Which is better: to pay a sum of money to a relative who works in collecting and distributing donations in poor Islamic countries unofficially, or to pay it to official charities within Saudi Arabia for building a mosque, knowing that these charities—as it is said—do not give money to trustworthy individuals and those of sound creed to supervise charitable works?

You must give your charity to whomever you believe will deliver it to its intended recipients. If the charity does not reach its rightful place, but your intention was good, then your reward is firm and accepted by Allah. As stated in the noble Prophetic tradition: "A man said, 'I shall give charity tonight.' So he went out with his charity and placed it in the hand of a prostitute..." At the end of the tradition: "...As for your charity, it has been accepted..." Ibn Hajar and Al-Ayni, in their commentary on this tradition, stated that the good intention of the giver of charity is the basis for its acceptance, even if the charity does not reach its rightful place. This applies to voluntary charity.