The Mufti, Shaykh Abdul Azeez Aal Ash-Shaykh, may Allaah preserve him, was asked the following question:
Question:
Oh Eminent Shaykh, a questioner asks: what is the ruling on specifying the twenty seventh night of Ramadan for fundraising for those leading the taraweeh prayer?
Answer:
The people fundraising on the twenty-seventh night an amount for the person leading the taraweeh prayer. Meaning the fact they are specifying the night and are requesting from others to donate; if it is – of course with no doubt there is nothing wrong with… [words unclear]. However, is the specification of this night for something they intend such as if they were to say: this is the twenty seventh night and giving charity during it is better than charity in the rest of the nights, therefore we encourage the people to do this? This requires an origin [i.e. a proof]. We know Laylat-ul-Qadr is the best of nights and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa salam said:
“Whoever stands in Laylatul Qadr with Imaan and seeking reward from Allah, Allah will forgive his previous sins”.
However, is charity in that night specified over the remaining nights? This is an affair which we do not know anything [proving it]. No doubt charity in Ramadan has virtue, but is Laylatul-Qadr specified for charity over the other nights? This is something we withhold from saying.
Ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen, rahimahullah, was asked the following question:
ما حكم تخصيص ليلة القدر بكثرة التصدق؟
Question: What is the ruling on specifying laylatul Qadr for giving a lot of charity?
إيه نعم، هذا أيضا من البدع لا تُخصّص إلا بالقيام فقط.
Answer:
Yes, this is likewise from the acts of innovations. It [i.e. Laylatul Qadr] should only be specified for the night prayer.
A Side Note: It is feared that specifying the 27th night of Ramadan for fund-raising appeals and projects is something which doesn’t have any orgin to the Sunnah. And Allah knows best.
Translated by
AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman
Abu Fajr
