Giving zakaat to an orphanage
Question
Can zakaat be given to an orphan shelter centre?
Answer
The fundamental requirement in the discharging of zakaat is the aspect of tamleek. Tamleek means to transfer ownership of the wealth to someone who is eligible for zakaat. Hence, if the wealth is not given to a recipient of zakaat, the zakaat will not be discharged. As far as giving the zakaat to an orphanage is concerned, then if the zakaat money is given to those orphans who are eligible to accept the zakaat (provided they have reached the age of understanding), then the zakaat will be discharged. Alternatively, the zakaat money can be given to their guardians to spend it on them.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
ويشترط أن يكون الصرف ( تمليكا ) لا إباحة كما مر ( لا ) يصرف ( إلى بناء ) نحو ( مسجد)
قال الشامي : قوله ( تمليكا ) فلا يكفي فيها الإطعام إلا بطريق التمليك ولو أطعمه عنده ناويا الزكاة لا تكفي ط وفي التمليك إشارة إلى أنه لا يصرف إلى مجنون وصبي غير مراهق إلا إذا قبض لهما من يجوز له قبضه كالأب والوصي وغيرهما ويصرف إلى مراهق يعقل الأخذ كما في المحيط قهستاني (رد المحتار 2/ 344)
- Answered by
- Mufti Zakaria Makada
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
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