Question Summary:
Can I give sadaqa to hifz school/quran competition?

Question Detail:

My question is regarding donation. I know we can give Sadaqa ( with regards to money only) to poor or needy people, charitable organizations, masjid(s) and to relatives in need but I would like to know in my city there is an Islamic school where kids memorize Quran to become Hafidhbor Hafidha basically it's particularly for Quran memorization and to learn how to read Quran with proper tajweed, pronunciation, rules etc. this school is having fundraising, can I give donation from my Sadqa money or it should be separate from Sadqa. Similarly in an different Islamic school there will be competition among kids for best memorization, Qirat, Tajweed, Pronunciation etc of Quran ( basically named as Quran competition) , They are asking to donate money also. If I give them money can I consider it as giving Sadqa or my intention should not be of giving sadqa rather just simple donation. 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

You may donate to both causes from the money you have allotted for Sadaqa.[1]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Tahmid Chowdhury

Student Darul Iftaa

New York, USA

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

[1]

الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية (26/ 323)

يَقُول الرَّاغِبُ الأْصْفَهَانِيُّ: الصَّدَقَةُ: مَا يُخْرِجُهُ الإْنْسَانُ مِنْ مَالِهِ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْقُرْبَةِ

كَالزَّكَاةِ. لَكِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ فِي الأْصْل تُقَال: لِلْمُتَطَوَّعِ بِهِ، وَالزَّكَاةُ تُقَال: لِلْوَاجِبِ

الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية (26/ 325)

الصَّدَقَةُ مَسْنُونَةٌ، وَرَدَ النَّدْبُ إِلَيْهَا فِي كَثِيرٍ مِنْ آيَاتِ الْقُرْآنِ الْكَرِيمِ، وَكَثِيرٍ مِنَ الأْحَادِيثِ النَّبَوِيَّةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ

أَمَّا مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ الْكَرِيمِ فَقَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: {مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً وَاللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْسُطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ}

يَقُول ابْنُ الْعَرَبِيِّ: جَاءَ هَذَا الْكَلاَمُ فِي مَعْرِضِ النَّدْبِ وَالتَّحْضِيضِ عَلَى إِنْفَاقِ الْمَال فِي ذَاتِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى عَلَى الْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمُحْتَاجِينَ، وَفِي سَبِيل اللَّهِ بِنُصْرَةِ الدِّينِ

الهداية شرح البداية (3/ 231)

وكذلك إذا تصدق على غنى استحسانا لأنه قد يقصد بالصدقة على الغنى الثواب