Taking a Monetary Fine and Spending It on the Mosque

Question

In a biradari (kinship community) certain rules have been laid down, and for violating them they collect some amount as a fine by way of disciplinary punishment (siyasatan). What needs to be ascertained is whether it is permissible to spend the said amount on the mosque’s expenses or not. Kindly write the answer to the question and be rewarded by Allah.

Answer

The relied-upon position of the madhhab is that such a fine is impermissible. If some amount has been collected as a fine, its return is necessary; spending it on the mosque and the like is not correct. [ar]قَالَ فِي الْفَتْحِ: وَعَنْ أَبِي يُوسُفَ ﵀ يَجُوزُ التَّعْزِيرُ لِلسُّلْطَانِ بِأَخْذِ الْمَالِ، وَعِنْدَهُمَا وَبَاقِي الْأَئِمَّةِ لَا يَجُوزُ، وَمِثْلُهُ فِي…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.