of seven people." (Narrated by Muslim)
 
(Note: The term "Badanah" used in the original Arabic text specifically refers to a camel in this context). And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

What is the ruling on swearing on the Holy Quran and breaking that oath?

It is impermissible to swear on the Holy Quran in vain, and it is also impermissible to subject it to such an act since breaking the oath after swearing on the Quran entails an expiation.