Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Date Added : 27-05-2020

Resolution No. (287)(7/2020) by the Board of Iftaa, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Permissibility of Interest-Free Loans Provided by Islamic Banks"

Date: 14/Ramadan/1441 Hijri, corresponding to 7/5/2020 AD.

 

Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds.

At its fifth meeting held on the above date, the Board reviewed the question about small and medium-sized companies support program launched by the Jordan Islamic Bank based on an agreement with the Central Bank of Jordan in a bid to address the corona pandemic (See attached copy).

After careful consideration, the Board has taken the following decision:

First: Loans which will be provided by the Jordan Islamic Bank in cooperation with the Central Bank of Jordan don`t entail any interests. Rather, they are interest-free and aim to help the financially troubled businesses pay the salaries of their staff during the corona pandemic which is sweeping the globe.

Second: The defined fees charged by the Jordan Islamic Bank  on these loans cover administrative expenses-as stipulated in the agreement-and aren`t part of the bank`s profits. In fact, many Fatwas and resolutions of international Islamic Fiqh academies indicate that it is permissible to impose administrative fees on borrowers of interest-free loans so long as they (fees) are equal to the actual cost of the administrative expenses.

 Third: Although stipulating loan insurance at the Jordan Credit Guarantee Company with (25.%) as an annual commission is a sort of commercial insurance, which is basically prohibit, it is allowed at  the time of pandemic. The evidence on this is that the agreed upon maxims of Islamic jurisprudence affirm that necessities render prohibited things permissible. Al-Juwaini added: "General need is tantamount to individual necessity at time of affliction…….If the people ignored that need until it became a necessity, all of them would perish. Thus, they have to do what needs to be done to prevent present or future harm." {Ghayath al-Umam}.

In conclusion, little flaw is forgivable at the time of pandemic to enable communities overcome crisis with minimum loss where every member is expected to do their share of solidarity and cooperation which are the highest objectives of Sharia. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

 

 Chairperson of Iftaa` Board,

Grand Mufti of Jordan,

Dr. Abdulkareem al-Khasawneh

Dr. Ahmad al-Hasanat, Member

Dr. Mohammad al-khalayleh

Dr. Mahmoud al-Sartawi, Member

Sheikh Sa`eid Al-Hijjawi, Member

Judge Khalid Woraikat, Member

Dr. Majed al-Darawsheh, Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member

Prof. Adam Nooh Al-Qhodaat/Member

Dr. Amjad Rasheed/Member

Dr. Jamil Khatatbeh/Member

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the difference between Tahajjud prayer and night prayer, and do they have a particular Witr prayer other than that of Isha (evening prayer)?

Tahajjud and Qiyam-Al-Lail (night prayer) are two words for the same meaning which is offering voluntary prayer at night after sunset, but before dawn break. However, Tahajjud is offered after waking up; whereas, Qiyam-Al-Lail is permissible before sleeping, or after it. Therefore, every Tahajjud is a Qiyam, but not every Qiyam is a Tahajjud. Moreover, there is no specified Witr for both of them, but Witr after Isha is by itself the Witr of Qiyam, and it is a Sunnah to postpone it until after Qiyam if the worshiper thought that he was most probably going to wake up in order to offer it, but if he wasn`t sure of waking up, then he is at liberty to offer it before going to bed as was reported in the Prophet`s Hadith.

What is usually said upon the slaughtering of the Aqeeqah (the sheep slaughtered on the seventh day from the child`s birth)?

It is desirable to say: "Bismillah Alrahman Alraheem, was`salatu Wa s`salamu Ala Sa`idenah Mohammad, O Allah, this Aqeeqah is from You and to You on behalf of ….."

Should the Zakah (obligatory charity) giver tell the poor recipient that this is the Zakah of his money?

No, he shouldn`t. But, the Zakah giver should make an intention in his heart that it is the Zakah of his money when paying it to the poor. And Allah Knows Best.

We collect funds from mosques and other sources, saying: "For the poor, the needy, widows, orphans, and those who do not beg insistently." After paying the stipends of the families registered with the Zakat Committee, an amount exceeding 6,000 dinars remained. Is it permissible for me to save it for upcoming months when I may not be able to collect the stipends?

These funds are received by the committee as representatives of the zakat payers to deliver zakat to those entitled to it. It is well-known that delaying zakat while being able to pay it is not permissible. Imam Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Zakat must be paid immediately if one is able to do so, by the presence of wealth and the eligible categories." [Al-Minhaj] Therefore, the committee must distribute the zakat to the eligible recipients without installment payments or using it to purchase material goods for them, as the committee does not have authority over the poor to allocate it in this way. And Allah Knows Best.