Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(291): "Ruling on Transferring Donations in Favor of Another Mosque"

Date Added : 12-08-2020

 

Resolution No. (291) (11/2020) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Transferring Donations in Favor of another Mosque "

Date: (16th of Dhu al-Hijjah, 1441 AH), corresponding to (6/8/2020 AD).

 

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 its 10nth meeting held on the above date, the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies reviewed the letter No. (2/1/1/15576) sent from the Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Sites about allowing the withdrawal of funds from the accounts of the mosque`s working construction committees entrusted with collecting donations as well as the non-working committees relieved from this duty. The purpose is paying mosques` electricity and water bills and installing solar systems for them, in addition to covering other expenses. Could Your Grace clarify the ruling of Sharia on this?

In principle, a donation must be spent according to the intention of the donor since the latter entrust the Mosques` Construction Committees do so. However, when a mosque has a surplus of donations, then there is no sin in transferring it to the benefit of another mosque, of course, after approval of the Awqaf Council. It is stated in the Hanbali book [Khash-shaf al-Qhinaa`, vol.4/pp..295]: "When there is a surplus in a mosque`s items (lamp oil, rugs and the like) and it was sold, then it is permissible to transfer the money to the benefit of another mosque for it will be spent for the same purpose." And Allah the Almighty Knows Best. 

 

 Chairperson of Iftaa` Board,

Grand Mufti of Jordan,

Dr. Abdulkareem al-Khasawneh

Dr. Mahmoud al-Sartawi, Member

Sheikh Sa`eid Al-Hijjawi, Member

Dr. Majed al-Darawsheh, Member

Dr. Ahmad al-Hasanat, Member

Judge Khalid Woraikat, Member 

Prof. Adam Nooh Al-Qhodaat/Member

Dr. Amjad Rasheed/Member

Dr. Jamil Khatatbeh/Member

Dr. Mohammad Younis Al-Zou`bi/ Member

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the Sharia basis of the Udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The Sharia basis of the Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) is firmly established through the Quran, the Sunnah, and the Consensus (Ijma') of the Muslims:
1. Evidence from the Holy Quran
Allah the Exalted says {what means}: "And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good." [Al-Hajj/36]. He also says {what means}: "So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone]" [Al-Kawthar/2]. According to the most well-known scholarly interpretations of this verse, "prayer" refers to the Eid prayer, and "sacrifice" refers to the slaughtering of the Udhiyah.
2. Evidence from the Sunnah
Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The first thing we start with on this day of ours is to pray, then we return and sacrifice. Whoever does that has followed our Sunnah, and whoever slaughters before [the prayer], it is merely meat he has provided for his family; it is not part of the ritual sacrifice in any way" [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim].
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet ﷺ sacrificed two white rams with horns. He slaughtered them with his own hand, mentioned the name of Allah (Tasmiyah), and said the Takbir" [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim].
3. Evidence from Scholarly Consensus (Ijma')
The Muslims have reached a unanimous consensus on the Sharia basis of the Udhiyah, and no one among the scholars has disagreed with this. [Al-Sherbini, Mughni al-Muhtaj, Vol.6/P.122].And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the Islamic ruling on breaking the bones of the 'aqīqah?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is Sunnah not to break the bones of the 'aqīqah. Rather, each bone should be separated at its joint — as a good omen and expression of hope for the soundness and wholeness of the newborn's limbs. However, if one does break the bones, it is not considered disliked (makrūh) — it is simply regarded as contrary to what is preferable (khilāf al-awlā). And Allah Almighty knows best.

What are the legal and religious consequences for a charitable organization in the event that a sacrificial animal is damaged or spoiled after slaughter?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
Charitable organizations entrusted with slaughtering sacrificial animals (uḍḥiyyah) and distributing their meat on behalf of their owners are obligated to safeguard the meat from spoilage, damage, theft, and any other harm. This is because such organizations act as agents (wukalā') on behalf of those offering the sacrifice, and an agent holds what is entrusted to them in trust (amānah) — whether they receive a wage for their work or act on a voluntary basis.
If the sacrificial animal is damaged after slaughter during the processes of packaging, transportation, or storage due to negligence or oversight — whether on the part of the organization's own staff overseeing the operation, or on the part of third parties contracted by the organization such as transport or shipping companies — then liability falls upon the negligent party, who is required to compensate for the value of the sacrifice. It is not permissible to cover such compensation from the organization's other donor funds.
However, if the damage to the sacrificial animal occurs without any negligence in its preservation and storage on the part of any party involved in the transportation, shipping, or storage process, and is instead attributable to force majeure circumstances beyond their control, then no financial liability is borne by any party in such a case. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on mentioning Allah`s name upon slaughtering an animal?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is Sunnah for the slaughterer to say at the time of sacrificing the Udhiyah: (Bismillah - In the name of Allah); due to the saying of the Almighty: "So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned" [Al-An'am/118]. It is not obligatory; if one leaves it out intentionally or forgetfully, the consumption of the meat remains permissible. And Allah the Almighty knows best.