Spending Sadaqahs on things other than those intended by the men who practice charity

Q 1: Sometimes we ask some businessmen to donate to a particular project supervised by our office, such as printing books and other projects. Can the money received for a given project be used for another project supervised by the same office? For example, one of the donors contributed to buying a computer for the office; can this contribution be used to print books instead?

A: Contributions to such projects are mostly given as Sadaqah (voluntary charity) and not as Zakah (obligatory charity), so they must be used for the purposes specified by the donor. It is not permissible to use them for any alternative projects, unless with the permission of the donor. (Part No. 8; Page No. 298) However, if it is difficult to get permission from the donor or it is not possible to spend these contributions for the purposes specified by the donor and there is extra money, then they should be spent on charitable activities similar to those which the donor has specified. However, if donors pay such amounts of money as Zakah due on them, it is not permissible to spend them on the mentioned projects; rather, they must be given to the categories of Zakah recipients which are mentioned in the Saying of Allah: As-Sadaqât (here it means Zakât) are only for the Fuqarâ’ (poor), and the Masâkin (needy) and those employed to collect (the funds), and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islâm) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.