Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(277): "Ruling on Exploiting Endowed Land"

Date Added : 22-05-2019

Resolution No.(277)(11/2019), By The Board of Iftaa', Researches and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Exploiting Endowed Land"

Date: (11/ Ramadan/1440 AH), corresponding to (16/5/2019 AD).

 

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

On its sixth session held on the above date, the Board reviewed the letter (4/2/3/2905) of His Excellency Minister of Awqaf, Dr. Abulbasal. It states that the endowed land No.(45) of Um Attieh area (59) in Salt city, estimated at (320 Meters), was donated in 2000 for the purpose of building a mosque. However, building the mosque on the above land became impossible because it violates the effective laws and regulations of constructing mosques, the endowed land itself is small and three mosques were built in the same area. Knowing that the above land is commercial, what is the ruling of Sharia on investing it in favor of endowment programs by building a small Musala on part of it instead of a mosque?

After deliberating, the Board arrived at the following decision:

According to scholars, it is allowed for the endowment (Waqf) administrator to take the necessary steps to achieve the interest expected from the Waqf and preserve its benefits. Ibn Qhodamah says: "If the Waqf was damaged and its benefits were stopped….for example, a mosque that people have deserted or was too small and impossible to expand, or was expanded to the extent that it became impossible to maintain save by selling part of it. In this case, it is permissible to sell part of it to maintain the rest." Moreover, if it wasn`t possible to benefit from it at all, then selling it is permissible. In a narration by Abi Dawoud, Ahmad said: "If there were two valuable pieces of wood in a mosque, then it is permissible to sell them in order to maintain the mosque." {Al-Moghni, vol.6/pp.28}.

In conclusion, it is permissible to invest the above land to achieve the purpose for which it was endowed without any stoppage or delay. This is provided that the revenue is spent in favor of the mosque itself since the stipulation of the endower has the same binding force as the text of Sharia. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

 

Chairperson of Iftaa` Board,

Grand Mufti of Jordan,

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh

Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh, Member

Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat, Member

Sheikh Sa`eid Al-Hijjawi, Member

Judge Khalid Woraikat, Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member

Prof. Adam Nooh Al-Qhodaat/Member

Prof. Abdullah al-Fawaaz/Member

Dr Mohammad Khair al-Esa/Member

Dr. Rashaad Al-Kelaani/Member

 

 

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible to offer an Udhiyah on behalf of the deceased?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Offering a sacrifice (Udhiyah) on behalf of the deceased is permissible. This is the position of the Hanbalis [Kashshaf al-Qina’ by al-Bahuti (Vol.6/P.428)], and it was held by al-Abbadi of the Shafi’is [Bidayat al-Muhtaj by Ibn Qadi Shuhbah (Vol.4/P.358)]; it is also narrated from some Maliki and Hanafi scholars.
 
Abu Dawud included a chapter in his Sunan titled "Chapter: Offering the Sacrifice on Behalf of the Deceased," in which he narrated from Hanash, who said: "I saw Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) sacrificing two rams. I asked him, 'What is this?' He replied, 'The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) enjoined me to sacrifice on his behalf, so I am sacrificing on his behalf.'"
 
Abu Dawud also narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O Allah, this is from You and for You, on behalf of Muhammad and his Ummah; in the name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest," then he slaughtered it. It is well known that among the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) are those who have passed away, yet he (peace be upon him) dedicated it to his entire Ummah.
 
Furthermore, multiple Sharia texts have consistently indicated that the rewards of righteous deeds reach the deceased. This includes the permissibility of fasting on behalf of the deceased if they died owing fasts, as well as the permissibility of performing Hajj on their behalf, both of which are established in authentic Hadiths. Since the rewards for fasting—a physical act of worship—and Hajj—a physical and financial act of worship—reach the deceased, then the sacrifice (Udhiyah) is even more likely to reach them.
 
Moreover, the scholars have reached a consensus (Ijma') that the rewards of charities reach the deceased, and the Udhiyah is a form of charity and falls under its general category. Based on all of this, we hold the view that offering a sacrifice on behalf of the deceased is permissible. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the wisdom behind the legislation of fasting?

Fasting is a divine school from which the believer learns much and trains in virtues that may be needed in life. Among these virtues is patience, as it is the month of patience. Fasting also teaches honesty and consciousness of Allah in both private and public, for there is no observer over the fasting person in abstaining from lawful pleasures except Allah alone.
Fasting strengthens willpower, sharpens determination, and nurtures mercy and compassion among the servants of Allah. It is a struggle against the self, a restraint of desires, a purification of the soul, and a cultivation of goodness.
The Prophetﷺ said: "Allah, the Almighty, said: ‘Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except for fasting; it is for Me, and I shall reward for it. Fasting is a shield. So when one of you is fasting on a day, let him not engage in obscene speech or raise his voice in anger. If someone insults him or fights him, let him say: I am a fasting person. By Him in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the breath of the fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than the fragrance of musk.’" [Bukhari and Muslim]

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."

Zakah due on a woman`s jewelry?

Obligatory Zakah (obligatory charity) isn`t due on a woman`s jewelry used for adornment, provided that the value of each piece is within the range amongst common market price. And Allah Knows Best.