IslamOnline’s Live Fatwa section (thanks to Hugh for the link) gives some indication of why Muslim countries seem to be lagging behind non-Muslim countries in aid to the victims of the tsunami: Muslims should not give charity to non-Muslims.
Name Mary –
Profession
Question It is permissible for us, as Muslims, to make du`aa” for those human beings afflicted there even if those people include Muslims and non-Muslims?
Answer In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Thank you.
There is no harm or prohibition to pray for those people who lost their lives in that natural disaster. However, your beloved Muslim brothers and sisters deserve more and more of prayers and du’aa”. They deserve your moral and financial assistances. You should share their sorrow and difficult time and do invoke Allah to accept them among the Shuhada” or martyrs on the day of Judgment.
You can also read:
Du`aa”: Worship and Resort of the Helpless
Helping Disaster Victims (Special File)
Allah Almighty knows best.
Name Hakim –
Profession
Question Can we give those afflicted people a portion of our zakah money even if they are non-Muslims? How about giving them charity?
Answer In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Thank you. The receivers of Zakah money are clearly mentioned in the Qur’an. Among them, the poor and needy people. Looking at the situation of those people who are afflicted, one can conclude that the Muslims among them fall under the category of needy people.
In this regard, those Muslims deserve to receive a portion of Zakah. As for non-Muslims, they might deserve donation or any other form of assistance but not Zakah.
Thus, Zakah should be given to poor and needy Muslims. Some non-Muslims may receive a portion of Zakah if there is hope that by giving them Zakah that might lead to their conversion into Islam. They would be then considered under the category of mu’allafati qulubuhun or those whose hearts are inclined to accept Islam.
You can also read:
Paying Zakah to South Asian Quake Victims
Helping Disaster Victims (Special File)
Allah Almighty knows best.
IslamOnline is not alone in this. According to Nawawi’s manual of Islam, Al-Maqasid, zakat is given to eight categories of people: 1. The poor; 2. People short of money; 3. Zakat workers; 4. Those whose hearts are to be reconciled; 5. Bondsmen who are purchasing their freedom from their owners; 6. Those who have debts; 7. Those engaged in Islamic military operations; and 8. The traveler in need of money.
However: “It is not permissible to give zakat to a non-Muslim” (Al-Maqasid, 4:13).