Fatwa ID: 07824
Written by Aalimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Question:
There is an individual who offers masajid to give him their cash and he deposits the amount taken plus 20% extra into their account. 5000 cash and 6000 deposit. He says the extra 1000 is a gift. Have you heard of anything like this? Is it legit.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Gifting money to a mosque based on its collection amount is permissible in Islam if certain conditions are met. If I have understood your question, then then the key factor is that the gift is intended as a voluntary charity (sadaqah) or support without any form of profit motive or expectation of return.
The Quran encourages spending in the way of Allah, which includes supporting mosques, a central place of worship and community service. Allah ﷻ says:
“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] that sprouts seven ears; in every ear is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies for whom He wills.”
[Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:261]
This verse illustrates the reward and blessings that come from giving for the sake of Allah, especially in causes that strengthen the Muslim community, like supporting a mosque.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ encouraged charity to help establish and maintain places of worship. For instance, he encouraged contributions to build the first mosque in Medina, Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. He said:
“Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.”
[Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim]
This Hadith shows the great reward of supporting mosques. While it does not specify amounts or methods, it encourages supporting mosques by any permissible means.
The conditions are to avoid Riba (Interest):
- The gift should not be a conditional return, where money is given to the mosque only in exchange for their deposit or fundraising collections. Instead, it should be a sincere voluntary donation.
- Any linkage to their collection amount should be intended as a sincere form of support, not as a form of gain or incentive.
Allah ﷻ says:
“O you who believe, do not invalidate your charities with reminders of generosity or with injury, like those who spend their wealth to be seen by the people and believe not in Allah and the Last Day…” [Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:264]
This verse reminds Muslims that charity should be for Allah’s sake alone and not to seek praise or material gain.
In summary, gifting money to a mosque based on its collection amount is permissible if done with a sincere intention to support the mosque, without any commercial gain or conditions that imply Riba. Such charity aligns with the Quran’s encouragement to support community institutions and our Prophet’s ﷺ teachings on the reward of helping to build and maintain mosques. The focus should remain on generosity and seeking Allah’s reward, following the spirit of charity emphasised in the Quran and Sunnah.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Aalimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References
مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمۡوَٰلَهُمۡ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتۡ سَبۡعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٖ مِّاْئَةُ حَبَّةٖۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ بَنَى مَسْجِدًا لِلَّهِ بَنَى اللَّهُ لَهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِثْلَهُ
450 صحيح البخاري كتاب الصلاة أبواب استقبال القبلة باب من بنى مسجدا
533 صحيح مسلم كتاب الزهد والرقائق باب فضل بناء المساجد
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُبۡطِلُواْ صَدَقَٰتِكُم بِٱلۡمَنِّ وَٱلۡأَذَىٰ كَٱلَّذِي يُنفِقُ مَالَهُۥ رِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِۖ فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ صَفۡوَانٍ عَلَيۡهِ تُرَابٞ فَأَصَابَهُۥ وَابِلٞ فَتَرَكَهُۥ صَلۡدٗاۖ لَّا يَقۡدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَيۡءٖ مِّمَّا كَسَبُواْۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ
