Matching Grants

Question: Are matching grants permissible?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

Yes, matching grants are permissible because they are simply gifted contracts (hiba).

As a Muslim, it is more noble not to claim any benefits at all if one can survive on one’s own income without them. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, ‘Whoever seeks to need Allah alone (yastaghni), Allah will enrich him’ (Bukhari and Muslim).

This sense of nobility and financial independence is even more important for Muslims living in non-Muslim countries. It is very ignoble (bay ghayrat/min khawarim al murua) for a Muslim to stretch out his hand for help from a non-Muslim. However, for most Muslims, and indeed for most Muslim countries, it is simply not possible for them to survive without financial aid.

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language