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:

Asalamu alaikum,

May Allah bless you for your efforts and hard work maintaining this website.

My questions are as follows:

(1) Can shops constructed around the mosque boundary be given on rent to Video or CD or DVD shops who rent films. Can this rent money be utilised to pay salaries of the Iman, Maintenenace work in the mosque, etc.

(2) Can the above shops be rented out to Non-Muslims.

(3) If a bank claims that it is an Islamic Bank in Kuwait. Is it necessary to verify their claim before keeping money for a fixed deposit for profits.

I appreciate your answers to the above question and thank you.

(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:

Shops around mosques on rent

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.

Your Question: ….Can shops constructed around the mosque boundary be given on rent to Video or CD or DVD shops who rent films. Can this rent money be utilised to pay salaries of the Iman, Maintenenace work in the mosque, etc.

In principle there is absolutely no harm in constructing shops around the boundaries of a ‘masjid’ and earning rent from those shops to pay for the upkeep of the ‘masjid’ (paying the salaries of the ‘Imam’ or support staff, maintenance of the masjid, etc.)

It is incumbent and obligatory upon the believers who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day to earn their livelihood only from lawful sources.  The absolute majority of conventional movies and music are abundant in elements of ‘fahisha’ (indecency), something which is categorically forbidden and prohibited in Islam.  It would not be lawful for the believers to earn their own livelihood from elements which contain or promote the evil of ‘fahisha’, leave alone complement the earnings of a Sacred House of Allah through it!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 33:

33      Say: The things that my Lord hath indeed forbidden are: ‘fahisha’ (shameful or indecent deeds) whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah for which he hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have no knowledge.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 151:

151    Say: "Come I will rehearse what Allah hath (really) prohibited you from": join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents: kill not your children on a plea of want;  We provide sustenance for you and for them;  come not (even) nigh to ‘fahisha’ (shameful or indecent deeds) whether open or secret; take not life which Allah hath made sacred except by way of justice and law: thus doth He command you that ye may learn wisdom.

There is absolutely no harm in constructing shops around the ‘masjid’ or in renting those shops to pay for the upkeep of the ‘masjid’; but the administrators of the ‘masjid’ should fear Allah and rent those shops only to those traders who deal in lawful businesses.

Your Question: Can the above shops be rented out to Non-Muslims.

There is absolutely no harm if the administrators of the ‘masjid’ chose to rent those shops to disbelievers, as long as the disbelievers do not practice unlawful trade or businesses in those premises.

Your Question: If a bank claims that it is an Islamic Bank in Kuwait. Is it necessary to verify their claim before keeping money for a fixed deposit for profits.

If one lives in an ‘Islamic’ or ‘Muslim’ majority nation, and the bank or the financial institution has obtained a license from the authorities of the nation to deal in Shariah-based Islamic finance…..then the believers dealing with that institution should assume that their earnings from that Islamic Bank are Shariah compliant and thus lawful for them.

Unless one has a genuine reason to believe otherwise, a believer who is presented some food by another believer does not need to investigate or verify himself regarding the lawful nature of the food presented by his believing brother…..similarly, unless one has a genuine reason to believe that the bank or financial institution which claims to be Shariah-compliant and ‘Islamic’ is indulging in unlawful practices, there is no obligation or need to verify their claim.

If a believer intentionally presents unlawful food to another believer and declares or claims that the food is lawful, the burden of the sin lies on the one who intentionally lied unto his believing brother….similarly if a bank claims to be ‘Shariah-compliant’ or ‘Islamic’ and indulges in transactions which are prohibited by Shariah, it is the owners/administrators of the bank who shall alone bear the burden of their lie and their sin in the Presence of the Lord.

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