Charity to Those Who Are Not Muslim

The next great theme, from verse 261 onwards, is the spending of a man's wealth in the path of Allah (swt) and the doing of good with it.

SubḥānAllāh, there was a question only today from a man who is Muslim, whose sister is not, and who is in distress. She has no money, and he had set up a fundraiser or the like simply that she might survive this time. He had spoken to other Muslims to seek help, being himself a Muslim, and they were saying: no, we cannot give charity to non-Muslims.

That is entirely wrong. The only thing that may not be given to non-Muslims is zakāh. Zakāh is strictly for Muslims. Every other charity is permitted to non-Muslims as well, and there is reward in giving to them. If they are in need, the reward is as it is for any other needy person. If the recipient is a Muslim there is of course that aspect of his being a Muslim, and in some cases a greater reward on that account; but the reward for the other is real. People should consider this, especially those living among non-Muslims. Whoever is in need, they are all the bondsmen of Allah, and Allah loves those who do good to His bondspeople.