Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No. (270): "Amendments to Zakat Draft Law"

Date Added : 23-01-2019

Resolution No. (270) (1/2019) by the Council of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Amendments to Zakat Draft Law"

Date: (4/Jumādā al-Awwal/1440H), corresponding to (10/1/2019)

 

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

During its session held on the above date, the Council reviewed the letter: (D T 1/1/Q/37), ( 27/12/2018) - sent from His Excellency Dr.Nofan Ajarmeh, Director of Legislation and Opinion Bureau. It stated: "In reference to the letter - (Z1/35739), (20/12/2018)-of His Excellency the Prime Minister about the Zakat Draft Law/2018, I have sent the aforementioned Law to Your Grace in the form agreed on by the Ministerial Legal Committee. Kindly, discuss it with the Iftaa` Council to deliver the ruling of Sharia on it in order to pave the ground for the continuation of the enactment procedures duly.

After deliberating, the Council decided the following:

First: Zakat is the third pillar of Islam. It was decreed in the noble Quran to enhance social solidarity and compassion and  achieve social justice. Therefore, the Iftaa` Council highly values every initiative in support of this obligation and finding suitable ways to put it into effect to deliver its pioneering role in the Muslim society. Allah, The Almighty, Has Defined the categories of people entitled to receive Zakat in Surat [At-Taubah (9)], verse (60): "The alms are only for the poor and the needy, and those who collect them, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free the captives and the debtors, and for the cause of Allah, and (for) the wayfarer; a duty imposed by Allah. Allah is Knower, Wise."

Second: Out of keenness on this obligation (Zakat), its independence, and its Sharia conditions, the Council, after having reviewed the above-mentioned draft law, is of the view that the Zakat foundation must divide the Zakat in accordance with the above verse. However, the Council objects to  Article (B/9), which stated: "The Zakat Foundation shall abide by transferring the collected sums in favor of the social security package endorsed in the General Budget Law to preserve the independence of the Zakat sums due to their special nature, Zakat being an act of worship as well as an obligation. Moreover, these sums shouldn`t be listed within the General Budget Law.

Third: The Council is of the view that Article (10/H) confirms the right to "Conditioned Zakat' to the giver, and this contradicts with Article (9/B) since the condition made by the giver of Zakat must be met within the framework of the Sharia conditions in this regard, even if it doesn`t agree with the social security package, which wasn`t clearly defined in the draft law. In addition, the right to "Conditioned Zakat" could be used as a means of not giving Zakat.

Fourth: In Article (3/A), the foundation was named "General Foundation of Zakat". The Council recommends adding the word "Sadaqat."Therefore, it should become "General Foundation of Zakat and Sadaqat."

Fifth: The Council suggests that the Law stipulates including the Minister of Awqaf or his representative and the representatives of religious organizations as members of the Board of Trustees.

Sixth: Adding a paragraph to Article (8) stipulating the inclusion of "Bequests" as one of the Foundation`s financial resources.

Seventh: Adding the word (the poor) to paragraph three and five of Article (9), and deleting the word "Refugees" from the same Article.

Eighth: The council deems necessary that the Foundation`s budget must be clearly refelected as part of the general budget.

Ninth: Changing ((Fatwa and Sharia-Supervisory Board)) to ((Sharia-Supervisory Board)).

Ten: The Council objects to Article (16), which stipulates that the foundation`s board of trustees endorses the resolution of the Sharia-Supervisory Board since, on the contrary, the latter`s resolution must be binding to the board. 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

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.

Is it permissible to combine and shorten prayers at home before traveling?

It is impermissible to combine and shorten prayers at home before traveling because a person is called a traveler once he/she departs the borders of his/her country, and offering prayer that way was originally intended to exempt a traveler. And Allah Knows Best.

What is the ruling on public street water if it gets on a person's clothes or body?

The default ruling is that public street water is pure (tahir). If one is certain of its impurity (najasa), then a small amount that gets on the lower part of a person's clothes or body is overlooked (excused). And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Is the one offering the sacrifice liable if its meat spoils?

Praise be to Allah, and prayers and peace be upon our Master the Messenger of Allah.
 
If the meat (of the sacrifice) spoils due to the negligence of the one offering the sacrifice in preserving it, or due to improper storage, then he is liable to compensate for the portion due to the poor (which is estimated as half a kilogram of meat). If the sacrifice was a vowed (mandatory) one, then he is liable for all of it.
 
However, if he was not negligent, then there is no liability upon him, because its ruling is the ruling of a trust (like an item left in someone's care). And Allah Almighty knows best.