𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (24)

What Are the Limits of What Is Permissible and Impermissible in Financial Dealings Within the Masjid? Question: Inside the masjid, one of our brothers mentioned the issue of daily automatic deductions made by some charitable platforms. However, our brother ’Abdullāh spoke about paying bills, noting that sometimes this may occur in situations such as orders from application-based services, whether for food or other items. What, then, are the limits of what is permissible and impermissible in such transactions within the masjid? Shaykh Sa’d Al-Khathlān ḥafidhahullāh said: First, charitable automatic deductions are considered an act of charity, and there is no problem with doing this in the masjid. As for our brother’s question regarding the ruling on making such a deduction while being in the masjid—by deducting funds via one’s mobile phone from one’s account while inside the masjid—we say that there is no objection to this. You are giving charity; you are not buying, selling, or engaging in trade. Therefore, there is no harm in it. Paying off debts is also permissible. There are indications in the Sunnah that show its permissibility(*), and this includes paying bills and similar matters; there is no objection to this either. What is prohibited is only: 1) buying, 2) selling, 3) commercial advertising, and 4) announcing the loss of an item. These are the matters for which a prohibition has been reported regarding their occurrence in the masjid. The Prophet ﷺ said: “If you see someone buying or selling in the masjid, say: ‘May Allāh not make your trade profitable,’ for the masjids were not built for this.” And he said: “If you see someone announcing a lost item in the masjid, say: ‘May Allāh not return it to you.’” This entails a form of rebuke, and it indicates the seriousness of the matter, because the Prophet’s command to supplicate against such a person shows the gravity of the issue. Masjids are places of worship, not places for concluding commercial transactions, engaging in commercial advertising, or announcing lost property. Rather, they are places of worship, as the Prophet ﷺ said: “They were built only for that for which they were built (i.e. worship).” ___ (*) Al-Bukhārī (no. 471) narrated from Kaʿb ibn Mālik that: “He demanded repayment from Ibn Abī Ḥadrad of a debt that was owed to him, during the time of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, in the masjid. Their voices became raised to the extent that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ heard them while he was in his house. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then came out to them, until he drew aside the curtain of his chamber, and he called out: ‘O Kaʿb ibn Mālik! O Kaʿb!’ He said: ‘At your service, O Messenger of Allah.’ The Prophet gestured with his hand, indicating: ‘Remit half of your debt.’ Kaʿb said: ‘I have done so, O Messenger of Allāh.’ The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ then said: ‘Stand up and repay it.’” Source: https://t.me/madrasatuna/5697