The prominent Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, states the following: “According to the Glorious Qur’an, one of the ways in which Zakah money can be spent is “in Allah’s Cause”. But Muslim scholars hold different opinions on the meaning of “in Allah’s Cause”. Some scholars maintain that it means Jihad, because it is the closest lexical meaning to “Allah’s Cause”. The majority of scholars hold this view. Some other scholars state that the meaning of “in Allah’s Cause” refers to anything useful for Muslims or is of benefit to them such as building mosques, constructing bridges, shrouding dead bodies of poor Muslims, etc.
Therefore, I am personally of the view that the meaning of “in Allah’s Cause” has a larger scope of meaning, much wider than the areas mentioned in the two juristic opinions. Hence, Zakah should be used to build Islamic centers for the purpose of calling others to Islam in those countries where many challenges are posed against Muslims by non-Muslims, who show little interest in Islam and even sometimes try to prevent Muslims from practicing their religious tenets. Muslim minorities face difficult situations outside the Muslim world.
As a matter of fact, there is no doubt that the construction of such Islamic centers is a modern way of striving in the Cause of Allah, because it is Jihad with the tongue and the pen, via preaching and educating. This type of Jihad is indispensable at the present time, as it aims to confront the ceaseless invasion and war waged by enemies of Islam.
Just as fighting in order to uphold the word of Allah is regarded as Jihad in Allah’s Cause, calling, teaching, and/or guiding people to Islam with a view to uplifting the word of Islam is regarded as a form of Jihad in Allah’s Cause.
Nowadays, Islamic centers are regarded as fortresses to defend Islam, but what counts here is the main intention behind building Islamic centers. Building Islamic centers is of paramount importance particularly if we bear in mind that in Tosan city there is a center known as “Rashad Khaleefah”. It was named after a man who denied some Qur’anic verses and Prophetic Sayings, and considered obligatory prayers as vanity and thus named them “prayers of disbelievers”. Worse than that, he declared himself as the Messenger of Allah!
There should be an Islamic center established on the basis of truth, so as to confront these allegations. An Islamic fortress should confront the disbelievers sponsored from every corner of the earth.
Allah, Exalted be He, says: “Behold! You are those who are called to spend in the Cause of Allah, yet among you are some who are niggardly. And whoever is niggardly, it is only at the expense of his own self. But Allah is rich (free of all needs), and you (mankind) are poor. And if you turn away (from Islam and obedience to Allah), He will exchange you for some other people and they will not be your likes.” (Muhammad: 38)