Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(238): "Sighting the Crescent of Ramadan,1438 AH"

Date Added : 29-05-2017

 

Resolution No.(238) (6/2017)

"Sighting the Crescent of Ramadan, 1438 AH"

Date: (29/ Sha`ban/1438 AH), (26/5/2017).    

 

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.

On its sixths session held on the above date, the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic studies reviewed sighting the crescent of Ramadan for this year/1438 on basis of the astronomical calculations conducted by the crescents committee of the General Iftaa` Department. 

After deliberations, the Board decided the following:

In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious,  Most Merciful

Allah, The Almighty, Said (What means): "Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting"{Al-Baqarah/185}. Allah also Said (What means): "They ask thee concerning the New Moons. Say: They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in (the affairs of) men, and for Pilgrimage." {Al-Baqarah/189}. Moreover, the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Observe fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break it on sighting it." {Related by Bukhari}.

In compliance with Sharia texts, the Iftaa` Board convened on Friday evening (29th of Sha`baan, 1438 AH, corresponding to 26,5,2017) to sight the crescent of Ramadan, accompanied by the Chief Justice, the Minister of Awqaf, a number of eminent scholars, and experts of astronomy.

Based on the results arrived at by the crescent sighting committee of the General Iftaa` Department and the concerned authorities, and which were harmonious with the astronomical calculations, it was ascertained by the Iftaa` Board that tomorrow, Saturday, is the first day of the holy month of Ramadan for the year 1438 AH, corresponding to 26,5,2017AD.

Accordingly, the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies is privileged to extend the warmest congratulations to His Majesty King Abdullah the second Ibn Al-Hussein, His crown Prince, and the Hashemite Family on this blessed occasion. May Allah protect His Majesty and grant Him good health.

The Board also extends its congratulations to the people of Jordan as well as the Arab and Muslim Nations. It prays that Allah makes it a month of peace, security, faith, goodness and piety. And may Allah accept our fasting and night prayers. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of Iftaa` Board,
Grand Mufti of Jordan,
Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh
Vice Head of teh Iftaa' Head /Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh

Prof. Abdullah Al-Fawaaz/ Member

Mohammad Khair Al-Issa/ Member

Dr. Wa'el Arabiat/ Member

Dr. Majid Darawsheh/ Member
Sheikh Sa`eid Al-Hijjawi/ Member
Judge Khalid Woraikat/ Member

Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Zobi/ Member
Dr. Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member

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Summarized Fatawaa

"I told my family at night: 'I will fast tomorrow as qaḍā' (a make-up fast),' but I forgot to make the intention before sleeping. Is my fast valid?"

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
 
The intention is obligatory in acts of worship. For obligatory fasting, the required intention is to resolve to fast during the night [before dawn]. Its proper locus is the heart, while verbalizing the intention out loud in acts of worship is a sunnah — so that the tongue may align with the heart. If the intent behind the statement in question was the intention to fast, then it is valid; but if the intent was merely to inform someone, or reflected hesitation or doubt, then it is not valid.
 
It is stated in *Bushrā al-Karīm* (Vol.1/P.216): "It is a sunnah to verbalize the intention — that is, whatever has already been intended in the heart, whether an obligatory or a voluntary act — such as specifying the number of rak‘ahs, just before the opening takbīr — so that the tongue may assist the heart, and because this is further removed from whispered doubts (waswasah), and in order to accommodate the view of those who held it obligatory in every act of worship that requires an intention (even though this is a minority position), by analogy with Ḥajj."
 
Accordingly: if the intention to fast arose in your heart before the second adhān [i.e., before Fajr], then your fast is valid.
 
And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is it permissible for a wife to refuse to go to bed with her husband (for sexual intercourse)?

It isn`t permissible for her to do so unless for a sound reason.

What is the ruling on performing dry ablution (tayammum) instead of the ritual bath due to severe cold?

Whoever is sick such that he cannot use water, or finds the water cold and heating it is not possible, and the person would be harmed by using cold water, it is permissible for him to perform tayammum. He must make up what he prayed with tayammum, because this is a place where there is water. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the Islamic ruling on one who was unable to fast and then regained the ability?

 
He is not required to make up the fast (Qada) even if he becomes capable of it; whether he regained the ability to fast after paying the fidya (feeding a needy person for each day of missed fasting) or before it, because he was liable for paying it in the first place, so it remains binding upon him. However, if he delayed paying it beyond the first year, nothing is required of him due to the delay. If he is unable to pay it, it does not remain as a debt upon him. And Allah the Exalted knows best.