Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(118): “Proposed Amendments to the Draft Bill of the Medical Techniques that Aid in Giving Birth“

Date Added : 02-11-2015

 

Resolution No.(118): “Proposed Amendments to the Draft Bill of the Medical Techniques that Aid in Giving Birth"

 Date: 16/10/1427 AH, corresponding to 8/11/2006 AD.

 

The Board has reviewed the letter of the Supreme Judge as regards presenting the draft bill of the medical techniques, that aid in giving birth, before the Iftaa` Council.

Answer: All success is due to Allah.

The Iftaa` Council decided the following:

First: Article (5), which states: “Resorting to medical techniques is banned, save by a living married couple and through mingled sperm taken from both of them. The Board recommends correcting the Arabic word (بواسطة) into (بوساطة).

Second: Article (6), paragraph (B), which states: “Insemination of mingled sperm shall be banned, save with a written consent of the concerned couple. “

The Council recommends adding the phrase: “through mingled sperm taken from both of them.“ So, it should read as follows: “Insemination of mingled sperm shall be banned, save with a written consent of the concerned couple and through mingled sperm taken from both of them. “

Article (6), paragraph (B) which states: “Transplantation of embryos shall be banned, save with a written consent of both spouses and in accordance with the form provided by the concerned ministry. “

The Council recommends adding the phrase: “through mingled sperm taken from both spouses with their consent.“ It should read as “Transplantation of embryos through mingled sperm taken from both spouses shall be banned, save with a written consent of both and in accordance with the form provided by the concerned ministry. “

Third: Article (10), paragraph (A): The formation of the technical committee for medical techniques, which stipulates that its members shall comprise from:

- Two specialized expert doctors in medical techniques representing the Medical Association and nominated by its president.

The Council recommends nominating the above doctors by the association`s president.

Paragraph (D) states: “The Minister of Health may terminate the membership of any member of the above committee based on the recommendation of its president, and ask for the nomination party to nominate someone in his place.“

The Council recommends amending this article by adding the phrase: “with stating the reasons“ It should read as follows: “The Minister of Health may terminate the membership of any member of the above committee based on the recommendation of its president, with stating the reasons, and ask for the nomination party to nominate someone in his place.“

Paragraph (H) states: “The Committee shall convene at least once a month by  invitation from its head or vice head, and the meeting shall be considered legal by the attendance of three members at least, including its head or vice head, and its resolutions shall be issued by majority of votes.“

The Council recommends that this article should read as follows: “The Committee shall convene at least once a month by an invitation from its head or vice head, and the meeting shall be considered legal by the attendance of three members at least, in addition to its head or vice head, and its resolutions shall be issued by majority of votes.“

Fourth: Article (11), paragraph (A): “Medical techniques shall not be used for commercial purposes, or to form an embryo for selection of offspring for non-medical purposes.“

The Council recommends adding the phrase: “or with the purpose of benefiting from an embryo, its organs, or when there is a disease inflicting a particular sex such as: (Hemophilia).

Fifth: Article (13), which pertains to matters banned in medical techniques, paragraph (A), which addresses cloning and its used techniques:

The Council recommends paraphrasing it as follows: “Cloning and its constituents, except the cloning of organs from a person`s basic cells with the aim of transplanting theses organs to him.“ 

Sixth: The Council recommends adding the following phrase to this article: “Operations concerning mingled sperm and embryos should be conducted as necessary.“

Seventh: Article (15), which states: “After securing the consent of both spouses, extra embryos resulting from legal operations shall be destroyed in accordance with the provisions of this law and under the supervision of the doctor in charge.“

The Council recommends specifying a period for the destruction of these extra embryos.

Eight: Article (16), paragraph (B), which states: “The mixed sperm and the embryos shall be preserved for no more than ten years, with the consent of the concerned husband as regards the mixed sperm, and that of both spouses as regards the embryos.“

The Council sees that ten years is a long period, and recommends specifying it in line with the opinion of the specialized doctors. 

Ninth: Article (17), which states: 

A- In spite of what is stated in articles (4, 5), the Minister-by recommendation of the committee-may allow a non-married person, who is under treatment, or is about to undergo a medical procedure that may affect his ability to give birth, to have his sperms frozen in order to be used later on in a legal marriage, within the framework of medical techniques, and in accordance with the rules and provisions of this law.“

B- The sperms of the above person shall be destroyed in case he failed to pay the determined payment, restored his natural ability to give birth, or died.

The Council recommends deleting this article because it is a condition that the mingled sperm procedure should be conducted during an existent legal marriage. And Allah Knows Best.

