How shall we generate funds for the masjid?

How shall we generate funds for the masjid and madrasah? We intend to build a hall to facilitate shariah compliant functions. Please give us your view on this.

Answer:

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

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

A masjid and a madrasah in a community is a means of barakah and blessings for the community.  It avails the facility to educate oneself and one’s children of the Dīn of Allah.  Sound education is one of the key elements to achieve prosperity in this world and the Hereafter.

Consider the community without a masjid and madrasah? The far reaching implications of such a state of affairs are unthinkable.

It is the responsibility of the Muslim community to maintain the masjid and community.  This is a clear sign of Imān.  Allah Ta῾ālā states:

إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَعَسَى أُولَئِكَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ

The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish prayer and give zakah and do not fear except Allah , for it is expected that those will be of the [rightly] guided.

(Qur’ān 9:18)

The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam said,

“When you see an individual frequenting the masjid, then testify to his Imān.”[1] (Sunan Tirmidhi hadith no.2614)

The reward of maintaining the masjid is Paradise.  The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam said,

“Whoever removes the dirt and cleans the masjid, Allah will build a house for him in Paradise.”[2] (Sunan Ibn Majah hadith no.757)

In fact, the following hadīth shows the value the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam gave to a person who looked after the masjid:

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah radiallahu anhu states that a dark skin man or a dark skin woman used to take care of the mosque, then he or she died. The Prophet asked after him (or her) and was told that he had died. He said: “Why did you not inform me? Show me his grave (or her grave).” Then he went to the grave and offered the funeral prayer over it.”[3] (Sahīh al-Bukhari hadith no.260)

The initiative of having an independent facility to generate funds for the masjid is commendable.  It is permissible to build a multi-purpose hall and hire it to generate income to maintain the masjid and madrasah.

Another idea worth considering is to open a store.  The proceeds can be divided to pay the employee and the remainder to source the masjid and madrasah.

The masjid and madrasah of one’s locality is most deserving of one’s contribution.  The reward of maintaining the local masjid and madrasah is more virtuous.  Contemplate on the following:

Allah states in praise of sadaqah:

“The likeness of those who spend for Allah’s sake is as the likeness of a grain of corn, it grows seven ears every single ear has a hundred grains, and Allah multiplies (increases the reward of) for whom He wills, and Allah is sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower).” (Qur’an, 2:261)

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah radiallahu anhu reported Allah’s Messenger salallahu alaihi wasallam as saying: “Charity does not in any way decrease the wealth and the servant who forgives, Allah adds to his respect; and the one who shows humility, Allah elevates him in the estimation (of the people).”[4] (Sahih Muslim hadith no.2588)

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mawlana Faraz ibn Adam,
Student Darul Iftaa

Leicester, United Kingdom

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net