What is the ruling on paying zakat or sadaqah money to a fund designated for building mosques and churches together, especially if the amount allocated for churches is not a specified percentage, and is this permissible by analogy with the designated recipients of zakat mentioned in His, the Almighty’s, saying: (As-Sadaqat (Zakat) are only for the Fuqara’ (poor), and Al-Masakin (the needy) and those employed to collect (the funds))?

It is not permissible to give zakat for building mosques, because they are not among the categories eligible to receive zakat. However, voluntary charity (sadaqat al-tatawwu') is permissible for that purpose. As for spending zakat or charity on building churches, it is among the greatest of forbidden acts, because they are houses of disbelief (kufr) and associating partners with Allah (shirk). Whoever believes that they are houses of Allah, there is a fear of disbelief for him. And whoever believes that visiting them is an act of nearness to Allah has disbelieved. Therefore, assisting in their construction is assisting in disbelief and shirk.