Fatwa

Lillah Collection after already purchasing items for the poor

Question

Respected Mufti Saheb (Damat Barakatuhu),

We are planning on launching a campaign to help support scholars go for hajj, mainly focusing on scholars from the subcontinent who are not able to do so themselves. Below, we will mention a few points in this regard. Please advise accordingly:

1. We are planning on collecting nafl sadaqah only, not zakat.
2. As we would like to secure the hajj spot and booking, would it be possible for our charity organisation to announce the fundraising cause, pay for the tickets, visa, hotels, etc. from the charity’s money, and then recoup what was paid by the charity from the money donated by donors? i.e. We pay first from our own money and then keep the money the donors give towards the cause.
3. If we collect money for hajj, but we do not raise enough money, would it be possible to then pay for an umrah trip for an eligible recipient instead?
4. If we collect extra money, can we keep it and use it the next year to sponsor a second person’s hajj?
5. if we have different levels of donations, e.g. $50 to sponsor ihram, $500 to sponsor hotel, $10 to sponsor one meal etc., then would we have to use the amounts donated only for these specific parts of the expenses, or can we just use these kinds of options as a marketing point to help people donate and then pool all the money together and use it all towards the expenses of the trip.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

This is a good initiative. Maashaa-Allah. May Almighty Allah accept your efforts. Aameen.

1. This is valid and should be disclosed to the donors.
2. This should be permissible as it is akin to selling one’s own possessions to someone who is purchasing something to donate it.
3. If this is disclosed to the donors then it is permissible.
4. Yes, provided it is disclosed to the donors.
5. The amounts donated for specific causes will need to be utilised for those specific causes unless the consent of donors is obtained to utilise the funds elsewhere.
6. No.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Bilal Pandor

Concurred by
Mufti Muhammad Patel

Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia

www.daruliftaazambia.com