Date : 04-08-2013

Question :

Is it permissible for Tkiyet Um Ali to distribute food parcels on poor families a day or two before the start of the blessed month of Ramadan and collect the cost of these parcels from charities/donations, whichare given during Ramadan, where the intention of the givers is to provide food to such families throughout this holy month?


The Answer :

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.



It isn`t permissible for Tkiyet Um Ali (A Jordanian non-governmental charity organization) to distribute food parcels before the start of Ramadan then collect their cost from the donations/charities which are given by people during that month, because this contradicts the intention and condition of the givers. The latter give them during Ramadan; in particular,hoping that Allah increases their reward and multiplies their good deeds, so giving them before Ramadan nullifies that purpose. Moreover, the conditions stipulated by the givers as regards how to distribute the charities/donations and to whom should be observed, and whoever violates them should re-give, from his own pocket, the same amounts in accordance with the conditions of the givers.



Al-Shirazi {May Allah have mercy on him} said, "The produce of the endowment {Waqf} should be given according to the conditions stipulated by the endower {Waqif} in terms of equality, preference, forwarding, back warding and giving {recipients}together or according to a certain order." {Al-Mohathab, 2/328}.



Accordingly, if Tkiyet Um Ali gave the parcels before the start of Ramadan, they will be considered a donation/gift on its part, and it is forbidden to collect their cost from the charities/donations, which peoplegive during Ramadan. And Allah knows best.