Source: “Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith”, Volume 02
📖 Referenced from: Muhaddith Dehlavi, Volume 10, Issue 5
Answered by: Mawlānā ʿUbaydullah Raḥmānī, Shaykh al-Ḥadīth, Madrasah
❖ Question:
As-Salāmu ʿAlaikum wa Rahmatullāhi wa Barakātuh
Zayd is engaged in usurious (riba-based) business. He now wishes to construct a mosque or a public-use well in another village. However, due to his involvement in interest-based transactions, people refuse to accept his offer.
Zayd claims that aside from the wealth involved in riba, he also possesses lawful (ḥalāl) earnings, and it is from these that he intends to fund the mosque or well.
Is it acceptable to believe Zayd’s claim, and allow the construction of such a mosque or well?
❖ Answer:
If Zayd, the usury-engaged individual, wishes to construct a mosque or well from his lawfully earned wealth—that is, funds not connected to his interest-based dealings—then such construction is permissible in Sharī‘ah.
In this case:
- Performing prayers in that mosque is valid and rewardable.
- Benefiting from the water of such a well is also permissible.
- There is no Shar‘i prohibition in accepting his claim that he will use only ḥalāl funds for this purpose. Trusting his word is not hindered by any religious barrier.
🕋 As an important precedent, the polytheists of Makkah constructed the Kaʿbah using their wealth, and the Prophet ﷺ did not object to the building itself—only to some of its design modifications.
Similarly, even non-Muslims today may contribute to mosque construction from their ḥalāl earnings in the hope of spiritual reward. If done with a sincere intent, and if the wealth is indeed ḥalāl, accepting such a contribution is permissible.
Thus, Zayd’s righteous desire to contribute from his lawful wealth should not be dismissed merely because of his other financial dealings, as long as the funds in question are untainted by riba (interest).
والله تعالى أعلم بالصواب
And Allah, the Exalted, knows best what is correct.
