Permissibility

Can we start an organization to help sisters in need?

Question: A small group of sisters help other muslimahs and their families with small needs, such as help with utility bills, food, small medical costs, emergency needs of different kind, All monies only come by way of sadaqah given by muslims (no governmental funding and we are not registered as a charity) They also help disperse donated clothing to those in need. All this in done via the internet, email, postal and fax. While they do charitable acts, they are not registered as a charity. Is this something permissable for them to do? And also would this endeavor fall under the shariah to receive zakat? Since they help the poor and needy?

Answer: It is okay to organize a charitable organization with the objective of reaching those who are needed. It is better to register this organization since this would help execute its objectives.

If the organization becomes registered in a Non-Muslim land and it becomes eligible to receive funds from the goverment in ways that do not contradict the sharee'ah then it is okay to accept, and to spend in the overall infrastructure of the Muslim community.

It is advised that the organization's role does not turn into any party role,and that the people in charge verify, to the best of their ability, those who are in need so that their spending is just and trusted. And Allah Knows Best

Dr. Saleh As-Saleh from a question posed 22 Rajab 1426/August 27th 2005

Question : There are many unmarried muslim sisters. Is it permissable to put together some kind of organization to help the sisters out financially so they could stay away from having to get a job in a kafr environment . Or to help them out so they will not ask from the kufr or to help them and not ask for sadaqah or as for any kind of help?

Answer: As in the matter of the government , the government can give them something , its ok for them to go and ask. There is no prohibition in regards to that. But it would be best , it would be best instead of having a jamiah or an organization to help them out , we should be marrying them off. We should be marrying those many unmarried muslim sisters off. So they will not become too old, and get old out of the age of marriage. So she will not be corrupted or go astray.

This is your society. This is your society. Each one of you should make his own little group and help each other out. Smaller groups, easier to manage in one suburb, or one land, or one country, than big groups. So you should be cooperating amongst each other.

Each one of you should be taking an extra wife. To help her out , and to help yourself out. And help your wife and your children out.But as for the matter of asking for help from the government , theres nothing wrong with that, theres nothing wrong with that.

And if that is not enough then you can help them out through the so called organization of yours. Then you can help them with extra with the organization you are talking about.

Shaykh Hasan Ibn 'Abdul-Wahhaab al-Bannaa from a telelink on 8th Dhul-Hijjah 1426 AH/January 8th 2006

Question: There are many single sisters here in the United States who have financial problems and are unable to pay their bills or provide food and clothing for their families. Is it permissable to organize a group that would take care of their resposibilities or accept donations?
Answer: The Sheykh Hafidthuallah ta'alaa said, Actually this is not just pertaining to women.Actually also if you have men, a man in the community who is having a hardship to find a job, so he is having some hardship some difficulty, they dont have money to survive. So therefore it is incumbent upon the muslims to come up with a system. That they have an account and they gather in it donations. And also from the zakaat , if someone wants to pay the zakaat, to be put into that account, to be used in a system to help the needy and it should be given to those people mentioned in the ayat. From them is the poor and the needy. It is incumbent upon the righteous amongst you and those who Allah subhana wa ta'alaa has bestowed upon them wealth, to gather together to try to collect donations and the zakaat so they an assist the people, the men and these women. Beause no doubt it is from the actions of Birr and good things and righteousness and especially Allah subhana wa ta'alaa loves those who spend from their money.

( Inaudible ) . Likewise the way of those who spend in the way of Allah is like the grain that grows seven ears , in every ear a hundred grains. No doubt this is something recommended, rather sometimes it is obligatory upon the muslims to come together and complete the likes of this thing so they can assist one another and remove the hardship from the people.

Shaykh Wasi'ullah Abbaas taken from his talk on February 28, 2006
Translated by Abu Muhammad al Maghrebee
audio http://www.albaseerah.org/audio/audioicfq.htm