Giving a share of all charitable funds to those in charge of them
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Q: Your Eminence, given my proximity to some workers and supervisors in the charitable sector, and my desire to collect donations supporting noble charitable projects, individuals come to these associations who know merchants or those with connections. They claim to be specialists in marketing and the like, and say: "We will suffice you in collecting donations, on the condition that we collect in the name of your associations, using your legal publications and your signatures, and that we take a certain percentage (10%, 15%, or 20%) of the collected amount, which may reach more than that. The collected funds may amount to millions, and sometimes they may include obligatory zakah. Is such an action permissible? The merchants and donors do not know that this percentage is being taken from their donations for these people. I am certain that if they knew, they would not pay and would look down upon them. They might even refuse to pay any donor, suspecting that everyone takes a percentage of what they collect for their personal account. This harms the charitable work in general and casts doubt on those who seek reward in their charitable work and do not take any worldly benefit. I also know from the supervising government bodies, such as the Ministry of Islamic Affairs (Quran memorization associations) and the Ministry of Social Affairs (charitable and civil associations), that they absolutely prohibit this. I have heard that one association permitted this type of collection with the taking of a percentage. Is it permissible for them to do so and give the percentage to the one who brings the donation? And what should be done with the money that has been deducted to be paid to the collector, especially since many of those who work in these associations receive a fixed salary?
Those with connections claim to be specialists in marketing and the like, and say: "We will suffice you in collecting donations, on the condition that we collect in the name of your associations, using your legal publications and your signatures, and that we take a certain percentage (10%, 15%, or 20%) of the collected amount, which may reach more than that. The collected funds may amount to millions, and sometimes they may include obligatory zakah. Is such an action permissible? The merchants and donors do not know that this percentage is being taken from their donations for these people. I am certain that if they knew, they would not pay and would look down upon them. They might even refuse to pay any donor, suspecting that everyone takes a percentage of what they collect for their personal account. This harms the charitable work in general and casts doubt on those who seek reward in their charitable work and do not take any worldly benefit. I also know from the supervising government bodies, such as the Ministry of Islamic Affairs (Quran memorization associations) and the Ministry of Social Affairs (charitable and civil associations), that they absolutely prohibit this. I have heard that one association permitted this type of collection with the taking of a percentage. Is it permissible for them to do so and give the percentage to the one who brings the donation? And what should be done with the money that has been deducted to be paid to the collector, especially since many of those who work in these associations receive a fixed salary?
Those with connections claim to be specialists in marketing and the like, and they say: “We will suffice you in collecting donations, on the condition that we collect in the name of your associations, using your legal publications and your signatures, and that we receive a certain percentage (10%, 15%, or 20%) of the amount collected, which may reach more than that. The collected funds may amount to millions, and sometimes they may include obligatory zakah. Is such an action permissible? The merchants and donors do not know that this percentage is being taken from their donations for these people. I am certain that if they knew, they would not pay, and they would look down upon them. They might even refuse to pay any donor, suspecting that everyone takes a percentage of what they collect for their personal account. This harms the charitable work in general and casts doubt on those who seek reward in their charitable work and do not take any worldly benefit. I also know from the supervising government bodies, such as the Ministry of Islamic Affairs (Quran memorization associations) and the Ministry of Social Affairs (charitable and civil associations), that they absolutely prohibit this. I have heard that one association permitted this type of collection with the taking of a percentage. Is it permissible for them to do so and give the percentage to the one who brings the donation? And what should be done with the funds that have been deducted to be paid to the one who collected them, especially since many of those who work in these associations receive a salary that is approximately the market rate? Is it valid to cite as evidence for their action the saying of Allah the Exalted: and to cite public benefit? I ask you to kindly provide a comprehensive answer and inform me in writing, to settle this matter with a ruling of permissibility or prohibition from the firmly grounded scholars in knowledge and guidance, and to advise those among our brothers who have exerted effort, may Allah guide them to the truth. May Allah benefit the lands and the people through you and make you a reserve for the charitable associations and those in charge of them.
A: It is not permissible for those in charge of collecting donations from the generous to spend them on charitable causes to give any of it to their employees or to those who collect it from the generous donors; because the donors gave it to them to deliver it to those entitled to it or to spend it in works of righteousness. They are considered agents of the donors in delivering the funds to those for whom they were designated, and an agent does not act except within the limits of what he has been authorized to do. And Allah is the Guide to the straight path.
Those with connections claim to be specialists in marketing and the like, and say: "We will suffice you in collecting donations, on the condition that we collect in the name of your associations, using your legal publications and your signatures, and that we take a certain percentage (10%, 15%, or 20%) of the collected amount, which may reach more than that. The collected funds may amount to millions, and sometimes they may include obligatory zakah. Is such an action permissible? The merchants and donors do not know that this percentage is being taken from their donations for these people. I am certain that if they knew, they would not pay and would look down upon them. They might even refuse to pay any donor, suspecting that everyone takes a percentage of what they collect for their personal account. This harms the charitable work in general and casts doubt on those who seek reward in their charitable work and do not take any worldly benefit. I also know from the supervising government bodies, such as the Ministry of Islamic Affairs (Quran memorization associations) and the Ministry of Social Affairs (charitable and civil associations), that they absolutely prohibit this. I have heard that one association permitted this type of collection with the taking of a percentage. Is it permissible for them to do so and give the percentage to the one who brings the donation? And what should be done with the money that has been deducted to be paid to the collector, especially since many of those who work in these associations receive a fixed salary?
Those with connections claim to be specialists in marketing and the like, and they say: “We will suffice you in collecting donations, on the condition that we collect in the name of your associations, using your legal publications and your signatures, and that we receive a certain percentage (10%, 15%, or 20%) of the amount collected, which may reach more than that. The collected funds may amount to millions, and sometimes they may include obligatory zakah. Is such an action permissible? The merchants and donors do not know that this percentage is being taken from their donations for these people. I am certain that if they knew, they would not pay, and they would look down upon them. They might even refuse to pay any donor, suspecting that everyone takes a percentage of what they collect for their personal account. This harms the charitable work in general and casts doubt on those who seek reward in their charitable work and do not take any worldly benefit. I also know from the supervising government bodies, such as the Ministry of Islamic Affairs (Quran memorization associations) and the Ministry of Social Affairs (charitable and civil associations), that they absolutely prohibit this. I have heard that one association permitted this type of collection with the taking of a percentage. Is it permissible for them to do so and give the percentage to the one who brings the donation? And what should be done with the funds that have been deducted to be paid to the one who collected them, especially since many of those who work in these associations receive a salary that is approximately the market rate? Is it valid to cite as evidence for their action the saying of Allah the Exalted:
and those who collect it
وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَاA: It is not permissible for those in charge of collecting donations from the generous to spend them on charitable causes to give any of it to their employees or to those who collect it from the generous donors; because the donors gave it to them to deliver it to those entitled to it or to spend it in works of righteousness. They are considered agents of the donors in delivering the funds to those for whom they were designated, and an agent does not act except within the limits of what he has been authorized to do. And Allah is the Guide to the straight path.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.