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

What is the ruling on attending relatives` parties held in public halls, or hotels since if we don`t, we will be subjected to their admonition?

If such parties involve mixing between men and women, or forbidden acts such as listening to songs with sinful lyrics, then attending them is forbidden from the view point of Sharia since people`s admonition is nothing compared to Allah`s, The Almighty`s, wrath.

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.

What is the ruling on using moisturizing creams on the skin during the day in Ramadan?

Using moisturizing creams on the skin does not break the fast because they do not enter the body cavity (jauf). Any absorption that occurs through the skin pores does not count as entering through an open passage.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on performing prayer on the upper floors of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Facing the actual structure of the Ka‘bah (‘ayn al-Ka‘bah) is one of the conditions for the validity of the prayer. The scholars have clarified what is meant by "the actual structure of the Ka‘bah."
Imam ash-Sharwānī (raḥimahullāh) said: "What is meant by its ‘ayn (actual structure) is its physical body, or the airspace directly aligned with it — if the person praying is not inside it. But if he is inside it, then the airspace alone does not suffice; rather, the actual physical structure must be faced, such that even if he faces a projecting part of it measuring roughly two-thirds of a dhirā‘ (cubit) or more, this would be sufficient." [Ḥāshiyat ash-Sharwānī ‘alā Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj, Vol.1/P.484]
Sheikh al-Qulyūbī (raḥimahullāh) said: "Unlike one who prays outside it — i.e., outside the Ka‘bah — for him the airspace (directly above it) suffices, even if he is higher than it, or even if he is at the location where it (hypothetically) has been demolished." [Ḥāshiyat al-Qulyūbī ‘alā Sharḥ al-Minhāj,  Vol.1/P.154]
Accordingly, the prayer is valid on the upper floors of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, even though these floors are higher than the roof of the Ka‘bah itself. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.