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Resolutions of Iftaa' Board


Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No. (268): "Ruling on Giving Males and Females Equal Portions of Inheritance"

Date Added : 31-12-2018

Resolution No.(268) (22/2018) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Giving Males and Females Equal Portions of Inheritance"

Date: (05/Rabi` Rabīʿ al-Thaani/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 questionnaire about the permissibility of giving equal portions of inheritance to males and females on absolute basis. Some say that the verse" Allah chargeth you concerning (the provision for) your children: to the male the equivalent of the portion of two females…"{An-Nisa`, 11} isn`t a clear revelation, Quranic texts are amenable to Ijtihad (Independent reasoning or the thorough exertion of a jurist`s mental faculty in finding a solution to a legal question) and the Quran suits every time and place. Does the ruler have the authority to pass a law whereby males and females take equal shares of inheritance?

 

After deliberating, the Board arrived at the following:

 

Inheritance is clearly prescribed in the Noble Quran where Allah, The Almighty, Has Taken charge of dividing it rightfully and justly so that the people deal with each other justly. He, the Exalted, Hasn`t Left this matter to the will of a ruler nor the Ijtihad of a researcher. He, The Almighty, Said (What means): "It is an injunction from Allah. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise." {An-Nisa`, 11}. Since an injunction is an obligation, then there is no room, here, for Ijtihad. This is not because this divine division contradicts justice; rather, it achieves justice. Therefore, upon the death of a father or a mother who has male and female children, the inheritance is divided on basis of the aforementioned verse: "to the male the equivalent of the portion of two females." This is a text of definitive authenticity and implication, so there is no room, here, for construing or distorting.

Scholars have pointed out that the financial burden shouldered by the inheritors is one of the key standards deemed considerable by the Lawgiver with regard to laws of inheritance. In light of the just Islamic system, the civil status regulations along with the familial code have imposed on the male, be he a husband, a son or a brother, huge financial burdens towards his dependents, and this aims to honor and protect women, in particular, against poverty and need. Another example on those burdens is that the man is obliged to give Mahr (Bridal gift) to the woman, even if she is rich; whereas, she doesn`t have to provide for him since she is financially independent. To face all these burdens, the portion of the male is equivalent to the portion of two females, as indicated in the above scenario. At the same time, in other scenarios, the portion of a female is higher than that of a male because there are two other standards correlating with the above standard (Financial burden), and they are degree of kinship and generation. None is allowed to interfere in this meticulous division and none can understand its details nor the wisdom behind it.

In conclusion, the Board confirms the definitiveness of the divine injunction (to the male the equivalent of the portion of two females) mentioned above and calls on all Muslims to pursue real reform and work on uplifting the Muslim Nation socially, economically, politically and scientifically. And Allah Knows Best.

 

 

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

What is the ruling on offering a sheep as a sacrifice (Udhiyah) if its fat-tail is sound, except that when it was young, the tip of its fat-tail was cut so that it would grow larger? And what is the ruling in case of doubt regarding the amount that was cut?

 
In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Cutting a minor, insignificant portion from the tip of an animal's fat-tail (al-alyah) to encourage it to grow larger is not considered a defect, and it does not prevent the animal from being valid for sacrifice (Udhiyah).
 
It is stated in Tuhfat al-Muhtaj (Vol.9/P.352): "There is some scholarly deliberation regarding the common practice of cutting the tip of the fat-tail so that it grows larger. It could potentially be likened to a partial cut of the ear—supported by the jurists' general rule: 'even if it is a small amount.' On the other hand, if it is an exceptionally minor cut, it might have no effect on validity. This is explicitly clarified by the juristic exception to the general rule, which states that cutting a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm. This latter view is more well-founded.
 
Furthermore, I found that some scholars investigated this matter and concluded: 'It should not affect validity if a custom-sanctioned portion of its fat-tail is removed during its youth to make it grow larger and look better, just as castrating a male animal causes no harm.' However, applying this unconditionally contradicts the established texts of the jurists, as understood from what I have laid out; thus, the restriction I specified is what must be relied upon."
 
Similarly, it is mentioned in Nihayat al-Muhtaj (8/135): "If a small piece is cut from the fat-tail to help it grow larger, the most well-founded view is that the sacrifice remains valid, as was given in a formal legal verdict (Fatwa) by my father [Shihab al-Din al-Ramli], may Allah be pleased with him. This is proven by the jurists' maxim: 'The loss of a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm.'"
 
In cases where there is doubt as to whether the portion cut was large or small, the animal is still deemed valid for sacrifice. It is noted in Hashiyat al-Shubramallisi ‘ala Nihayat al-Muhtaj (Vol.8/P.135):
 
"This matter requires careful consideration, but the closer and more correct view is that it is valid. This is because soundness is the default state for the animal from which the piece was cut, and it aligns with what usually occurs—namely, that the part removed to help the fat-tail grow larger is naturally very small." And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

What is the Du`a (supplication) of Istikhara (guidance prayer)?

O Allah, I consult You as You are All-Knowing and I appeal to You to give me power as You are Omnipotent, I ask You for Your great favor, for You have power and I do not, and You know all of the hidden matters. O Allah! If you know that this matter (then he should mention it) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and for my life in the Hereafter, or he said: "for my present and future life" then make it (easy) for me. And if you know that this matter is not good for me in my religion, my livelihood and my life in the Hereafter, or he said: "for my present and future life" then keep it away from me and take me away from it and choose what is good for me wherever it is and please me with it."

Is it enough to say Tasbeeh (Saying Subhaana Rabbiya Al-‘Atheem during Rukoo`, and saying Subhaana Rabbiya Al-A‘laa during Sujood ) once, or twice during Rukoo`(Bowing in prayer) and Sujood (Prostration)?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds                                                                                                                                                                  Yes, saying Tasbeeh once during Rukoo` and Sujood is enough, provided that the worshiper`s attentiveness of the heart isn`t undermined during each. As regards the recompense, it depends on the number of Tasbeeh. And Allah Knows Best.

What is the virtue of Laylat al-Qadr?

It is enough to know its great status that Allah revealed an entire surah about it—Surah Al-Qadr. Moreover, the Quran was first revealed on this night.
Allah says {what means}:
"We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to thee what the night of power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand: Peace!... This until the rise of morn!" [Al-Qadr/1-5]
The Prophet ﷺ taught us to observe I‘tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan, seeking Laylat al-Qadr. Whoever worships Allah and revives this night will receive the reward of worshiping for a thousand months—excluding Laylat al-Qadr itself.

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