A society was established to collect donations for purchasing winter blankets. Is it permissible to purchase heaters, gas stoves, and similar items from the donations?
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The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : There is what is known as the winter blanket, and some charitable societies collect and distribute them to some Muslims living in cold areas. They collect for them what is known as the winter blanket to warm the Muslim. Is it possible to expand this scope so that the intended purpose is warming the Muslim? For example, in some places, the poor need winter clothing to keep warm, or they need butane gas stoves or similar items for heating, from the funds collected to buy blankets, because the intended purpose is one: warming the Muslims?
The Shaykh : It is better that the expression for this society be: "Winter Aid." If it is called "Winter Aid," it becomes suitable for blankets, clothes, butane gas, and others. So it is best that the slogan for collecting from these people be adjusted and said: "Winter Aid," yes, or "Winter Protection," for example, yes?
The questioner : I say, and what was collected?
The Shaykh : As for what was collected for a specific purpose, it must not be spent except on that specific purpose, unless it becomes unused.
The questioner : But if the meaning is the same?
The Shaykh : For example, we collected winter blankets for one of the villages, and they were satisfied with half the amount, and they need clothes or heating, then there is no harm in that. But if it is general and people need blankets, it is not permissible to spend it on another direction.
The questioner : In some places, their need for clothes for heating is greater than for blankets?
The Shaykh : Okay, but the slogan or title by which it was collected is "the blanket," and people need it.
The questioner : But the meaning is the same if the blankets are replaced with something else.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible at all, except if it is well-known among people that the meaning of "winter blanket" means "winter provisions." Therefore, from now on, the slogan should be adjusted and said: "Winter Provisions" and the like.
The questioner : There is what is known as the winter blanket, and some charitable societies collect and distribute them to some Muslims living in cold areas. They collect for them what is known as the winter blanket to warm the Muslim. Is it possible to expand this scope so that the intended purpose is warming the Muslim? For example, in some places, the poor need winter clothing to keep warm, or they need butane gas stoves or similar items for heating, from the funds collected to buy blankets, because the intended purpose is one: warming the Muslims?
The Shaykh : It is better that the expression for this society be: "Winter Aid." If it is called "Winter Aid," it becomes suitable for blankets, clothes, butane gas, and others. So it is best that the slogan for collecting from these people be adjusted and said: "Winter Aid," yes, or "Winter Protection," for example, yes?
The questioner : I say, and what was collected?
The Shaykh : As for what was collected for a specific purpose, it must not be spent except on that specific purpose, unless it becomes unused.
The questioner : But if the meaning is the same?
The Shaykh : For example, we collected winter blankets for one of the villages, and they were satisfied with half the amount, and they need clothes or heating, then there is no harm in that. But if it is general and people need blankets, it is not permissible to spend it on another direction.
The questioner : In some places, their need for clothes for heating is greater than for blankets?
The Shaykh : Okay, but the slogan or title by which it was collected is "the blanket," and people need it.
The questioner : But the meaning is the same if the blankets are replaced with something else.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible at all, except if it is well-known among people that the meaning of "winter blanket" means "winter provisions." Therefore, from now on, the slogan should be adjusted and said: "Winter Provisions" and the like.