Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(277): "Ruling on Exploiting Endowed Land"

Date Added : 22-05-2019

Resolution No.(277)(11/2019), By The Board of Iftaa', Researches and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Exploiting Endowed Land"

Date: (11/ Ramadan/1440 AH), corresponding to (16/5/2019 AD).

 

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds.

On its sixth session held on the above date, the Board reviewed the letter (4/2/3/2905) of His Excellency Minister of Awqaf, Dr. Abulbasal. It states that the endowed land No.(45) of Um Attieh area (59) in Salt city, estimated at (320 Meters), was donated in 2000 for the purpose of building a mosque. However, building the mosque on the above land became impossible because it violates the effective laws and regulations of constructing mosques, the endowed land itself is small and three mosques were built in the same area. Knowing that the above land is commercial, what is the ruling of Sharia on investing it in favor of endowment programs by building a small Musala on part of it instead of a mosque?

After deliberating, the Board arrived at the following decision:

According to scholars, it is allowed for the endowment (Waqf) administrator to take the necessary steps to achieve the interest expected from the Waqf and preserve its benefits. Ibn Qhodamah says: "If the Waqf was damaged and its benefits were stopped….for example, a mosque that people have deserted or was too small and impossible to expand, or was expanded to the extent that it became impossible to maintain save by selling part of it. In this case, it is permissible to sell part of it to maintain the rest." Moreover, if it wasn`t possible to benefit from it at all, then selling it is permissible. In a narration by Abi Dawoud, Ahmad said: "If there were two valuable pieces of wood in a mosque, then it is permissible to sell them in order to maintain the mosque." {Al-Moghni, vol.6/pp.28}.

In conclusion, it is permissible to invest the above land to achieve the purpose for which it was endowed without any stoppage or delay. This is provided that the revenue is spent in favor of the mosque itself since the stipulation of the endower has the same binding force as the text of Sharia. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

 

Chairperson of Iftaa` Board,

Grand Mufti of Jordan,

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh

Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh, Member

Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat, Member

Sheikh Sa`eid Al-Hijjawi, Member

Judge Khalid Woraikat, Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member

Prof. Adam Nooh Al-Qhodaat/Member

Prof. Abdullah al-Fawaaz/Member

Dr Mohammad Khair al-Esa/Member

Dr. Rashaad Al-Kelaani/Member

 

 

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

My mother inherited a share from my late father`s and brother`s property; however, the inheritance, a piece of land, wasn`t divided amongst the eligible heirs because it was hard to sell. While alive, she used say that she wanted these shares to be distributed amongst the poor and needy. What is the ruling of Sharia on this?

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and may His Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.
This is a will, so we have to consider the estate she had left behind. If the piece of land, which she had willed, equals one third and less of her estate, then the will must be executed. But, if it is more than one third, then one third must be executed and the rest of the estate, if the heirs agreed, is to be executed  as part of her will as well. However, if the heirs haven`t approved of that, then what remains, excluding that one third, must be divided amongst them according to the Islamic rules of inheritance. Moreover, we recommend that you pay a visit to the Iftaa` Department to make things clearer for you. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

When the soul leaves the body, does it hear and see? And where does the soul go?

The important thing is that the soul departs while its owner is a believing, repentant Muslim, as this is a good ending. As for the details, they are lengthy. The grave is either a garden from the gardens of Paradise or a pit from the pits of Hellfire. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

What is the ruling on having brotherly ties between a strange man and a strange woman, and is the former considered a Mahram (unmarriageable) to the latter?

Such a relation between a strange man and a strange woman is forbidden in Islam because it involves forbidding what Allah has allowed by marriage, and allowing what Allah has forbidden such as looking and the like. Such a relation doesn`t render any act lawful between them, thus they are forbidden to look at each other, have a Khulwah (seclusion), and travel together.

What is the best charity to offer on behalf of the deceased? Is it giving food, reciting Quran, giving money or supplicating? What is the best charity to offer on behalf of dead father and dead husband? What is the best continuous charity to offer on behalf of the deceased?

Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. The deceased benefits from every righteous deed offered on his/her behalf, be that continuous charity, reciting Quran or a pious son praying for him/her. However, the best righteous deed is performing Haj and Omrah on their behalf especially if he/she hadn`t performed that ritual for it remains a debt on them. The evidence on this is that Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported: A man came to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and said: "Messenger of Allah, my mother has died (in a state) that she had to observe fasts of a month (of Ramadan). Should I complete (them) on her behalf? Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Would you not pay the debt if your mother had died (without paying it)? He said: Yes. He (the Holy Prophet) said: The debt of Allah deserves more that it should be paid."{Related by Muslim}. And Allah the Almighty knows best.