Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(60): "Proposed Amendments to the Articles of Orphans' Custody Law"

Date Added : 24-02-2016

 

Resolution No.(60): "Proposed Amendments to the Articles of Orphans` Custody Law"

Date: 23/3/1423 A.H, corresponding to 5/6/2002.

 

We have received the following question:

Could you please clarify the ruling of Sharia as regards the custody project, and any recommended amendments that you deem necessary?

Answer: All success is due to Allah.

Article (4): "The couple must be Muslims."

The Board decided that this article should be amended as follows:

"The couple must be Muslims, and five years must have passed over their embracing Islam, in case they were new Muslim converts."

Article (7): "The Minster of Social Development may approve a custody order based on the recommendations of the Ministry`s Secretary-General and the Director of Family and Children Directorate."

The Board decided amending this paragraph as follows:

"A technical committee, presided by the Director of the Technical Directorate, should be formed, including a deputy from the Department of the Supreme Judge and the Ministry of Interior to review the custody orders submitted by the families, the needed documents, and to conduct the interviews. The committee should refer its recommendations to the Secretary-General in order for him to recommend that the Minister approves of them."

The family taking custody of an orphan is accountable for the following:

A- It should provide the child under its custody with the various forms of social care, namely the alternative parental raising, medical treatment, education, outlay, and the like; provided that these are verified by the case study, which should be conducted before and after the child is taken under custody.

B- It should enjoy the capacity to provide the right orientation to the child under its custody in the various aspects of life so that he relies on himself afterwards.

C- It is imperative that the family informs the Ministry about any changes concerning its place of residence as well as its relationship with the child under its custody.

The Board decided that these articles should be amended as follows:

A- The family should provide the child under its custody with the various forms of familial care, namely the alternative parental rearing, medical treatment, education, outlay, and the like; provided that these are verified by the case study, which should be conducted before and after the child is taken under custody.

B- The family should enjoy the capacity to provide the right orientation to the child to face the different conditions of life to be able to rely on himself.

C- Informing the Ministry about any changes concerning the family`s place of residence as well as its relationship with the child under its custody.

Article (10): Termination of Custody:

Article (D) Death of a spouse or both of them, which drives their relatives to file for the termination of the custody, indicating their unwillingness to take care of the fostered child.

The Board decided amending this article as follows:

In case either spouses or one of them died, it is permissible for a relative of theirs to file a new custody request through the observed channels.

The Board also decided adding the following items to article (10):

(H) Apostasy of either spouses or one of them.

(W) Failure to meet any of the fostering conditions

*PS: Items not related to the rules of Islamic Sharia were not translated because they focus on the correction of punctuation and grammar mistakes in the original Arabic text. And Allah Knows Best.

Iftaa` Board
Chairman of the Board, Chief Justice Sheikh Ezuldeen Attamimi
Dr. Abdulsalam Alabbadi           
Dr. Mohammad Alyahia         
Sheikh Sa`eid Hijjawi      
Sheikh Na`eim Mujahid         
Sheikh Mahmoud Shewayaat                  
Dr. Wasif Albakhri

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Who is "the poor" entitled to receive Zakah (obligatory charity)?

The poor is the one who has neither money nor a source of living, or has either of them, but it isn`t sufficient such as being in need for a hundred/JDs, and having an income of forty/JDs only.

Is it permissible for a pious Muslim woman to stay with her husband who had quit praying out of laziness?

Quitting prayer is one of the major grave sins that come after disbelieving in Allah, but the wife of such a person isn`t considered divorced, rather, she should exert all her efforts in order to bring him back to the way of Islam. However, if his sin is likely to lure her from the way of Islam, then she had better separate from him by lawful means such as Mokhal`aa (When a wife pays a compensation for her husband in return for divorcing her). Moreover, if she exercises patience, and remains steadfast on her faith, then there is no harm in doing that.

Is it permissible to purchase the Udhiyah on installments?

It is permissible to purchase the sacrificial animal (uḍḥiyyah) on installments or by borrowing its price. However, it is not recommended for the poor to do so, because they are not required to offer a sacrifice, and Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. If doing so would lead to negligence in providing for one's dependents (nafaqah wājibah), then giving precedence to obligatory maintenance over borrowing to buy the sacrifice is appropriate. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "It is sufficient sin for a person to withhold food from those whom he is responsible to support."
 
Furthermore, the sacrifice is valid from one who has a debt, but it is preferable (awlā) to repay the debt first, especially if the debt is due immediately (ḥāll). And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law if the follower (maʾmūm) stands up for the third rakʿah out of forgetfulness while the imam has sat for the middle tashahhud?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
If the imam sits for the tashahhud while the follower (maʾmūm), out of forgetfulness, stands up for the third rakʿah, he is obliged to return to his sitting position, since following the imam is obligatory. In this case, no prostration of forgetfulness (sujūd al-sahw) is required of him. If, however, he fails to return, his prayer is rendered invalid.
Shaykh al-Islām Imām Zakariyyā al-Anṣārī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "If the follower stands up alone out of forgetfulness, he is obliged to return, since following the imam is obligatory... If he does not return, his prayer is rendered invalid, due to his departure from what is obligatory." [Asnā al-Maṭālib,Vol.1/P.190] And Allah the Almighty knows best.