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Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(184): "Ruling on Using Impure Sludge as Fuel for Manufacturing Cement"

Date Added : 17-11-2015

 

Resolution No.(184)(17/2012) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Using  Impure Sludge as Fuel for Manufacturing Cement"

Date: 5/2/1434 AH, corresponding to 19/12/2012 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 its tenth session held on the above given date, the Board reviewed the question of the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, which reads as follows: "Sewage treatment plants produce-in addition to treated water- solids called "sludge", which should be gotten rid of, or reused as conditioned by the Jordan Standards. [Al-Khirbah As-Samrah] is one of the largest sewage treatment plants which has produced (200 tons) of sludge since 2007. As a result, substantial amounts of this substance have accumulated in that area. Therefore, there is a tendency to make use  of that substance in the best way possible in line with the following priorities: Burning it to produce cement, as this is the best option and the least expensive, or using it as manure, and the like. Could Your Grace be kind enough to consult the experienced scholars in order to clarify the ruling of Islamic Sharia on this issue, taking into consideration that using this sludge as fuel will relieve Jordan`s budget from (500, 000000) in the coming years.?"

After researching and deliberating, the Board decided the following:

The substance-sludge-produced by sewage treatment plants is impure; however, some scholars have permitted using impurity in such case since there is a dire need for it and it can be gotten rid of without causing harm to human beings, or to the environment.

After a representative from the Iftaa` Department has inspected  Al-Fohaise Cement Factory, it was found out that the sludge can be used as fuel where it is burnt at a high degree that reaches (1450 centigrade), and this massive heat breaks it down to iron atoms, lime, and similar raw materials attracted by the cement.

As a result, inceniration changes its nature and turns it into a pure substance, as is the opinion of the Hanafite School of Thought and one opinion of the Shafites. These scholars have stated: "If the nature of the impure substance has changed, the cause of impurity has ceased, or it has turned into a different substance in terms of  name and features, then this is enough to rule that it is has become pure, because the elements of impurity have vaefore". Therefore, there is no harm in utilizing  it in productive fields; especially if it leads to saving the aforesaid amount of money. And Allah Knows Best.

 

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

Prof. Dr. Abdulsalam Al-Abbadi / 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 a vowed animal sacrifice?

A vowed animal sacrifice is to be distributed amongst the poor and needy, and neither the vow-maker, nor those supported by him are to eat from it.

Do pregnant and breastfeeding women have to fast?

Pregnant and breastfeeding women are required to fast. However, if fasting causes them harm or unusual hardship, they may break their fast but must make up for the missed days later.
If they break their fast solely out of fear for the fetus or the child, then they must both make up the fast and give fidyah (feeding a needy person for each missed day), as the benefit of breaking the fast was only for the child.

Is it permissible for a woman who has become pure before the end of forty days of confinement to perform different acts of worship? and is it lawful for her husband to have sex with her?

Once postpartum bleeding ceases and she is certain that it won`t happen again, she becomes pure, and so she should perform Ghusl (ritual bath), pray, and fast. She can also have sex with her husband even before the end of (40) days because the minimum of postpartum bleeding is a moment, and the maximum is (60) days. However, the postpartum bleeding for the majority of women is (40) days, but this does not apply to rest of them.

What is the ruling on the follower`s prayer if the Imam stands for a fifth rak`ah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
If the Imam stands up for an extra unit (rak‘ah) of prayer out of forgetfulness, he must return to the sitting position as soon as he remembers, and he should perform the prostration of forgetfulness (Sujud al-Sahw). It is the duty of the congregants (Ma’mumin) behind him to remind him. However, if the Imam is in a state of doubt regarding the extra unit (and not certainty), it is not permissible for him to return.
 
As for the congregants: anyone who is certain that the Imam has stood for an extra unit is forbidden from following him. In this case, the follower has two choices: either intend to separate from the Imam (Mufaraqah) and finish the prayer alone, or wait for the Imam in the sitting position and perform the final salams with him—the latter being the preferred option. If a follower knowingly follows the Imam into an extra unit, their prayer becomes invalid. However, if a follower is in doubt and not certain of the mistake, they must continue following the Imam, as the Imam was appointed to be followed.
 
It is stated in Al-Majmu’ (Vol.4/P.145): 'If [the Imam] stands for a fifth rak‘ah, the follower should not follow him, even if it is assumed that the Imam might have omitted a pillar from a previous unit; because if the reality is known, following him is impermissible since the follower has certainly completed their own prayer. Even if the follower had missed a previous unit (Masbuq) or was in doubt about performing a pillar like the Fatihah, and the Imam stood for the fifth, it is not permissible for the latecomer to follow him in it. This is because we know that this unit is not counted for the Imam and that he is mistaken in performing it.' And Allah the Exalted knows best.

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