| Zakāt |
| Q. Abdullah is sixty-three years old. His wife and daughter are physically handicapped. He has lost his job and now has to service debts, which total to hundred and ten thousand rands. This debts includes a bond on the house, which if not paid will be repossessed by the bank. He has no other assets. |
| Would it be possible to aid such an individual with Zakaat monies ? |
| A. According to the situation outlined above and provided that Abdullah does not own any surplus wealth after deducting the cost of his necessities and liabilities; it will be permissible (in fact highly encouraged) to aid him with Zakaat monies. |
| Allamah Ibn Aabideen Shaami rahmatullahi alayhi states: … Among the recipients of Zakaat is …. a debtor who does not possess Nisaab in excess of his liabilities. It is mentioned in Al Zaheeriyyah: It is better to assist the debtor with Zakaat than to assist a needy person. Elucidating this statement Allamah Shaami says: It is better to give zakaat to the debtor than a needy person who is not a debtor because the necessity of the debtor is greater. [Shaami Vol.2 Pg. 66/7] |
Q. What is the Islamic ruling on the transfer of Zakāt Funds to another locality? |
A. It is Makrūh Tanzihi [inappropriate] to transfer Zakāt from one locality to another unnecessarily. It is best to distribute Zakāt to one’s relatives, then to one’s neighbours, then to those living on one’s street and then to those of the locality. However, at times it will be acceptable – in fact advisable – to transfer Zakāt monies to people beyond one’s locality, such as when the needy are one’s family, there are more needy and deserving ones, to pious persons and pupils studying Deen, to places where it is more beneficial for Muslims [such as drought, earthquakes, floods] et cetera. [Fatāwa Shāmi Vol. 2 Pg. 68/9] |
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