Board of Ifta’, Islamic Studies and Research:


          The Ifta’ Law number (60) of the year 2006, and the modifying Law number (4) of the year 2009 state that a Board is to be established in the Kingdom and called “Board of Iftaa’, Islamic Studies and Research,” and that the General Mufti (who is now Shaikh Abdel Kareem El-Khasawneh) is the Head of the Board. The following are members:

  1. One judge from the Religious (Sharee’ah) Appeal Court to be named by the Supreme Judge (presently: Judge Wasef Al-Bakry)
  2. One faculty member from a Sharee’ah College in one Government University in Jordan who is a specialist in Islamic Jurisprudence (presently: Dr. Muhammad Al-Qudhah)
  3. Mufti of the Jordanian Military Forces (presently: Dr. Yahya Al-Btoush).
  4. Mufti of the Capital Amman (presently: Dr. Muhammad Al-Zu’bi)
  5. One scholar from the Ministry of Awqaf  and and Islamic Affairs, who is a specialist in the sciences of Jurisprudence and to be named by the minister—presently, Dr. Muhammad Nouh Al-Qudha.
  6. Five scholars specialists in Sharee’h sciences, who are presently:
  • Dr. Ahmad Helayel, the Supreme Judge, Imam of the Royal Court
  • Sheikh Sa’eed Hajjawi
  • Professor Abdel Naser Abu El Basal
  • Dr. Muhammad Al-Khalayleh
  • Dr. Muhammad Khair ‘Eisa

All these are appointed by a decision of the cabinet based on the General Mufti’s nomination. It is a condition that each of them must be a well known scholar who has research and studies in Islamic sciences, and must have had a university degree in Islamic Studies since fifteen years as a minimum.

The Vice President

          The law states that the board elects from among its members a vice president. Presently Dr. Ahmad Helayel has been elected as Vice President.

Board Term

                        The board serves for four years that can be renewed.

            The board conceives the following tasks and rights

  1. Set the general policy of Iftaa’ in the Kingdom.
  2. Oversee general affairs that need Ijtihad, especially in matters that need research and study in jurisprudence doctrines, and issues referred to the department of Iftaa’ by any official party.
  3. Explain the religious stand on emerging issues of public affairs that need Ijtihad (to explain the religious stand on a matter), and on issues that need research and study in jurisprudence doctrines, in addition to issues referred to the department by any official party.
  4. Issue religious answers (fatawa) to questions referred to it.
  5. Revise any draft laws and regulations referred to the Board to determine the religious opinion.
  6. Review scholarly papers presented by Sharee’ah scholars recruited by the Board or by the General Mufti and in accordance with regulations issued for this purpose.
  7. Appoint Muftis in the Department and in governorates as nominated by the General Mufti
  8. The Iftaa’ Board assumes the authorities of the Cabinet in issues related to employees of the General Iftaa’ Department.

Terminating Membership

The membership of any member will terminate in the following cases:

  1. Death
  2. Resignation
  3. Absence from three successive meetings with no acceptable excuse.

Board Meetings and Decisions:

The Board meets once every month at least, and whenever needed, upon an invitation by its president—or the vice if absent. The meeting is legal if two thirds of the members attend with either the president or the vice president. The Board makes decisions by a majority vote and if votes are even, the president’s vote wins.

The Board Secretary:

The Mufti appoints one Mufti to serve as a secretary for the Board. Presently, the secretary is Dr. Jameel Abu Sarah.

 

 

Summarized Fatawaa

Was Prophet Jesus (Peace be upon him) baptized?

It is established that Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth, as was the case with all children of the Children of Israel. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

Is Zakah (obligatory charity) due on owned land?

Zakah is due on the land used as an article of merchandise and was originally bought for that end. Zakah is due on it at the end of every lunar year. Its value is estimated, and (2.5%) of the total value of all such lands owned by the questioner is given as Zakah. However, no Zakah is due on the land used for building a house, or an agricultural purpose.

Is it permissible for a wife to refuse to go to bed with her husband (for sexual intercourse)?

It isn`t permissible for her to do so unless for a sound reason.

My husband wanted to sell a piece of land that was his own, but his father insisted that he transfer the land in his (the father’s) name so that he could sell it at a higher price. Then, my husband and his father would split the price. After my father-in-law sold the land, he denied everything and refused to acknowledge my husband’s right. My father-in-law passed away a year ago, and my husband’s brothers divided the inheritance, refusing to acknowledge that this land was a trust held by their father for my husband until it was sold. Are they sinful for knowingly denying that the land belongs to my husband, and what is the ruling on praying against them?
 
 
 
 
 

All perfect praise be to Alalh, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.
Among the rights of the deceased upon their heirs are: preparing them for burial at death, settling their debts, returning people’s rights to them, executing their will, and then dividing their estate. What was mentioned in the question falls under the rights of others, even if they are among the heirs, and the deceased is not absolved of it unless it is returned to its rightful owners. This is because Allah, Almighty, forbids consuming others' wealth/properties unjustly. However, do not give up on seeking a solution by involving righteous and well - respected individuals who may have influence over them, in the hope that Allah guides them to goodness and correctness. As for supplicating against them, the prayer of the oppressed is not rejected, even if the oppressed person is not a Muslim. And Allah knows best.