The Chanda System: Income Verification and Acceptance of Mashbooh Money

Q:

1. In the chanda (wusooli) system, is it compulsory to verify the income of a particular person wether it is halaal, haram or mashbooh before accepting money from him?
2. Is the chanda system a good act or disliked act?
3. Can mashbooh money be accepted from a person when doing wusooli for a madrassa?

A:

1. If you have valid reasons to doubt a person then don’t accept his chandah.
2. If it is done with extorting, humiliating, insisting or using influence whereby a person becomes overwhelmed then these systems are not right. If the approach is right and gentle and the reason for the chandah is also valid then it is permissible.
3. If you are certain that there is shubah then it should be returned to the person who has given it.

And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)