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Can lottery
funding be obtained from the national lottery funding to build an Islamic centre
for the benefit of the community bearing in mind that the funding has changed
hands. Also can funding be obtained
to pay an individuals salary?
In the name of
Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. Allah Most
High says: The funds that
go to good causes from the income generated by the National Lottery is haram and
by merely changing hands would not come under the term tabdeel-e-milk (change of
ownership). The money that is given to organisations who then distribute it
amongst the community etc are merely agents for the National Lottery
organisation, hence it is still called National Lottery funding. Therefore
Islamic organisations
should avoid using these kinds of funds as the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wa
sallam) said: “Allah is pure and accepts nothing but what is pure.” (Sahih
Muslim: 500) However if the
funds were transferred to an organisation by the National Lottery Organisation
and they then become the owners of the fund and have their own criteria for
funding, then this would indeed be considered tabdeel-e-milk and therefore these
kinds of funding may be aquired by Islamic organisations. Some scholars
have allowed using unlawful money for charities in general, such as building
roads, constructing community centres for the poor and financing other
public-welfare projects. (Fatawa Rahimiyya, Vol 3, P260) In the books
of jurisprudence it is stated that if one has money, which was acquired through
interest (or other unlawful means), it will be necessary to give it away to the
poor with the intention of removing the unlawful money from one and without the
intention of reward. (Fatawa Hindiyya Vol 5, P349) In conclusion,
due to the fact that there has been no tabdeel-e-milk it will not be permissible
for Islamic organisations to obtain these grants and funding. The level of
poverty, which may have according to some scholars permitted the use of such
funds, does not exist in the communities in the UK. Therefore it would not be
lawful to obtain grants or funding from the National Lottery or such other
organisation that provide funding from these kind of sources to pay a salary or
to pay for a community center.
Sayeedur
Rahman Darul Ifta,
Birmingham |
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