Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Is it permissible to make donations to organisations such as this (i.e. Media Lens)? On the one hand they do offer good analyses into current affairs and non-Muslims seem to be more open to articles from these types of sources. In addition they do a lot of research which can be used by Muslims beneficially. However on the other hand at times they are or can be against certain parts of the Shariah.
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
It is of the general good to give charity to non-Muslims [See attached answer(s)]. This applies to non-Muslim charities and groups too, as long as their main field of activity is halal.
Imam Abu Bakr al-Jassas, the 4th century AH Hanafi mujtahid imam, explains in his brilliant commentary on the Qur’anic verses containing legal rulings that charity other than zakat may be given to needy non-Muslims because it is considered to fall under the general instruction that,
“Allah forbids you not those who warred not against you on account of religion and drove you not out from your homes, that you should show them kindness and deal justly with them. Lo! Allah loves the just dealers.” (Qur’an, 60: 8) [Jassas, Ahkam al-Qur’an, 1.629-630]
Abu al-Darda’ (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said,
“Nothing more weighty than good character is placed on the Scales [on the Day of Judgement].” [Tirmidhi 1936, Abu Dawud 4166, Ahmad 26224, and others]
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani
faraz@sunnipath.com
hanafi@sunnipath.com
Imam Abu Hanifa (Allah have mercy on him) said, “Fiqh is to know one’s self: what is for it and against it.”