Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(214): "The Amount of Zakat-ul-Fitr is (1800) Fils"

Date Added : 05-10-2015

Resolution No.(214) (4/2015), by The Board of Iftaa', Researches and Islamic Studies:

“The Amount of Zakat-ul-Fitr is (1800) Fils and  the Compensation for each Missed Day of Fasting is one JD“

Date: 6/ Ramadan/1436 AH, corresponding to 23/6/2015 AD.

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

The Board of  Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies reviewed, during its session held on the above date, the amount of Zakat-ul-Fitr for this year/2015. After thorough researching and deliberating, it decided the following:

Zakat-ul-Fitr is an Islamic obligation and a reflection of social solidarity, that characterizes our tolerant Sharia; particularly, in the blessed month of  Ramadan; the month of  goodness and kindness. Therefore, it is obligatory  upon every Muslim who owns extra provisions beyond his need as well as the need of everyone in his family on the day and night of  Id-ul-Fitr. In other words, one father should pay for himself and for whom he supports, even for his baby who is born before the sunset of the last day of Ramadan as well as his poor parents whom he supports.

Ibn ’Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) narrated: "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) enjoined the payment of one sa” of dates or one sa' of barley as Zakat-ul-fitr on every Muslim, slave or free, male or female, young or old, and he ordered that it be paid before the people went out to offer the 'Id prayer." { Agreed upon}. Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “We used to offer it (Zakat-ul-fitr) during the lifetime of the Prophet as one sa’ of food or one sa' of dates, or one sa' of barley or one sa' of raisins’’ {Agreed upon}.

Therefore, the amount of Zakat-ul-Fitr is one sa` of food; the sa` equals (2.5 Kgs.), given by a Muslim from what the people of his country eat the most. In the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the common food is wheat; therefore, Zakat-ul-Fitr is (2.5 Kgs.) of wheat on every Muslim person. It is also permissible to give one sa`of rice since it is also from the common food of the Jordanians. Moreover, it is permissible to give the value of this amount in currency. The Board estimates the value of the sa` from the common food in Jordan as (1800) fils, and whoever wishes to pay more  shall have a greater reward from Allah, The Almighty.

The preferred time for giving Zakat-ul-Fitr is between the sunset of the last day of Ramadan and the E`ed prayer. It is also permissible to give it from the beginning of Ramadan.

Nowadays, it is imperative that Muslims observe this ritual (Zakat-ul-Fitr) since it purifies the soul of the giver. Therefore, it must be given on behalf of the child, who isn`t obliged to fast, as well as the sick who is unable to fast. Ibn ’Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) narrated: "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) enjoined Zakat-ul-fitr on the one who fasts (i.e. fasted during the month of Ramadan) to purify him from any indecent act or speech and for the purpose of providing food for the needy.“ {Abu Dawood}. Giving it to the poor makes them self-sufficient on the day of E`ed; therefore , a Muslim must give it willingly and kindly.

Moreover, the Board of Iftaa` is of the view that one who is unable to fast in Ramadan due to an incurable disease or old age must offer one JD as a compensation for each day of fasting that he missed. And whoever gives more shall receive a greater reward from Allah. We pray that Allah, The Almighty Accepts our acts of worship and Forgives our sins. And Allah Knows Best.

The Board of Iftaa`

The Grand Mufti of Jordan / His Eminence Sheikh AbdulKareem al-Khasawneh / Chairman of the Iftaa` Board

Prof. Ahmad Hilayel / Vice-Chairman of the Iftaa` Board

Prof. Hail Abdul Hafeez / Member

Prof. Abdulnasser Abulbasal / Member

Dr. Yahia al-Botoosh / Member

Sheikh Sae`id Hijjawi / Member

Dr. Wasif al-Bakhri / Member

Prof. Mohammad al-Qhodat / Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh / Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Esa / Member

Dr. Mohammad  al-Z`obi / Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on someone who possesses gold with the intention of saving/hoarding it, and owns nothing else — is he obligated to sell a portion of it in order to pay the zakāh due on it?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Zakāh becomes immediately obligatory on cash, and likewise on gold — that which is not designated for a woman's personal adornment— once both reach the niṣāb (minimum threshold liable for zakah) and a full ḥawl (lunar year) has passed over them. It is not permissible to delay payment when it is genuinely possible to pay — meaning, when the wealth and the eligible recipients are both available. It is stated in Mughnī al-Muḥtāj (Vol.2/p.129): "Zakāh is obligatory immediately once it becomes feasible to pay it, meaning when the wealth and the eligible recipients are both present."
The one paying zakāh must discharge the obligatory zakāh due on saved (hoarded) gold either from the gold itself, or from its equivalent monetary value, in the event that no other funds are available — since paying from the gold itself is the original default (al-aṣl). It becomes permissible to pay from other funds instead only because zakāh is built upon the principle of ease and leniency, as stated in Asnā al-Maṭālib (Vol.1/p.366): "When a full ḥawl has elapsed on wealth other than trade goods... zakāh attaches to the actual asset itself (al-‘ayn), and the poor effectively become partners in it — even, for example, [becoming partners] in camels through the value of a sheep [owed as zakāh on them]... Paying from other wealth is permitted only because zakāh is built upon the principle of ease and leniency."
Accordingly: the one paying zakāh must discharge it either from the actual saved gold itself, or by selling a portion of the gold equal to the amount of zakāh owed. He may also borrow money to pay the zakāh, or pay the zakāh in installments before the ḥawl is complete [as an advance payment]. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What type of illness that permits breaking the fast in Ramadan?

It is an illness that, if one fasts, there is a fear it may lead to their death or cause unbearable hardship.

Which takes precedence: the 'aqīqah or the uḍḥiyyah?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The 'aqīqah is an act of worship through which a servant draws closer to Allah the Almighty in gratitude for the blessing of a newborn child. It is a confirmed Sunnah for those who are financially capable, and Allah does not burden any soul beyond what it can bear.
However, the uḍḥiyyah takes precedence, as it is a confirmed Sunnah established from the Prophet ﷺ through stronger and more numerous narrations — indeed, the Ḥanafī scholars hold it to be obligatory. Furthermore, its time is narrow and limited, expiring with the passing of the days of Eid, whereas the 'aqīqah may be delayed until one becomes financially capable of performing it.
And Allah Almighty knows best.

Is it permissible for a wife to leave her house without asking her husband?

It is impermissible for the wife to leave her house without asking her husband except for a sound reason.