Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Date Added : 02-11-2015

Resolution No.(173)(5/2012) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Importing Shoes Made from Swine`s Skin"

Date: 25/6/1433 AH, corresponding to 17/5/2012 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 date, the Board reviewed the question asked by His Excellency, the Director-General of the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization and it reads as follows: What is the ruling of Islamic Sharia on a company that intends to import shoes made from swine`s flesh?

After prolonged deliberations, the Board decided what follows:

It is forbidden to manufacture shoes, clothes and other products from swine`s skin, as indicated by the following verse: "Say: "I find not in the message received by me by inspiration any (meat) forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be dead meat, or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine,- for it is an abomination - or, what is impious, (meat) on which a name has been invoked, other than God’s". {Al-An`am/145}.

Interpreters of the Quran stated that the above verse indicates that all the parts of swine are forbidden; however, its flesh was mentioned because it is the most utilized part. A proof of this is the Hadith of Jabir, where swine has been absolutely forbidden. Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (PBUH) as saying in the Year of Victory while he was in Mecca:

Verily Allah and His Messenger have forbidden the sale of wine, carcass, swine and idols, It was said: Allah's Messenger, you see that the fat of the carcass is used for coating the boats and varnishing the hides and people use it for lighting purposes, whereupon he said: No, it is forbidden, Then Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: May Allah the Exalted and Majestic destroy the Jews; when Allah forbade the use of fat of the carcass for them, they melted it, and then sold it and made use of its price (received from it)." {Agreed upon}.

The filthy or impure can`t be made pure by tanning, as stated by the renowned scholar Ibn Abdeen (May Allah bless him), who said: "Because it is filthy as a whole, dead or alive, its filth of blood is unlike that of other animals; therefore, purifying it is unacceptable." {Rad Al-Mohtar}. Al-Imam Al-Khasani (May Allah bless him) said: "The sale of swine`s skin is invalid because it is filthy as a whole." {Bada`I As`sanai`}.

The accredited opinion of the four jurists is that swine is forbidden, and  utilizing from any of its parts is forbidden as well because it is filthy.

Accordingly, the Board of Iftaa` is of the view that it is forbidden to trade with all the products of swine and it advises Muslim traders not to buy what Allah has forbidden and not to bring such filth into the Muslim`s markets. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, The Grand Mufti of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, His Grace Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh.

Vice Head of the Iftaa`Board, Prof. Ahmad Helayel

His Excellency, Prof. Abdulsalam Al-Abbadi/ Member

Prof. Abduln`nassir Abu Al Bass`al/ Member

His Eminence, Sheikh Sa`ied Hijjawi/ Member

Pro. Mohammad Al-Qhodat/ Member

Dr. Yahia Al-Botoosh/ Member

Dr. Wasif Al-Bakhri

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Essa/ Member

Dr.Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member

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Summarized Fatawaa

Who should pay the Zakah (obligatory charity) from the orphan`s money?

His/her guardian, and if the latter fails to do so, then the orphan himself/herself is obliged to pay the Zakah once he/she reaches puberty, and is capable of handling his/her own affairs. And Allah Knows Best.

What is the ruling on giving Zakah (obligatory charity) to one`s relatives?

It is impermissible to pay Zakah to one`s origins (parents and grandparents) because providing for them is an obligation on their branches (sons and daughters) if they were poor, but it is permissible to give some of the Zakah money to relatives whose provision isn`t due on the giver of the Zakah.

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 to move a grave from its current location to another place, for example, from a garden in a home to a cemetery, knowing that the grave has been there for a long time, about fifty years?

It is not permissible to move the deceased from his grave, as this may result in breaking his bones and violating his sanctity. Such actions are not allowed. And Allah Knows Best.