Giving zakat and sadaqat al-fitr to a non-Muslim

Question

If zakat wealth, or the fortieth part (?) of grain and the like, or sadaqat al-fitr is given to some Hindu, is that permissible or not?

Answer

Giving zakat to a Hindu is impermissible; sadaqat al-fitr is permissible, provided that the Hindu is a dhimmi (a non-Muslim living under the protection of a Muslim state). [ar]لا يجوز دفع الزكاة إلى ذمي، وصح دفع غير الزكاة من الصدقات إلى الذمي كصدقة الفطر[/ar] “It is not permissible to give zakat to a dhimmi, and it is valid to give a dhimmi charities other than zakat, such as…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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