Resolution No.(22/2014) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

 

"Instructions for Selecting Muftis, No. (2)/2008"

 

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

 

 

During its fifth session held on (6/Rabee` Awal/1436 AH), corresponding to(28/12/2014), and based on Article(10) of the Iftaa` Law No.(60)/2006, the Board decided to issue instructions No.(2) for selecting Muftis in compliance with the amendment of the Iftaa` Law/2009, which stipulated making some adjustments  on instructions No.(1)/2008. Instructions No. (2) shall read as follows:

 

Article (1): 

These instructions shall be cited as "Instructions for Selecting Muftis, No. (2)/2008, issued by virtue of the Iftaa` Law No. (60)/2006," and shall come into effect after the date of its publication in the official Gazette.

 

Article (2):

The following words shall have the meanings hereunder assigned to them:

-The Department: General Iftaa` Department. 

-The Grand Mufti: Grand Mufti of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

-The Council: Council of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies.

-The Mufti: Any Mufti at the Department or any of its branches in governorates.

-The Committee: Committee assigned by the Grand Mufti to conduct the competitive examinations for selecting Muftis.

 

Article (3):

The Dept. shall conduct competitive examinations for occupying the position "Mufti" and shall announce the date and conditions in the local official Gazette.

 

Article (4):

Applicant must meet the following conditions:

-Jordanian.

-Holds a PhD in Sharia Sciences.

-Or,holds, at least, a BA in Sharia Sciences (Rating good), and five years have passed, at least, over his obtaining that degree.

-Five years' experience in the field of specialty.

-Enjoys good conduct; not sentenced for a crime or an offence and enjoys full civil rights.

 

Article (5):

The Grand Mufti shall form one committee to prepare and correct the examination papers, and another to conduct the personal interviews. The examinees` papers are given number tags instead of names and corrected as such.

 

Article (6):

1-The examination material shall consist of:

Page One: Islamic Jurisprudence (All branches), Fundamentals of Islamic Jurisprudence and Personal Status Law in effect.

Page Two: Interpretation of the Quran, Aqidah(Creed) and Arabic language.

2-Each page shall be out of (100), but the passing score for page one shall be (70%) and (60%) for page two.

 

Article (7):

The committee shall interview applicants who passed the written exam. Each interviewer shall give the score that he sees fit for each interviewee. The interview score shall be the average of the scores given by all members. The final score shall be out of (100), and the passing score shall be (70%).

 

Article (8):

In addition to the instructions included in article (6), the personal interview shall also consider an interviewee`s mastery of the rules of Quranic recitation, charisma, general information, enthusiasm and adherence to unified Islamic dress code. One who passes the interview and both pages of the written exam succeeds.

 

Article (9):

Whoever succeeds shall be hired as Mufti by virtue of a resolution issued by the Iftaa` Board based on placement by the Grand Mufti, and in accordance with the vacancies.

 

Article (10): The Grand Mufti shall issue the proper decision regarding any case that haven`t been addressed in the above instructions.

Summarized Fatawaa

What are the conditions for the validity of the slaughtering process according to Sharia?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Regarding the Sharia-mandated conditions for the validity of the slaughtering process (Adh-Dhabh), they are as follows:
 
The Identity of the Slaughterer: The person performing the slaughter must be either a Muslim or from the People of the Book (Christian or Jewish).
 
The Required Cuts: Both the trachea (windpipe/breathing passage) and the esophagus (food passage) must be completely severed.
 
Stability of Life: The animal must possess stable life at the start of the slaughtering process. This is identified by clear signs, such as vigorous movement or the forceful gushing of blood after the throat and esophagus are cut.
 
The Tool of Slaughter: The tool used must be sharp, capable of cutting or piercing by its edge and not by its sheer weight or blunt force.
 
And Allah the Almighty knows best.

My brother works in a conventional bank and gave me one of the gifts distributed to bank employees — what is the ruling on accepting it?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
There is no objection to accepting such gifts, because the physical gift itself does not carry any inherent prohibition — unlike stolen property. Sin does not transfer or extend to the one who receives the gift, for Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "And no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another." [Al-Anʿām/164]
The evidence for this is that the Prophet ﷺ himself ate from the food of the Jews, conducted transactions with them, and purchased from them — and it is well known that their wealth was intermingled with ribā. Similarly, the wealth of conventional ribā-based banks is a mixture of the lawful and the unlawful.
Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "It is not forbidden to transact with one whose wealth is predominantly unlawful, nor to eat from it — as al-Nawawī affirmed in al-Majmūʿ." [Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj, Vol. 9/P.389] And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Does nosebleed during the day in Ramadan affect the validity of fasting?

A nosebleed does not affect the validity of fasting unless some of the blood reaches the body cavity or the person intentionally swallows it. In such a case, their fast is invalid, and they must refrain from eating and drinking for the rest of the day and make up for that day later.

Should nail polish be removed before making ablution?

Yes, it should be removed because it prevents water from reaching the nails.