❖ Is It Permissible to Accept Donations from Hindus for Building a Mosque?
Reference: Fatāwā Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mubārakpūrī, Vol. 1, p. 193
❀ Question Summary
A new mosque is under construction in our area. For this purpose, we are collecting donations only from Muslims and consider it impermissible to take donations from non-Muslims, especially idol-worshipping Hindus, due to the Qur’ānic verse: إِنَّمَا الْمُشْرِكُونَ نَجَسٌ.
A Hindu contractor has offered 25 rupees from the earnings of his business for the mosque fund and insists that his donation be accepted and a receipt given. We have so far refused the receipt and kept the money aside until we obtain a fatwa.
The questions:
① Can this money be used for the construction of the mosque, and can a receipt be issued?
② If it is valid to accept, can it also be used for related projects such as boundary wall, garden, pool, washrooms, or guest house?
❀ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
- If this Hindu contractor is offering the donation from halāl trade earnings, then it is permissible to accept it for the mosque fund.
- However, if his income is doubtful or his intention is corrupt, then it is not permissible to accept such money.
- Moreover, if accepting such a donation or issuing a receipt results in any harm to Islamic interests, then it is better to avoid taking it.
Supporting Evidence:
In al-Hidāyah (Kitāb al-Waṣāyā) it is mentioned that the polytheists of Makkah considered the rebuilding of the Kaʿbah a virtuous act and funded it with lawful income. The Prophet ﷺ neither objected to their construction nor instructed anyone else to do so.
Fatwa issued by:
ʿUbaydullāh al-Raḥmānī al-Mubārakpūrī
(Mudarris, Dār al-Ḥadīth al-Raḥmāniyyah, Delhi)
❀ Related Rulings
① Use of Old Graveyard Land
- If an old graveyard is located far from any Muslim community, and most of it has already been occupied by non-Muslims with houses built upon it, and the rest is also at risk of encroachment:
- The first effort should be to reclaim and protect the entire graveyard with a boundary wall.
- If this is not possible, then houses may be constructed there for rental or sale.
- The revenue must then be spent on the protection, upkeep, and repair of other graveyards.
According to the Ḥanbalī school:
If a waqf property no longer fulfills its purpose or is at risk of loss, it may be sold, and the money spent on similar or other religious needs.
Evidence: The statement of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه regarding the transfer of Bayt al-Māl property. (al-Mughnī by Ibn Qudāmah)
② Shops During New Mosque Construction
- If the first construction of the mosque was on waqf land, then during new construction it is not permissible to reduce mosque land for shops.
- However, if there were designated spaces for washrooms, ablution areas, etc., then above or beneath those spots, shops or rental units may be built.
Note: Specific references from classical books for this point were not cited by the issuing scholar.
Fatwa issued by:
ʿUbaydullāh al-Raḥmānī
(Makātīb Shaykh Raḥmānī, p. 146–147)
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
