Manipulating Zakah
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Question: I was with one of the wealthy business men, and whenever he wanted to distribute zakah, I would present him with fictitious names so that I could obtain their share of the zakah from him. He actually paid me money to distribute to the people whose names I had provided, even though they do not exist. I would then distribute some of it to some deserving poor people, and I would take the rest for myself. I support a family and children, but I am now regretful of what I did. What must I do for my repentance to be valid?
Answer: The matter of zakah is a great matter, and a serious responsibility with which it is not permissible to tamper. Deceiving the payer of zakah by taking it in the manner you described, O questioner, by mentioning fictitious names to the payer to take it, then distributing this zakah to other people of your choosing, and allocating a portion of it to yourself, is wrong. It is obligatory for you to clarify the truth to the payer of zakah and explain to him the reality of the situation, regarding yourself and regarding others.
As for this deception you committed, it is not permissible, and this falls under the category of lying and deception, and you have done wrong in that. However, since you have regretted this, realized your mistake, and repented to Allah, we hope that Allah will accept your repentance and erase the sin that has attached to you. But if the money is within your ability to return it to the payer of zakah and inform him of the reality so that he can pay it again as a valid payment, then this is obligatory. As for if you are unable to recover the amount and it has ended and you are not able to
return it to the payer of zakah, we hope that it has taken its course and that it has reached its destination, if Allah wills. And success is from Allah.
Question: What if the owner of the money considered this money permissible and allowed it?
Answer: Zakah is not a right of the owner of the money.
Answer: The matter of zakah is a great matter, and a serious responsibility with which it is not permissible to tamper. Deceiving the payer of zakah by taking it in the manner you described, O questioner, by mentioning fictitious names to the payer to take it, then distributing this zakah to other people of your choosing, and allocating a portion of it to yourself, is wrong. It is obligatory for you to clarify the truth to the payer of zakah and explain to him the reality of the situation, regarding yourself and regarding others.
As for this deception you committed, it is not permissible, and this falls under the category of lying and deception, and you have done wrong in that. However, since you have regretted this, realized your mistake, and repented to Allah, we hope that Allah will accept your repentance and erase the sin that has attached to you. But if the money is within your ability to return it to the payer of zakah and inform him of the reality so that he can pay it again as a valid payment, then this is obligatory. As for if you are unable to recover the amount and it has ended and you are not able to
return it to the payer of zakah, we hope that it has taken its course and that it has reached its destination, if Allah wills. And success is from Allah.
Question: What if the owner of the money considered this money permissible and allowed it?
Answer: Zakah is not a right of the owner of the money.