Answered by Shaykh Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf Mangera
Assalamu alaykum
In the name of Allah the Inspirer of truth.
It is superior and most virtuous to be independent and have one's own source of income. This way one is not dependent on others. The Messenger of Allah (upon him be peace said), "For one of you to gather firewood on his back (for income) is better than asking others, who may give him or turn him down" (Bukhari and Muslim).
Having said this, it is permissible to utilize the money collected for dawa upon oneself, if it is clearly understood by the contributors that their money (or a percentage of it) would be used for the person working in the field. If this is not clear and the contributors are under the impression that it will only be used for purchasing books, pamphlets, other literature, hosting programs, and setting up websites, etc, and not as a salary for the person then it would not be permissible to utilize anything thereof for one's self.
Hence, we encourage that you should have a side job to lean on while fulfilling the honorable task of dawa. May Allah grant you baraka.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalam Abdurrahman
MMVIII © Qibla.
All rights reserved
No part of this article may be reproduced, displayed, modified, or distributed without the express prior written permission of the copyright holder. For permission, please submit a request at our Helpdesk.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Knowledge is only through study." While some knowledge can be gained from reading or casually listening to lectures, the best means to gain knowledge is through finding a qualified teacher and then setting up a systematic program of learning. Picking up a book or reading an article and trying to figure things out on our own is no substitute for learning from someone who has a direct link to our living tradition.
Through joining an online class at Qibla, you can benefit from convenient, online courses that will give you access to reliable scholars and our popular curriculum learning tracks. Knowledge gained in these courses will both build your iman and assist you in putting into practice what you learn. Don't give yourself less than you deserve, register today.
