Can Spiritual Guides Take Exuberant Amounts Of Money From Their Murids?
Question:
Assalamu ‘Alaykum.
Can a shaykh ask for exuberant amounts of money from his murid? There is a monthly amount that my husband sends him under the name of monthly sadaqa and his International travel expenses.
Is it right for the husband to hide these money matters from the wife and send the money without the wife’s knowledge?
Do we have to take permission from Shaikh for going on Umrah, changing jobs, changing houses, buying a property?
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
Giving Money To A Spiritual Guide
A murid of a spiritual guide is bound by the laws of Islam, just like the guide and everyone else. The murid is not under any obligation to give his shaykh any money. If he does so willingly, then there is no harm in this, provided it does not entail squandering the rights of those he is obliged to support.
No harm will come to him if he doesn’t give his shaykh any money. The spiritual guides I’ve come across encourage everyone to have a job, and they themselves had jobs where they earned their livelihood.
Hiding Donations From The Wife
Hiding such matters from the wife is not a sin – as it is the husband’s money – but it is very likely to lead to problems in a marriage. Marriages are based on trust, and this will not promote that. Both spouses should discuss the matter and come to a mutually beneficial understanding of it.
Does One Need Permission From The Spiritual Guide For Life Decisions?
No, one does not need to get permission from the guide in such matters. Every responsible adult has the autonomy in the Shari’a to make his own decisions. There may be baraka in consulting others and even benefit in taking their counsel; however, it is not a religious obligation.
Not doing so is not a sin. That much is clear. If one still has concerns, then they should be raised with the guide in question.
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.
