A Non-Muslim’s Money for Building a Mosque (and the Meaning of the Verse “It Is Not for the Polytheists to Maintain the Mosques of Allah…”)

Question

I respectfully submit that, owing to a difference of opinions, a doubt has arisen in my mind about the following matter. Kindly therefore quote the reasoned positions of both sides, show the way of reconciling them (tatbiq), and inform me of the preponderant view (qawl rajih); please be sure to cite the references. Write in detail so that the difficulty is removed. The matter: is it permissible or not to use the money of Hindus and other non-Muslim communities in the new construction or repair of mosques?

Answer

The rulings on the waqf and bequests (wasaya) of unbelievers are set out separately in the books of fiqh — al-Hidaya, al-Durr al-Mukhtar, al-Fatawa al-ʿAlamgiriyya and others: in which case they are valid and in which they are not.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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