Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam Alaikum

I want to know is it right to go to people and ask for help to construct a masjid?

One of my relative is coming from India to Dubai for fund raising for a masjid. He expects me to take him to people whom I know for asking help. I personally would like to contribute but I don't like the idea of going to my contacts for asking help. People have their own commitments / problems and they get obligated to give money when someone comes from far place for such purpose. Am I wrong in saying I don't like the idea of taking him around for this purpose?

Please don't mention my name in the answer and reply to me as soon as possible

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Raise money for masjid ashamed

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If one amongst the believers known to you to be trustworthy has made the noble intention of constructing a House of Allah Subhanah on this earth, and he seeks your help in introducing him and his noble project to the believers you know so that they too may participate in his noble cause only for the Sake of Allah Subhanah……respected brother, it would only be prudent for you to grab this opportunity with both hands….not only will you have the reward for your efforts, but if anyone whom you helped introduce were to participate in the noble cause, you will have the same reward in the Presence of your Lord Most Gracious as the one who actually participated, without their rewards being diminished in the least!  Such is the Grace of the Lord Most Gracious unto those who help Him and His Cause.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 2 (part):

……Help ye one another in righteousness and piety but help ye not one another in sin and rancor: fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 19 (part):

85      Whoever recommends and helps a good cause becomes a partner therein: and whoever recommends and helps an evil cause shares in the burden (of the sin): and Allah hath power over all things.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 6470     Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘He who called (people) to righteousness, there would be reward (assured) for him like the rewards of those who adhered to it, without their rewards being diminished in any respect. And he who called (people) to error, he shall have to carry (the burden) of its sin, like those who committed it, without their sins being diminished in any respect.’

If one does not let the believer one knows know that a House of Allah (or any noble deed) is being initiated, how would the believers who wish to participate in that noble cause contribute to it?  What one merely does by introducing the person to the believers one knows is guarantee that the person is known to them and is trustworthy….if those who are introduced wish to participate in the noble cause for the Sake of their Lord Most High, they may do so, and if they wish to abstain they may do so….what one should try not to do is compel or force others to participate or contribute in the project. 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan