FatwaPenangSocial & Contemporary Issues
RUMAH IBADAT BUKAN ISLAM (RIBI)
Is a Muslim permitted to contribute money or labour to build or repair a non-Islamic place of worship?
Short answer
The fatwa rules it forbidden for a Muslim to involve his wealth and himself in building or repairing a non-Islamic place of worship.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Penang State Mufti Department
- Date
- Status
- Fatwa committee decision
- Series
- Keputusan Fatwa Negeri Pulau Pinang (e-Fatwa)
- Topic
- Social & Contemporary Issues
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
The fatwa rules it forbidden for a Muslim to involve his wealth and himself in building or repairing a non-Islamic place of worship. Involving wealth includes contributions, donations, endowments, assistance and helping to collect donations, while involving oneself includes taking paid work on construction, and all of these are regarded as complicity. An exception applies to Muslim government officers assigned to supervise and monitor government funds for such a place, since refusing could cause greater harm to Islam and Muslims.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Adalah haram bagi orang Islam melibatkan hartanya dan dirinya dalam membina atau membaiki rumah ibadat bukan Islam.
Read the full fatwa on the Penang website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Penang State Mufti Department. “RUMAH IBADAT BUKAN ISLAM (RIBI)”, 8 October 1996. http://efatwa.penang.gov.my/fatwa_details.php?fatwaid=17. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/muslim-contributing-to-non-islamic-worship-places/