Distributing Zakah to Charitable Organizations
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Fatwa No. ( 20483 )
Q: Some charitable organizations implement projects to qualify the poor, either by teaching them certain trades and crafts, such as a project to teach sewing and weaving, or a project to train them on computers, or by providing them with some means of production, such as buying a commercial shop, or tools for a craft or trade that the poor person is skilled in but cannot afford the cost of, and other such projects, so that they can acquire the competence to work and achieve financial self-sufficiency instead of being a burden who beg from people. It is known that this work is intended to achieve the pure benefit of the poor, and out of fear that some of the poor may not handle the money well. Is it permissible to spend on such projects from the zakah?
A: It is obligatory to distribute zakah in the categories specified by Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) in His saying:[At-Tawbah 9:60] ,
It is given directly to the poor so that they can meet their needs, and it is not permissible to distribute it in the projects mentioned; because that delays its payment to them and does not enable them to benefit from it in what they need. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Q: Some charitable organizations implement projects to qualify the poor, either by teaching them certain trades and crafts, such as a project to teach sewing and weaving, or a project to train them on computers, or by providing them with some means of production, such as buying a commercial shop, or tools for a craft or trade that the poor person is skilled in but cannot afford the cost of, and other such projects, so that they can acquire the competence to work and achieve financial self-sufficiency instead of being a burden who beg from people. It is known that this work is intended to achieve the pure benefit of the poor, and out of fear that some of the poor may not handle the money well. Is it permissible to spend on such projects from the zakah?
A: It is obligatory to distribute zakah in the categories specified by Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) 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
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِIt is given directly to the poor so that they can meet their needs, and it is not permissible to distribute it in the projects mentioned; because that delays its payment to them and does not enable them to benefit from it in what they need. 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.