𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (51)

They Didn't Learn This From Us! An Important Question from Britain: Recently, some students who sought knowledge in Yemen with our Sheikh Yahya, may Allah preserve him, returned to their country and established an institute. They began charging fees for lessons... Sheikh Yahya This method of imposing fees for lessons is not something they learned from us. With us, by the grace of Allah, this does not exist at all. Rather, a student comes seeking knowledge and is not asked for a single penny. Allah provides for his food, drink, and accommodation. Also, whatever Allah facilitates for his needs - even with limited means - he is content with that. His affairs are good, and he seeks knowledge without any costs, whether he is single or married. The Da'wah does not charge him anything. If Allah facilitates means for the Da'wah to provide, then it provides. If Allah does not facilitate means, then they exercise patience. They exercise patience without being asked for anything. This is what we follow here, [as Allah says:] "Say, 'I do not ask you for any reward for it.'" [And His saying] "Whatever payment I might have asked of you - it is yours." If the prophets and messengers of Allah asked people for their wealth, it would be a cause for people to turn away from the religion of Allah. [Allah says] "And He does not ask you for your wealth." Da'wah to Allah is not for profit or wordly gain. Da'wah is for spreading knowledge as Allah facilitates from goodness. So I advise my brothers who are listening not to take payments from, or impose payments upon students - weekly, monthly - donations in exchange for teaching, or in exchange for this and that - there is no need for this. If you have the ability, teach the Muslim children. Whoever comes to you, teach them. And if they don't come, Allah's earth is vast. If you don't have the ability... teach even the children in your neighbourhood. They learn from you, then return to their homes, eat, drink, and sleep. How many masjids and centres in our cities here in Yemen are in this situation? Hundreds and thousands attend for a teacher, and he teaches them. They go to their homes. Others have kitchens, internal feeding, internal accommodation, and so on, and they manage with what Allah facilitates. This exists. As for this method of collections, or asking for money in exchange for this and that - there is no need for this. This is a cause for the removal of blessings. It is similar to the way of charity organisations, the way of the ikhwanis, a displeasing way. Fear Allah as much as you can. Questioner They started imposing fees for lessons in various sciences... Sheikh Yahya Meaning, how much will the lesson on Ajrumiyyah be?...And how much will the lesson on Wasitiyyah be? And they will determine for us the lesson on the book Fath Al-Majeed. And for example, Sahih Al-Bukhari - that will be a huge amount. Tafsir Ibn Kathir - how much will they charge? Lessons in Arabic, lessons in fiqh, lessons in mustalah, lessons in this and that...This method is not correct. It is the way of Dunya. The Da'wah cannot be established on worldly gains. It will fail. Look at many centres [of Ahlus-Sunnah] in the vast lands of Allah that operate in this way: they have support facilitated for them, Allah facilitates for them, and the Da'wah stands. If support is not facilitated, they teach whoever attends - without these arrangements and these things. Those people - the people of charity organisations, may Allah rectify them - have taken teaching as a means to attract money...They also bring food. They sit with food and take pictures: "Look, ma sha Allah, look at the people eating, the people praying, the people reciting, the people studying, the people with open mus-hafs." Leave something for Allah, O brother! You want to collect money from people? I seek refuge with Allah from a life in which action is for other than Allah; in order to collect money? No, O brothers! Blessings come from Allah.