Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(250): "Performing Obligatory Prayers According to their Current Timings (In Jordan) Avails a Person"

Date Added : 04-02-2018

Resolution No.(250) (1/2018) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Performing Obligatory Prayers According to their Current Timings(In Jordan) Avails a Person"

Date 11/Jumada Al-Aoal/1439 AH, corresponding to 28/1/2018 AD

 

On its 2nd session held on the above date, the Board reviewed the questions raised recently regarding the validity of prayers and fasting on basis of the current prayer timings effective in our beloved country, Jordan.

After deliberating, the Board arrived at the following resolution:

Allah, The Almighty, Enjoined prayers on Muslims at stated times where He Said {What means}: "For such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times." {An-Nisa`,103}. This means that each prayer has its own particular time at which it must be performed. The Prophet (PBUH) has clarified when the time for each prayer starts and when its ends. On this basis, Muslims have worked hard, throughout the ages, to specify the timings of prayers, so they relied on Azan (Call to prayer) in performing prayers.

The same method was observed in Jordan until recent decades. A detailed annual calendar of prayer times for different parts of the Kingdom is issued by the Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places. Mou`azins adhere to it and it observes evidence from Sharia and astronomical signs. Moreover, this calendar, which is supervised by a special department of the Ministry, is based on detailed studies and forecasts carried out by several committees in the past. These studies were included in a detailed, independent and printed book that could be checked at any time.

Therefore, the Iftaa` Board confirms that following this calendar avails a person in terms of the validity of their acts of worship, God willing, and whoever adheres to it is on the safe side as far as fulfilling the conditions validating prayer and fasting are concerned. Accordingly, it is impermissible to circulate rumors via social media to make people doubt the validity of their acts of worship and the pillars of their faith. 

On this occasion, the Board highly commends the tremendous efforts exerted by the Ministry of Awqf in this regard. It prays that Allah, The Almighty, Accepts acts of worship from all Muslims, and that He, The Exalted, Teaches us the wisdom behind worship as well as the higher objectives of Sharia (Maqasid Al-Sharia). And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of Iftaa` Board,

Grand Mufti of Jordan,

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh

Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh, Member

Prof. Abdulnaser Abulbasal,  Member

Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat, Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Esa, Member

Dr. Majid Darawsheh, Member

Sheikh Sa`eid Al-Hijjawi, Member

 

  

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on praying in congregation at the mosque?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Congregational prayer (Salat al-Jama‘ah) is a communal obligation (Fard Kifayah) for resident men regarding the performance of the prescribed (obligatory) prayers. For men, praying in congregation at the mosque is better than praying elsewhere, such as at home. On the authority of Abdullah bin Umar, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Prayer in congregation is twenty-seven degrees more excellent than the prayer of a person alone' (Reported by Bukhari & Muslim). Furthermore, on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Shall I not tell you that by which Allah erases sins and raises ranks?' They said, 'Of course, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'Performing wudu thoroughly despite difficulties, taking many steps toward the mosques, and waiting for the next prayer after the prayer; that is your Ribat (steadfastness)' (Narrated by Muslim).
 
As for a woman, her praying in congregation at home is better for her than in the mosque, according to the saying of our Master the Prophet ﷺ: 'Do not prevent your women from attending the mosques, but their homes are better for them' (Narrated by Abu Dawood). Young boys should be encouraged to attend the mosques and congregational prayers so they may become accustomed to them. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What are the valid excuses for abstaining from congregational prayer in the mosque?

 
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Concessions (Rukhsah) are granted to abstain from congregational prayer in the mosque due to general excuses, such as: rain that causes hardship in going out, strong winds at night, heavy mud that cannot be traversed without the risk of soiling oneself, hot winds, and extreme heat or cold. There are also specific individual excuses, such as: illness that makes walking as difficult as walking in the rain, severe drowsiness, evident hunger or thirst, the suppression of bodily wastes (urine, stool, or gas), and fear for one's life, limb, physical faculty, wealth, or honor, among other valid excuses. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on someone who wakes up in a state of janābah (major ritual impurity) near the very end of the prayer's designated time, during cold weather — should he heat water in order to perform ghusl, even though the prayer's time will expire as a result, or should he perform tayammum instead?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
If the water is cold, and cannot be used due to fear of harm that is not ordinarily tolerable, or that would result in illness, then in this case it becomes obligatory to heat the water — even if heating it causes the time for Fajr to expire — and no sin is incurred in doing so, due to his valid excuse. He may not resort to tayammum (dry ablution) instead, since water remains available [and merely needs to be heated].
Imam Shihāb ad-Dīn Aḥmad ar-Ramlī (raḥimahullāh) said: "He was asked regarding a person who, if he were to use cold water, would experience harm that permits tayammum, and who has access to something with which he could heat the water — but if he heats it, the prayer's time will expire. Is it obligatory for him to heat it even if the time expires, or should he pray with tayammum within the prescribed time? He answered that it is obligatory for him to heat the water, even if the time for that particular obligatory prayer expires." [Fatāwā ar-Ramlī, Vol.1/P.98]
Imam al-Bājūrī (raḥimahullāh) said in his Ḥāshiyah on Sharḥ Ibn Qāsim (Vol.1/P.173): "And if he fears [harm] from using cold water, and is currently unable to heat it, but knows of a place where firewood is available, such that if he were to go there he would not return until after the prescribed time has expired — what appears [to be the correct position] is that it is obligatory for him to go and seek the firewood, even if the time expires as a result, as this is the position ultimately settled upon by ar-Ramlī, and as related from him by Ibn Qāsim." And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is Zakah due on the orphan`s money?

Yes, Zakah is due on the money of the orphan.