Paying the salaries of social workers from zakah
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Fatwa No. ( 16394 )
Q: In order for the board of directors of the Al-Nahda Women’s Charitable Society to ensure that zakah resources are distributed in their lawful channels, we request your honor to kindly respond to some of our inquiries regarding zakah: First: The social workers who assess the needs of poor families, conduct social research, and supervise the distribution of aid and zakah to them— is it permissible to pay their salaries from zakah? Second: The female and male workers and porters whom the society employs during the distribution of foodstuffs in Ramadan and during seasonal distribution periods— is it permissible to pay their wages or rewards from zakah? Third: The society has rented two buildings to house some poor and needy families— is it permissible to pay the rent for these buildings from zakah funds? Fourth: The society sponsors a Palestinian family (orphans who lost their mother and father in
a suffocation accident) and the society wishes to buy a house for them. Since the family is not Saudi, they do not have the right to own property— is it permissible for the society to buy a house for this family in the society’s name from zakah funds? Fifth: During the activities organized by the society, lost items (luqatah) of value, such as jewelry and cash, are brought to the administration and remain in the society’s safe for years, with no one coming to prove ownership— what is the religious procedure that the society must take in this regard? We hope you will inform us and answer our inquiries, thanking you for your good cooperation with us, and may Allah reward you with good.
A: First: It is not permissible to pay the salaries of social workers from zakah, because this is not one of its channels of distribution. Their salaries can be paid from general donations, and the same applies to the workers and porters. Second: It is permissible to give poor Saudi and non-Saudi families assistance to rent a building for residence. Third: It is not permissible to pick up lost property except for one who is able to describe it and is safe from losing it. One who is not able to do so must hand it over to the religious judge, especially if the lost property is of great value. As for the society,
it is not permissible for it to receive or take custody of lost property. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: In order for the board of directors of the Al-Nahda Women’s Charitable Society to ensure that zakah resources are distributed in their lawful channels, we request your honor to kindly respond to some of our inquiries regarding zakah: First: The social workers who assess the needs of poor families, conduct social research, and supervise the distribution of aid and zakah to them— is it permissible to pay their salaries from zakah? Second: The female and male workers and porters whom the society employs during the distribution of foodstuffs in Ramadan and during seasonal distribution periods— is it permissible to pay their wages or rewards from zakah? Third: The society has rented two buildings to house some poor and needy families— is it permissible to pay the rent for these buildings from zakah funds? Fourth: The society sponsors a Palestinian family (orphans who lost their mother and father in
a suffocation accident) and the society wishes to buy a house for them. Since the family is not Saudi, they do not have the right to own property— is it permissible for the society to buy a house for this family in the society’s name from zakah funds? Fifth: During the activities organized by the society, lost items (luqatah) of value, such as jewelry and cash, are brought to the administration and remain in the society’s safe for years, with no one coming to prove ownership— what is the religious procedure that the society must take in this regard? We hope you will inform us and answer our inquiries, thanking you for your good cooperation with us, and may Allah reward you with good.
A: First: It is not permissible to pay the salaries of social workers from zakah, because this is not one of its channels of distribution. Their salaries can be paid from general donations, and the same applies to the workers and porters. Second: It is permissible to give poor Saudi and non-Saudi families assistance to rent a building for residence. Third: It is not permissible to pick up lost property except for one who is able to describe it and is safe from losing it. One who is not able to do so must hand it over to the religious judge, especially if the lost property is of great value. As for the society,
it is not permissible for it to receive or take custody of lost property. And 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.