 

 

Iftaa` Council

Head of the Iftaa` Council

            Chief Justice / Dr. Ahmed Muhammad Hilayil

                    Dr. Yaser al-Shamali

                            Dr. Abdulsalam Al-Abbadi

Sheikh Saeed Abd al-Hafiz al-Hijawi

                        Shiekh Naeem Mujahid

               Dr. Wasif al-Bakri

                    Dr. Yusuf Al-Shamali

                                                  Sheikh Abd Al-Kareem Al-Khasawneh                                                

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What are the conditions for a valid Udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
First: The age of the animal must meet the Sharia requirements. These requirements vary depending on the type of sacrifice:
 
Camels: Must have completed five years and entered their sixth.
 
Cows: Must have completed two years and entered their third.
 
Goats: Must have completed two years and entered their third. As for Sheep, they must have completed one year and entered their second.
 
Some scholars have permitted goats that have completed one year and entered their second.
 
The Hanafi school, along with an opinion in the Maliki school, permits sacrificing sheep that are at least six months old, provided they are healthy and physically substantial. According to the Shafi’i school, it is permissible if the sheep sheds its front teeth (ajdha') before reaching one year [Al-Iqna’, by Al-Shirbini (Vol.2/P.588)].
 
Second: Soundness and freedom from defects. The animal must be free from any defect that causes a decrease in its meat or market value. This is based on the hadith narrated by Al-Bara' bin 'Azib, that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
 
"Four [defects] are not permissible in sacrifices: A one-eyed animal whose blindness is evident, a sick animal whose illness is evident, a lame animal whose lameness is evident, and an emaciated animal that has no marrow in its bones." [Reported by Abu Dawood and Al-Tirmidhi, who graded it as authentic].
 
These defects are detailed as follows:
 
Evident Lameness: It is not permissible to sacrifice a lame animal if the lameness is severe enough to prevent it from walking to the pasture or seeking food, as this leads to a decrease in its meat. However, slight lameness that does not hinder its grazing is overlooked.
 
Evident Blindness (One-eyed): It is not permissible to sacrifice a sheep, cow, or camel that has a white film over its eye blocking light, or one that has lost an eye entirely. Weak vision that does not affect its ability to eat does not prevent the sacrifice from being valid.
 
Evident Illness: An animal with a clear sickness that prevents it from eating or moving is not valid. This includes severe mange (Jarab) that spoils the meat.
 
Extreme Emaciation: An animal so thin that there is no marrow left in its bones is invalid. The standard for emaciation that invalidates the sacrifice is that which spoils the quality of the meat to the point that people would find it undesirable even in times of plenty.
 
Additional Considerations:
These are the defects mentioned in the Prophetic tradition, and any defect that causes emaciation or reduces the meat or value is compared to them by analogy. This includes animals that are mentally unstable (diseased), those with mange, or those with a missing ear. In contrast, a slit or pierced ear does not affect the validity of the sacrifice. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) described with specific attributes and authorizing an agent to slaughter them?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) that are described with specific attributes is permissible. This falls under the category of a salam sale (forward sale) if conducted using the terminology of salam, and under the category of a regular sale if not using the terminology of salam.
 
As for authorizing the seller to slaughter the sacrificial animal, the basic principle is that it is permissible, because the agent (wakil) stands in the place of the principal (muwakkil) in achieving his objective. This is a contract that the principal (the buyer) is entitled to perform himself, so authorizing another (the seller) to do so on his behalf is valid.
 
However, it is a condition for authorization to slaughter that the intention (niyyah) is present either at the time of slaughter or at the time of handing over the sacrificial animal to the agent. The basic principle is that the sacrificial animal must be specifically designated, as it is an act of worship. It is not required to designate it at the time of slaughter; rather, it is valid to do so before that.
 
It is permissible for the principal either to delegate the intention to the agent or to formulate it himself when authorizing the agent to slaughter. However, the sacrificial animal must be designated, even if at the time of slaughter, by the agent.
 
It is obligatory to designate the sacrificial animals so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own specific animal. Therefore, charitable organizations and companies must take this into consideration and establish a specific mechanism that ensures no mixing of sacrificial animals occurs, so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own designated animal. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on performing Tarawih in sets of four rak‘ahs with only one Tasleem?

It is not permissible to combine more than two rak‘ahs with a single Tasleem in Tarawih prayer. Whoever does so, their prayer is invalid. Shaykh al-Islam Imam Muhammad al-Ramli (may Allah have mercy on him) stated: "If a person prays four rak‘ahs of the Tarawih prayer with a single Tasleem, it is not valid if they did so intentionally and with knowledge [of the prohibition]. Otherwise, it becomes an 'absolute voluntary prayer' (nafl mutlaq); because it is contrary to what has been prescribed." [Nihayat al-Muhtaj, Vol.2/P.127].

Is it obligatory to have an intention (niyyah) for every prayer?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is obligatory for the worshiper to have a specific intention (Niyyah) for every prayer, meaning they must consciously intend the act of worship they are performing. The intention is a pillar (Rukn) of the prayer, and the prayer is not valid without it. It is not a requirement to utter the intention verbally; rather, doing so is considered a recommended Sunnah. And Allah the Exalted knows best.