giving charity to non-muslims
Walaikum salam wa rahmatullah wa Barakatuh
This the closest that I could find. It does NOT answer your question directly but you can infer some important decision from this particular fatwa....which may apply to your situation). CAUTION: in general we MUST NOT apply generalities to a specific situation. That is if we face a specific question (related to the deen) we should pose that the scholars with authentic knowledge instead of applying another fatwa to our specific problem. Nor should anyone pass fatwas without knowledge.
Allah (SWT) says in Quran: (16.116)
As translated by Yusuf Ali: But say not - for any false thing that your tongues may put forth,- "This is lawful, and this is forbidden," so as to ascribe false things to Allah. For those who ascribe false things to Allah, will never prosper.
But since giving some meat to a non-belivers can NOT be haram (it is presumably an act of charity or gift, although a muslim is more deserving of your charities). Allah knows best. May He forgive me if I have stepped out of my bounds.
Ruling on giving charity to non-Muslims
Question:
Is it permissible to give charity to non-Muslims if they are in urgent need? Will the person who gives such charity be rewarded?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
It is permissible to give charity to non-Muslims and this action will be rewarded, if they are in need of it, but they should not be given the obligatory charity, i.e. zakaat, unless they are those whose hearts are to be softened (i.e., they are close to embracing Islam). It is a condition for giving charity to non-Muslims that they should not be involvied in fighting the Muslims or driving them from their homes, because charity in such cases would be seen as helping them to wage war against the Muslims. (Fataawa Mutanawwi’ah by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 521).
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Allaah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allaah loves those who deal with equity. It is only as regards those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out, that Allaah forbids you to befriend them. And whosoever will befriend them, then such are the zaalimoon (wrong-doers – those who disobey Allaah.)” [al-Mumtahimah 60:8-9].
Muslims should seek first and foremost to give their charity to their Muslim brothers who are in need, and there are plenty of them. And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
Ruling on giving charity to non-Muslims
Question:
Is it permissible to give charity to non-Muslims if they are in urgent need? Will the person who gives such charity be rewarded?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
It is permissible to give charity to non-Muslims and this action will be rewarded, if they are in need of it, but they should not be given the obligatory charity, i.e. zakaat, unless they are those whose hearts are to be softened (i.e., they are close to embracing Islam). It is a condition for giving charity to non-Muslims that they should not be involvied in fighting the Muslims or driving them from their homes, because charity in such cases would be seen as helping them to wage war against the Muslims. (Fataawa Mutanawwi’ah by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 521).
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Allaah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allaah loves those who deal with equity. It is only as regards those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out, that Allaah forbids you to befriend them. And whosoever will befriend them, then such are the zaalimoon (wrong-doers – those who disobey Allaah.)” [al-Mumtahimah 60:8-9].
Muslims should seek first and foremost to give their charity to their Muslim brothers who are in need, and there are plenty of them. And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
Collecting donations to give gifts to poor families at Christmas
Question:
In my school it is Christmas time. My school has this Christmas tradition. Every year a classroom gets an adopted family that is poor so they can buy gifts, food, and donate money to them for Christmas. Unfortunately, I have refused to donate any money or give any food for the following reason: -These denotations will be done in the name of christmas, so that when the adopted family receives these donations, they will say "God Bless The Christians".
Am I right for refusing to give donations?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
align:justify;text-kashida:0%;direction:ltr; unicode-bidi:embed">It seems that you are referring to the birth of the Messiah (peace be upon him), an occasion which the Christians venerate and have taken as a festival. The festivals of the Christians are part of their religion, and if the Muslims venerate the festivals of the kuffaar by expressing joy and giving gifts, this means that they are imitating them. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” Muslims must beware of imitating the Christians in their festivals and of following the customs that belong only to them. You did well and you did the right thing when you did not agree to collect donations for poor families on the occasion of Christmas, so adhere to that and advise your brothers and explain to them that this action is not permissible, because we Muslims have no festivals apart from Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adhaa. Allaah has given us these two festivals and we have no need of the festivals of the kaafirs.
align:justify;text-kashida:0%;direction:ltr; unicode-bidi:embed"> Written by Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Barraak.
align:justify;text-kashida:0%;direction:ltr; unicode-bidi:embed"> If we Muslims want to give in charity, we can give to those who really deserve it, and we should not aim to do that specifically on the days of the kaafirs’ festivals. We should do that whenever there is a need, and make the most of good and great occasions such as the month of Ramadaan and the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, and other virtuous occasions when rewards are multiplied. We should also do that at times of hardship, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
align:justify;text-kashida:0%;direction:ltr; unicode-bidi:embed"> “But he has not attempted to pass on the path that is steep (i.e. the path which will lead to goodness and success).
align:justify;text-kashida:0%;text-indent:8.5pt; direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed">And what will make you know the path that is steep?
align:justify;text-kashida:0%;text-indent:8.5pt; direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed">(It is) freeing a neck (slave)
align:justify;text-kashida:0%;text-indent:8.5pt; direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed">Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine),
align:justify;text-kashida:0%;text-indent:8.5pt; direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed">To an orphan near of kin.
align:justify;text-kashida:0%;text-indent:8.5pt; direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed">Or to a al">alic">Miskeen (poor) cleaving to dust (out of misery).
align:justify;text-kashida:0%;text-indent:8.5pt; direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed">Then he became one of those who believed (in the Islamic Monotheism) and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and compassion.
align:justify;text-kashida:0%;text-indent:8.5pt; direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed">They are those on the Right Hand (i.e. the dwellers of Paradise)”
align:justify;text-kashida:0%;text-indent:8.5pt; direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed">[al-Balad 90:11-18]
align:justify;text-kashida:0%;text-indent:8.5pt; direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed">May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
