Question: Is it permissible to accept gifts from an apostate?
Answer:
Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
It is permissible to accept gifts from anyone, Muslim or non-Muslim. If you know that accepting the gift of the apostate will increase them in their apostasy, then you should not accept it.
[Ibn Maza’, al-Muhit al-Burhani]
If you feel that by accepting the gift, the apostasy of this individual will not be affected, then you should:
- Accept the gift
- Immediately give them a gift (preferably more than what they gave you)
- Use this is an opportunity to show the beauty of Islam and advise them to return back to Islam
If one has certainty (yaqin) that the individual’s income is from an impermissible source (ex. Gambling), then they should avoid accepting gifts from that individual.
One is not obligated to research the income of the gift-giver. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “From the excellence of a person’s religion is leaving that which does not concern him.” [Tirmidhi]
May Allah, Most High reward you for your desire to please him.
And Allah knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani