Assisting non-Muslims for a religious benefit

Question

Zayd lives in a settlement whose Hindu and Muslim populations are roughly equal. In this settlement, especially in the days of the sacrifice, cows are slaughtered despite the fear of disturbance and strife. Zayd feels that by establishing contact with non-Muslims and maintaining it, no fear of strife from the non-Muslims over cow slaughter will remain. So he assists the non-Muslims — with food and drink provisions and transport for their religious puja (Hindu worship)

Answer

No reward is attached to righteous deeds without intention: [ar]لا ثواب إلا بالنية[/ar] “There is no reward except with intention” (al-Ashbah wa al-Naza’ir). However, it is not necessary that every act done with a righteous intention is also permissible, because matters that are prohibited do not become permissible through a righteous intention.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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