What is the ruling on one who paid his zakah in other than the eight categories and then learned that it is not permissible for him to do so?
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Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: A person used to pay his zakah and distribute it in some of its categories, in the construction of mosques, and in establishing some charitable projects. Then he learned that it is not permissible for him to pay it in other than the eight categories. So what should he do with what he has already done in the past years?
Answer:
He should pay the amount he paid in the mosques or the projects; because it does not suffice as zakah, he should pay its equivalent. He should pay the amount he spent in the mosques or in the projects. If he does not know the exact amount, he should estimate it and be cautious; because his conscience has not been cleared of the zakah. If it is placed in other than the eight categories, it does not suffice. Yes.
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: A person used to pay his zakah and distribute it in some of its categories, in the construction of mosques, and in establishing some charitable projects. Then he learned that it is not permissible for him to pay it in other than the eight categories. So what should he do with what he has already done in the past years?
Answer:
He should pay the amount he paid in the mosques or the projects; because it does not suffice as zakah, he should pay its equivalent. He should pay the amount he spent in the mosques or in the projects. If he does not know the exact amount, he should estimate it and be cautious; because his conscience has not been cleared of the zakah. If it is placed in other than the eight categories, it does not suffice. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما حكم من أخرج زكاته في غير المصارف الثمانية ثم علم أن هلا يجوز له ذلك؟ لمعالي الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.