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

Is it permissible to offer an Udhiyah on behalf of the deceased?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Offering a sacrifice (Udhiyah) on behalf of the deceased is permissible. This is the position of the Hanbalis [Kashshaf al-Qina’ by al-Bahuti (Vol.6/P.428)], and it was held by al-Abbadi of the Shafi’is [Bidayat al-Muhtaj by Ibn Qadi Shuhbah (Vol.4/P.358)]; it is also narrated from some Maliki and Hanafi scholars.
 
Abu Dawud included a chapter in his Sunan titled "Chapter: Offering the Sacrifice on Behalf of the Deceased," in which he narrated from Hanash, who said: "I saw Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) sacrificing two rams. I asked him, 'What is this?' He replied, 'The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) enjoined me to sacrifice on his behalf, so I am sacrificing on his behalf.'"
 
Abu Dawud also narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O Allah, this is from You and for You, on behalf of Muhammad and his Ummah; in the name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest," then he slaughtered it. It is well known that among the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) are those who have passed away, yet he (peace be upon him) dedicated it to his entire Ummah.
 
Furthermore, multiple Sharia texts have consistently indicated that the rewards of righteous deeds reach the deceased. This includes the permissibility of fasting on behalf of the deceased if they died owing fasts, as well as the permissibility of performing Hajj on their behalf, both of which are established in authentic Hadiths. Since the rewards for fasting—a physical act of worship—and Hajj—a physical and financial act of worship—reach the deceased, then the sacrifice (Udhiyah) is even more likely to reach them.
 
Moreover, the scholars have reached a consensus (Ijma') that the rewards of charities reach the deceased, and the Udhiyah is a form of charity and falls under its general category. Based on all of this, we hold the view that offering a sacrifice on behalf of the deceased is permissible. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Who is "the poor" entitled to receive Zakah (obligatory charity)?

The poor is the one who has neither money nor a source of living, or has either of them, but it isn`t sufficient such as being in need for a hundred/JDs, and having an income of forty/JDs only.

If a traveler settles or a sick person recovers while fasting, is it permissible for them to break their fast?

● If a sick person starts the day fasting and then recovers during the day, they must complete their fast.
● If a traveler starts the day fasting and then settles (returns or stops traveling) during the day, they must also complete their fast.
● It is forbidden for both of them to break their fast because the concession (rukhsah) is no longer valid once its reason disappears.

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—provided that a portion of it, even if small, is given in charity, which is estimated to be approximately half a kilogram of meatAnd Allah the Almighty knows best.