Is it okay to support unmarried pregnant teens and their new-born children through charity organizations? Some people say that they have sinned and we should let them suffer. What do you think of this?

Whether a person is a sinner or not should not be the deciding factor in giving him or her Zakāh or charity. In other words, being a sinner does not disqualify someone from being a recipient of charity. It is his or her state of being needy and afflicted with trouble that should be the basic factor in making such a decision. Once the decision is made on this basis, other factors such as this can, of course, play a supportive role.

Moreover, letting sinners suffer is certainly not the right way to deal with such people. I think that such people need to be helped both monetarily and spiritually. Also, in this regard the real thing is the attitude adopted after sinning: One cannot lead a sinless life. It is humanly impossible. One is required to repent and ask the Almighty’s pardon when he falls prey to sins.

People who have sinned need more sympathy and compassion. It is towards them that one’s efforts of reformation should be more focused. As the Prophet Jesus (sws) has beautifully put it:

…It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means. I desire mercy not sacrifice. For I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners. (Matthew, 9:12-3)