Is zakah given as a gift or as assistance with the intention of zakah? This has happened to me, so what is my obligation?
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The questioner : Is zakah given as a gift or as assistance with the intention of zakah? This has happened to me, so what is my obligation?
The Shaykh : If you give zakah as a gift and the recipient understands it only as a gift, then it is not valid, because it is not permissible for a person to use zakah as a substitute for his gifts. Rather, he should give it with the intention of zakah. If the recipient is someone who is accustomed to receiving zakah and he accepts it, then it is a valid zakah.
If the recipient is someone who does not accept zakah, and you give him zakah while concealing from him that it is zakah, then it is not valid. Rather, it is necessary for you to inform him that it is zakah so that he may accept it or return it. This is a matter in which many people err. The recipient is someone who does not take zakah and is modest about it, but he is among those entitled to zakah. Some of the generous come to him and pay him his zakah with the intention of zakah, knowing that if they informed him that it was zakah, he would not accept it. This is an error. Rather, if the recipient is someone who does not accept zakah, it is obligatory for the giver to make it clear to him that it is zakah. Then, if he wishes, he accepts it, and if he wishes, he returns it.
The questioner : Very well, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : If you give zakah as a gift and the recipient understands it only as a gift, then it is not valid, because it is not permissible for a person to use zakah as a substitute for his gifts. Rather, he should give it with the intention of zakah. If the recipient is someone who is accustomed to receiving zakah and he accepts it, then it is a valid zakah.
If the recipient is someone who does not accept zakah, and you give him zakah while concealing from him that it is zakah, then it is not valid. Rather, it is necessary for you to inform him that it is zakah so that he may accept it or return it. This is a matter in which many people err. The recipient is someone who does not take zakah and is modest about it, but he is among those entitled to zakah. Some of the generous come to him and pay him his zakah with the intention of zakah, knowing that if they informed him that it was zakah, he would not accept it. This is an error. Rather, if the recipient is someone who does not accept zakah, it is obligatory for the giver to make it clear to him that it is zakah. Then, if he wishes, he accepts it, and if he wishes, he returns it.
The questioner : Very well, may Allah reward you.