Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Date Added : 02-11-2015

Resolution No.(41): “Killing an Animal by the Violent Blow Gun“
Date: 6/7/1419AH corresponding to 26/10/1998.

What is the ruling of Sharia on anesthetizing cows prior to slaughtering them by using a special gun, where an iron bar penetrates the head of the animal and destroys its nervous system, then the animal loses consciousness, so it must be slaughtered by cutting its neck veins because anesthesia could harm it and cause its death, depending on the place of the blow?

Answer: All success is due to Allah.

The Board is of the view that using the above method is forbidden in Sharia because after receiving a violent blow with an iron bar, the animal`s life becomes unstable and could die before slaughtering in case the blow hit its respiratory center or the butcher didn`t slaughter it instantly. In this case, this animal becomes forbidden because it takes the ruling of dead meat for Allah, the Almighty Says (what means): “Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah. that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety.“ {Al-Mai`dah/3}. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

Iftaa` Board

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Chief Justice, Izz Al-Deen Al-Tamimi

       Dr. Mohamoud Al-Bakheet

Dr. Yousef Gheezaan

 Dr. Umar Al-Ashkhaar

     Dr. Mahmoud Al-Sartawi

Sheikh Saeid Hijjawi

            Sheikh Mahmoud Shwayaat

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible for the guardian, or the father of the child to hit the latter in order to teach him/her good manners?

It is permissible for the guardian to hit his/her child for teaching them good manners once they become ten years old provided that it is done mildly, harmlessly and without intimidation. Actually, such punishment is to be employed gradually i.e. after: asking, warning, and scolding. As for the teacher, he isn`t allowed to hit the student unless the latter`s father approves of it, and it is done according to necessity without intimidation, or harm.

Is it permissible to pay the Zakah (obligatory charity) for settling the debt of a deceased relative?

It is impermissible to pay the Zakah for settling the debt of the deceased since Zakah is paid to eligible recipients who are alive. As for the debts of the deceased, they are to be settled from the estate before dividing it amongst the heirs, but if the deceased didn`t leave an estate, then it is desirable for his/her heirs to settle those debts if they can afford them. And Allah Knows Best.

Does ill-gotten money hinder the answering of the Du`a(supplication) and the means of subsistence?

Sins hinder the answering of the Du`a, and deprive the sinner from means of subsistence; whereas, acts of obedience facilitate making a living. Allah, The Almighty, says in the Holy Quran: “And for those who fear God, He (ever) prepares a way out. And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine.”{At-Talaq/2-3}.

A woman died at the age of ninety. Her living children are nine: two sons and two daughters. The youngest of her grandchildren, from her son who passed away one year before her, is aged thirty-two. Are these grandchildren entitled to the obligatory bequest although they are aged thirty-two and above?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
A Muslim isn`t obligated to leave a bequest to his grandchildren whose father had passed away; rather, this act is recommended. Therefore, if he left a bequest whereby they get less than one third of the estate then Allah will reward him for that. However, if he left no bequest for them then they get nothing because their paternal uncles are alive and they are closer to the deceased and more entitled to inherit him. This is the position of the four schools of Islamic jurisprudence. However, the Personal Status Law didn`t adopt this position; rather, it gave them the same amount to which their father is entitled when alive but his father or mother are dead; provided that it doesn`t exceed one third of the estate. Therefore, we advise them (Grandchildren) to relinquish this share of the inheritance. If not, then we advise their paternal uncles to overlook the amounts taken from their shares and given to their paternal nephews. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.