Donating to a hospital in a non-Muslim country

12-5-2013 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is donation to hospitals and disability centers regarded as a valid charity, noting that we live in a non-Muslim country where Muslims and followers of other faiths also live?

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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 ‘alayhiwasallam, is His slave and messenger.

 

Making a donation to a hospital or disability center, if put in their possession and done in return for nothing but the reward from Allaah The Exalted, falls under the definition of an Islamically valid charity set by the scholars. Khaleel, a Maliki scholar said: "A gift given to a person as his own and in return for nothing but the reward of the Hereafter is deemed a charity." Giving charity to a non-believer is subject to a difference of scholarly opinions. Yet, the more correct view is that it is permissible.

Undoubtedly, it is more appropriate for a Muslim to be keen on giving his charity to righteous Muslims in compliance with the Hadeeth in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhiwasallam, said: "You should not make friends with anyone but a believer and no one should eat your food but one who is pious" [At-Tirmithi andAbu Dawood; Al-Albaani: Hasan]. Obviously, it is better and greater in reward to send these donations to hospitals or disability centers in Muslim nations, who share the same religion and are in greater need of assistance.

Allaah Knows best.