𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗵 (48)

The Importance of Context Some supporters of fundraising campaigns have wrongly used a fatwa of Shaykh Muqbil rahimahullah to justify their own fundraising project. However, the Shaykh’s statement must be understood in its proper context. From the question itself, it is clear that the Shaykh was addressing a specific emergency situation, namely the crisis during the Bosnian war, when Muslims were being killed, displaced, and women and children were left without basic necessities. In such a case of ḍarūrah (dire necessity), he permitted collecting money provided the collectors and organisations were trustworthy and the funds genuinely reached those afflicted. For anyone familiar with Shaykh Muqbil, it is well known from his teachings that he did not allow organised fundraising for daʿwah projects or for building masaajid. His position was that daʿwah should not be based on fundraising campaigns, and he strongly cautioned against this method, often employed by hizbi groups whose focus is centred on fundraising. Therefore, this fatwa cannot be generalised as proof for regular fundraising for daʿwah or masjid projects. Rather, it was a limited concession due to an exceptional humanitarian crisis. Without mentioning this context, the statement gives the impression that the Shaykh endorsed general fundraising, which was not his position. Here we will mention some of the Shaykh’s words so that people may understand what the daʿwah of Shaykh Muqbil was like. The Shaykh said regarding some of his former students who left him to establish charitable organisations: “Many of the people from Al-Hikmah Society and Al-Ihsan Society studied with us and know our methodology. So why did they change? Because they could not remain patient the way the students of knowledge here remained patient, nor like the brothers in Aden. Instead, they rush from Ta‘izz, Ibb, and Sana‘a to Qatar and to the land of the Two Holy Sanctuaries, saying: ‘I and the sponsor of an orphan will be like these two,’ and quoting the Ayah: ‘Whatever good you send forward for yourselves, you will find it with Allah; it is better and greater in reward.’ But what really concerns them is obtaining dollars. So I say: “Shame upon knowledge whose end result is begging.” Because of this they fell!” He also said: “Then Aqeel Al-Maqtari comes and says: ‘The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: I and the one who sponsors an orphan will be like these two,’ and he points with his fingers. And Muhammad Al-Mahdi comes and says that Allah said: ‘Whatever good you send forward for yourselves, you will find it with Allah.’ Look at the begging magazine (Al-Furqan). Do you find any issue that does not contain begging? I advise Ahlus-Sunnah to fulfil their duty toward the daʿwah sincerely for the sake of Allah. We are not calling the people to take their money.” He also said: “If Aqeel Al-Maqtari, Muhammad Al-Mahdi, or others like them come to you and someone says, ‘This is a scholar from the scholars of Yemen,’ do not host him, do not welcome him, and do not attend his lecture, because he is travelling around for dollars.” He also criticised Abdullah An-Nihmi and Abdul-Wahhab, the son-in-law of Hizam Al-Bahluli, saying: Their practice of collecting donations is not from the characteristics of Ahlus-Sunnah. [The above statements are taken from Tuhfat Al-Mujeeb]. He also said in Dhamm Al-Mas’alah: “Money that humiliates knowledge, humiliates the callers to Allah, promotes partisanship, or turns masjids into places of begging — we have no need for such money. How many well-known preachers you see who memorise the Ayaat encouraging charity and then travel from masjid to masjid reciting: ‘Whatever good you send forward for yourselves, you will find it with Allah; it is better and greater in reward.’ The poor man has turned from a caller to Allah into a beggar. And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ spoke the truth when he said: ‘Every nation has a trial, and the trial of my nation is wealth.’” This was the dignity of Shaykh Muqbil.