Answered by: Mufti Syed Johir Miah
Question:
I was asked by a sister if it is allowed to give sadaqah to non-muslims.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Asma Bint Abi Bakr ( رضى الله عنهما ) narrated:
قَدِمَتْ عَلَىَّ أُمِّي وَهْىَ مُشْرِكَةٌ، فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَاسْتَفْتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْتُ {إِنَّ أُمِّي قَدِمَتْ} وَهْىَ رَاغِبَةٌ، أَفَأَصِلُ أُمِّي قَالَ “ نَعَمْ صِلِي أُمَّكِ ”.
“My mother came to me during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and she was a pagan. I said to Allah’s Apostle (صلى الله عليه وسلم) (seeking his verdict), “My mother has come to me and she desires to receive a reward from me, shall I keep good relations with her?” The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “Yes, keep good relation with her. “. 1
Likewise, Sayyiduna Abu Huraira ( رضى الله عنه ) reported that the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
«فِي كُلِّ ذَاتِ كبد رطبَة أجر»
“A reward is given in connection with every living creature”. 2
In the aforementioned case, sadaqah can be given to non-Muslims, but not Zakah.3
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Mufti Syed Johir Miah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
1 Sahih Bukhari, Hadith Number 2620, 164/3, Dar Tuqin Najah, 1422 H.
2 Sahih Bukhari, Hadith Number 2466, 132/3, Dar Tuqin Najah, 1422 H.
3 لَكِنْ رَأيْت فِي المُحِيطِ مِن كِتابِ الكَسْبِ: ذَكَرَ مُحَمَّدٌ فِي السِّيَرِ الكَبِيرِ: لا بَأْسَ لِلْمُسْلِمِ أنْ يُعْطِيَ كافِرًا حَرْبِيًّا أوْ ذِمِّيًّا، وأنْ يَقْبَلَ الهَدِيَّةَ مِنهُ، لِما رُوِيَ «أنَّ النَّبِيَّ – ﷺ – بَعَثَ خَمْسَمِائَةِ دِينارٍ إلى مَكَّةَ حِينَ قَحَطُوا وأمَرَ بِدَفْعِها إلى أبِي سُفْيانَ بْنِ حَرْبٍ وصَفْوانَ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ لِيُفَرِّقا عَلى فُقَراءِ أهْلِ مَكَّةَ» ولِأنَّ صِلَةَ الرَّحِمِ مَحْمُودَةٌ فِي كُلِّ دِينٍ والإهْداءُ إلى الغَيْرِ مِن مَكارِمِ الأخْلاقِ إلَخْ
Raddul Muhtar, Ibn Abidin, 352/2, Darul Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, 1412 H.
وأما الحربي ولو مستأمنا فجميع الصدقات لا تجوز له اتفاقا بحر عن الغاية وغيرها لكن جزم الزيلعي بجواز التطوع له
Ibid