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Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(218): "Ruling on Accepting the Donations Made by Non-Islamic Banks to Charitable Organizations"

Date Added : 21-12-2015

Resolution No.(218)(8/2015) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Accepting the Donations Made by Non-Islamic Banks to Charitable Organizations"

Date: 24/Zolhijjah/1436 AH, corresponding to 8/10/2015 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 question of His Excellency Dr. Marwan Al-Homood, which reads as follows: What is the ruling of Islamic Sharia on accepting the donations made by non-Islamic banks to establish different charitable societies, or to equip them with furniture and other supplies?

After researching and deliberating, the Board arrived at the following view:

Islam has defined certain methods for making money and spending it, and has prohibited a Muslim from resorting to unlawful means for making a living. Therefore, that which he earns from a lawful business is equally lawful, for he can eat from it, spend, and give to charity and receive a reward from Allah, The Almighty. On the other hand, that which he earns from an unlawful business is equally unlawful, so he doesn`t receive a reward for it; rather, he is considered sinful, for Allah accepts only that which is lawful. Our beloved Prophet (PBUH) said: "There is no flesh raised that sprouts from the unlawful except that the Fire is more appropriate for it." {At-Tirmizi}

Since the transactions of non-Islamic banks include that which is lawful and unlawful, there is no harm in accepting the donations that they make to charitable activities, such as establishing relief agencies, research centres, charitable societies, and schools. This is because the four Muslim Jurists have permitted accepting the gifts of those whose lawful money is mixed with unlawful money. They also said that its owner is the one accountable for committing the sin of earning unlawful money. This is provided that the donations aren`t used for promoting unlawful transactions, and that the unlawful money wasn`t considered as such because it was made by coercion, or theft. This reason of prohibition that such money should be given back to its rightful owner and can`t be accepted as a donation. And Allah Knows Best.

The Grand Mufti of Jordan / His Eminence Sheikh AbdulKareem al-Khasawneh

Prof. Abdulnasser Abulbasal / Member

Dr. Yahia al-Botoosh / Member

Sheikh Sae`id Hijjawi / Member

Dr. Wasif al-Bakhri / Member

Prof. Mohammad al-Qhodat / Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh / Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Esa / Member

Dr. Mohammad  al-Z`obi / Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on the ablution of one who cuts his nails, and is it permissible to cut them before the ritual bath for major impurity (janabah)?

Cutting nails does not invalidate ablution, and it is permissible to cut them before the ritual bath for major impurity. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

My brother works in a conventional bank and gave me one of the gifts distributed to bank employees — what is the ruling on accepting it?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
There is no objection to accepting such gifts, because the physical gift itself does not carry any inherent prohibition — unlike stolen property. Sin does not transfer or extend to the one who receives the gift, for Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "And no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another." [Al-Anʿām/164]
The evidence for this is that the Prophet ﷺ himself ate from the food of the Jews, conducted transactions with them, and purchased from them — and it is well known that their wealth was intermingled with ribā. Similarly, the wealth of conventional ribā-based banks is a mixture of the lawful and the unlawful.
Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "It is not forbidden to transact with one whose wealth is predominantly unlawful, nor to eat from it — as al-Nawawī affirmed in al-Majmūʿ." [Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj, Vol. 9/P.389] And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Can I start fasting based on the moon sighting of another country?

You must follow the moon sighting of the country you are in.

Is it permissible for women to gather in one of their homes to pray Tarawih?

Yes, it is recommended (mustahabb) for women to pray Tarawih in congregation if they gather, even if it is not in the mosque.
In fact, praying at home is better for them, as it avoids the potential concerns associated with going to the mosque.

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