Q: I collected funds from people specifically for someone's surgery, and these funds include Sadaqah (charity). However, now that I have the money, the person scheduled for surgery is refusing to go ahead with it or is asking to use the money for their personal expenses instead.
Furthermore, my own parents are suggesting that since we are also needy, we should use this money for our own medical checkups and medicines.
In this situation, what is the Islamically permissible course of action for the person who collected the money?
A: If the money is still in your possession and it has not yet been given to the patient (and the patient no longer wishes to undergo surgery), then the ruling of Shari’ah is that the money should be returned to the people who have donated it. After returning the money to them, they should be informed of the situation. If they give permission for the money to be used for the patient's other needs etc., or for fulfilling your family's needs then the money can be used for that purpose.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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