Sponsoring A Musallah vs Assisting Thre Needy

QUESTION:

Please advise if it is better to sponsor a Musallah for a Masjid, or giving in charity to those who are in need?

ANSWER:

Both are greatly rewarding and noble actions. Our advice is that if you can manage both, then you should endeavour in doing both actions. However, if you cannot financially manage both, then in our understanding, if the area in which the Musallahs are required have wealthy people who will take care of the cost of the Musallahs, then it will be better to help those who are in dire need. Consider the following Hadith:

Abdullah ibn Umar Radiallahu Anhuma related that Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, which of the people are most beloved to Allah, and which deeds are most beloved to Allah?”

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam replied: “The people most beloved to Allah are those who are most beneficial to the people; and the most beloved deed to Allah is to make a Muslim happy, or remove one of his troubles, or to fulfill his debt, or to satiate his hunger. Walking to fulfill a need of my Muslim brother is more beloved to me than sitting in I’tikaf in a Masjid for two months. Whomsoever averts his anger, Allah will conceal his faults and whomsoever suppresses his anger while he is able to vent it, Allah will fill his heart with happiness. Whoever walks with his brother to fulfill his need and fulfills it for him, then Allah Ta’ala will make his footing firm [on the bridge] on the day when the footings are shaken. Evil character spoils one’s deeds just as vinegar spoils honey.”

(Re: Majma’uz Zawaid 8/191)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date: 20 Jumaadal-Ulaa 1448 / 27 October 2026

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:f

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb