What to Do if You Receive Money for Qurbani but Can’t Perform the Sacrifice
Question: I work in fundraising, and people send me money. A sister sent me some money for a sacrifice (Qurbani), but I couldn’t perform the sacrifice because her Qurbani would not be valid. She is giving a full share for a sacrifice, but it will be considered charity, not Qurbani. I don’t know the person who sent the money, so can I use it for any charitable cause?
Answer: Handling people’s money is a serious matter, and one must be very cautious in fundraising. The money should be spent exactly for the purpose it was given. If there is any deviation or shortfall, one will be accountable to Allah for every penny.
When fundraising, it is essential to inform everyone about the details and purpose of the money they send. Ideally, there should be separate accounts for different purposes, such as one for Zakat and another for general charity.
In your case, since the money was given specifically for Qurbani, it should not be used as general charity. Instead, if possible, buy an animal with that money and give it to a poor person so they can perform the sacrifice, and the reward will go to the person who sent the money. If the amount is insufficient, add more money to arrange for the sacrifice.
Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi (Hafizahullah)
Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy Al-Salamah, Saudi Arabia