I would like to ask about the permissibility of the charity dish. That is to say, a group of people participate in cooking some food and selling it to people for a price which may be a little bit more expensive so that the revenue goes to the needy and those affected by earthquakes and the like. Is the intention sincere for the sake of Allaah The Almighty on the part of the one who buys that food? Does this constitute imitating the Christians? May Allaah The Almighty Reward you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

It seems that there is nothing wrong with this deed – in itself - unless it involves some other violation. Rather, it should be classified among the good deeds which Islam urges, enjoined in general and associated with ordering bowing, prostration and Jihaad. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {O you who have believed, bow and prostrate and worship your Lord and do good - that you may succeed.} [Quran 22:77] There is no doubt that the Muslim is ordered to contradict the disbelievers especially with regards to whatever is related to their religion and rituals.

However, there is no harm in any case whatsoever in utilizing the means that achieve the noble Sharee‘ah-approved aims as long as these means do not contradict the Sharee‘ah. Wisdom is the lost property of the believer, wherever he finds it, he is more entitled to it. The biography and the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, are full of examples of this.

The one who performs this act or any other good deed should make his intention sincere for the sake of Allaah The Exalted. It should be known that deeds are but by intentions as deeds are worthless without intentions.

Allaah Knows best.