Taking fees from children to look at animals and birds
Question I am a supervisor of activities in a women’s centre and the management have suggested to me some activities that we can do for which we will take some money from the female students to attend these activities, such as selling some birds and animals, and these students will have the choice of buying…
Question
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
The fuqaha’ differed concerning the validity of transactions
made by a minor. The most likely view is that it is permissible in two
cases:
(i)When it involves something of
little value; in which case it is valid even if the child is below the age
of discernment;
(ii)When it is done with the
permission of his parent or guardian.
Items of small value are things like a loaf of bread or a
piece of candy and the like.
It says in Mataalib Ooli al-Nuha (3/10): Except with
regard to items of little value, such as a loaf of bread or bunch of herbs
or a piece of candy and the like.
End quote.
See question number
97489.
Based on that, if the price of these birds is low or it is
being done with the knowledge of the child’s guardian, it is permissible to
sell them to her.
Secondly:
With regard to the money taken for admission to the hall, if
it is in return for looking at the birds and animals, it is permissible
because it is payment for a benefit, which is looking and enjoying, like the
money charged for entering zoos, on condition that the time available for
looking is known in general terms, because one of the conditions of payment
is knowing the benefit for which payment is given.
If what is taken is in return for the possibility of buying,
and they do not get to enter to look and enjoy looking, then it is not
permissible, because this is paying money for nothing in return.
And Allah knows best.
