Charity for non-muslims
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's
Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
Can a charity be given to any needy or he has to be a muslim? Is there no reward from Allah if you give to a non-muslim. What about humanity then?
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
Answer:
In
the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His
forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to
fall astray, none can guide them aright. I bear witness that there is no one
(no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam,
no dai, nobody!) worthy of
worship but Allah Alone, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave-servant
and the seal of His Messengers.
According
to the guidance given by Allah and His Messenger (saws), the obligatory charity or ‘zakah’ is only
for the muslims.
But regular charity and
‘sadaqa’ is for muslims and non-muslims
alike. When one is hungry and needs to
be fed, it does not matter whether the
recipient is a muslim or a non-muslim.
When one is sick and needs medicine, surgery, etc. it does not matter
whether the recipient is a muslim or a non-muslim. When one is in need of help,
then it does not matter whether the recipient is a muslim or a
non-muslim.
All
human beings are slaves and creations of Allah, whether they acknowledge
Him or not. Muslims are supposed to be
well-wishers of mankind, and Allah will
give him his due reward when he spends on any slave of Allah, as long as he is
seeking only the Pleasure of Allah for his deeds. Helping a human being aside,
the Messenger of Allah (saws) said,
that even if one gives water to a thirsty animal, or food to a hungry animal, he will have his reward with Allah! The Messenger of Allah (saws) constantly
reminded the muslims to be well-wishers of humanity and any creature of Allah
alike.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verse 110:You
(muslims) are the best community which has been raised for the guidance of
mankind. You enjoin what is right, and forbid what is evil and you all believe
in Allah Alone.
And
Allah Alone Knows Best, and He is the
Only Source of Strength.
Whatever
written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance,
and whatever of error is of me. Allah
Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your Brother in Islam,
