Can Money made from UN islamic sources be used for Islamic purposes?

Society Religion & Philosophy
1

This is in reference to another post that i saw in another forum, about Cat Stevens, who converted to Islam and now is called Yousuf Islam.
One issue is that he is soliciting support from people on his website for his induction into the 'Rock ‘n roll Hall of fame’. His music career blossomed before he converted to Islam. And after he converted, he quit singing rock and roll stuff, and stopped doing concerts. So now is it ok for him to capitalize on his ‘accomplishments’ of his pre-islamic days?

Plus, as i read in that thread, he is using the money that he earns from his music to help Bosnians and run Islamic schools. To me thats akin to robbing a bank and building a masjid with the money.

Is it ok for Cat Stevens to use proceeds from his music business, that flourished before he embraced Islam, to help Muslims in Bosnia, build Islamic schools or masjids?

Is it right for us to vote for his entry into the ‘rock n roll hall of fame’, since his entry will be based on his pre islamic days?

2

In response to your comment about using the money to help bosnians and others.. you have to think of it in a more logical way. If you are going hungry, then clearly you have a need that is not being fulfulled, thus Allah would even let you eat the meat of swine, just so you can live.

So, regardless of where the money is coming from, if it is helping muslims for a basic fundamental need that Allah says everyone should have, then isn't it the right thing to do? Think about it...

3

If you are going hungry, then clearly you have a need that is not being fulfulled, thus Allah would even let you eat the meat of swine, just so you can live.<<

If there is nothing else available, whatsoever. In this case, however, the Muslims of the world certainly have not exhausted all legal means of buying food for the Bosnians.

However, this was not about the Bosnians. Of course they dont know what the source of their help is. They dont account for each and every can of food that they get.

My question was about Cat Stevens. Is it ok for him to use the money that he earned from an unislamic source, to fund Islam?
In other words, to give you an example, if a muslim is going hungry, can i steal in order to feed him?

All the money that Cat Stevens spends in not for the Bosnians only. He also uses it to build Islamic schools. However, the source of his income before he accepted Islam, and even after accepting Islam, is his songs. The money that he earned from his preislam concerts and shows.....which, im sure all would agree, are unislamic.
My question simply....and mind you the situation is not dire.....is it ok for muslims to use money earned from unislamic sources to fund islamic causes?

4

It’s probably worth getting a scholars opinion on that. I’m sure the opionion would be divided on this issue.

Try www.understanding-islam.com

5

[quote]
Originally posted by Eastern Analog:
His music career blossomed before he converted to Islam. And after he converted, he quit singing rock and roll stuff, and
stopped doing concerts. ....................
............................................
Plus, as i read in that thread, he is using the money that he earns from his music to help Bosnians and run Islamic schools. To me thats akin to robbing a bank and building a masjid with the money.
[/quote]

If as you say he stopped singing and quit rock&roll than how is he still making money from it?And what music business are you talking about?
If this is old money than the important question is did he make that money before becoming a muslim or after?
If he made it before accepting Islam than it is absolutely fine to be using it.
If he is getting royalties for old records or something like that than it is still okay to be using proceeds from that.

6

use common sense here mr.eastren analog.If you were cat stevens what you would have done with this money after embracing Islam.There are not many people in this world doing something for muslims( especially poor muslims).Let them do peacefuly and support them instead of looking at them myopically.

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

7

I think, if money is being used for a good purpose anyone should not have any problem with that. Regardless of where he got his money from. Singing and doing concert is a job and people work hard to make them work and earn what they earn. And on top of that the money is being used for humanitarian purpose, nothing wrong with that.

Well, that just my opinion, I don’t know what Islamic standing is on this. If anyone cares to look it up and shares it with us.

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

Take it easy now.

V~V~VHe came, He saw, He conqueredV~V~V**

----*High Priest-OF-Painful Truth*----

8

Did anybody send a query on this issue to http://www.understanding-islam.com ?

Do you want me to do it?

They shoot partypoopers, don’t they?

9

[quote]
Originally posted by The Watcher:
I think, if money is being used for a good purpose anyone should not have any problem with that. Regardless of where he got his money from. Singing and doing concert is a job and people work hard to make them work and earn what they earn
[/quote]

Two things...one, singing and doing concerts is haraam.
Two, if we go by your pretense that if money is being used for a good purpose anyone should not have any problem with that. Regardless of where he got his money from, would that make it ok for me to rob a bank and spread the money amongst masjids?

If I robbed a bank yesterday, I commited a sin. Today morning, I did tauba, and asked for forgiveness from Allah SWT. Now can I use my loot to give zakat, or build a masjid? Would that 'clean' my loot?

Another point....how many agree that selling beer and alcohol and lottery tickets is haram? I think everyone does. And the income derived from a haram source, as you would know, is also haram. So is it islamically ok to use haram income for a project as neat as building a masjid or an islamic school?

Mr. Partypooper..Please do the needful and ask the question. Thank you.

