Is it permissible for an imam entrusted with zakah to distribute it to the poor in installments, or is it obligatory to distribute it in a single lump sum?
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The questioner : One of the imams with me says: I receive zakah funds in Ramadan in large amounts. The question is: Is it obligatory to distribute it immediately, given that it may reach some poor people who do not manage it well, or should he distribute it to the poor in installments throughout the year, along with bills and other expenses?
The Shaykh : One looks at the public benefit in this matter. When the deserving recipients are found, it must be distributed as soon as possible, because he is a trustee.
As for when he fears that if he hastens to distribute it, it will be spent on those who are not deserving, there is no blame on him if he waits until he finds the deserving recipients. However, if one who is deserving presents himself, he should give him the amount of his need, even if it consumes a large portion of the zakah.
For example, if a man who is in debt of one hundred thousand presents himself, and he knows that he is truthful in saying that he is in debt and that he cannot find the means to repay it, and he is given one hundred thousand from the zakah—meaning, his debt is paid off from the zakah—there is no blame. That is, some people are stingy when they see a large amount, and this is not befitting.
It is true that we may not pay off all of a person's debts for fear that he will play tricks and make the debt easy for him in the future. A person looks at wisdom in this matter. The important thing is that whenever the zakah is distributed to its deserving recipients at the earliest time, he should distribute it and not wait. But if it is not possible, there is no blame on him if he delays. One person stands up to bring the light so that it can be poured for the brothers, and I am among them. Let us take out the tape, okay.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : We usually take the stories, but these are brothers who have been hostile to us from before. At the beginning of the week, a brother, the brother Sami al-Gharin, told me that they are coming, and they had previously made an appointment with them. They are also travelers, and you are travelers in truth, but we will give them two questions, and you have one question.
The Shaykh : One looks at the public benefit in this matter. When the deserving recipients are found, it must be distributed as soon as possible, because he is a trustee.
As for when he fears that if he hastens to distribute it, it will be spent on those who are not deserving, there is no blame on him if he waits until he finds the deserving recipients. However, if one who is deserving presents himself, he should give him the amount of his need, even if it consumes a large portion of the zakah.
For example, if a man who is in debt of one hundred thousand presents himself, and he knows that he is truthful in saying that he is in debt and that he cannot find the means to repay it, and he is given one hundred thousand from the zakah—meaning, his debt is paid off from the zakah—there is no blame. That is, some people are stingy when they see a large amount, and this is not befitting.
It is true that we may not pay off all of a person's debts for fear that he will play tricks and make the debt easy for him in the future. A person looks at wisdom in this matter. The important thing is that whenever the zakah is distributed to its deserving recipients at the earliest time, he should distribute it and not wait. But if it is not possible, there is no blame on him if he delays. One person stands up to bring the light so that it can be poured for the brothers, and I am among them. Let us take out the tape, okay.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : We usually take the stories, but these are brothers who have been hostile to us from before. At the beginning of the week, a brother, the brother Sami al-Gharin, told me that they are coming, and they had previously made an appointment with them. They are also travelers, and you are travelers in truth, but we will give them two questions, and you have one question.