Can I Start a Business Using Charity as a Promotion for My Business?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I am 17 years old and wish to start a clothing business for which I have several marketing strategies. I also have lots of empathy for the Muslims suffering around the world, which is also one of the reasons why I want to start the business. Is it permissible for me to give one-third of all profits to a charitable cause to support suffering Muslims and promote this to customers as an aspect of why they should purchase from me? This will drive up profits for the business, earning more for this charitable cause. Of course, my main goal is to donate to the path of Allah and not just make more money. Jazak Allah Khair.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question. This is commendable. Allah Most High reward you for your noble intentions.
One has to remember that one will be rewarded only if one opens a business to earn money and give some towards charity, and not just to use the name of charity to make a profit in one’s business.
Actions Are by Their Intentions
It is taken from the well-known hadith in which the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Verily actions are by their intentions, and one shall only have that which one intended.” [Bukhari; Muslim]
The scholars stated something implicit in this hadith: “Verily actions are rewarded and judged by their intentions, and one shall only have the reward for that which one intended.”
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.
Related
- Running a Business Islamically – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani – YouTube
- Charity Archives – SeekersGuidance
- How Much Should I Give in Charity? – SeekersGuidance
- Muslims are Doing Charity Wrong – Muslim Finance | IFG — Islamic Finance Guru
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
