Changing intention from building a full Masjid to partial support

Changing intention from building a full Masjid to partial support

Changing intention from building a full Masjid to partial support

Question

A person made an intention to contribute £10,000 towards building an entire Masjid. They have now changed their intention to contribute £2,000 towards it rather than funding it wholly. Are there any issues with this?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

Answer

There is no harm in a person changing intention because merely making an intention to perform an optional deed does not make it compulsory. If, however, a person made it compulsory upon himself to donate a specific amount via a vow (nadhr), it is then necessary to fulfil the vow by donating the specified amount.

قال الله تعالى: وليوفوا نذورهم. وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها مرفوعا: من نذر أن يطيع الله فليطعه، ومن نذر أن يعصيه فلا يعصه، رواه البخاري (٦٦٩٦) ومحمد في الموطأ (٧٥١)، قال محمد: وبهذا نأخذ، من نذر نذرا في معصية ولم يسم، فليطع الله وليكفر عن يمينه، وهو قول أبي حنيفة، انتهى. وقال السمرقندي في التحفة (٢/٣٣٩): إذا نذر لله سبحانه وتعالى بما هو قربة وطاعة يجب عليه الوفاء به ولم يجب عليه غير ذلك، انتهى. وراجع رد المحتار (٣/٧٣٥)۔

Allah knows best

Yusuf Shabbir

13 Ṣafar 1442 / 1 October 2020

Approved by: Mufti Shabbir Ahmed and Mufti Muhammad Tahir