How to Distribute Zakah
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
One of the imams says: Large sums of zakah reach me during the blessed month of Ramadan. Is it obligatory to distribute it immediately, considering that it may reach some poor people who do not manage it well, or should it be distributed to the poor in installments throughout the year?
In this matter, one looks at the public benefit. If the rightful recipients are found, it must be distributed as quickly as possible, because the distributor is a trustee.
However, if one fears that rushing to distribute it will result in it being spent on those who are not its rightful recipients, there is no blame on him for waiting until he finds the rightful recipients. But if someone who is a rightful recipient comes forward, he should be given the amount of his need, even if it consumes a large portion of the zakah.For example: For example, if a man comes forward owing a debt of one hundred thousand, and he is known to be truthful that he is in debt and that he cannot find the means to repay it,And he gave him one hundred thousand from the zakah, meaning: his debt may be paid from the zakah, and there is no blame in that. One might be stingy if he sees the amount is large, but this is not permissible. It is true that we may not pay off all of a person's debts for fear that he will play games and take the debt lightly in the future. A person looks at wisdom in this matter. The important thing is that whenever the zakah is distributed to its rightful recipients at the earliest opportunity, it should be distributed and not delayed. However, if it is not possible, there is no blame on him for delaying it.
In this matter, one looks at the public benefit. If the rightful recipients are found, it must be distributed as quickly as possible, because the distributor is a trustee.
However, if one fears that rushing to distribute it will result in it being spent on those who are not its rightful recipients, there is no blame on him for waiting until he finds the rightful recipients. But if someone who is a rightful recipient comes forward, he should be given the amount of his need, even if it consumes a large portion of the zakah.For example: For example, if a man comes forward owing a debt of one hundred thousand, and he is known to be truthful that he is in debt and that he cannot find the means to repay it,And he gave him one hundred thousand from the zakah, meaning: his debt may be paid from the zakah, and there is no blame in that. One might be stingy if he sees the amount is large, but this is not permissible. It is true that we may not pay off all of a person's debts for fear that he will play games and take the debt lightly in the future. A person looks at wisdom in this matter. The important thing is that whenever the zakah is distributed to its rightful recipients at the earliest opportunity, it should be distributed and not delayed. However, if it is not possible, there is no blame on him for delaying it.