Accepting government funds to build a Masjid
Question
Is it permissible to use government’s money as a gift, whether directly from government or through any of the politicians/cooperatives of the town, for building a Masjid/using it for Masjid purposes?
Answer
It will be permissible to accept funds from the government to build a Masjid, with the proviso that their intention is to acquire reward. This means that they regard it as an Ibaadat to contribute towards the Masjid. Also, there must be no fear of them causing any Fitnah, nor should they boast of doing the Muslims a favour by contributing to the Masjid, nor should they have any other ulterior motive.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
وَلَوْ أَنَّ ذِمِّيًّا أَوْصَى بِأَنْ يُشْتَرَى بِثُلُثِ مَالِهِ رِقَابًا وَتُعْتَقُ عَنْهُ بِأَعْيَانِهِمْ أَوْ بِغَيْرِ أَعْيَانِهِمْ أَوْ أَوْصَى بِأَنْ يُتَصَدَّقَ بثُلُثِ مَالِهِ عَلَى الْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ أَوْ أَنْ يُسَرَّحَ بِهِ فِي بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ أَوْ يُبْنَى فِيهِ أَوْ يُغْزَى بِهِ التُّرْكَ أَوْ الدَّيْلَمَ وَالْمُوصِي مِنْ النَّصَارَى فَالْوَصِيَّةُ صَحِيحَةٌ وَلَوْ أَوْصَى بِثُلُثِ مَالِهِ بِأَنْ يَحُجَّ عَنْهُ قَوْمٌ مِنْ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَوْ يُبْنَى بِهِ مَسْجِدٌ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ إنْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ لِقَوْمٍ بِأَعْيَانِهِمْ صَحَّتْ الْوَصِيَّةُ وَتُعْتَبَرُ تَمْلِيكًا لَهُمْ وَكَانُوا بِالْخِيَارِ إنْ شَاءُوا حَجُّوا بِهِ وَبَنَوْا الْمَسْجِدَ وَإِنْ شَاءُوا لَا وَإِنْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ لِقَوْمٍ غَيْرِ مُعَيَّنِينَ فَالْوَصِيَّةُ بَاطِلَةٌ. (الفتاوي الهندية ص537 ج22)
- Answered by
- Mufti Mohammed Desai
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