Bayt al-Mal

Question

Since in the present age the economic condition of Muslims is very precarious and is getting worse every day, should a bayt al-mal (public treasury) be established at such a time, through which the condition of poor Muslims could be improved — given that a bayt al-mal is permitted in Islam, as a bayt al-mal was established in the time of Hazrat ‘Umar Faruq ﵁? What is the definition of a bayt al-mal from the standpoint of the Sacred Law? What principles should it have? What kind of wealth may be collected in it?

Answer

The conditions of the bayt al-mal that existed in the time of the Commander of the Faithful, the Rightly Guided Caliph Hazrat ‘Umar Faruq ﵁, do not exist here at present. However, to remove the present difficulties of Muslims a collective organisation can be set up through agreement and unity — and it ought to be.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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