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Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(142): "Ruling on Paying Zakah to Al-Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans"

Date Added : 27-10-2015

Resolution No.(142): "Ruling on Paying Zakah to Al-Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans"

Date: 7/5/1431 AH, corresponding to 22/4/2010 AD.

Praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds; and may his peace and blessings be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

During its fourth session held on the above given date, the Board reviewed the questions asked by Al-Aman Fund for the Future of the Orphans regarding the ruling of Sharia on paying obligatory and voluntary charities to the Fund, which covers the expenses of the university education of these orphans, and are they considered from the continuous charity?

After extensive study and deliberation, the Board decided what follows:

Zakah is to be given only to one of the eight categories specified in the Holy Quran who are the ones eligible to receive the due Zakah. Whereas, Allah, The Most Exalted, Says (what means): "Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of God; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by God, and God is full of knowledge and wisdom." {At-Tawbah/60}. This verse indicates that it is permissible to give Zakah to poor orphan Muslims.

However, it isn`t permissible to give it to the person who possesses property or earns sufficient living. This is indicated by what the Prophet (PBUH) said to Moa`d when he sent him to Yemen: "You will go to the people of the Scripture. So, when you reach there, invite them to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that Muhammad is His Apostle. In addition, if they obey you in that, tell them that Allah has enjoined on them five prayers in each day and night. And if they obey you in that tell them that Allah has made it obligatory on them to pay the Zakat which will be taken from the rich among them and given to the poor among them. (Bukhari & Moslim).

As regards voluntary charity, it is permissible to give it to the poor as well as others.

 According to Muslim scholars, continuous charity takes the rules of a Waqf (endowment).We pray that Allah, The Almighty, Accepts covering the expenses of poor students` education as a continuous charity whose benefit would last forever. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Grand Mufti of Jordan, Dr. Abdulkareem al-Khasawneh

Vice Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, 

                                                             Dr. Ahmad Hilayel

   Dr. Yahia al-Botoosh/ Member

    Sheikh Sa`eid Hijjawi/ Member

                 Dr. Mohammad Khair al-Eesa/ Member

                                                             Judge Sari Atieh/ Member

        Dr. Abdurahamn Ibbdah/ Member

   Dr. Mohammad Okla/ Member

          Dr. Abdunnasir Abulbasal/ Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on waiving a debt owed by a debtor and counting it toward zakāh?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Waiving a debt owed by a debtor, with the intention of counting it toward zakāh, does not fulfill the zakāh obligation. Rather, it constitutes an ordinary act of charity, for which Allah rewards the giver generously — since one of the conditions for the validity of zakāh is that the person paying it must form the intention of zakāh at the actual moment the wealth is paid out. In this case, the debt has already been established as a standing obligation upon the borrower, so it is not valid to simply redirect the intention toward zakāh after the fact.
It is preferable, instead, for the creditor to first collect the debt from the debtor, and then return to him the amount of money he is required to pay as zakāh — or a portion of it — if the debtor happens to fall under one of the eight categories that Allah, the Exalted, has commanded be given from zakāh.
It is stated in ‘Umdat as-Sālik, from the books of the Shāfi‘ī school: "If someone gives [money] to a poor person, stipulating that the recipient return it to him in payment of a debt owed to him, or says, 'I am making what you owe me into zakāh, so take it [as such]' — this is not valid. But if he gives it to him with the [unstated] intention that the recipient will use it to repay him, or says, 'Repay what you owe me, so that I may [then separately] give it to you as zakāh,' or the debtor himself says, 'Give it to me, so that I may [then] repay you with it' — this is valid, and there is no binding obligation for the recipient to actually fulfill this [informal understanding]." And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Does passing wind, from the anus without a smell, invalidate prayer?

If a person is certain of having passed wind even if it was with no smell, then both his/her ablution and prayer are invalidated, thus he/she should remake ablution and re-perform prayer.

What is the wisdom and purpose behind the 'aqīqah?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
Among the wisdoms and purposes of the 'aqīqah are the following:
First: Expressing joy at the blessing of Allah the Almighty, rejoicing in the newborn, and giving thanks to Allah for this gift. Allah the Almighty says (what means): "If you are grateful, I will surely increase you." [Ibrāhīm/7]
Second: Proclaiming and publicising the lineage (nasab) of the child — and the 'aqīqah serves as an appropriate and fitting means to this end.
Third: Gladdening the hearts of family members, relatives, friends, and the poor by gathering them together over a shared meal. And Allah Almighty knows best.

Is a woman`s prayer considered invalid if non-Mahrams (marriageable men) saw her offering it?

A woman`s prayer isn`t invalidated if non-Mahrams saw her offering it, but she had better pray in isolation.

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