Giving the Mosque’s Money for Trade

Question

The respected mutawalli (trustee) gave the sum that had accumulated for the mosque to one of his relatives to trade with. This person did not fix any share for the mosque. Considerable profit was made in this trade, and when returning the mosque’s money he gave an additional 225 rupees. Is it permissible to take this additional sum that he gave or not? And may the mosque’s mutawalli in future give this money to his relative in any way or not?

Answer

The mosque’s money is a trust (amana) with the mutawalli; he has no right to give it to anyone for trade — it must by no means be given to anyone. The sum that was given was given as a loan. To stipulate in a loan that at repayment such-and-such an extra amount will be taken is not permissible, for that is interest.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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