Ruling on holding charitable dinners / food Bazaars

Sheikh Salih al-Fawzan hafidhahullah was asked: What is your opinion concerning the issue of 'charitable dinners'; meaning: food is prepared at home and sold in schools or madrasahs, and the proceeds are spent on charitable activities and funding for women’s madradahs? May Allah reward you with good. Answer: "I say, whoever wants to do good for the poor and needy should give charity directly to them without (organising) a charitable dinner, and without these kinds of practices and overburdening (oneself). Whoever has the wealth and the ability, should give charity directly to them. Pay the money directly to them. Why do you need to go and spend it on these things (ingredients, cooking, etc) and then give the proceeds to charity? Why? Give it to charity at once and save yourself from these twists and turns." [Al-Ijaabaat Al-Muhhimmah fee Al-Mashaakil Al-Mudlahimmah P. 202] On another occasion [Al-Liqaa' Al-Usboo'ee, tape No. (17) 1423 AH] he was asked: We are a group of female students and we want to organise what a 'charitable dinner', whereby each person prepares a type of dish, then these dishes are sold on to the female students and the proceeds are spent on the needy. The reason for not donating money directly is because some of the female students cannot afford to donate money, but they are able make food which can be sold on. So what is the ruling on this practice? Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful: I was asked about this before and I answered that this is not appropriate. Whoever wants to do good, then the door to good is open, and whoever wants to give in charity should do so without using this method. Anyone who cannot afford (to give charity) is not accountable, and if this woman - as mentioned by the questioner - is unable to give charity, then she is not obliged to do so; 'Allah puts no burden on any person beyond what He has given him. Allah will grant after hardship, ease.' [Surah Aṭ-Ṭalāq: 7]. What's more, this food that she prepares and gives away, it would have been better to give it in charity without cooking it; (it's better) to give the flour or rice to those in need in order for them to cook and make use of it (as they wish). As for these ready-made dishes and these types of gatherings between women and these exaggerations, then these are excessive efforts for which Allah has sent down no authority (i.e. baseless practices). This (preparing meals and selling it in these gatherings) is also something difficult to do. Whoever wants to give charity, then the door to charity is easy; a person should donate and give it directly to the needy." Sheikh Ahmad An-Najmi rahimahullah was asked: O Esteemed Sheikh, there is new phenomenon known as 'charitable dinners' or 'charitable Bazaars' that have spread within some of the women's ranks, whereby women are requested to bring food or other items which they then donate towards this bazaar or charitable dinner, and they are collected in a location where only women can enter. Thereafter women are invited to buy what is in this charitable bazaar from food, tapes, books, clothes and other items, and the proceeds from this sale goes towards charitable projects like building a centre in which female students memorise the Qurʿān and listen to Islamic lectures. What is the ruling on this practice as per the Shari’ah, and do you advice to cooperate with those who do such things? May Allah reward you with good. Answer: "Praise be to Allah, and prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and Companions, to proceed: This method is known to be from the way of Al-Ikhwan Al-Muslimoon, and the ikhwaan Al-Muslimoon employ various methods to promote their Da'wah and hizb, bearing in mind that no one from the Salaf is known to have utilised this method. Rather, the Salaf would merely encourage others to give in charitable causes whenever the need arose...In summary: this is an innovated method." [Al-Fataawa Al-Jaliyyah Anil Manaahij Ad-Da'awiyyah (2/162)]