Receiving money from non-Muslims to maintain a mosque

11-1-2009 | IslamWeb

Question:

In the Name of God, Most Merciful, Most Gracious. May Peace and God's Mercy be upon you. Dear scholars of Islam. We are muslims living in the West, in Norway, but unfortunately, we're facing problems regarding the maintanence and funding of our local mosque. The rulers of the mosque has decided to take in money for paying down the mosque's debt from the Norwegian Government (Non Muslims). I've asked some respected scholars if this issue is haraam, and I got various replies, some of the answers were really alarming, and I read in Surah 9, Al Tawba, Vers 16-20. That Mushrikun shall not maintain masajid Allah. When I discuss with my brothers responsible in the mosque, they reply that it is better that the mosque gets this haram-money, rather than the church. But the fact is that the church of Norway will most likely not recieve this money anyway.. So my question to you, dear scholars is: Is it allowed for us, as rich muslims living in the West, to seek the aid of the kuffar to finance, build or maintain the House of Allah? Please specify the answer, as I will use this fatwa to clerify the doubts among us. Jazakum Allah khayr, wassalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. Mohyeldeen Mohammad Norway
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

It is permissible to accept such a monetary contribution which is money given to the Muslims so that they could build a mosque, because it is confirmed that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) accepted gifts from the non-Muslims. Since it is permissible to accept such a gift and possess it, it is permissible to spend it on the mosque. Ibn Taymiyyah may Allaah have mercy upon him said: “What is meant by the Saying of Allaah (which means): {It is not for the polytheists to maintain the mosques of Allaah.}[Quran 9:17], is to fill the mosque with acts of worship, as regards building the mosque, it is permissible to be done by a pious or a dissolute person, a Muslim or a non-Muslim."

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 82452.

Allaah Knows best.

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