Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(313): "Ruling on Using the Land Endowed for a Masjid for another Purpose"

Date Added : 05-07-2022

Resolution No.(313) ,(10/2022):

"Ruling on Using the Land Endowed for a Masjid for another Purpose" 

Date (2 of Thilgidah, 1443 AH), corresponding to (2/6/2022 AD).

 

Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

In its 8th meeting held on the above date, the Board of Iftaa` reviewed the letter sent from His Excellency, the Minister of Awqaf, Holy Sites and Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh. It read as follows:

We would like your Grace to clarify the ruling on burying someone in the yard of a Masjid that was built on the piece of land No.(6012), area No.(75), Naqib Ad-Daboor of Salt lands. The children of (H.M.K) dug a grave in the Masjid`s yard, owned originally by Montaha Hiari, and buried him there on 22nd of April, 2022.

After thorough deliberations, the Board decided what follows:

It isn`t permissible to use the land originally endowed as a Masjid for a purpose other than that for which it was endowed in the first place. In principle, an endowment can`t be sold, given as a present or inherited. Rather, it should be used for what it was endowed in the first place. Ibn Umar (May Allah Be Pleased with them): Umar bin Khattab got some land in Khaibar and he went to the Prophet (PBUH) to consult him about it saying: "O Allah's Messenger (PBUH) I got some land in Khaibar better than which I have never had, what do you suggest that I do with it?" The Prophet (PBUH) said: "If you like you can give the land as endowment and give its fruits in charity." So `Umar gave it in charity as an endowment on the condition that it would not be sold nor given to anybody as a present and not to be inherited, but its yield would be given in charity to the poor people, to the Kith and kin, for freeing slaves, for Allah's Cause, to the travelers and guests; and that there would be no harm if the guardian of the endowment ate from it according to his need with good intention, and fed others without storing it for the future." {Agreed upon}.

Jurists stated that the condition of the donor is considered and it isn`t permissible to violate it. Imam Al-Shirbini, a Shafie, stated: "In principle the conditions of the donor are considered as long as they don`t violate the purpose for which the endowment was endowed in the first place." {Moghni Al-Mohtaj, Vol.3: Page 540}.

The Masjid as well as all its facilities and spaces should be used only for the benefit of the Masjid itself and burying dead in its yards violates this purpose. Consequently, it isn`t permissible to bury the dead in the land endowed for a Masjid since doing so is a violation and usurpation of the endowment itself. However, if a dead person is buried there then the body must be removed to a public cemetery to preserve the purpose for which the land was endowed in the first place. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

 

 

Grand Mufti of Jordan, Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh

Prof. Mahmoud Al-Sartawi/ Member

Prof. Amjad Rasheed/ Member

Prof. Adam Nooah Al-Qhodah/ Member

Dr. Jameel Khatatbeh/ Member

Judge Dr. Samer Al-Kobbaj/ Member

Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat/ Member

Dr. Mohammad al-Zou`bi/ Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Can I start fasting based on the moon sighting of another country?

You must follow the moon sighting of the country you are in.

Is it permissible to purchase the Udhiyah on installments?

It is permissible to purchase the sacrificial animal (uḍḥiyyah) on installments or by borrowing its price. However, it is not recommended for the poor to do so, because they are not required to offer a sacrifice, and Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. If doing so would lead to negligence in providing for one's dependents (nafaqah wājibah), then giving precedence to obligatory maintenance over borrowing to buy the sacrifice is appropriate. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "It is sufficient sin for a person to withhold food from those whom he is responsible to support."
 
Furthermore, the sacrifice is valid from one who has a debt, but it is preferable (awlā) to repay the debt first, especially if the debt is due immediately (ḥāll). And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on the ablution of one who washes his arms from the wrist to the elbows?

In the school of Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him), washing the arms (hands) is achieved by washing the arms completely, from the fingertips to the elbows. Washing only the palms at the beginning is insufficient, as washing them at the beginning is a Sunnah, but after washing the face, it becomes obligatory (fard). The person performing ablution must wash his palms along with the arms after washing the face. If he does not wash his palms, his ablution is invalid and not correct. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

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.