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The Law of Receiving Donations from Non-Muslims and Its Proposition

Review by : Yuli SE., MM

The donation is one of the forms of empathy or caring for a person who is highly recommended in Islam. Donations can help those in need to live a better standardized life.

The law of accepting donations from non-Muslims is mubah. This is in accordance with what was narrated by Rasulullah saw.

Ali bin Abi Thalib ra narrated that Kisra (Persian King) had given a gift to the Prophet and he accepted it. The Emperor (the Roman King) once again gave a gift to the Prophet and he accepted it. The kings (al-muluuk) also rewarded him and he accepted it. (HR Ahmad and At-Tirmidzi, and judged by hadith hasan by Imam At-Tirmidzi) (Imam Syaukani, Nailul Authar, p. 1172).

Allah Ta’ala says,

لا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ

“Allah does not forbid you to do good things and to do justice to those who have not fought you for religion and will not drive you out of your land. Allah loves those who do right.” (Surah Al-Mumtahanah: 8)

Ibn Jarir Ath Thobari rahimahullah said, “God does not forbid you to do good things, to establish a relationship, and to do justice with everyone from other religions that do not fight you in religion.” (Jaami’ul Bayan fii Ta’wilil Qur’an, 28: 81)

Ibn Katsir rahimahullah explains, “Allah does not forbid you to be kind to the disbelievers who do not fight the Muslims in religion and also do not help to bring women and the weak, i.e. Allah is not prohibited to do good things and to do justice to them for verily Allah loves those who do justice.” (Al Qur’an Al ‘Azhim, 7: 247).

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Anas radhiyallahu ‘anhu said,

أُهْدِىَ لِلنَّبِىِّ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – جُبَّةُ سُنْدُسٍ ، وَكَانَ يَنْهَى عَنِ الْحَرِيرِ ، فَعَجِبَ النَّاسُ مِنْهَا فَقَالَ « وَالَّذِى نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَمَنَادِيلُ سَعْدِ بْنِ مُعَاذٍ فِى الْجَنَّةِ أَحْسَنُ مِنْ هَذَا »

The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was once given a fine silk robe. Though the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam forbade from wearing silk. The people were amazed at that time (when the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam rejected it). Then the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “For the sake of the soul that Muhammad’s soul is in his hand, indeed Saad bin Muadz’s handkerchief in heaven, is better than this.” (Narrated by Bukhari, No. 2615)

But it will be different if the non-Muslim donations are intended to spread their disbelief. If the donation is intended for things that cause the Muslim faith broken, then it is forbidden. It has been spoken by Allah SWT in the Qur’an.

God said,

وَدُّوا لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُوا فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَاءً

“They want you to be infidels as they have become infidels, then you become equal (with them).” (An-Nisaa ‘: 89)

Whereas if the contribution provided by non-Muslims does not contain harmful, then it is permissible. Asy-Shaykh Shalih al-Fauzan said, “A Muslim is allowed to associate with the infidels, provided the infidels are not in full control of it. In fact, the unbelievers must be under the control of Muslims not to commit any other riba’ or luck transaction if they are in full force.” (Al-Mulakhkhash al-Fiqhi)

In Fatwa Lajnah Daimah explained,

يجوز للمسلمين أن يمكنوا غير المسلمين من الإنفاق على المشاريع الإسلامية؛ كالمساجد والمدارس إذا كان لا يترتب على ذلك ضرر على المسلمين أكثر من المنفعة

“May the Muslims receive impetus from non-Muslims for Islamic activities such as building mosques and schools/boarding schools, if there is no danger posed to the Muslims and its benefits.” (Fatwa Lajnah Daimah 5/256 number 21334)

In Fatwa Syabakah Islamiyah mentioned:

فلا مانع من أن تطلبوا من كافر إعانة مالية يهبكم إياها ثم تستعينون بها في بناء مسجد ، كما لا حرج في قبولها منه دون طلب لا سيما مع عجزكم عن بنائه وحاجتكم إليه، ولا يلزمكم البحث عن مصدر ماله الذي تبرع به هل هو من حلال أو من حرام ، ولكن إذا علمتم أن عين المال الذي أعطاكم إياه حراما فلا يجوز لكم قبوله وصرفه في بناء المسجد

“There is no problem soliciting donations from the infidels in the form of wealth, and then used to build mosques. It is also permissible to accept the disbelief without the request especially if you (Muslims) cannot build a mosque, while you need it very much. There is no obligation to find out the source of their property, whether it is from a halal or an illegal route. However, if you know exactly that the money given by the infidels is illegal money then it is not acceptable and cannot be used to build a mosque.” (Fatwa Syabakah Islamiyah, 75831)

But we are forbidden to humble ourselves in front of non-Muslims in soliciting donations.

Shaykh Muhammad Shalih Al Munajjid stated,

فقبول هبات الكفار وتبرعاتهم دون طلب لا بأس به ويجوز صرف هذا المال في المشاريع الإسلامية ونفقاتها المختلفة . أما طلب التبرعات من الكفار ففيه بعض المحاذير مثل الذلّ أمامهم وملكهم قلب الطالب إذا أعطوه . فلو خلا من هذه المحاذير فلا بأس ، فقد كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يستعين ( دون ذلّ ) في أمور الدعوة – وهو بمكة – ببعض المشركين كعمه أبي طالب وغيره

“Accepting the gift of kuffar and their help, without asking first, that is okay, and can use the property for the various needs of Muslims. As for the help of the infidels, there are things that need to be avoided among them as dzull in front of them and the emergence of the tendency of the beggars to be easily influenced by them, if the request is granted.

If no such thing is prohibited, then it is okay. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam had once asked for help (without humiliating himself) to some Musyrikin in Mecca in the affairs of da’wah, such as to his uncle Abu Thalib and the other.” (Fatwa Islam Sual Wal Jawab no. 212)

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That is a brief explanation of the law accepting donations from non-Muslims. Hopefully, this article will benefit all of us. Thank you.