10/10/2026
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟏𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 (𝟐𝟖 𝐑𝐚𝐛īʿ 𝐚𝐥-𝐓𝐡ā𝐧ī 𝟏𝟒𝟒𝟖 𝐀𝐇)
𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐰𝐚 𝐍𝐨. 𝟐𝟎-𝟒𝟖
𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐋𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐬
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise belongs to Allāh, Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Chosen One, and upon his family and companions, and all those who follow his guidance until the Day of Judgement.
The Fatwa and Guidance Committee received the following question:
“𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬, 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐲?”
The answer, and Allāh is the source of success:
After deliberation and legal research into this matter within the field of Islamic da’wah, the issue has been examined and clarified as follows:
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞:
The fundamental principle in Islamic law is that conveying the religion of Allāh, calling people to it, teaching it, and carrying out daʿwah activities must be done sincerely for the sake of Allāh, without requiring financial compensation from those being called to Islam.
This is in accordance with the established Sunnah of the Prophets and Messengers, peace and blessings be upon them.
Evidence from the Qur’ān, Allāh سبحانه و تعالى says:
“Those are the ones whom Allāh has guided, so follow their guidance. Say, ‘I ask of you no payment for it. It is only a reminder for all people.’” {Qur’an 6:90}
And He سبحانه و تعالى says:
“Follow those who ask of you no payment, and who are rightly guided.” {Qur’an 36:21}
Evidence from the Prophetic Sunnah
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Convey from me, even if it is one verse.” (Bukhārī.)
𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝: 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝:
It is permissible to receive financial compensation for teaching and disseminating the knowledge of the Sharī’ah when there is a genuine need for it. Examples include when a teacher or organiser has no other means of financial support, or when there are no endowments (awqāf) or other funds available to pay a teacher who is fully occupied with teaching.
This is permitted to preserve religious knowledge and meet the needs of those who devote themselves to teaching it.
Al-Bukhārī authentically reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed, the thing for which you are most entitled to take payment for is the Book of Allāh.”
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝: 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬:
The general principle is that public lectures should be organised under the supervision of the relevant government authorities and officially recognised Islamic institutions and centres, in accordance with the applicable regulations. This is intended to prevent disorder, confusion, and disputes, and to close the door to causes of division and discord.
𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡: 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬:
Organising training programmes and specialised lectures intended for particular groups, such as medical professionals, young people, and others, is permissible. This is because such activities fall within the category of means of da’wah that require specialised planning and are subject to the rules of public interest, provided that the principles governing Islamic da’wah are observed.
𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐡: 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:
𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲:
Selling tickets may be permissible when there is a genuine need to cover the operational expenses of attending or organising training courses or specialised lectures. These expenses may include venue rental, presentation equipment, hospitality, and similar costs, particularly when voluntary contributions are insufficient.
This must be done in pursuit of a legitimate benefit, such as ensuring that the intended audience receives the da’wah message through the available means, and the programme must be free from matters prohibited by Islamic law.
Islamic legal classification: This arrangement is regarded as a contract for exchanging services and permissible benefits.
𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲:
Selling tickets is not permissible in the following circumstances:
• When the lecture is a general public lecture that does not ordinarily require special expenses.
• When selling tickets is used as a means of generating profit and unlawful financial gain.
• When it results in depriving Muslims generally of access to beneficial religious lectures and prevents them from listening to religious admonitions.
The underlying Islamic legal reason: Such practices may involve consuming people's wealth wrongfully and obstructing access to gatherings of goodness and religious knowledge.
𝐒𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐡: 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬:
As a practical application of the principle of preventing harm and safeguarding the fundamental purpose of da’wah, which is to remain accessible without financial barriers, alternative methods should be pursued to cover organisational expenses.
These alternatives include opening the door to voluntary donations and seeking assistance from charitable institutions and generous benefactors.
𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐡: 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬
𝐀𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬, 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.
The reason is that charitable deeds and donations are fundamentally based on voluntary giving. People must be free to choose whether to contribute, without being compelled to do so or having their charitable contributions tied to a commercial or service-related condition.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠:
1. Selling tickets for lectures:
Selling tickets for attendance at lectures is permissible, provided that there is a genuine need and that operational expenses cannot be adequately covered through alternative means. It must also be directed towards specific groups where appropriate, in accordance with the assessment of the relevant authorities.
1. 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬:
𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬. 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.
And Allāh, the Most High, knows best, and to Him we return.
And may Allāh's peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his companions.
Signed: 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐮𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐝 𝐀𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐝 𝐋𝐨
Chair, Union of African Muslim Scholars
