Can he give voluntary charity to people who follow bid’ah?

Question: 44738

It is well known that most of the inhabitants of Iraq are Shi’ah. Is it acceptable to donate to them via the charities that are appealing for donations, even though they may become stronger in opposition to Ahl al-Sunnah (Sunnis) by means of this money?.

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

Judging most of the inhabitants of Iraq to be Shi’ah is not
accurate, because most the statistics that we have now are old and not very
accurate. Even some modern statistics demonstrate the opposite, based on
studies of some provinces.

Whatever the case, if what is being given to the Raafidis is
the obligatory zakaah then we have already explained the ruling on that in
question no. 1148. But if what is being given is voluntary charity, then the
scholars have stated that it is permissible to give voluntary charity to
kaafirs.

It says in al-Umm: Al-Shaafa’i said: There is nothing
wrong with giving voluntary charity to a mushrik, but he has no right to any
of the obligatory charity (i.e., zakaah). Al-Umm, 2/65.

It says in al-Mughni: All those to whom it is
forbidden to give zakaah, such as the rich, close relatives of the giver,
kaafirs, etc, it is permissible to give them voluntary charity and it is
permissible for them to take it. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):

“And they give food, in spite of their love for it (or for
the love of Him), to the Miskeen(the poor), the orphan,
and the captive”

[al-Insaan 76:8]

And at that time captives could only be kaafirs. Al-Mughni,
2/277.

But if the money that is donated could be used for sinful
purposes or to harm a Muslim, then it is not permissible to give it to a
Muslim, let alone to a follower of bid’ah or a kaafir.

Based on the above, if you are certain that this money will
reach people who will use it to harm Muslims, it is not permissible to give
it. You can look for other ways of giving it to those who are more entitled
to it.

It is better for a Muslim to give his zakaah to people who
obey Allaah.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said in al-Ikhtiyaaraat
(p. 103): Zakaah should not be given to someone who will not use it to help
him obey Allaah, for Allaah has enjoined it as a means to help people obey
Him, to be given to those believers who need it, such as the poor, debtors
or those who will help the believers. A needy person who does not pray
should not be given anything until he repents and prays regularly on time.

And Allaah knows best.

Source:

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