Articles

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 ruling on offering a sheep as a sacrifice (Udhiyah) if its fat-tail is sound, except that when it was young, the tip of its fat-tail was cut so that it would grow larger? And what is the ruling in case of doubt regarding the amount that was cut?

 
In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Cutting a minor, insignificant portion from the tip of an animal's fat-tail (al-alyah) to encourage it to grow larger is not considered a defect, and it does not prevent the animal from being valid for sacrifice (Udhiyah).
 
It is stated in Tuhfat al-Muhtaj (Vol.9/P.352): "There is some scholarly deliberation regarding the common practice of cutting the tip of the fat-tail so that it grows larger. It could potentially be likened to a partial cut of the ear—supported by the jurists' general rule: 'even if it is a small amount.' On the other hand, if it is an exceptionally minor cut, it might have no effect on validity. This is explicitly clarified by the juristic exception to the general rule, which states that cutting a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm. This latter view is more well-founded.
 
Furthermore, I found that some scholars investigated this matter and concluded: 'It should not affect validity if a custom-sanctioned portion of its fat-tail is removed during its youth to make it grow larger and look better, just as castrating a male animal causes no harm.' However, applying this unconditionally contradicts the established texts of the jurists, as understood from what I have laid out; thus, the restriction I specified is what must be relied upon."
 
Similarly, it is mentioned in Nihayat al-Muhtaj (8/135): "If a small piece is cut from the fat-tail to help it grow larger, the most well-founded view is that the sacrifice remains valid, as was given in a formal legal verdict (Fatwa) by my father [Shihab al-Din al-Ramli], may Allah be pleased with him. This is proven by the jurists' maxim: 'The loss of a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm.'"
 
In cases where there is doubt as to whether the portion cut was large or small, the animal is still deemed valid for sacrifice. It is noted in Hashiyat al-Shubramallisi ‘ala Nihayat al-Muhtaj (Vol.8/P.135):
 
"This matter requires careful consideration, but the closer and more correct view is that it is valid. This is because soundness is the default state for the animal from which the piece was cut, and it aligns with what usually occurs—namely, that the part removed to help the fat-tail grow larger is naturally very small." And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

Is the Saying "Whatever is Taken by the Sword of Shyness is Forbidden" an Authentic Ḥadīth?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The saying "Whatever is taken by the sword of shyness is forbidden" is not an authentic ḥadīth, though its underlying meaning is sound. The established sharʿī principle is that a Muslim's wealth is not lawful for anyone to take except with his wholehearted consent, as Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly, but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent." [Al-Nisā/ 29] And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Listen to me and you will live well: do not wrong others, do not wrong others, do not wrong others. Indeed, a man's wealth is not lawful except with his full, willing consent." (Reported by Aḥmad in his Musnad.) Whatever is taken through the pressure of shyness or social embarrassment runs directly counter to genuine, wholehearted consent.
The jurists have explicitly stated that whatever is taken by means of the "sword of shyness" carries the same ruling as that which is taken by coercion — it must be returned to its rightful owner.
Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states in al-Fatāwā al-Kubrā (Vol.3/P.30): "Do you not see the reported scholarly consensus that whoever has something taken from him purely out of shyness, without his genuine consent, does not pass ownership of it to the one who took it? They reasoned that this constitutes a form of coercion through the 'sword of shyness,' comparable to coercion at the point of an actual sword. Indeed, many people would rather submit to the literal sword and endure the pain of its wound than submit to this first kind of coercion, out of fear for their dignity and standing — which people of sound judgment hold dear and guard most fiercely." And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Is it permissible to divide a single Sa‘ of Zakat al-Fitr—or its equivalent value in cash—among more than one poor person?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Zakat al-Fitr is estimated at one Sa‘ per person, but the number of people to whom this Sa‘ can be given has not been specified. For this reason, it is permissible to distribute a single Sa‘ among more than one poor person. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling on selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) described with specific attributes and authorizing an agent to slaughter them?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) that are described with specific attributes is permissible. This falls under the category of a salam sale (forward sale) if conducted using the terminology of salam, and under the category of a regular sale if not using the terminology of salam.
 
As for authorizing the seller to slaughter the sacrificial animal, the basic principle is that it is permissible, because the agent (wakil) stands in the place of the principal (muwakkil) in achieving his objective. This is a contract that the principal (the buyer) is entitled to perform himself, so authorizing another (the seller) to do so on his behalf is valid.
 
However, it is a condition for authorization to slaughter that the intention (niyyah) is present either at the time of slaughter or at the time of handing over the sacrificial animal to the agent. The basic principle is that the sacrificial animal must be specifically designated, as it is an act of worship. It is not required to designate it at the time of slaughter; rather, it is valid to do so before that.
 
It is permissible for the principal either to delegate the intention to the agent or to formulate it himself when authorizing the agent to slaughter. However, the sacrificial animal must be designated, even if at the time of slaughter, by the agent.
 
It is obligatory to designate the sacrificial animals so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own specific animal. Therefore, charitable organizations and companies must take this into consideration and establish a specific mechanism that ensures no mixing of sacrificial animals occurs, so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own designated animal. And Allah Almighty knows best.