Fatwa n°: 605

Category: Fatwas of fasting

Regarding giving food to a disbeliever in the day of Ramadan

Question:

What is the ruling concerning giving food to the disbelievers in the day of Ramadan?

Answer:

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

As a rule, the disbelievers are, unanimously, enjoined to believe in [the Islamic] faith and to abide by the branches of its sharia according to the most correct saying of the scholars. And among the branches of sharia, the fasting. Its ruling; it is obligatory on the disbeliever but after carrying out its condition which is the faith.

So, as it is forbidden to give food to a sinner among the Muslims who has not an excuse, it is also forbidden to do it with a disbeliever, because believing [in the Islamic faith] and observing the fast are an obligation for him. Allah عزَّ وجلَّ said:

﴿وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلاَ تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ﴾ [المائدة :2].

﴾Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression﴿ [Al-Mâ'idah (The Table spread with Food): 2].

The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet, his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

Algiers, Muharram 8^th, 1428 H
January 27^th, 2007