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First Master`s Dissertation in Management about the Iftaa` Department
Author : Presenter Wafa` Al-Arrori
Date Added : 02-01-2023

First Master`s Dissertation in Management about the Iftaa` Department

 

Any master`s student or researcher has the right to excel with regards to conducting research and scoring colorful marks. I have put careful thought when choosing a title for this dissertation and I was lucky to choose the General Iftaa` Department of Jordan, which was from a list of institutions, to conduct my study. I found that it represents a unique case since the management of this renowned religious institution accepts objective suggestions and strives to upgrade its performance on the individual and collective levels, in addition to working hard for developing its electronic systems to keep pace with the times. Those in charge of this institution are trustworthy and demonstrate the highest degrees of reliability, honesty, response, and secrecy-by virtue of their nature and heavy responsibility they shoulder-therefore, their electronic requirements will identify with their innate characteristics. This enables the researcher to look for weaknesses, if any, and develop suitable proposals to overcome them.

In compliance with this verse whereas Allah The Most Exalted, Said (What means): {Now hath come unto you a clear (Sign) from your Lord! Give just measure and weight, nor withhold from the people the things that are their due; and do no mischief on the earth after it has been set in order: that will be best for you, if ye have Faith.}[Al-A'raf/85].  As well as it is a confirmation of what Prophet (PBUH) in a sound narration that states: "He who does not thank people does not thank God.}, it is my duty to thank the General Iftaa` Department represented by the venerable Grand Mufti of Jordan Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh who has been very supportive of me and provided whatever I needed to complete the study in a manner that depicts reality without embellishing."

I also extend my thanks to the muftis and the members of the administrative staff for their kind treatment, intellectual and moral maturity, which made me happy for having chosen this Department for my studies in the first place. In fact, this study is entitled "The Effect of the Quality of the Electronic Services on Perceived Expectations in the General Iftaa` Department of Jordan."

The General Iftaa` Department, which is characterized by the quality of its electronic services and the ease of dealing with its electronic windows, has become the focus of attention for whoever seeks fatwa from within and outside the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Taking the browsing times into consideration, a great number of people have visited the Department`s website which also attracts researchers and seekers of realistic fatwas. In fact, it is one of the top websites at the level of the Muslim states.

Most of the Department`s members are satisfied with the electronic applications they deal with; whether about management of finances or following up fatwa requests.

On the personal level, I was overwhelmed with joy while conducting the study and extracting the findings. This study is dissimilar to many former studies in the sense that it highlights the positive side of the services provided by the Department and making it a standard case to be taken as a model.

Another aspect that increased my sense of happiness and confidence is that this study is the first of its kind to address a topic in the field of "Business Management" in the General Iftaa` Department of Jordan and haven`t explored the core of the Department`s function.

I`m confident that the Department will adopt my study`s recommendations following the words of Umar ibn Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) who said: "May Allah have mercy on the one who shows me my faults."

Again, I extend my deepest thanks to the Grand Mufti and the staff members of the Iftaa` Department.

 

 

 

 

 

The published article reflects the opinion of its author

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the age of the Aqiqa or the Udhiyah?

 
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The minimum age for a sacrificial animal (Udhiyah) and the birth sacrifice (Aqiqa) is as follows:
 
Camels: Five years old, entering their sixth year.
 
Cattle and Goats: Two years old, entering their third year.
 
Sheep: One year old, entering their second year; however, it is permissible for a sheep to be six months old provided it is large in size and plump.
 
And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on performing ṭawāf on the upper floors of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, given that these floors are situated above the level of the Ka‘bah, and that the one performing ṭawāf passes by certain barriers, such as pillars and walls, during the ṭawāf?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
There are numerous conditions for the validity of ṭawāf (circumambulation around the Ka‘bah), among them: that the one performing ṭawāf be inside the Masjid (al-Masjid al-Ḥarām) — even if the Masjid has been expanded, so long as the expansion does not extend out into al-ḥill (land outside the sanctuary boundaries). It suffices for the ṭawāf to be performed in the airspace of the Masjid or upon its roof, even if that roof is higher than the Ka‘bah (the House) itself.
Al-Khaṭīb ash-Shirbīnī (raḥimahullāh) said: "It [ṭawāf] is valid upon the roof of the Masjid, even if the roof of the Masjid is higher than the House — just as prayer [is valid] upon Mount Abū Qubays despite its elevation above the House. This is the relied-upon (mu‘tamad) position." [Mughnī al-Muḥtāj, Vol.2/P.246]
The validity of the tawaf isn`t affected by the pillars and walls standing between the one performing ṭawāf and the House, since the condition is only that the person performing ṭawāf be within the boundaries of the Masjid and outside the boundaries of the Ka‘bah itself.
Ash-Shirbīnī said: "It [ṭawāf] is valid inside the Masjid, even if it is expanded, and even if a barrier stands between the one circumambulating and the House — such as a water-supply structure (saqāyah) or pillars (sawārī)." [Mughnī al-Muḥtāj, Vol. 2/P.246]
Accordingly, ṭawāf performed on the upper floors is valid, and the presence of barriers such as pillars and walls during the ṭawāf does not affect its validity. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is it permissible to offer an Udhiyah on behalf of the deceased?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial animal) on behalf of a deceased person is permissible. This is the official position of the Hanbali school (as stated in Kashshaf al-Qina’ by al-Bahuti,Vol.6/P.428) and was also upheld by the prominent Shafi'i scholar Al-’Abbadi (mentioned in Bidayat al-Muhtaj by Ibn Qadi Shuhbah,Vol. 4/P.358). It has likewise been narrated as a valid view among some Maliki and Hanafi scholars.
 
In fact, Imam Abu Dawud dedicated an entire chapter in his Sunan collection entitled, "Chapter on Sacrificing on Behalf of the Deceased." In it, he recorded a narration from Hanash, who said: "I saw 'Ali sacrificing two rams, so I asked him, 'What is this?' He replied, 'The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded me to offer a sacrifice on his behalf, so I am sacrificing on his behalf.'"
 
Imam Abu Dawud also narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Allah, this is from You, for You, and on behalf of Muhammad and his Ummah (community). In the Name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest," and he then slaughtered the animal.
 
The textual evidence here lies in the fact that our Master, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), offered a sacrifice on behalf of his entire community—and it is well-established that his community includes those who have already passed away.
 
Furthermore, there is an abundance of sacred texts demonstrating that the rewards of righteous deeds reach the deceased. For instance, it is permissible to fast on behalf of a deceased person who passed away with missed obligatory fasts, and it is equally permissible to perform Hajj on their behalf, both of which are firmly established in authentic Hadiths. Therefore, if the reward of fasting (which is a purely physical act of worship) and Hajj (which is a joint physical and financial act of worship) can reach the deceased, then the reward of an Udhiyah reaches them with greater reason (by way of A Fortiori argument). This is because it is a purely financial act of worship, falling under the general category of charity (Sadaqah).
 
Additionally, scholars have reached a consensus (Ijma') that the rewards of charity reach the deceased, and since the Udhiyah is inherently an act of charity, it falls under the same ruling. Consequently, based on all the aforementioned evidence, we hold the view that offering a sacrifice on behalf of the deceased is entirely permissible. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

Is an elderly or chronically ill person required to pay additional fidyah if they delay it beyond the first year?

An elderly person or someone permanently unable to fast must pay fidyah by feeding one needy person for each missed day.
However, if they delay paying fidyah beyond the first year, no additional fidyah is required.
This differs from someone who delays making up missed Ramadan fasts (qada) without a valid excuse until the next Ramadan begins—such a person is required to pay an additional fidyah for the delay.