Re: Haram things for charity
Selling of Gold is not haram. You are just realising the maximum value of the watch so that you can utilise for good of as many as possible. I am sure you have seen ceremonial swords sold or gifted by the Sheikhs of Arabia. [Mind you, the actions of the Sheikhs in no way legitimises selling/gifting of gold]
There are specific sayings of the blessed Prophet (saw) that forbids any ‘handling’ of Alcohol. This is where I differentiated between selling of gold and that of wine.
*Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar: The Prophet (Sal-allahu-aleihi-wassallam) said: “Allah has cursed wine, its drinker, its server, its seller, its buyer, its presser, the one for whom it is pressed, the one who conveys it, and the one to whom it is conveyed.” * - Transmitted by Abu Dawud
*Verily Allaah cursed khamr – the one who produces it and the one for whom it is produced, the one who sells it and the one who buys it, the one who drinks it and the one who earns from the sale of it, the one who carries it and the one who it is carried to, and the one who serves it.” *[Reported by At-Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah]
I hope reading my response to the notes 1) and 2), you see very important difference. A Muslim cannot be associated with wine in any circumstances whereas Muslim man is forbidden from ‘wearing’ gold but can deal in gold in other circumstances.
Brother Fraudia, we should not look at everything in its monetary value. In Islamic terms wine is najas (impure) and has no value rather it is negative.
Allow me to give you a scenario: Suppose a person (a very decent one) while on his daily walk in a park finds a kilo of opium stashed away under the bushes.
Very sincerely and in good faith he decides to sell it and utilise that money to fund all the medicines needed annually for a hospital in a third world country.
The intentions of the person are very good but will you accept his action? Will you not agree that kilo of opium should be flushed down the drain or let the authorities burn it up in smoke?
I think we as Muslims should see alcohol and drugs as one and the same thing – impure –thus forbidden to utilise them in any form even if it seems to be good in our eyes.
I understand the sensitivity and trickiness of the situation.
My cousin holds a very senior post in a private bank in the city and he used to face similar situation. He (along with other Muslims) and other senior management decided to let their clients know that the senior staff collectively sponsor activities (Trips to seaside, presents on birthdays, xmas, eid, diwali, etc.) of a local institution caring for mentally handicapped children. So the clients now actively sponsor some of the activities instead of giving them the ‘seasonal gifts’.
I understand it is very difficult and tricky doing it individually but once it is organised collectively and announced as such, it really produces results.