Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No. (171): "Ruling on Organized Tawaroq Sale Carried out by some Islamic Banks"

Date Added : 27-10-2015

Resolution No. (171) (3/2012) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies: "Ruling on Organized Tawaroq Sale Carried out by some Islamic Banks"
Date:  29/4/1433 AH, corresponding to 22/3/2012 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.

On the above given date the Board reviewed the following question

What is the ruling of Sharia on organized Tawaroq sale carried out by some Islamic banks?

In modern terms, in this type of sale the purchaser of a commodity in installments may re-sell it in cash amounts less than the purchase amount. The commodity can also be sold either by the purchaser`s deputy, or the financer.

Organized Tawaroq sale carried out by some Islamic banks is a form of evading usury (Riba), because the real purpose behind it is collecting a sum of money against an increase, where the bank carries out sham purchase of certain commodities, then sells them to the purchaser in installments. Afterwards, the bank re-sells them to a third party against a cash amount which is less than the first amount, then gives that cash amount to the purchaser in installments, but the bank obliges the latter to pay off the first amount.

In terms of Islamic Sharia, this is considered a usurious loan, even though it seems a form of Tawaroq sale from the outside.

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "The deeds are considered by the intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intention. So whoever emigrated for Allah and His Messenger, his emigration will be for Allah and His Messenger; and whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration would be for what he emigrated for." [Agreed upon].

Therefore, it is a prohibited a contract, because it is a form of evading prohibited usury. Omar Bin Abdulaziz used to say about Tawaroq: "It is the brother of usury (Riba)." This is based on the following saying of the Prophet (PBUH): "Don`t you imitate the Jews who made the unlawful lawful by resorting to the meanest of tricks." [Ibtaal Al-Heyal/pp.47].

On its part, the Board is of the view that organized Tawaroq carried out by some Islamic banks is forbidden. This is confirmed by resolution no. (179) (5/19) of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy/2009.

The Board, advises Islamic banks and institutions to adhere to the Sharia approved forms of investment and financing, and to avoid suspicious tricks, in compliance with the legal rules that realize the objectives of Sharia. And Allah Knows Best.

 

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board 
The Grand Mufti of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan :His Eminence , Abdull-Kareem Al-Khasawneh
Vice Chairman of the Iftaa` Board:  His Eminence Dr. Ahmad Hilayel
Dr.Yahia Al-Botosh/member
His Eminence :Sheikh Sa`id Al-Hijawi/member
Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Essa/member
Dr. Wasif Al-Bakkri /member
Dr. Mohammad Al-Qhodat/Member
Dr.Mohammad Al-khalayleh/member
Prof. Abdulnasir Abulbasal/member
Dr.Mohammad Al-Zo`bi/member

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Summarized Fatawaa

I work at a company that provides cash advances of 800 dinars, 1000 dinars, or 1200 dinars, depending on the employee’s years of service. An administrative fee of 40 dinars is deducted from the amount in the first month, and the remaining amount is repaid in installments. What is the ruling on this, knowing that the deducted amount (40 dinars) is fixed?

We fear that the deducted amount may be a means of circumventing interest (Riba). If the deducted amount is equal to or less than the actual administrative expenses, then there is no issue, as some scholars permit the borrower to bear the costs of documenting and managing the loan. However, piety suggests refraining from taking this loan under these conditions, as dealing with private individuals and companies is not the same as dealing with the state, which spends from the public treasury. And Allah Knows Best.

Is it permissible for the doctor to uncover the hair of a female patient out of necessity?

It is only permissible for him to do so when there is no female doctor, and he should examine the patient in the presence of one of her Mahrams (unmarriageable kin).

We collect funds from mosques and other sources, saying: "For the poor, the needy, widows, orphans, and those who do not beg insistently." After paying the stipends of the families registered with the Zakat Committee, an amount exceeding 6,000 dinars remained. Is it permissible for me to save it for upcoming months when I may not be able to collect the stipends?

These funds are received by the committee as representatives of the zakat payers to deliver zakat to those entitled to it. It is well-known that delaying zakat while being able to pay it is not permissible. Imam Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Zakat must be paid immediately if one is able to do so, by the presence of wealth and the eligible categories." [Al-Minhaj] Therefore, the committee must distribute the zakat to the eligible recipients without installment payments or using it to purchase material goods for them, as the committee does not have authority over the poor to allocate it in this way. And Allah Knows Best.

Is it permissible for a person who broke fasting in Ramadan because of being sick to pay a ransom?

If there is hope for him/her to be cured, then he would be required to make up for the missed fasting days when he/she recovers, and no ransom is due on him/her. If his/her disease is incurable, then he/she would be required to pay a ransom for each missed fasting day, which is (600) grams of wheat, or rice. And Allah Knows Best.