Distributing books and tapes in a village on the condition that each person pays fifty riyals monthly, then holding a competition: is this permissible?
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The questioner : Distributing a tape and a book to every family each month, on the condition of a subscription fee of fifty riyals... and we utilize this money for the competition through this distribution to the homes.
The Shaykh : If the intention behind this operation is exchange, meaning that we take fifty riyals from each person who receives these tapes and booklets every month, and if it is on the basis of exchange, then it is not permissible, because the consideration is unknown, as the one who hands over the money does not know what will come to him from these booklets and these tapes.
And if it is on the basis of cooperation, and that they established a fund into which they collect fifty riyals each month, and then useful booklets and tapes are purchased from this sum and distributed to the people, then there is nothing wrong with it. Based on this, we say: regarding the surplus you asked about, if there is a remainder after the settlement, the contributors to this should be consulted on where it should be spent. If they entrust the matter to the one in charge of this fund, let him spend it in what he sees to be in the public interest. Yes.
The Shaykh : If the intention behind this operation is exchange, meaning that we take fifty riyals from each person who receives these tapes and booklets every month, and if it is on the basis of exchange, then it is not permissible, because the consideration is unknown, as the one who hands over the money does not know what will come to him from these booklets and these tapes.
And if it is on the basis of cooperation, and that they established a fund into which they collect fifty riyals each month, and then useful booklets and tapes are purchased from this sum and distributed to the people, then there is nothing wrong with it. Based on this, we say: regarding the surplus you asked about, if there is a remainder after the settlement, the contributors to this should be consulted on where it should be spent. If they entrust the matter to the one in charge of this fund, let him spend it in what he sees to be in the public interest. Yes.