What is the ruling if a man appoints another to pay his zakah? Who is required to have the intention: the principal or the agent? And is zakah obligatory on the creditor?
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The questioner : The second question: What is the ruling if a man appoints another to pay his zakah? Who is required to have the intention: the principal or the agent? And is zakah obligatory on the creditor?
The Shaykh : If a man appoints someone to pay his zakah, it is known that the agent will intend, when handing over the money for example, that it is zakah, and this intention is sufficient. As for the principal, it is obligatory for him to intend, when paying, that it is the zakah of the person who appointed him.
As for the creditor, he owes zakah if his debtor is wealthy and willing to pay. However, if the debtor is poor or a delayer who cannot be compelled to pay, there is no zakah on this debt. But if he receives it, he must pay zakah on it for one year for the time that has passed, even if many years have remained. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you...
The Shaykh : Perhaps we can say.
The questioner : Please go ahead.
The Shaykh : And is it better for a person to pay his zakah himself or to give it to an agent to pay it on his behalf? The answer is that it is better for him to pay it himself, because by doing so he directly performs one of the acts of worship, and because it is more reassuring to his heart and more secure in the payment of his zakah. But if he does not know the eligible recipients, or if he sees that this agent is more knowledgeable and more learned in zakah than he is, then in this case he appoints him, because this is more proper for the benefit of the zakah. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : If a man appoints someone to pay his zakah, it is known that the agent will intend, when handing over the money for example, that it is zakah, and this intention is sufficient. As for the principal, it is obligatory for him to intend, when paying, that it is the zakah of the person who appointed him.
As for the creditor, he owes zakah if his debtor is wealthy and willing to pay. However, if the debtor is poor or a delayer who cannot be compelled to pay, there is no zakah on this debt. But if he receives it, he must pay zakah on it for one year for the time that has passed, even if many years have remained. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you...
The Shaykh : Perhaps we can say.
The questioner : Please go ahead.
The Shaykh : And is it better for a person to pay his zakah himself or to give it to an agent to pay it on his behalf? The answer is that it is better for him to pay it himself, because by doing so he directly performs one of the acts of worship, and because it is more reassuring to his heart and more secure in the payment of his zakah. But if he does not know the eligible recipients, or if he sees that this agent is more knowledgeable and more learned in zakah than he is, then in this case he appoints him, because this is more proper for the benefit of the zakah. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.