Contributing to a mandir and puja

Question

Among us some people give contributions in connection with the fair of Dussehra and Durga Puja (Hindu festivals), and some do not. When those who give are told not to, they offer this justification (ta’wil): that this is one way of mixing with Hindus; that the government takes tax from us and spends it on both mandirs (Hindu temples) and mosques; and that Aurangzeb ‘Alamgir ﵀ had many mandirs built and used to give stipends to many temple worshippers.

Answer

If, in order to avoid harm, money is given to these people by way of transferring ownership (tamlikan), there is room for it; then they may spend it wherever they wish. In this case there is no need to argue from the action of ‘Alamgir ﵀ or anyone else; moreover, their full circumstances are not before us either.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.