4th April 2014
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Question: If a Non-Muslim contributes funding towards an Islamic project (e.g. Masjid) or for any needy Muslim or sending any person for Umrah, then is it permissible to accept it?
الجواب حامداً و مصلياً
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
According to the mainstream view of the Hanafi Fuqaha, it is not mandatory for a donor towards a noble cause; Islamic project such as masjid or spending on the poor and needy Muslims, to be Muslim. A Non-Muslim’s donation can be accepted if he considers such an act rewarding for him provided that he does not spend from such earnings considered unlawful in Islām for instance income by selling alcohol.[1] Moreover, such donation does not involve interfering in the management of the Islamic project.[2]
However, the ruling is different if a Non-Muslim sponsors a Muslim to perform Umrah or Hajj. The general view is that it is not permissible to accept funds from him to perform acts of worship as they are generally not acknowledged as rewarding for them. A sponsor for such a cause must be a Muslim.[3]
[Allāh Knows Best]
Written by (Mufti) Abdul Waheed
Answer Attested by Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Ibn Nujaim, Bahr Raiq, Book of Waqf p. 316 vol 5
وَأَمَّا الْإِسْلَامُ فَلَيْسَ مِنْ شَرْطِهِ فَصَحَّ وَقْفِ الذِّمِّيِّ بِشَرْطِ كَوْنِهِ قُرْبَةً عِنْدَنَا وَعِنْدَهُمْ كَمَا لَوْ وَقَفَ عَلَى أَوْلَادِهِ أَوْ عَلَى الْفُقَرَاءِ أَوْ عَلَى فُقَرَاءِ أَهْلِ الذِّمَّةِ فَإِنْ عَمَّمَ جَازَ الصَّرْفُ إلَى كُلِّ فَقِيرٍ مُسْلِمٍ أَوْ كَافِرٍ
Tabyeen Haqaiq Commentry of Bahr Raiq
وَأَمَّا الْإِسْلَامُ فَلَيْسَ بِشَرْطٍ فَلَوْ وَقَفَ الذِّمِّيُّ عَلَى وَلَدِهِ وَنَسْلِهِ وَجَعَلَ آخِرَهُ لِلْمَسَاكِينِ جَازَ وَيَجُوزُ أَنْ يُعْطِيَ الْمَسَاكِينَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَأَهْلَ الذِّمَّةِ
[2] Imam Abu Bakr Jassas, Ahkamul Qur’an p. 278 vol 4
فَاقْتَضَتْ الْآيَةُ (مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَنْ يَعْمُرُوا مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ) مَنْعَ الْكُفَّارِ مِنْ دُخُولِ الْمَسَاجِدِ وَمِنْ بِنَائِهَا وَتُوَلِّي مَصَالِحِهَا وَالْقِيَامِ بِهَا لِانْتِظَامِ اللَّفْظِ لِلْأَمْرَيْنِ
[3] Ibn Abideen Shami (ra), Raddul Muhtar, Book of Waqf, Waqf established with necessity, p. 524 vol 6
لَوْ وَقَفَ الذِّمِّيُّ عَلَى حَجٍّ أَوْ عُمْرَةٍ مَعَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَصِحُّ وَلَوْ أَجْرَى الْكَلَامَ عَلَى ظَاهِرِهِ لَا يَدْخُلُ فِيهِ وَقْفُ الذِّمِّيِّ عَلَى الْفُقَرَاءِ لِأَنَّهُ لَا قُرْبَةَ مِنْ الذِّمِّيِّ، وَلَوْ حُمِلَ عَلَى أَنَّ الْمُرَادَ مَا كَانَ قُرْبَةً فِي اعْتِقَادِ الْوَاقِفِ يَدْخُلُ فِيهِ وَقْفُ الذِّمِّيِّ عَلَى بِيعَةٍ مَعَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَصِحُّ فَنُعَيِّنُ أَنَّ هَذَا شَرْطٌ فِي وَقْفِ الْمُسْلِمِ فَقَطْ، بِخِلَافِ الذِّمِّيِّ لِمَا فِي الْبَحْرِ وَغَيْرِهِ أَنَّ شَرْطَ وَقْفِ الذِّمِّيِّ أَنْ يَكُونَ قُرْبَةً عِنْدَنَا وَعِنْدَهُمْ كَالْوَقْفِ عَلَى الْفُقَرَاءِ أَوْ عَلَى مَسْجِدِ الْقُدْسِ بِخِلَافِ الْوَقْفِ عَلَى بِيعَةٍ فَإِنَّهُ قُرْبَةٌ عِنْدَهُمْ فَقَطْ أَوْ عَلَى حَجٍّ أَوْ عُمْرَةٍ فَإِنَّهُ قُرْبَةٌ عِنْدَنَا فَقَطْ