Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No. (266) "Ruling on Renting Mosque`s Roof"

Date Added : 30-12-2018

Resolution No. (266) (20/2018) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies: "Ruling on Renting Mosque`s Roof"

Date: (05/Rabi` Rabīʿ al-Awwal/1440 AH), corresponding to (13/12/2018)

 

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 fourteenth session held on the above date, the Board reviewed the letter of His Excellency Minister of Awqaf Islamic Affairs and Holy Places (No.3/2/346-5/11/2018). It read as follows: I would like to bring to Your Grace`s attention the fact that the Awqaf Council has reviewed the request submitted for investing the roof and yards of Huthayfah Ibn Al-Yaman`s Mosque (Tabaraboor). Ad-Dar Darak Restaurant will install a solar system there for a period of twenty-five years in return for an annual payment. However, the Ministry of Awqaf will be the sole owner of that system and it won`t affect the mosque`s solar panels. Could you clarify the ruling of Sharia on this so that the Awqaf Council takes the proper decision in light of it? 

After deliberating, the Iftaa` Board arrived at the following resolution:

There is no harm in renting the roof of that mosque for installing solar power generators where the rent money is steered to the benefit of the mosque. This is provided that this project doesn`t prevent people from performing prayers since Sharia neither hinders a well-established interest nor whatever helps visit and maintain the mosques of Allah. The important thing, here, is that the Waqf (Endowment) maintains serving the purpose for which it was endowed in the first place and that no harm is inflicted upon the praying people and other worshippers. The proof of this is that it was reported that some Hanafi jurisprudents said, "It is allowed to rent the roof of a mosque to use the rent money for its maintenance."{Al-Bahar Al-Raa`iq}.

 

Chairperson of Iftaa` Board,
Grand Mufti of Jordan,
Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh
Sheikh Abdulkareem AlKhasawneh/ Member
Sheikh Sa`eid Al-Hijjawi/ Member
Prof. Abdullah Al-Fawaaz/ Member
Dr. Muhammad Khair Al-Issa/ Member
Dr. Majid Al-Darawsheh/ Member
Prof. Adam Noah/ Member
Judge. Khaled Al-Worikat/ Member
Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat/ Member
Dr. Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member
Dr. Rashaad Al-Khilaani

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible for a husband to stop his wife from visiting her family?

A husband shouldn`t stop his wife from visiting her family, and it is disliked for him to do so because such an act makes them harbor feelings of hatred against him.

Is it permissible for an elderly person, a pregnant woman, or someone with a chronic illness to pay fidyah before Ramadan begins?

It is not permissible for an elderly person, a pregnant woman, or someone with a chronic illness to pay fidyah before Ramadan begins.
Additionally, it is not allowed to pay fidyah for more than one day in advance, because fidyah is a substitute for fasting, and fasting is not yet obligatory at that time.
However, it is permissible to pay fidyah for a single day in advance, by analogy with paying zakat up to one year in advance.

My father has debts and asked me to repay them years ago, and I promised him I would do so upon his death — is it permissible for me to go back on my promise given that I am unable to repay them, especially since he refuses to contribute to repayment on the grounds that the debt has become my responsibility by virtue of my promise?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The established principle is that a father's debt is to be repaid from his own wealth, if he possesses sufficient means. As for the promise made by the son to repay it on his father's behalf, fulfilling such a promise is strongly recommended, and breaking it is considerably disliked. Shaykh al-Islām Imām al-Nawawī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "Fulfilling a promise is emphatically recommended, and breaking it is severely disliked. The evidences for this from the Qurʾān and the Sunnah are well known." [Rawḍat al-Ṭālibīn,Vol. 2/P.278] Shaykh al-Islām Imām Zakariyyā al-Anṣārī, may Allah have mercy upon him, further states: "The reason fulfilling a promise is not obligatory and breaking it is not forbidden is that a promise is in the nature of a gift, and a gift does not become binding except upon receipt." [Asnā al-Maṭālib fī Sharḥ Rawḍ al-Ṭālib,Vol. 2/P.487]
Given that the son does not possess the financial means to fulfil his promise to his father, breaking this promise falls beyond his capacity — and Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. Since the father himself possesses sufficient wealth to settle his own debt, repayment must be made from his own funds. Should he pass away before doing so, the debt is to be settled from his estate. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

A pious man proposed to me and my father was hesitant in this regard because he is black, am I sinful if I accepted his proposal?

If the suitor is pious, color isn`t a drawback. However, try talking to your father kindly, so that he approves of your marriage with contentment, and that is better for you.