Things donated for a specific purpose: Is it permissible to use them for personal purposes?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : Regarding in-kind donations that reach the charitable circles, such as travel supplies like tents and the like, is it permissible for me to use them for personal purposes, such as taking them out with my family, for example?
The Shaykh : Things donated for a specific purpose are not permissible to be diverted to other uses, unless that specific purpose becomes inactive, in which case they are to be spent on something similar. Accordingly, tents, utensils, gas, and the like, which are for charitable works, are not permissible for a person to use for his personal benefit. This is an encroachment on this organization from one angle, and also an encroachment on those who donated. When a person donates, the one who receives the donation is considered his agent, and an agent does not dispose of anything other than what he was appointed to handle.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Nor at a symbolic price. If this organization does not need them, and these items are not harmed by their use, and it is seen as in the interest to rent them out for a full, non-symbolic fee, then there is no harm.
The Shaykh : Things donated for a specific purpose are not permissible to be diverted to other uses, unless that specific purpose becomes inactive, in which case they are to be spent on something similar. Accordingly, tents, utensils, gas, and the like, which are for charitable works, are not permissible for a person to use for his personal benefit. This is an encroachment on this organization from one angle, and also an encroachment on those who donated. When a person donates, the one who receives the donation is considered his agent, and an agent does not dispose of anything other than what he was appointed to handle.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Nor at a symbolic price. If this organization does not need them, and these items are not harmed by their use, and it is seen as in the interest to rent them out for a full, non-symbolic fee, then there is no harm.