10

[quote]
Originally posted by Eastern Analog:
** If I robbed a bank yesterday, I commited a sin. Today morning, I did tauba, and asked for forgiveness from Allah SWT. Now can I use my loot to give zakat, or build a masjid? Would that 'clean' my loot?
**
[/quote]

EA,
Well I really think this example you coninue to give of robbing a bank is a bad example....as it does not apply to the case of Yousaf Islam tht led you to ask the question.
First of all any money that is stolen has to be returned.Nothing else will make it clean.
Any money that is made through stealing,cheating corruption or the like must be returned to it's rightful owners.After all efforts to return the money have been exhausted than the money(or whatever remains of it)should be used for islamic purposes as it would be a sin for the person to use it on his own person.
This doesn't apply to the money made through unislamic means-but not belonging to others-that one finds in his posession after making tauba.That kind of money can be used for the purposes that you mention.
I hope this clears up your questions bout yousaf Islam's money.

11

Ahmed.....maybe stealing wasnt the closest example.

However, i did mention the example of selling beer and alcohol....or selling pork...all these involve work as well.....so in effect, its hard earned money, and doesnt have to be returned. But Islamically, it haram income......similar to income derived from singing songs and doing concerts.

12

Once again EA,if this money is earned before accepting Islam,there is nothing wrong with usng it.

13

it would be nice to know IF he was using his income from his pre-islamic days for bosnia, but from my understanding, he has several hotels, and he also has started an Islamic school in the UK, in north London. Really I don't think this is an issue because Masha-Allah the brother is doing and has done quite a lot for the muslim community, both in the UK and worldwide. If possible I will try to get the email of Yusaf Ali or maybe invite him to gupshup so he can answer any question u guyz have!

14

Once again EA,if this money is earned before accepting Islam,there is nothing wrong with usng it.......<<

for islamic purposes?
Using that money for general purposes, I can understand. However, using it for an exclusively Islamic purpose? Dont think so.

Money earned via haram methods is haram, even upon the person himself....what to talk of using it for Islamic causes.
Some people do say that you can give that money in charity, without expecting any sawab in return. But thats a tricky way of whitening your black money. Whats haram is haram. And you cannot use a haram source to fund Allahs causes.

15

you know eastren analog, you are quite rigid on your mind. Islam opens the doors for its spreadness not shuts it off.

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/frown.gif

16

EA,
While in general I do disagree with your views in this matter…let me take a break from explaining why it is alright to use this money and let me ask you,what do you think should be done with this money??
Especially considering your perplexing views regarding charity as quoted below.

tricky way of whitening your balck money…
All I can think of saying to that is,

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/rolleyes.gif

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/rolleyes.gif

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/rolleyes.gif

17

EA: Why is this an issue? I would do exactly the same as he is doing. If Allah punishes me for it, then so be it. At the end of the day my intention would be to help my fellow muslims..

18

I liked your answer Cool Dude,As is said frequently,
“Every action taken by you depends on your NIYYAT”

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/ok.gif

19

http://www.understanding-islam.com/ri/mi-095.htm

Robbing a Bank to Contribute in God’s Cause…

Question:

Is it good to give illegal money to people like the Chechen fighters, or to Hizbullah, or any other people fighting in the name of Islam…Let’s say i was to rob a bank, and thief about 3 million grand, and not even keep a penny but give all that to these people, and help them out to buy ammo, weapons, or any other thing to assist them in their cause…would this be ok, there’s nothing to do, i ain’t rich, and the rich won’t do anything, and plus i’m not even keeping a penny…hehe

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

Answer:

There is no concept of a religiously inclined “Robin Hood” in Islam.

The idea of getting hold of money from all possible – legal or illegal – means for the ‘cause of Islam’, is based on a gross misinterpretation of Islam. This incorrect interpretation views Islam as a revolutionary movement, with the object of establishing a universal Islamic state, for which also Muslims must contribute in one form or another. This view of Islam is absolutely unfounded. Islam, on the contrary, is only the way to salvation. It is the road to eternal bliss. It tells us how to use this temporary life for our eternal benefit. Indeed, it requires from us to contribute all that we can – physically or materially – to the cause of the truth. However, this requirement is qualified with the condition that IF we have something to contribute, we should not act miserly for the cause of truth and justice – the cause of the Lord of the worlds. It does, under no circumstances, permit us to snatch the bread from another mouth or even luxuries from another life to contribute to its cause.

A crime in the eyes of Islam is, nevertheless, a crime, even if it is committed for, seemingly, high motives. The Qur’an has emphatically directed the Muslims to:

“Spend [in God’s way] the best of that which you have lawfully earned”. (Al-Baqarah 2: 267)

Those who wrongfully deprive others of their wealth, even for a seemingly high motive, should be mindful of the Day when all the wrongfully deprived rights shall be justly dealt with. The Day when they shall be asked to completely indemnify the deprived and shall have nothing to indemnify him with, except their good deeds.

The basic object of Islam, it must be remembered, is the purification of the mind, body and soul. Islam can, in no way, permit or even remain silent at a crime.

I hope this helps. In case any aspect of your question remains unanswered or inadequately answered, please feel free in writing back to me at your own convenience.

May the Almighty guide us all to the path of His liking.

My fondest regards to you and those around you.

The Learner

They shoot partypoopers, don’t they?

20

Partypooper,

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

I am afraid that doesn’t answer the question that is being posed in this thread.As pointed out before the question here is not similar to that of robbing a bank.I suggest you get the learner to look at this thread here,so he can give his opinion about the matter in full context.

Eastern Analog,Where are you?