Q: We are a mosque. We have about 250 people that come to our mossque. Brother my question is can we encourage  people to give money to extend our mosque and not use the money of qurbani. our mosque collets 200$ from each person for a goat or sheep of their choise. Can we tell people that we will use the collected money on the mosque and not slaughter this year. We have some debate amonsgt officals. Please clarify. thank you

A: Once a person has the amount of nisab, they must sacrifice an animal. One cannot substitute Qurban money for a musjid project. They may give the skin to the local musjid, and the musjid may in turn  sell the skin for money, and this money may be used on the musjid project.  But you are not allowed to take Qurbani money and use it on the musjid or a project as described above.

The Quraban rules and regulations have been stipulated via the Quran, hadith and sunnah. We cannot change or substitute this. Doing so will be a violation of the Quran, Hadith and sunnah as well as the rights of the people.

Additionally, musjids function as an example for the community. They cannot collect money for sheep/goats etc, and then use the collected money for something that the people did not intent.

We sincerely thank you for your inquiry.

Allah Certainly knows Best.