Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
I have been hearing all that has been happening in Asia and I really want to do something. we have a UNICEF society in my university and I am thinking of raising some money. however in order to get as much awareness as possible it means advertising at all the places were the students hung out. I was wondering if I asked the people the work at the bars or pubs, were the majority of the students are, to pass the word around to get people to donate would that be permissible in Islam?
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
There is nothing wrong in asking people at such places to put up advertising for relief fundraising, as this entails neither participating in sin nor assisting in it; rather, it is a promotion of good without obvious harm.
There is great virtue in assisting those in need. The very basis of our moral responsibility lies in promoting the good and preventing the bad, both in our lives and around us. Allah says in the Qur’an,
007.199 Be overlooking (of others’ faults); enjoin the good; and turn away from the ignorant.
And Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) reminds us that,
“Allah is in the aide of His servant as long as His servant is in the aide of their brethren.” [Muslim, Tirmidhi, and others]
Allah Most High tells us in the Qur’an
057.018 Lo! those who give alms, both men and women, and lend unto Allah a goodly loan, it will be doubled for them, and theirs will be a rich reward.
And He also promises that
033.035 Lo! men who surrender unto Allah, and women who surrender, and men who believe and women who believe, and men who obey and women who obey, and men who speak the truth and women who speak the truth, and men who persevere (in righteousness) and women who persevere, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give charity and women who give charity, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their modesty and women who guard (their modesty), and men who remember Allah much and women who remember – Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a tremendous reward.
Finally, we should not forget to spend of our money to assist relief efforts, and to give spiritually to those affected by frequent supplication and donation of the reward of our Qur’anic recitation to them.
“Allah is in the aide of His servant as long as His servant is in the aide of their brethren.”
And Allah alone gives success.
Faraz Rabbani.