Exercising Caution when Dealing with Public Wealth

Hazrat Shaikh Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned:

Hazrat Raipuri (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) would say, “Managing a Deeni institute causes me more fear and concern than any other responsibility. The reason for my fear is that if a person is employed by someone and is negligent and dishonest to his employer, he may easily be forgiven through seeking forgiveness from his employer. However, when it comes to the wealth and funds of Deeni institutes (or Deeni organizations), then we are not the owners of this wealth. Rather, we are only appointed as trustees of this wealth and are responsible to ensure that it is being managed correctly. Hence, even if we forgive a person for abusing the wealth of a Deeni organization, he will not be forgiven, and nor do we have the right to forgive him. We do not have the right to forgive him as the wealth does not belong to us. Instead, the wealth is the wealth of the general public which has been donated for the cause of Deen. Therefore, I urge you all to exercise utmost caution in regard to the wealth of Deeni institutes (or Deeni organizations).”

Hazrat Shaikh (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) then mentioned, “Once I went to Pakistan. On that occasion, Mufti Shafee Saheb (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) said to me, “There is one section in your kitaab, Aap Beeti, regarding the practices of our seniors which highlight the extreme caution they exercised when dealing with the wealth of Deeni institutes. I have placed great importance on this being read to all the Ustaads and employees of the madrasah and it has had a great effect on them. May Allah Ta’ala make it a means of benefit to all.” (Malfoozaate Hazrat Shaikh 2/124)