Sharing in price of Hindu idol

23-2-2017 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum. During Diwali (Hindu festival of light), I and my Hindu friend were invited to someone’s home. My Hindu friend had purchased an idol of Ganesh as a gift. She had said that we would share the cost of the idol; out of fear that she would feel bad, I did not say anything. I have not given the money yet, is it permissible for me to give the money for the idol? If not, then how should I refuse so that she does not feel bad? May Allaah reward you.

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

It is not permissible for you to share in the price of that idol or to share in giving it as a gift to Hindu people because that is major cooperation in sin and transgression; Allah says (what means): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.} [Quran 5:2]

You should always give priority to pleasing Allah over pleasing anyone else, no matter who that person may be, and you should be proud of your religion and its teachings and not be ashamed to confess a ruling of Allah which you believe is the truth.

Therefore, you should inform that Hindu friend that it is not permissible for you in your religion to buy an idol or to share in its price and that you fear the Wrath of Allah upon you if you do so.

We warn you against keeping the company of non-Muslims. You should be keen on taking Muslims as friends instead, and your relationship with the non-Muslims should be within the limits of the Sharia only.

For more benefit, please refer to fatwas 82006and 85180.

Allah knows best.

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