The ruling on paying zakah in goods instead of money
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Question:
We conclude with this question. The questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, zakah has become obligatory on my wealth. Is it obligatory for me to pay it in cash, or is it permissible for me to buy some goods with the value of the zakah and distribute them to the eligible recipients?
Answer:
The default is that you pay money for money; that is the default. You pay money for money. If it is in the interest of the poor person that you buy goods for them with it, then there is nothing wrong with that, provided it is in the interest of the poor person. You do not look after your own interest; you look after the interest of the poor person. If it is in the interest of the poor person that you give him goods that you buy for him with the zakah, then that is fine, there is nothing wrong with it. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you and bless you.
We conclude with this question. The questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, zakah has become obligatory on my wealth. Is it obligatory for me to pay it in cash, or is it permissible for me to buy some goods with the value of the zakah and distribute them to the eligible recipients?
Answer:
The default is that you pay money for money; that is the default. You pay money for money. If it is in the interest of the poor person that you buy goods for them with it, then there is nothing wrong with that, provided it is in the interest of the poor person. You do not look after your own interest; you look after the interest of the poor person. If it is in the interest of the poor person that you give him goods that you buy for him with the zakah, then that is fine, there is nothing wrong with it. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you and bless you.
Source
شرح أحاديث في الفتن والحوادث، تابع باب من أمارات الساعة 2 — islamhouse.com (51:21)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.