What do the scholars and muftis of the mighty Shari’ah say regarding the following matter, is it permissible to take/request funds from a non-Muslim for a Masjid or other religious works?
Questioner: ‘Ādil from UK
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب
It is forbidden to take funds from a non-Muslim for religious works or a masjid. Just as A’alā Hazrat Imām Ahmad Razā Khān (may Allāh envelope in mercy) states:
To collect money from non-Muslims to use for religious works is firstly forbidden in and of itself and is also defective; the Messenger of Allāh (upon him be peace and blessings) said, ‘we do not seek aid from a polytheist’.
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Volume 3, pg. 100, Hadīth 2732. Fatāwā Razawiyyah, Volume 14, pg. 566]
It is mentioned in Radd al-Muhtār:
‘Because this is worship, and to seek assistance from a non-Muslim in religious matters is not appropriate’
[Radd al-Muhtār, Kitāb al-Adhiyah, Dār Ihyā al-Turāth al-‘Arabī Beirūt, Volume 5, pg. 208]
واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری
Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Zameer Ahmed
Read the original answer in Urdu here – [Q-ID0431] Can we request/take donations from non-Muslims for a Mosque or other religious works?
