Ruling on paying the rent for the charitable association's building from zakah
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The charitable association collects zakah funds and distributes them to the poor and the needy. It is currently in a building. Is it permissible for it to pay the rent for the building from the zakah funds?
It is not permissible to pay from the zakah funds. Furthermore, it is obligatory for this association to do what others have done: to establish a separate account for zakah, an account for voluntary charity, and an account for general charitable works. The important thing is that it must distinguish zakah from other funds.
The questioner: We have not found, O Shaykh, any amount from voluntary charity or other donations that is sufficient to cover the rent?The Shaykh: If you do not find any, ask a specific person for the rent of this place.
The questioner: And what about the workers in the association? Are they paid from the zakah funds?The Shaykh: As for the workers, if they are appointed by the state.
The questioner: But what about someone from the association, an accountant whose salary is not sufficient?The Shaykh: It is not possible except from the state; because the workers for it are the workers appointed by the state, by the one in authority. This is why the preposition "for" (liha) was used, and not "in" (fiha), indicating that they must have authority, and they have no authority unless the one in authority appoints them to their positions.
The questioner: O Shaykh! He is an accountant in the association and his salary is not sufficient?The Shaykh: From your words, it is clear to me that the association is weak, and that its primary reliance is on zakah. Therefore, it should leave the field to others. Zakah now has a specific source, a specific origin, and a specific destination.
It is not permissible to pay from the zakah funds. Furthermore, it is obligatory for this association to do what others have done: to establish a separate account for zakah, an account for voluntary charity, and an account for general charitable works. The important thing is that it must distinguish zakah from other funds.
The questioner: We have not found, O Shaykh, any amount from voluntary charity or other donations that is sufficient to cover the rent?The Shaykh: If you do not find any, ask a specific person for the rent of this place.
The questioner: And what about the workers in the association? Are they paid from the zakah funds?The Shaykh: As for the workers, if they are appointed by the state.
The questioner: But what about someone from the association, an accountant whose salary is not sufficient?The Shaykh: It is not possible except from the state; because the workers for it are the workers appointed by the state, by the one in authority. This is why the preposition "for" (liha) was used, and not "in" (fiha), indicating that they must have authority, and they have no authority unless the one in authority appoints them to their positions.
The questioner: O Shaykh! He is an accountant in the association and his salary is not sufficient?The Shaykh: From your words, it is clear to me that the association is weak, and that its primary reliance is on zakah. Therefore, it should leave the field to others. Zakah now has a specific source, a specific origin, and a specific destination.