Money received at a shrine — for religious or worldly education

Question

Question: In our Ullal there is a very large saint’s shrine, which is very famous; as its daily income a great deal accumulates from niyaz (votive offerings made in the name of a saint) and the like. Some money (fulus) has been collected which comes in as niyaz. What is this collected money called? In what manner may the collected money be used — may this money be spent on schools that teach religion, or on schools that teach worldly subjects?

Answer

Giving something to the poor in the name of Allah and conveying (its reward) — isal al-thawab — is correct in the Shari‘a. Money of this kind that has been given to the person in charge of the shrine may be given to the poor and may also be spent on other religious works. But whatever is given in the name of other than Allah — taking it and spending it is not correct.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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