Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No. (259): "The Amount of Zakat-ul-Fitr for the Year 1439"

Date Added : 24-05-2018

Resolution No. (259)(12/2018) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"The Amount of Zakat-ul-Fitr for the Year 1439"

Date: 8/Ramadan/1439 AH, corresponding to 24/5/2018 AD.

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.

On the above date, the Board reviewed the amount of Zakat-ul-Fitrfor the year (1439 AH), corresponding to (24/5/2018), and after deliberations it decided the following:

Zakat-ul-Fitr is a religious obligation and a manifestation of social solidarity which characterizesour tolerant Sharia; particularly in the blessed month of Ramadan; the month of good deeds and kindness. Therefore, it is an obligation on every Muslim who owns extra provisions beyond his need as well as the need of everyone in his family on the day and night of Ed-ul-Fitr. In other words, one father should pay for himself and for whom he supports, even for his baby who is born before the sunset of the last day of Ramadan as well as his poor parents whom he supports.

Ibn `Umar narrated: "Allah's Messenger (PBUH) made it incumbent on all the slave or free Muslims, male or female, to pay one Sa' of dates or barley as Zakat-ul-Fitr." {Related by Bukhari}.

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (RAA) narrated: “We used to offer it (Zakat-ul-fitr) during the lifetime of the Prophet as one sa’ of food or one sa' of dates, or one sa' of barley or one sa' of raisins’’ {Agreed upon}.

Therefore, the amount of Zakat-ul-Fitr is one Sa` of food. {Sa` equals 2.5 Kgs.}. In the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the common food is wheat. Therefore, Zakat-ul-Fitr is (2.5 Kgs.) of wheat on every person. It is also permissible to give one Sa` of rice since it is common food. Moreover, it is permissible to give thevalue of this amount in cash.

The Board estimates the value of the Sa` from the common food in Jordan as (1800 F.), and whoever wishes to pay more shall have a greater reward from Allah, The Almighty.

The preferred time for giving Zakat-ul-Fitr is between the sunset of the last day of Ramadan and the E`ed prayer. It is also permissible to give it from the beginning of Ramadan.

Nowadays, it is the duty of every Muslimto observe this ritual (Zakat-ul-Fitr) forit purifies the soul from any indecent act. Therefore, it must be given on behalf of the child, who isn`t obliged to fast, as well as the sick who is unable to fast. Ibn ’Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) narrated: "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) enjoined Zakat-ul-fitr on the one who fasts (i.e. fasted during the month of Ramadan) to purify him from any indecent act or speech and for the purpose of providing food for the needy “ {Abu Dawood}. Giving it to the poor makes them self-sufficient on the day of E`ed. Therefore, a Muslim should give it willingly and kindly.

The Board estimates the ransom (Saum Fidyah) for breaking fastby those unable to fast due to old age or sickness (people exempted from fasting), as (1 JD at the minimum) for each missed day, and whoever wishes to give more shall receive a greater reward from Allah, The Almighty.

We pray that Allah, The Almighty, Accepts our acts of devotion and Erases our sins. And Allah Knows Best.

The Iftaa` Board (2017)

Chairman: Dr Mohammad Al-Khalayleh, Grand Mufti of Jordan

Sheikh Abdulkareem Khasawneh/ Member

Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat/Member

Prof.Abdulnaser Abulbasal/Member

Dr.Moh.Khair Al-Esa/ Member

Dr. Majid Drawsheh/Member

Sheikh Sa`eid Hijawi/Member           

Judge Khalid Woraikat/Member

Dr. Mohammad al-Zou`bi/Member   

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it valid to have Suhoor before sleeping, even if it is before midnight?

Suhoor refers to the pre-dawn meal eaten after midnight to help a Muslim endure fasting. The closer it is to Fajr, the better.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "My Ummah will remain upon goodness as long as they hasten to break the fast and delay Suhoor." [Narrated by Ahmad]
This is because delaying Suhoor makes it more effective in providing strength for worship. However, if there is a risk of Fajr entering while eating, one should refrain from Suhoor out of caution. 
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt." [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi]

How should I deal with the whispers of the devil with regard to ablution and purity?

Whispers in ablution are from the devil, and so you should take refuge in Allah from the devil`s evil suggestions that aim to distort the religion. Thus, once an organ is completely pure, don`t question its purity since having whispers doesn`t mean that the purity is invalid as it has already been established.

Is it valid for the 'aqīqah to be performed using the newborn child's own wealth?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is not permissible for the guardian to perform the 'aqīqah using the newborn child's own wealth, because the 'aqīqah is a voluntary act of giving (tabarru'), and a guardian is prohibited from making voluntary expenditures from the child's wealth. Should he do so, he becomes financially liable for what he spent. And Allah Almighty knows best.

How is the meat of the 'aqīqah to be distributed?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
If the 'aqīqah is a recommended one (mandūbah), it is obligatory to give some portion of it in charity to the poor — even if the amount is small — with the minimum being approximately half a kilogram of meat.
The most preferable manner of distribution is to divide it into three equal portions, as with the uḍḥiyyah:
 
One third for the guardian and his household to eat from
One third to be given in charity to the poor
One third to be gifted to friends and neighbours, even if they are wealthy
 
It is furthermore more preferable to send the food to the poor already cooked, rather than inviting them to come and eat. And Allah Almighty knows best.