Fatwa

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  2. Zakaah (Obligatory Charity)
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Ruling on Using Fundraising Proceeds for Event Expenses
Fatwa No: 486301

Question

Salam,So my college club did a fundraising event for a thing called charity week. We charged admission tickets and accepted donations and said the money would go to charity. The event cost around 700, and I was wondering if it is halal to use some of the money that we made from the tickets to help pay for the expenses. One of the club officers said it's haram and I am not sure.Thank you and salam,-Yousef

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The jurists have stated that it is an obligation to consider the intentions of those who give charity or donate, and that those who are in charge of collecting these funds are merely agents acting on their behalf. The agent is obligated to act according to the instructions of the authorizer (entruster), and he is not allowed to contradict the wishes of the authorizer (entruster). Otherwise, it would be considered a violation, and he would be liable for misusing the funds entrusted to him.

Ibn Qudaamah said in Al-Mughni: “The agent does not have the authority to act except in accordance with what is implied by the permission of his authorizer, whether expressed verbally or understood by custom as his actions are limited to what he has been authorized to do.”

Sheikh Zakariya Al-Ansari said in Asnaa al-Mataalib: “If the authorizer gives him money and says, ‘Buy for yourself a turban with it or enter the bath with it or something similar,’ it is an obligation to consider that in line with the purpose of the donator.”

Once it is established, attention is directed towards the intended use of the donations. Are these expenses included in the funds, and are they sanctioned by the donors? This depends on the wording used by the donors or their customary understanding, as mentioned earlier in the principle of the agent's conduct, which is based on the permission of the authorizer, whether expressed verbally or understood by custom.

Allah knows best.

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