As mosque custodians and worshippers alike, we all know how much financial support these centres need. But in some cases, their finances have been taboo for far too long. One-way traffic, if you will.
Naturally, we are aware of the following:
- Friday collection totals
- Financial needs, debts, deficits
- Refurbishment and expansion costs.
Great length, detail, and time is taken to provide elaborate marketing materials, digital campaigns, announcements, and motivation — all to rally the congregation to donate wholeheartedly. There is no doubt that this is to be praised.
At the same time, some worshippers may feel unable to ask or know how or where their mosque’s finances are spent.
Why things should be even better
Occasionally, we may ask why a few masājid do not provide financial transparency back to their community, or why the community does not demand such essential data and exercise its right to do so.
Some mosques may unintentionally overlook disclosing their income and expenditure details to the congregation, and such finer details may include bank balances; sources of funding; assets and their ownership; and those on the mosque payroll.
They also include understanding who maintains and audits mosque accounts; how posts, salaried jobs, and roles are assigned; whether lottery funds and/or interest payments from banks are being received; and even whether government funding — such as that relating to Prevent, anti-terrorism, Pride, multi-faith pots — is being received.
If government funds are being utilised, are these supporting any state-sponsored projects? And are there any strings attached?
But knowing the answers to the above can only be a positive for those tirelessly running our masājid and the congregations served.
It’s vital that we are transparent
In today’s “modern” societies, within businesses, workplaces, and professions, we are very much accustomed to key terms such as financial accountability, transparency, and audit practices.
So these should also be applied to our masājid, especially because we love the Houses of Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) far more than our homes, businesses, and places of work.
It is this same love that requires us to ourselves imbue accountability, transparency, excellence, and financial openness, and then to do the same with masājid.
In fact, financial openness ensures safeguarding of both custodians and congregations from all kinds of wrongdoing.
Islam on public office, officials, and finances
Whether it is the Khalīfah, Imams, governors, or mosque custodians — as principal public offices — officials and public finances come with very high standards, transparency, strict accountability, and scrutiny.
In a famous incident, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (radiy Allahu ‘anhu) was interrupted during his khutbah to explain how he got two pieces of cloth from the Bayt al-Māl.
The point being that leaders’ salaries were public knowledge and public officials’ finances were carefully monitored. Some were even dismissed in the event of slight doubt.
Both the Ummah and leadership of the past understood that transparency and accountability was essential to keep society in check and balance. The Ummah held to account and would not accept any injustice from their leaders.
Likewise, today, mosque custodians and the community at large must be frank about this topic. And it is only right that mosque leaders are forthright and proactive in providing this information so that confidence and trust is strengthened — and in some instances restored — and so the whole community benefits from such positivity and openness.
Source: Islam21c
