Taking part in a non-Muslim ceremony and donating to it

Question

Is it permissible or not to give donations for the religious affairs of non-Muslims — for example, for having a mandir (Hindu temple) built, or for the celebrations and the like on the occasion of installing a statue of a deity? Zayd says that in present-day India giving donations out of expediency or for political reasons is permissible.

Answer

The view of Hazrat Mawlana Hifz al-Rahman, the late, the forgiven (marhum, maghfur), is correct. This road should be closed altogether and by no means opened: by permitting a little, the matter will reach very far, and the outcome will be very bad, as has been observed in some places. [ar]من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم[/ar] “Whoever imitates a people is one of them” (hadith).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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