Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(300): "Maintaining Unity to Cope with COVID-19"

Date Added : 06-04-2021

Resolution No.(300) (3/2021) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Maintaining Unity to Cope with COVID-19"

Date: (17nth of Sha'ban, 1442 AH), corresponding to (31/3/2021 AD).

 

In The Name Of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

In light of the spread of COVID-19, as experts have stated, and the fact that it is posing a serious threat to every member of our society, in addition to rising mortality rates, We pray to Allah to shower us with His mercy. We call on all Jordanians to unite in the face of this cunning enemy since Allah The Almighty Says {What means}: "Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancour: fear Allah. for Allah is strict in punishment." {Al-Maida/2}.

In its meeting No.(4/2021) held on the above date, the Board of Iftaa` emphasized that the religious sentiment experienced by the loyal citizens during this pandemic is completely harmonious with the religious identity of our beloved Jordan, which is very keen on performing religious rights in all circumstances.

It is no secret that the competent authorities have recommended reducing the numbers of gatherings during particular hours of the day in a bid to minimize infections, which led to closing universities, institutions, schools and mosques. It is normal to have a sense of grief for not performing prayers at the mosque, however, this indicates perfection of faith. Allah The Almighty Says {What means}: "That (is the command). And whoso magnifieth the offerings consecrated to Allah, it surely is from devotion of the hearts." {Al-Haj/32}.

However, this religious sentiment shouldn`t be a cause for the spread of the pandemic and the division of Muslims particularly since the closures and their resulting rulings are subject to Ijtihad (Independent reasoning) where arriving at the right decision entails two rewards while arriving at the wrong decision entails one reward. Therefore, we shouldn`t accuse others of non-adherence to the general provisions of Islamic Law, question their intentions or tag them with treason. Allah The Almighty Says {What means}: "And whoso committeth a delinquency or crime, then throweth (the blame) thereof upon the innocent, hath burdened himself with falsehood and a flagrant crime." {An-Nisa`/112}.

It is the duty of every individual in this society to promote the culture of cohesion, collaboration, unity, and love. We should also enhance our confidence in religious role models and scholars of Sharia in compliance with this verse {What means}: "Who hear advice and follow the best thereof. Such are those whom Allah guideth, and such are men of understanding." {Az-Zumar/18}. Allah The Almighty also Says {What means}: "speak fair to the people" {Al-Baqarah/83}. We pray that every member of our community and their loved ones remain healthy and well. We also pray to Allah to protect our country and Hashemite leadership. Indeed, He is All-Hearing and answers the prayer. And every success is from Allah Alone.  All Praise is due to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds.

 

Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies.

Grand Mufti of Jordan,

Dr. Abdulkareem al-Khasawneh

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh, Member

Dr. Mahmoud Al-Sartawi, Member (Left before the end of the Board`s meeting)

Dr. Majed al-Darawsheh, Member

Sheikh Sa`eid Al-Hijjawi, Member

Judge, Dr. Samer Al-Kubbaj, Member

Dr. Amjad Rasheed, Member (Although the statement covers important and pressing issues in guiding society, it isn`t sufficient. Therefore, I recommend that real studies, in written form, are conducted by experts about the justifications for the Friday curfew {Friday prayer} and banning people from walking to the mosque to perform Fajr and Maghrib prayers since their time is very close to the beginning and end of the curfew-hours. I also recommend considering allowing people to walk to the mosque for `Isha prayer. All of this should be conducted through validated studies from experts in written, not verbal form, then the statement should be based on this form along with complete adherence to safety instructions inside the mosque and other venues).

Dr. Ahmad al-Hasanat, Member

Dr. Mohammad Younis Al-Zou`bi, Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on praying alone (munfaridan) in a row, and what should I do if I enter the mosque together with another person, and there is only a single gap in the first row with no second row present — should I fill that gap in the first row, or should I stand together with him in a new second row?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
If a person enters [the congregation] and finds no space available in the row, it is recommended for him — after making his opening takbīr for the prayer — to gently pull someone from the row in front of him to pray alongside him, provided he senses that this person would be agreeable to it. If that person does not agree, then he prays alone, and there is no dislike attached to his doing so in that case.
If he ends up praying alone [behind the row], it is sunnah for him to stand directly behind the imam. Then, if someone else arrives, that person stands to his right; and whoever comes after them stands to his left — and so on — such that the imam remains centered in the middle of the row. This is done so that everyone attains the reward of congregational prayer.
As for the case where two people enter the prayer together, and there is a gap in the row wide enough for only one person, then the two of them should pray together in a new row [of their own], and whoever arrives after them should fill that original gap. This is because if only one of the two fills the gap, the other would end up praying alone [which is to be avoided when it can easily be prevented].
Al-Khaṭīb ash-Shirbīnī (raḥimahullāh) said in Mughnī al-Muḥtāj (Vol.1/P.494): "If he does not find space, then it is recommended for him, while still standing, to gently pull a single person from the row toward himself after making his opening takbīr — out of caution, so as to avoid the position held by some scholars that a person's prayer standing alone behind the row is not valid.
Az-Zarkashī and others said: this should only be done if it seems he would agree to it; otherwise, he should not pull anyone — indeed, doing so becomes impermissible, out of fear of causing discord (fitnah). It is recommended for the person being pulled to cooperate and agree, so that he may attain the reward of assisting in righteousness and piety (al-birr wat-taqwā). However, he should not pull one of two people [praying together] from the row, since this would cause one of them to end up praying alone. This is why the 'pulling' described here takes place only after the opening takbīr [i.e., once the person doing the pulling has already validly begun his own prayer]."
Accordingly: it is sunnah for you to pray alongside the person praying alone, and then, if someone else arrives afterward, you may go and fill the gap in the original row. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is it permissible for a husband to sell his wife`s jewelry if he was in a hard up?

A woman`s jewelry and dowry are her own property, and it is forbidden for the husband to take either without obtaining her approval. However, it is desirable for the wife to support her husband through considering her jewelry a sort of documented debt on him.

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]

Is it valid to perform Tarawih prayer at home?

It is Sunnah for a Muslim to perform Tarawih prayer in congregation at the mosque.
However, if a person sometimes prays it at home in congregation with their family for a valid reason, there is no harm in doing so.