Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
As a Muslim, can I give charity to non-Muslims and receive the same reward?
Answer:
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for your question.
Being charitable to non Muslims is definitely a means of reward and blessings from the Almighty. It is the duty of Muslims to also assist suffering non Muslims through ṣadaqah (optional voluntary charity).
“… that you do good to them, and deal justly with them. Surely Allāh loves those who maintain justice.” (Qurʿān 60:8)
‘Omar bin ʿAbd al Azīz wrote the following to his governor in Baṣra,
“Look for those disbelievers in your vicinity who are elderly, weak and who do not have means to earn, then specify ‘on going allowances’ for them from the bayt al māl (general treasury) of the Muslims, that which you deem appropriate” (Kitāb al Amwāl by Abū ʿObayd bin Qāsim al Sallām)
And Allāh Knows Best
