Is it permissible for charitable organizations to establish projects and spend money using debt, then collect the amounts later, while exposing the work to deficit?
If a charity incurs a debt to establish charitable projects, such as providing meals for fasting individuals (iftar), it is permissible for the charity to repay this debt using funds from donors, provided that the donor is informed that the amount will be used to repay a previous debt. It is not permissible for the charity to solicit donations for a specific project while intending to use these donations to repay a debt, as this would constitute an unfulfilled agency. The charity may, however, disburse charity on behalf of a known donor and then inform him of this act. If he approves, the reward is his; if he does not approve, the charity bears the cost. This is based on the permissibility of the act of a fudhooli (an unauthorized agent), who acts with another's property without permission, where his action is contingent upon the approval of the owner of the property. Scholars have differed on this matter: some hold that a gift (hiba) becomes effective contingent upon the owner's approval, while others deem it void.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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