Spending Zakah for the Restoration of an Endowment
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Fatwa No. ( 1690 )
Q: There is a well in our settlement that our grandfather, the founder of this settlement, endowed. However, its water has dried up in recent years, and water experts say it needs restoration. For more than twenty years, I have been collecting the zakah due on my wealth for the purpose of restoring this well, hoping to gain much reward, if Allah wills, and for its benefit to reach many people. Is it permissible for me to accumulate the obligatory zakah on my wealth with the intention of this well? Because some scholars told me: It is not permissible to accumulate zakah for such a long period. I note that the well has been dry for two years, and the water is returning to it due to the land being saturated by rain. If it is permissible for me to accumulate the zakah, should I keep it until it dries up again, or should I spend the money in
another avenue of righteousness?
A: Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, specified the recipients of zakah in His saying:[At-Tawbah 9:60] Therefore, it is not permissible to spend it in other than the recipients mentioned by Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He. Based on this, the zakah you have collected and what becomes obligatory on you in the future, you must spend it in its lawful recipients specified in this verse, and the well mentioned is not among the recipients of zakah. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: There is a well in our settlement that our grandfather, the founder of this settlement, endowed. However, its water has dried up in recent years, and water experts say it needs restoration. For more than twenty years, I have been collecting the zakah due on my wealth for the purpose of restoring this well, hoping to gain much reward, if Allah wills, and for its benefit to reach many people. Is it permissible for me to accumulate the obligatory zakah on my wealth with the intention of this well? Because some scholars told me: It is not permissible to accumulate zakah for such a long period. I note that the well has been dry for two years, and the water is returning to it due to the land being saturated by rain. If it is permissible for me to accumulate the zakah, should I keep it until it dries up again, or should I spend the money in
another avenue of righteousness?
A: Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, specified the recipients of zakah 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 السَّبِيلِ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.