Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(273): "Ruling on Funds Donated to the Educational Endowment"

Date Added : 18-03-2019

Resolution No. (273)(6/2019), By The Board of Iftaa', Researches and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Funds Donated to the Educational Endowment"

Date: (30/ Jumādā al-Akhira/1440 AH), corresponding to (7/3/2019)

 

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

 

During its third session held on the above date, the Board reviewed the letter (No.2/3/2019 AH) sent to the Iftaa` Department from the counsellor of the Educational Endowment. In that letter, he pointed that the Endowment receives both in kind and cash donations, adding that some people stipulate that their donations be spent on maintaining schools while others on laboratories, desks, and other equipment. It is worth pointing that the main objective of the Endowment is building schools in favor of the Ministry of Education. What is the ruling of Sharia on this?

 

After deliberating, the Board arrived at the following decision:

 

Funds donated without defining the channel they should be spent in favor of are, in principle, endowed funds, because, basically, what is donated to an officially registered endowment must be spent in favor of the purpose for which it was established in the first place. Therefore, it is permissible that you accept and spend these donations in accordance with the rules of the endowment. This is along with ensuring schools` adherence to these rules and keeping them (schools) under constant supervision.

 

As for the funds for which the donor specifies a certain channel, they are to be spent as he stipulated, be that for maintenance, furniture, tools and the like. This is because the Sharia rule, in this regard, states: "The conditions set by the endower (Waqif) are as binding as the provisions of Sharia."

As for the wages of maintenance workers and consumed materials, it isn`t permissible to spend the money of the endowment on these alone. Rather, the endowment can allocate a fund for public charities and donations where it informs donors, upon making the donations, about the purpose for which that fund is established. This is in order for them (donors) to understand the difference between endowment and charity in general. Upon achieving that, there is no harm in spending the funds of public charity in favor of the various forms of maintenance. And Allah the Almighty 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 {have a reservation on the fourth standard}.

Judge. Khaled Al-Worikat/ Member 

Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member

Dr. Rashaad Al-Kilani/Member

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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 ruling on omitting the prostration of recitation?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The prostration of recitation (Sajdat al-Tilawah) is a Sunnah for both the reader and the listener. There is no sin in omitting it, though doing so results in missing a great reward. Muslim narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said: 'When the son of Adam recites a verse of prostration and prostrates, Shaytan withdraws weeping, saying: "Woe to him! (and in the narration of Abu Kuraib: "Woe to me!") The son of Adam was commanded to prostrate and he prostrated, so Paradise is his; and I was commanded to prostrate and I refused, so the Fire is mine."'
 
Sheikh al-Islam Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated: 'It is recommended to prostrate immediately after reciting or hearing a verse of prostration. If one delays it but the interval is short, he may still prostrate. However, if the interval is long, the opportunity is missed.' [Rawdat al-Talibin Vol.1/P.323].
 
Furthermore, the prostration of recitation becomes obligatory (Wajib) in congregational prayer if the Imam prostrates, out of the necessity of following him. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling on one who performs ablution or the ritual bath while having nail polish?

Nail polish must be removed before ablution or ritual bath so that water reaches what is beneath it, because it is a barrier that prevents water from reaching that area. This is based on the hadith narrated by Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Whoever leaves a hair's breadth of his body unwashed from major impurity, such and such will be done to him in the Fire." (Reported by al-Bukhari). And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on Making up Prayers Missed before Reaching Puberty?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Among the conditions for accountability for one's actions in the Hereafter is taklīf (religious legal responsibility) — meaning, possessing sound reason and having reached puberty. The signs of puberty are: nocturnal emission, menstruation, or reaching the age of fifteen [lunar years].
Whoever missed prayers before reaching puberty is not obligated to make them up, since taklīf did not yet apply to him at that time. Our master, the Prophet ﷺ, said: "The pen has been lifted from three: from the child until he reaches puberty, from the sleeping person until he wakes, and from the insane person until he regains sanity." [Related by Abū Dāwūd]
The method for making up missed prayers and fasts has already been explained in Fatwa No. 2705, and Fatwa No. 876. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.