❖ Ruling on Praying Behind an Imam Involved in a Bid-Based Committee (Boli Wali Committee)
Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Volume 1, Page 667
❖ Question:
What is the ruling of the scholars of Islam regarding a person who delivers the Friday sermon (khuṭbah) and also leads the congregational prayer (imām), while simultaneously engaging in business?
In the marketplace where he trades, shopkeepers have formed a committee, commonly referred to as a “Boli Wali Committee” (bid-based committee).
In this system, a monthly bid is placed on the committee amount, and the resulting profit is distributed among the members.
The imam deposits money with the committee treasurer, but he considers the profit unlawful and thus does not accept any of it, withdrawing only the amount he originally contributed.
The question is:
Is it permissible to perform Jumuʿah prayer behind such an imam?
Please clarify and you shall be rewarded.
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
❖ Ruling on the Committee System
✿ If the description of the question and the situation is correct, then this “Boli Wali Committee” (bid-based committee) is clearly a form of interest (ribā) — which is strictly ḥarām, unlawful, and a type of 'consuming wealth unjustly' (akl bil-bāṭil).
→ Avoiding and abstaining from such a system is obligatory (wājib).
❖ Exception: Saving Without Taking Profit
However, if the imam only deposits his money as a form of safekeeping or savings with the treasurer, and:
◈ He does not accept the profit arising from the bidding process,
◈ He considers that profit ḥarām,
◈ He only takes back exactly what he deposited when his turn arrives —
Then this arrangement is permissible.
❖ Analogy with a Current Account in an Interest-Based Bank
This is similar to depositing money in a current account of an interest-based bank solely for safekeeping (without accepting or engaging in interest).
Just as that is permissible, this arrangement is also allowed.
❖ Ruling on Following Such an Imam in Prayer
✿ Therefore, it is completely permissible and valid to perform Jumuʿah (Friday) prayer behind such an imam.
✿ The imam's participation in the committee is not sinful, because he:
– Only uses it for lawful savings,
– Does not take ḥarām profit,
– Rejects the interest-based portion.
❖ Important Clarification
➤ The additional money received in the form of a bid-winning amount should not even be termed “profit”.
➤ It is, in fact, a clear and definite form of ribā (interest).
هذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
