Allocating Zakah to the Value of Prizes for the Poor
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
And this is what some merchants do: they put their zakah money into the value of prizes?
The Shaykh:
Yes.
The questioner:
Some merchants participate in prizes worth the amount of zakah money.
The Shaykh:
This is acceptable, provided that the prize is specifically for the poor because they did good deeds, so it is a prize for their good deeds, and they are poor people who are eligible for zakah. There is no harm in that. However, if this is given to every winner, it may go to a poor person or it may go to a rich person. But if it is known that this winner achieved it through good deeds and striving in good, and that he is a poor man and that he is in need, then there is no harm in giving him from the zakah, such as a sheep, whatever is sufficient for him, whatever covers his obligation. May Allah guide everyone and keep everyone firm on the right path, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and his Companions.
And this is what some merchants do: they put their zakah money into the value of prizes?
The Shaykh:
Yes.
The questioner:
Some merchants participate in prizes worth the amount of zakah money.
The Shaykh:
This is acceptable, provided that the prize is specifically for the poor because they did good deeds, so it is a prize for their good deeds, and they are poor people who are eligible for zakah. There is no harm in that. However, if this is given to every winner, it may go to a poor person or it may go to a rich person. But if it is known that this winner achieved it through good deeds and striving in good, and that he is a poor man and that he is in need, then there is no harm in giving him from the zakah, such as a sheep, whatever is sufficient for him, whatever covers his obligation. May Allah guide everyone and keep everyone firm on the right path, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and his Companions.
Source
لقاءات لابن باز - لقاء مفتوح مع الشيخ ابن باز-١ — archive.org (1:20:10)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.