Disbursing Zakah to the Fund for Supporting Wildlife
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Fatwa No. ( 20349 )
Praise be to Allah alone, and peace and blessings be upon the one after whom there is no prophet. And after: The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta has reviewed what was sent to His Eminence the Grand Mufti from His Royal Highness Prince: Saud al-Faisal , the Managing Member of the National Commission for Wildlife Protection and Development, in his letter No. (1 / 1283) dated 20 / 3 / 1419 AH, which was referred to the Committee by the General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Scholars, No. (2279), dated 26 / 3 / 1419 AH. His Highness asked a question, the text of which is as follows: The efforts undertaken by the National Commission for Wildlife Protection and Development focus on preserving the natural creatures that Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) created to perform their role in the ecosystem, which shares with man, whom Allah made a vicegerent on earth and subjected many of
the creatures to him, including various types of animals and plants. The government of my master, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques – may Allah preserve him – has made intensive efforts to preserve many species of animals and plants and to rescue others that were on the verge of extinction. By the grace and favor of Allah, these efforts have been crowned with success and good outcome. There is no doubt that achieving these objectives requires great efforts and heavy burdens from the Commission. It is expected that the Commission will undertake many projects that require significant expenditure, which may not be advisable to postpone. The Commission has considered establishing a Fund for Supporting Wildlife, which has received the support and backing of my master, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Highness the Crown Prince, and His Highness the Second Deputy King. The Commission seeks your Eminence’s fatwa on the permissibility and possibility of using Zakah funds for the benefit of the Fund for Supporting Wildlife, which aims to achieve the objectives of the government of my master, may Allah preserve him, in preserving and developing wildlife in this precious land.
After studying the inquiry, the Committee responded that disbursing Zakah for what was mentioned is not permissible; because it does not fall under any of the eight categories of Zakah expenditure mentioned by Allah the Exalted in His saying:[At-Tawbah 9:60] .
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Praise be to Allah alone, and peace and blessings be upon the one after whom there is no prophet. And after: The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta has reviewed what was sent to His Eminence the Grand Mufti from His Royal Highness Prince: Saud al-Faisal , the Managing Member of the National Commission for Wildlife Protection and Development, in his letter No. (1 / 1283) dated 20 / 3 / 1419 AH, which was referred to the Committee by the General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Scholars, No. (2279), dated 26 / 3 / 1419 AH. His Highness asked a question, the text of which is as follows: The efforts undertaken by the National Commission for Wildlife Protection and Development focus on preserving the natural creatures that Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) created to perform their role in the ecosystem, which shares with man, whom Allah made a vicegerent on earth and subjected many of
the creatures to him, including various types of animals and plants. The government of my master, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques – may Allah preserve him – has made intensive efforts to preserve many species of animals and plants and to rescue others that were on the verge of extinction. By the grace and favor of Allah, these efforts have been crowned with success and good outcome. There is no doubt that achieving these objectives requires great efforts and heavy burdens from the Commission. It is expected that the Commission will undertake many projects that require significant expenditure, which may not be advisable to postpone. The Commission has considered establishing a Fund for Supporting Wildlife, which has received the support and backing of my master, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Highness the Crown Prince, and His Highness the Second Deputy King. The Commission seeks your Eminence’s fatwa on the permissibility and possibility of using Zakah funds for the benefit of the Fund for Supporting Wildlife, which aims to achieve the objectives of the government of my master, may Allah preserve him, in preserving and developing wildlife in this precious land.
After studying the inquiry, the Committee responded that disbursing Zakah for what was mentioned is not permissible; because it does not fall under any of the eight categories of Zakah expenditure mentioned by Allah the Exalted in His saying:
Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌAnd success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.