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 permissible to offer an Udhiyah on behalf of the deceased?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial animal) on behalf of a deceased person is permissible. This is the official position of the Hanbali school (as stated in Kashshaf al-Qina’ by al-Bahuti,Vol.6/P.428) and was also upheld by the prominent Shafi'i scholar Al-’Abbadi (mentioned in Bidayat al-Muhtaj by Ibn Qadi Shuhbah,Vol. 4/P.358). It has likewise been narrated as a valid view among some Maliki and Hanafi scholars.
 
In fact, Imam Abu Dawud dedicated an entire chapter in his Sunan collection entitled, "Chapter on Sacrificing on Behalf of the Deceased." In it, he recorded a narration from Hanash, who said: "I saw 'Ali sacrificing two rams, so I asked him, 'What is this?' He replied, 'The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded me to offer a sacrifice on his behalf, so I am sacrificing on his behalf.'"
 
Imam Abu Dawud also narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Allah, this is from You, for You, and on behalf of Muhammad and his Ummah (community). In the Name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest," and he then slaughtered the animal.
 
The textual evidence here lies in the fact that our Master, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), offered a sacrifice on behalf of his entire community—and it is well-established that his community includes those who have already passed away.
 
Furthermore, there is an abundance of sacred texts demonstrating that the rewards of righteous deeds reach the deceased. For instance, it is permissible to fast on behalf of a deceased person who passed away with missed obligatory fasts, and it is equally permissible to perform Hajj on their behalf, both of which are firmly established in authentic Hadiths. Therefore, if the reward of fasting (which is a purely physical act of worship) and Hajj (which is a joint physical and financial act of worship) can reach the deceased, then the reward of an Udhiyah reaches them with greater reason (by way of A Fortiori argument). This is because it is a purely financial act of worship, falling under the general category of charity (Sadaqah).
 
Additionally, scholars have reached a consensus (Ijma') that the rewards of charity reach the deceased, and since the Udhiyah is inherently an act of charity, it falls under the same ruling. Consequently, based on all the aforementioned evidence, we hold the view that offering a sacrifice on behalf of the deceased is entirely permissible. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

What is the ruling on performing istinja' before every ablution?

Istinja' is not from the conditions for the validity of ablution. It is only obligatory for prayer when there is impurity from urine or stool on the private part, or if there is fear of the impurity spreading to the body or clothing. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Is it permissible to read from the Mus-haf during Tarawih prayer?

Yes, it is permissible to read from the Mus-haf during Tarawih prayer, provided that excessive movements that invalidate the prayer are avoided.
However, it is preferable for the imam to be a memorizer of the Quran and to recite from memory.

What is the ruling on preparing food for someone who is not fasting in Ramadan?

It is forbidden to prepare food for someone who is breaking their fast without a valid excuse in Ramadan.
Doing so would be assisting in sin, and assisting in sin is itself a sin.
Allah says {what means}: "but help ye not one another in sin and rancour" [Al-Mai`dah/2]