Ruling on Sending Zakat al-Mal to Other Countries
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What is the ruling on sending zakat al-mal to a country other than one’s own, if there are people in need in another country? Is it permissible?
It is better for a person not to send his zakat out of his country as long as there are eligible recipients in his own country; this is the best course.
The questioner: Perhaps they are in greater need in other countries, in times of famine and the like?The Shaykh: This may be permitted under the condition that you know that those who receive it are Muslims, and that they do not hold false beliefs; because some Muslims, though they are Muslims, are more disbelieving than the Jews and the Christians.Do you not know that among those who claim Islam, there are those who say: That the universe is one thing; the Creator and the created are one thing.The people of Wahdat al-Wujud say: If they are Muslims, then verification is necessary.
But the matter I strongly warned against is the issue of udhiyah sacrifices: when the time for sacrifice comes, they send out money and give it to people to sacrifice with in any part of the earth. This is a great error; because the slaughter itself is an act of worship.And the intention is not the flesh: [Al-Hajj: 37] The intention is to worship Allah, and Allah the Exalted linked the slaughter to prayer.So Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Kawthar: 2] , and He commanded us to eat from it. How can you eat from something that is not before you? It is not possible. And He commanded us to mention the name of Allah over it. How can you mention the name of Allah over something that is not before you?Then, if you give money, a problem remains with you: First: Do you trust that these people will slaughter an udhiyah that meets the conditions? They may slaughter a young animal. We saw them in Mina before the inspectors arrived; we saw them slaughtering a young animal that was only ten days old.And they interpret the Qur'an on this basis, saying: [Al-Baqarah: 196] And this was made easy for us. Do you feel safe about this? Do you feel safe that they will sacrifice an animal free from defects? You cannot feel safe.
Do you feel safe that they will slaughter during the days of sacrifice, or that they have many sacrifices and delay some of them? You cannot feel safe.
Do you feel safe that the one who slaughters it prays? You cannot feel safe.
Do you feel safe that he mentions the name of Allah? All of this is absent. So why do we take the risk? Then, if we say this and people become accustomed to this practice, the lands will be devoid of this great ritual, which is the slaughter for Allah.Because every person says: Praise be to Allah, we give three hundred or four hundred riyals, and I do not defile my house with blood and dung.
Therefore, I ask you—may Allah bless you—to forbid the people, not merely advise them, from giving money to be sacrificed elsewhere, and to say: The udhiyah is a ritual of Islam that you perform yourself. You mention the name of Allah over it, you eat from it, you feed others, and you are at peace. And those there remain hidden from you. Praise be to Allah, the door is wide. You send the money to them, and you sacrifice in your own country. And Allah the Exalted will compensate you.
It is better for a person not to send his zakat out of his country as long as there are eligible recipients in his own country; this is the best course.
The questioner: Perhaps they are in greater need in other countries, in times of famine and the like?The Shaykh: This may be permitted under the condition that you know that those who receive it are Muslims, and that they do not hold false beliefs; because some Muslims, though they are Muslims, are more disbelieving than the Jews and the Christians.Do you not know that among those who claim Islam, there are those who say: That the universe is one thing; the Creator and the created are one thing.The people of Wahdat al-Wujud say: If they are Muslims, then verification is necessary.
But the matter I strongly warned against is the issue of udhiyah sacrifices: when the time for sacrifice comes, they send out money and give it to people to sacrifice with in any part of the earth. This is a great error; because the slaughter itself is an act of worship.And the intention is not the flesh:
Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood
لَنْ يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلا دِمَاؤُهَاSo pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْwhat can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals
فَمَا اسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ الْهَدْيِDo you feel safe that they will slaughter during the days of sacrifice, or that they have many sacrifices and delay some of them? You cannot feel safe.
Do you feel safe that the one who slaughters it prays? You cannot feel safe.
Do you feel safe that he mentions the name of Allah? All of this is absent. So why do we take the risk? Then, if we say this and people become accustomed to this practice, the lands will be devoid of this great ritual, which is the slaughter for Allah.Because every person says: Praise be to Allah, we give three hundred or four hundred riyals, and I do not defile my house with blood and dung.
Therefore, I ask you—may Allah bless you—to forbid the people, not merely advise them, from giving money to be sacrificed elsewhere, and to say: The udhiyah is a ritual of Islam that you perform yourself. You mention the name of Allah over it, you eat from it, you feed others, and you are at peace. And those there remain hidden from you. Praise be to Allah, the door is wide. You send the money to them, and you sacrifice in your own country. And Allah the Exalted will compensate you.