An offering for a sermon from collected donations

Question

Question: Respected religious scholars are invited from outside to give speeches, and by collecting general donations they are given their fare and an offering. This is the common custom, and the respected scholars also know that this offering comes from the donations. Is it permissible to give the offering from donations, and for the respected scholars to take it, when they know for certain that it comes from donations, and coercion is generally involved in collecting donations?

Answer

The fare is in any case an obligation on those who invite; and if the offering is on behalf of those who gave the donations, there is no harm in it (la ba’sa bihi). The highest station is to take neither the fare nor the offering, but to go at one’s own expense and preach for the sake of Allah (hisbatan lillah); in sha’ Allah, that will be more effective.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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