Ruling on Using Mosque Funds for Non-Mosque Purposes
Source: Ahkam wa Masail in Light of Qur'an and Hadith, Volume 02
If such funds are surplus to the actual needs of that mosque, they may be spent on another mosque, a madrasa, or other righteous causes that serve the exaltation of the Word of Allah and the propagation of Islam.
«لَوْلَا أَنَّ قَوْمَكِ حَدِيثُو عَهْدٍ بِجَاهِلِيَّةٍ أَوْ قَالَ بِكُفْرٍ لَأَنْفَقْتُ كَنْزَ الْكَعْبَةِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّٰهِ وَلَجَعَلْتُ بَابَهَا بِالْأَرْضِ وَلَأَدْخَلْتُ فِيهَا مِنَ الْحِجْرِ»
(Sahih Muslim)
The "treasure of the Ka‘bah" refers to the wealth offered by visitors as vows. When the Prophet ﷺ saw that this wealth exceeded the needs of the Ka‘bah, he intended to spend it in the cause of Allah (fī sabīlillāh), but refrained from doing so due to the concern mentioned in the Hadith.
(Mufti) Ubaidullah Rahmani – Muhaddith Dehlavi, Volume 17, Issue No. 7
Source: Ahkam wa Masail in Light of Qur'an and Hadith, Volume 02
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to spend mosque funds on purposes other than the mosque, such as building a madrasa or a road, or giving someone a loan?❖ Answer:
If the mosque funds were not specifically allocated by the donor for construction, renovation, salaries of the muezzin and mosque staff, flooring, lighting, or similar purposes—but rather were donated without specifying any particular direction or usage and were dedicated to the mosque in a general sense—then:If such funds are surplus to the actual needs of that mosque, they may be spent on another mosque, a madrasa, or other righteous causes that serve the exaltation of the Word of Allah and the propagation of Islam.
❖ Evidence from Hadith:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ:«لَوْلَا أَنَّ قَوْمَكِ حَدِيثُو عَهْدٍ بِجَاهِلِيَّةٍ أَوْ قَالَ بِكُفْرٍ لَأَنْفَقْتُ كَنْزَ الْكَعْبَةِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّٰهِ وَلَجَعَلْتُ بَابَهَا بِالْأَرْضِ وَلَأَدْخَلْتُ فِيهَا مِنَ الْحِجْرِ»
(Sahih Muslim)
The "treasure of the Ka‘bah" refers to the wealth offered by visitors as vows. When the Prophet ﷺ saw that this wealth exceeded the needs of the Ka‘bah, he intended to spend it in the cause of Allah (fī sabīlillāh), but refrained from doing so due to the concern mentioned in the Hadith.
✔ Permissibility of Loans:
Such surplus mosque funds may also be given as proper loans to trustworthy individuals, provided due process is followed.✘ Prohibited Uses:
It is not permissible to use mosque funds for roads, bridges, parks, or similar public utilities, as these are not included in the scope of "fī sabīlillāh" and do not directly contribute to the exaltation of the Word of Allah or the promotion of Islam. (Mufti) Ubaidullah Rahmani – Muhaddith Dehlavi, Volume 17, Issue No. 7
