We have gathered money for mosque building in Japan, and because of tsunami disaster we ask if it is possible to assign that money to help people in Indonesia?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

Allaah knows best, but we think that it is more appropriate to build a mosque for many reasons, among which are:

1)     The country that you have stated, Japan, is in need for such a mosque.

2)     It is possible to encourage people to donate to those victims and meet their needs with the money obtained from donations (Sadaqah).

For the above reasons and others, we think that it is more appropriate to build a mosque. However, if there is a greater benefit in relieving the victims, then there is no harm in allocating this money for them, Inshaa' Allaah. Some scholars are of the view that it is permissible to change the purpose of spending the endowment money to what brings more benefit.    

Allaah knows best.