Fatwa No : 88862
Using Mosque Funds for Personal Use

Using Mosque Funds for Personal Use

The congregants collect money for the Imam of the mosque for the purpose of arranging drinking water for the mosque, or sometimes donations are given for this purpose. If water is already available, the Imam uses that money for his personal needs, and when the water runs out, he arranges water again. Is it permissible for him to use this money for his personal use, or is it necessary for him to seek permission from the donors? The mosque administration itself does not collect donations nor does it spend money on any mosque-related work, whereas the Imam does collect donations, spends them, and also uses some of the money personally. The people trust the Imam and give money to him, but they do not trust the administration and therefore do not give donations to them. What is the Sharia ruling in this matter?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

It should be clearly understood that any amount collected for the expenses of a mosque holds the status of a trust (Amanah), whether this amount is collected and kept by the Imam of the mosque or by the mosque committee. For both parties, it is not permissible under Shariah to spend this money on anything other than the specified purposes of the mosque, nor is it permissible to use it for personal needs even on a temporary basis—even if the amount is later returned to the mosque funds.
Therefore, if in the case mentioned, the Imam is in fact using any portion of the mosque donations for his personal needs without the permission of the donors, even temporarily, then such conduct is not Shariah-compliant, and it is obligatory for him to refrain from this practice.
However, if due to genuine necessity such a situation arises, and the amount in question is surplus to the immediate expenses of the mosque, then there may be limited scope to use this amount as a loan, provided it is done with the knowledge of the mosque administration and with the permission of the donors. Nonetheless, since some scholars do not permit even this arrangement, it is more precautionary and preferable to avoid it altogether.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما فی الھندیۃ: وإذا أراد أن يصرف شيئا من ذلك إلى إمام المسجد أو إلى مؤذن المسجد فليس له ذلك، إلا إن كان الواقف شرط ذلك في الوقف، كذا في الذخيرة الخ (کتاب الوقف، ج: 2، ص: 463، ط: ماجدیۃ)۔
و فی البحر الرائق: قال في جامع الفصولين ليس للمتولي إيداع مال الوقف والمسجد إلا ممن في عياله ولا إقراضه فلو أقرضه ضمن وكذا المستقرض وذكر أن القيم لو أقرض مال المسجد ليأخذه عند الحاجة وهو أحرز من إمساكه فلا بأس به وفي العدة يسع المتولي إقراض ما فضل من غلة الوقف لو أحرز. الخ (تصرفات الناظر فی الوقف، ج: 5، ص: 259، ط: رشیدیۃ)۔