Question:

AA, can a mosque admin collect zakat/sadaqat and start a community charity program for people regardless of their religious believes, with intention to promote Islam.

I am thinking of a community charity for needy by mosque that would buy medicines for patients who are discharged from hospital. This would be labelled as community charity/outreach program to promote Islam. It will serve people from all religions and even without religion so they can know about Islam.

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Sadaqah may be given to both Muslims and non-Muslims.[1] However, Zakah may only be given to Muslims.[2]

Hence, it is permissible for the Masjid in reference to use the collected Sadaqah to assist non-Muslims. Zakah Funds may not be used.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

(Mufti) Abdul Azeem bin Abdur Rahman

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[1]  (قَوْلُهُ: لَكِنْ جَزَمَ الزَّيْلَعِيُّ بِجَوَازِ التَّطَوُّعِ لَهُ) أَيْ لِلْمُسْتَأْمَنِ كَمَا تُفِيدُهُ عِبَارَةُ النَّهْرِ؛ ثُمَّ إنَّ هَذَا لَمْ أَرَهُ فِي الزَّيْلَعِيِّ وَكَذَا قَالَ أَبُو السُّعُودِ وَغَيْرُهُ مَعَ أَنَّهُ مُخَالِفٌ لِدَعْوَى الِاتِّفَاقِ، لَكِنْ رَأَيْت فِي الْمُحِيطِ مِنْ كِتَابِ الْكَسْبِ: ذَكَرَ مُحَمَّدٌ فِي السِّيَرِ الْكَبِيرِ: لَا بَأْسَ لِلْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يُعْطِيَ كَافِرًا حَرْبِيًّا أَوْ ذِمِّيًّا، وَأَنْ يَقْبَلَ الْهَدِيَّةَ مِنْهُ، لِمَا رُوِيَ «أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – بَعَثَ خَمْسَمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ إلَى مَكَّةَ حِينَ قَحَطُوا وَأَمَرَ بِدَفْعِهَا إلَى أَبِي سُفْيَانَ بْنِ حَرْبٍ وَصَفْوَانَ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ لِيُفَرِّقَا عَلَى فُقَرَاءِ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ» وَلِأَنَّ صِلَةَ الرَّحِمِ مَحْمُودَةٌ فِي كُلِّ دِينٍ وَالْإِهْدَاءُ إلَى الْغَيْرِ مِنْ مَكَارِمِ الْأَخْلَاقِ إلَخْ وَسَنَذْكُرُ تَمَامَ الْكَلَامِ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فِي أَوَّلِ كِتَابِ الْوَصَايَا. (ردالمحتار، ج 2، ص 352، سعيد كذا فى فتوى muftionline.co.za)

Aap Kay Masaail Aur Un Kaa Hal, Vol. 1, page 66,

[2]  (وَلَا) تُدْفَعُ (إلَى ذِمِّيٍّ) لِحَدِيثِ مُعَاذٍ (الدر المختارمع رد المحتار، ج 2، ص 352، سعيد)