Spending in the way of Allaah is but Jihaad which Allaah has mentioned in many places in His book, often mentioning it before the Jihaad with one's life. However it must be done with sincerity for the sake of Allaah alone. The question as to who we spend on is answered by Allaah Subhanahu-wa-Ta'alaa Himself in His book;
They ask you (O Muhammad peace and bleesings of Allah be upon him ) what they should spend. Say: Whatever you spend of good must be for parents and kindred and orphans and AlMasākin (the poor) and the wayfarers, and whatever you do of good deeds, truly, Allāh knows it well..Al-Baqrah 215
This is the sequence in which spending is prescribed. Mosques are already many and most of these are unfortunately being misused, many claim that they are spreading the message of Islam in purity but in fact all they are doing is running their close shops. When mosques were small, simple Islam grew bigger and stronger, but when mosques became bigger and more decorated, Muslims became weak and disgraced, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that Qayaamah will not come until people would boast about their mosques. Large charity organisations on the other hand are really businesses therefore a Muslim should spend his wealth on matters personally known to him rather than through emotional exploitation by advertisements. A huge proportion of Muslim's resources are being wasted in fulfilling ignorant people's desires for making large mosques and organisation, rather if there is anything of general importance that Muslim's wealth should be used for, then it is the establishing of proper Islamic schools for Muslim children.
