Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(283): "Islamic Ruling on Washing the Person who Died from an Infectious Disease such as the one caused by Corona Virus"

Date Added : 02-06-2020

Resolution No.(283)(3/2020) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Islamic Ruling on Washing the Person who Died from an Infectious Disease such as the one caused by Corona Virus" 

Date: (24/Rajab/1441 AH), corresponding to (19/3/2020).

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. At its second meeting held on the above date, the Board reviewed the question about the ruling of Islam on washing the person who died from an infectious disease such as the one caused by the corona virus?

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

Whoever died during a pandemic, it is hoped that Allah will grant him a reward similar to that of a martyr. This is attested to in the Hadith where the Prophet (PBUH) said: "None (among the believers) remains patient in a land in which plague has broken out and considers that nothing will befall him except what Allah Has Ordained for him, but that Allah Will Grant him a reward similar to that of a martyr." {Bukhari}.

In addition to hoping that Allah will grant him a reward similar to that of a martyr, in principle, the deceased person must be given ritual washing (Ghusl), shrouding with a piece of cloth (Kafan) and a funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah). This is provided that the necessary protective measures are put in place to make sure that the persons who do these (Ghusl, kafan and Salat al-Janazah) don`t get infected. In case protective measures couldn`t be taken, funeral and burial preparations must be done as much as possible, even if it be spraying the dead body with a hose and shrouding it with a piece of cloth. The evidence on this is the Sharia maxim which states: "The easy thing shall not be waived by the difficult thing." Moreover, Allah The Almighty Says {what means}: "Allah tasketh not a soul beyond its scope." {Al-Baqarah, 286}. As for the funeral prayer, it may be delivered by the smallest number of prayer performers, even if it be one person. We pray that Allah showers all the dead Muslims with His mercy. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

 

Chairperson of Iftaa` Board,

Grand Mufti of Jordan,

Dr. Abdulkareem al-Khasawneh

Dr. Mohammad al-khalayleh

Sheikh Sa`eid Al-Hijjawi, Member

Dr. Majed al-Darawsheh, Member

Dr. Ahmad al-Hasanat, Member

Judge Khalid Woraikat, Member

Dr. Jamil Khatatbeh/Member

Dr. Amjad Rasheed/Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member

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Summarized Fatawaa

What advice do you have for those who spend their nights and days of Ramadan watching TV?

Time is too precious to be wasted on entertainment, let alone in the blessed month of Ramadan, where a Muslim should strive for reward and forgiveness.

What are the categories of the livestock permissible for Udhiyah?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
An Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) is only valid if it is selected from Al-An'am (livestock), which includes: camels, cattle, and sheep or goats—whether male or female, and even if castrated. Allah Almighty says {what means}: "And for all religion We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] livestock." (Al-Hajj/ 34)
 
In terms of preference, camels are considered the best choice, followed by cattle, then sheep, and finally goats.
A single sheep or goat is valid as a sacrifice on behalf of one person. However, a single camel or cow can be shared by up to seven people. This is based on the narration of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: "In the year of Al-Hudaybiyah, we sacrificed along with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) a camel on behalf of seven people, and a cow on behalf of seven people." (Narrated by Muslim)
 
(Note: The term "Badanah" used in the original Arabic text specifically refers to a camel in this context). And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

I vowed to give a specific charity if a certain matter came to pass — what is the ruling on giving that charity before the matter is realised?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Fulfilling a vow (nadhr) is obligatory, in accordance with the word of Allah the Almighty: "And let them fulfil their vows." [Al-Ḥajj/ 29] And the saying of our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: "Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him; and whoever vows to disobey Him, let him not disobey Him." (Reported by al-Bukhārī.)
The Shāfiʿī scholars distinguished between a financial vow (nadhr mālī) and a bodily vow (nadhr badanī). They permitted the fulfilment of a financial vow to be brought forward — before the stipulated condition is met — but did not permit the same for a bodily vow, which may only be fulfilled after the condition has actually been realised.
Shaykh al-Islām Imām Zakariyyā al-Anṣārī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "It is permissible to bring forward the fulfilment of a financial vow before the condition stipulated in it is met — such as saying: 'If I am healed, I vow to free a slave' or 'to give such-and-such in charity' — just as it is permissible to pay zakāh in advance. This is unlike a bodily vow, such as fasting." [Asnā al-Maṭālib, vol. 4/P.246]
Imām al-Bājūrī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "Like expiation other than fasting, a financial vow — such as saying: 'If Allah heals my sick one, I vow to free a slave for the sake of Allah,' or 'If Allah heals my sick one, I vow to free a slave on the Friday following the recovery' — it is permissible to bring it forward before the recovery in the first case, and before the Friday following the recovery in the second case." [Ḥāshiyat al-Bājūrī ʿalā Sharḥ Ibn Qāsim, Vol.2/P.596] And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the virtue of Laylat al-Qadr?

It is enough to know its great status that Allah revealed an entire surah about it—Surah Al-Qadr. Moreover, the Quran was first revealed on this night.
Allah says {what means}:
"We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to thee what the night of power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand: Peace!... This until the rise of morn!" [Al-Qadr/1-5]
The Prophet ﷺ taught us to observe I‘tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan, seeking Laylat al-Qadr. Whoever worships Allah and revives this night will receive the reward of worshiping for a thousand months—excluding Laylat al-Qadr itself.