Articles

Statement on the Cultural and Scientific Events
Author : The General Iftaa` Department
Date Added : 18-06-2023

Statement on the Cultural and Scientific Events

 

The General Iftaa` Department keeps track of cultural and scientific events in various fields, especially Sharia because thought, culture and science are at the center of our Arab-Islamic culture, which has paved the way for guiding minds and ordered people to reflect upon this universe. Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "Say: "Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition." {Az-Zumar, 9}. In addition, the first verse revealed to Mohammad was: " Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created-" {Al-Alaq, 1}. This indicates Islam's interest in science, thought and the enlightening minds and hearts.

The Iftaa` Department issued many Fatwas urging Jordanians to pay more attention to mental sciences and raising their level as far as the  scientific field is concerned. It also showed that Islam respects civilized dialogue based on wisdom and beautiful preaching. Allah the Almighty says {What means}: " Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious" {An-Nahil, 125}. Islam also provided ample space for dialogue and constructive criticism, but all of this is conditional on applying the etiquette of civilized disagreement, showing respect to the religious feelings of others, and not tampering with sanctities that enjoy the religious respect of the people. This is since intellectual renewal does not mean challenging beliefs, showing contempt for religions, and questioning them.

 

The Department confirms that this blessed country of ours led by the wise Hashemite leadership, which took the responsibility of showing the luminous image of Islam through "The Amman Message" and respecting faiths through "Kalima Sawa`", is distinguished with authentic culture and constitutional values derived from Islam and represent moderation and rejecting terrorism and extremism. It is not acceptable, no matter what the case maybe, to abuse religions or undermine religious values and constants. We are of the view that holding conferences and seminars that abuse sanctities and undermine intellectual and societal security doesn`t express the acceptable freedom of speech. Rather, this is transgression against others and their values.

 

The Department warns against trials and tribulations and activities that address religious constants for they could be interpreted, or misunderstood in a manner that could undermine the social fabric.

 

May Allah protect Jordan and its Hashemite leadership and may peace and stability prevail in Jordan and other Muslim countries.

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it valid to share in the 'aqīqah by contributing a seventh share of a camel or cow?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
Yes, it is permissible. If a group of people jointly share in the slaughter of a camel or a cow on behalf of seven individuals, this is valid — regardless of whether all of them intend the 'aqīqah, or some intend the 'aqīqah, others the uḍḥiyyah, and others simply the purchase of meat. And Allah Almighty knows best.

Is it permissible to sacrifice imported livestock (Such as Romanian, Australian, etc.)?

 

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
As long as the sheep meets the prescribed Sharia age and is free from disqualifying defects, it is valid for sacrifice regardless of its country of origin. Therefore, it is permissible to offer sacrifices from various sources, such as: Romanian, Australian, Spanish, Indian, Sudanese, local (Baladi) livestock, and others. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on combining (jam‘) and shortening (qaṣr) prayers when travel is repeated on a daily basis?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
A traveler is permitted to avail himself of the concessions of shortening and combining prayers once the distance of his journey reaches (81 km) or more. This is on condition that his journey is a permissible one, and that he begins shortening and combining only after setting out and passing beyond the built-up limits of the city in which he resides, or beyond the administrative boundaries of the area where he lives.
Accordingly, if the distance between one's workplace and one's place of residence reaches the distance upon which the concession of combining and shortening depends, then combining and shortening are permissible once he leaves the built-up area, even if this travel is repeated on a daily basis.
Ash-Shirbīnī (raḥimahullāh) said: "It is permissible to combine Ẓuhr and ‘Aṣr, either as an early combination (taqdīm) in the time of the first, or as a delayed combination (ta'khīr) in the time of the second; and likewise Maghrib and ‘Ishā' — either early, in the time of the first, or delayed, in the time of the second — during a long, permissible journey, in following [the Prophet's practice]. As for the delayed combination, it is established in the two Ṣaḥīḥs from the ḥadīth of Anas and Ibn ‘Umar (raḍiyallāhu ‘anhum). As for the early combination, Ibn Ḥibbān and al-Bayhaqī graded it ṣaḥīḥ from the ḥadīth of Mu‘ādh, and at-Tirmidhī graded it ḥasan." [Quoted with slight abridgment from Mughnī al-Muḥtāj, Vol.1/p.529]
The conditions for combining and shortening have already been explained in Fatwa No. 14 and Fatwa No. 842. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

The imam recited a verse containing a prostration of recitation (*sajdat al-tilāwah*) but did not prostrate. After the imam's *salām*, a follower (*maʾmūm*) performed a prostration of forgetfulness (*sujūd al-sahw*) because the imam had not performed the prostration of recitation. Is it permissible to go against the imam in this way?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
There is no sin on the imam if he omits the prostration of recitation (sujūd al-tilāwah), even deliberately. The maʾmūm (the one following the imam) is obliged to follow the imam in the prayer, so if the imam does not perform the prostration of recitation, it is not permissible for the follower to prostrate, because the imam is appointed only to be followed.
If the follower introduces a prostration after the imam’s salām but before his own salām, in a case where there is no prostration of forgetfulness (sujūd al-sahw), his prayer is invalidated if he knew it to be prohibited. Otherwise, he is excused on account of his ignorance and his prayer is not invalidated.
It is stated in Ḥāshiyat al-Imām al-Jamal ʿalā Fatḥ al-Wahhāb: “His statement: ‘So the omission of the hayʾāt (the non-essential sunnahs of the prayer) is not compensated for by prostration; if one prostrates for any of them deliberately, his prayer is invalidated, unless he is excused due to his ignorance.’”
Since this issue is one that is hidden from the laymen, as it is among the subtleties of knowledge, and the laymen are excused for ignorance of whatever is of such a nature, and their act of obedience is not invalidated because of it, it may be said that the prayer of one who has not acquired knowledge of this issue is not invalidated, with the necessity of learning the rulings remaining. As for after knowing it, the prayer is invalidated. And Allah Almighty knows best.