Most of you who are aware of the way masajid are run would know that usually a non-profit organization is responsible for the facility in USA.
My question is can this corporation make investments to generate income that will be spent on the maintenance of the masjid? Usually donations run the expenses of a masjid in large part.
I was recently discussing this with a friend and he said that this is not allowed and there are ahadith related to this. My problem for now is I have not been able to find these ahadith. Does anyone know which ones? Can you post a reference?
Very nice topic. I have been thinking about the same thing for a while. Why do masjid's have to run on donations? I think donations are not something nice. Why can't we come up with a system in which there is commercial area owned by a mosque and the mosque expenses can be met through the rent coming from the commercial property nearby.
It would look more decent and respectable than mosque people always asking for money.
At the time of the Prophet (pbuh) a mosque was very simple - no electricity, utilities, etc. In our times things have changed and there should be some arrangement through which this can be done.
I remember long itme ago when I was in Madina after Hajj, I noticed there was a mosque near Masjid nabvi, called Masjid Bilal. This small mosque had shops in the basement with separate entrances from the mosque.
Very nice topic. I have been thinking about the same thing for a while. Why do masjid's have to run on donations? I think donations are not something nice. Why can't we come up with a system in which there is commercial area owned by a mosque and the mosque expenses can be met through the rent coming from the commercial property nearby.
It would look more decent and respectable than mosque people always asking for money.
At the time of the Prophet (pbuh) a mosque was very simple - no electricity, utilities, etc. In our times things have changed and there should be some arrangement through which this can be done.
I remember long itme ago when I was in Madina after Hajj, I noticed there was a mosque near Masjid nabvi, called Masjid Bilal. This small mosque had shops in the basement with separate entrances from the mosque.
Not that donations are bad however what I am looking for is where it says the only way of meeting expenses for a masjid is through donations. And I agree, the expenses of a masjid today are vastly different from centuries ago.
my local mosque does not ask for donations, never did, and they are running fine. how? like you pointed out lansing, having property they collect rent on. also, this particular masjid, whenever they need money, maybe for renovations, it comes from all over the world from other masajids.
I can't stand it when they ask for donations, usually at the end, the people collecting the money get thrown all sorts of accusations. Unfortunately, even the Imam.. Don't know of any such hadiths though.
my local mosque does not ask for donations, never did, and they are running fine. how? like you pointed out lansing, having property they collect rent on. also, this particular masjid, whenever they need money, maybe for renovations, it comes from all over the world from other masajids.
I can't stand it when they ask for donations, usually at the end, the people collecting the money get thrown all sorts of accusations. Unfortunately, even the Imam.. Don't know of any such hadiths though.
That is how our masjid meets most of its expenses as well. We bought a commercial property and renovated part of it for the masjid and rent office space which generates revenues for the corporation. These revenues are used for meeting the masjid expenses.
USR, I know one masjid in N America which has a large area and has rented out shops, including the halaal meat store. From what I know, that is how they generate enough money for the workings of the mosque.
USR, I know one masjid in N America which has a large area and has rented out shops, including the halaal meat store. From what I know, that is how they generate enough money for the workings of the mosque.
Oh I know many like that. I am just asking if someone can provide a reference in the ahadith that states this is not allowed. I have not come across one yet.
I don't know if investing to raise the funds to cover for expenses for masjid is haram, I will however, caution that the investment should be halal, i.e. no interest. One should also make sure that they are not renting the shops where alcohol is sold etc.
For those people who read this thread, there is no such specific hadith which prohibits investing for the purpose of generating money to meet masjid expenses. The source who told me about this confirmed he was incorrect and had related another hadith incorrectly with this issue. So all is good here. This thread may be clsoed mods.
