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

How to pay Zakah (obligatory charity) due on articles of merchandise?

Articles of merchandise are estimated by their whole sale market price at the end of each lunar year, and (2.5%) of their value is paid as Zakah whether it (value) went up, or down compared to actual purchasing price, and whether the increase (profit) was in the article itself such as an increase in the animal`s weight, or in the prices themselves. And Allah Knows Best.

Should a person feel pleased, or have a virtuous vision after offering Istikhara (guidance prayer) in order to do what he/she had offered it for?

The result of the Istikhaarah is not necessarily that a person sees something (in his dream), or feels pleased, but the most important result of the Istikhaarah is whether a person is enabled to do a given matter or not.

What is the Islamic ruling on one who was unable to fast and then regained the ability?

 
He is not required to make up the fast (Qada) even if he becomes capable of it; whether he regained the ability to fast after paying the fidya (feeding a needy person for each day of missed fasting) or before it, because he was liable for paying it in the first place, so it remains binding upon him. However, if he delayed paying it beyond the first year, nothing is required of him due to the delay. If he is unable to pay it, it does not remain as a debt upon him. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

Is it permissible to divide a single Sa‘ of Zakat al-Fitr—or its equivalent value in cash—among more than one poor person?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Zakat al-Fitr is estimated at one Sa‘ per person, but the number of people to whom this Sa‘ can be given has not been specified. For this reason, it is permissible to distribute a single Sa‘ among more than one poor person. And Allah the Exalted knows best.