Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(34): “Ruling on the Investments of the Social Security Fund for Education through Depositing Funds in Usurious Banks or Purchasing Stocks“

Date Added : 28-10-2015

 
Resolution No.(34): "Ruling on the Investments of the Social Security Fund for Education through Depositing Funds in Usurious Banks or Purchasing Stocks"

Date: 28/11/1413 AH corresponding to 20/5/1993 AD.

The Board has received the following question:

What is the ruling of Sharia on the investments of the Social Security Fund for education, where funds are deposited in the Housing Bank against an interest, stocks are purchased from Jordan-Gulf Bank and General Arabia Insurance Company, development bonds are purchased from Jordan`s Central Bank, debenture bonds of Water Authority are purchased from Jordan`s Central Bank, and stocks are purchased in the Arab International Hotels Company?

Answer: All success is due to Allah.

The Board is of the view that purchasing stocks in a usurious institution is forbidden because it involves employing the invested money in forbidden activities, and this applies to purchasing funds in Jordan-Gulf Bank, development bonds issued by the Central Bank, and debenture bonds of the Water Authority from the Central Bank.

As regards depositing funds in a usurious bank against an interest, such an activity is forbidden as well, and this applies to depositing funds in the Housing Bank against an interest.

However, the permissibility of purchasing shares in companies in general depends on the nature of the activity of such companies, so if the activity is lawful, then purchasing the shares is lawful; if not ,then it isn`t. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Chief Justice Dr.Nooh Al-Qodaat

Acting Mufti General, Sheikh Saeid Hijjawi

Mufti General of Jordanian Armed Forces: Mhamood Shwayat

             Dr. Abdassalam Al-Abbadi

Dr. Ahmad Hilayel

   Dr. Yousef Ghizaan

           Dr. Mahmood Al-Sartawi

             Dr. AbdulAziz Al-Khaiyaat

            Dr. Ibrahim Khash-shaan

       Sheikh Ratib Az-zahir

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Summarized Fatawaa

How is the niṣāb (minimum threshold) of gold calculated when one owns gold of multiple different karats?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Zakāh is obligatory on cash and on gold designated for saving or for trade, provided the total reaches the niṣāb (minimum threshold liable for Zakah), and a full ḥawl (lunar year) has elapsed over it. The niṣāb is (85) grams of 24-karat gold; for 21-karat gold, the niṣāb equals (97) grams; and for 18-karat gold, it equals (113) grams.
If one owns gold of multiple different karats, the person paying zakāh should calculate the monetary value of all the gold he owns, combining these values together to determine whether the total reaches the niṣāb. He then pays zakāh on this combined monetary value, once the total reaches the niṣāb. The relied-upon position is to calculate the zakāh based on the buying price [i.e., the price the gold merchant would pay the owner to purchase the gold from him] on the day the zakāh obligation is due. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on obtaining financing from Islamic banks by bringing invoices in prior arrangement with the seller, then taking the cash after the financing is approved — with the purpose of settling debts and buying a car?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It appears from the transaction described that its underlying purpose is to obtain cash through resorting to a legal artifice (ḥīlah/tawarruq-style trick), and it is not permissible to engage in such trickery or to coordinate with the various parties merely to obtain liquidity. This is because such artifices bring the sale closer in reality to a ribā-based (usurious) transaction, even if it outwardly appears otherwise.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not commit what the Jews committed, thereby making lawful what Allah has made unlawful through the flimsiest of tricks." This was related by Ibn Baṭṭah in his book Ibṭāl al-Ḥiyal (p. 47), and many scholars have graded it as ḥasan (sound/acceptable).
We have already explained the impermissibility of engaging in such deceptive dealings with Islamic banks in Fatwa No. 516, so please refer to it. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on forgoing the sacrifice (uḍḥiyah) for one who is financially able to offer it?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is disliked (makrūh) for one for whom the uḍḥiyah (sacrifice) is recommended (Sunnah) to forgo offering it, on account of the scholarly disagreement regarding whether it is obligatory. And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

What is the ruling on the white discharge (*Al-Qassat al-Bayda'*) if it is in a very small amount—is it considered a sign of purity?

 
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Among the signs of purity (Tahr) for a woman is the white discharge (Al-Qassat al-Bayda'), which is a clear, pure white fluid, regardless of whether it is minimal in quantity, or complete dryness (Jafaf), wherein secretions cease entirely such that if a white cotton cloth is inserted, it comes out completely clean. Once a woman observes either of these two signs, she has attained ritual purity.
 
Furthermore, another sign of purity is when the duration of the menstrual period exceeds the maximum limit of menstruation, which is fifteen days. If it exceeds this period, it becomes evident that she is experiencing non-menstrual bleeding (Istihadah).
 
The rulings pertaining to menstruation may be reviewed in the article: "Rulings on Menstruation and Postnatal Bleeding Every Muslim Woman Must Know." And Allah Almighty knows best.