The Benefit of the Guarantee
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question: I was studying in school, then I dropped out. I had a salary from the Social Security Office, but they would not disburse it to me unless I presented a document from the school certifying that I was continuing my studies there. So, whenever they requested it, my uncle would go to the school and obtain it, and then they would disburse to me what I was entitled to. Is what I take lawful or forbidden? And is there zakah due on what I take from the guarantee, or not?
Answer: If these monies disbursed from the Social Security Office are a reward for studying, then it is not permissible for you to take them unless you are actually studying. However, if you dropped out of school, it is not permissible for you to take any of it, because that would be taking it without justification. It is not permissible for the school to give you a certificate attesting that you are studying when that is not the case, because this is considered lying and fraud, which is not permissible. Likewise, regarding what you mentioned about whether there is zakah on monies of this kind if they accumulate with you?
First: The money is not lawful for you if it is of the nature we mentioned, involving fraud and lying. Therefore, you do not own it, so it is obligatory to return it to its source and get rid of it.
However, if you took it rightfully, by being a student and continuing your studies, and you accumulated some money with you, and it reached the nisab, which is fifty-six Saudi Riyals in silver, or its equivalent in paper currency, or more than that, and a lunar year has passed over it, then zakah is obligatory on it, which is one-quarter of the tenth,Meaning: two and a half percent, and Allah the Exalted knows best.
Question: What if what is disbursed to her from the Social Security Office does not have the condition that she is studying, but this paper is taken as her address, or as identification of her identity?
Answer: If it is disbursed to her from the Social Security Office because she is poor and in need, there is no harm in that. But she mentioned that she is studying, and that it is not disbursed to her until a certificate is brought from the school. This means she is taking it as a reward for studying. If that is the case, it is not permissible. However, if it is disbursed to her as assistance for the needy and the poor, such as the guarantee disbursed to orphans, minors, and widows, and the like, then it is her property. If a lunar year passes over it and it reaches the nisab, she must pay zakah on it.
Answer: If these monies disbursed from the Social Security Office are a reward for studying, then it is not permissible for you to take them unless you are actually studying. However, if you dropped out of school, it is not permissible for you to take any of it, because that would be taking it without justification. It is not permissible for the school to give you a certificate attesting that you are studying when that is not the case, because this is considered lying and fraud, which is not permissible. Likewise, regarding what you mentioned about whether there is zakah on monies of this kind if they accumulate with you?
First: The money is not lawful for you if it is of the nature we mentioned, involving fraud and lying. Therefore, you do not own it, so it is obligatory to return it to its source and get rid of it.
However, if you took it rightfully, by being a student and continuing your studies, and you accumulated some money with you, and it reached the nisab, which is fifty-six Saudi Riyals in silver, or its equivalent in paper currency, or more than that, and a lunar year has passed over it, then zakah is obligatory on it, which is one-quarter of the tenth,Meaning: two and a half percent, and Allah the Exalted knows best.
Question: What if what is disbursed to her from the Social Security Office does not have the condition that she is studying, but this paper is taken as her address, or as identification of her identity?
Answer: If it is disbursed to her from the Social Security Office because she is poor and in need, there is no harm in that. But she mentioned that she is studying, and that it is not disbursed to her until a certificate is brought from the school. This means she is taking it as a reward for studying. If that is the case, it is not permissible. However, if it is disbursed to her as assistance for the needy and the poor, such as the guarantee disbursed to orphans, minors, and widows, and the like, then it is her property. If a lunar year passes over it and it reaches the nisab, she must pay zakah on it.