Donating for Illuminations and for Serving the Imam

Question

Those who, in Ramadan, in connection with the khatm in tarawih, give donations in order to give [money] to the hafiz, [to buy] sweets and to make illuminations — do they deserve reward or not? Or, by giving donations, do they add to their sins — since giving a fee to the hafiz is haram, and excessive lighting is a bid‘a?

Answer

Donating for a bid‘a and for an impermissible matter is impermissible, because of the words of the Exalted: [ar]لِقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ (الآية)[/ar] “…and do not help one another in sin and transgression” (the verse) (Surah al-Ma’ida, 5:2).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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