A charitable organization that collects zakah and has a building: is it permissible to pay the building's rent from the zakah funds?
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The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh. The charitable organization collects zakah, voluntary charity, and donations, which it distributes to the poor and the needy. It is currently located in a building. Is it permissible for it to pay the building's rent from the zakah funds?
The Shaykh : It is not permissible to pay the building's rent from the zakah funds. It is obligatory for this organization to do what others have done, meaning it should establish a separate category for zakah, a category for voluntary charity, and a category for general charitable works. The important thing is that it must distinguish zakah from the rest.
The questioner : We have not found, O Shaykh, that the voluntary charity or other donations are sufficient to cover the building's costs.
The Shaykh : If you do not find [funds], you should request the rent for this place from a specific individual.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. What about the workers in the organization, O Shaykh? Are they paid from the zakah funds?
The Shaykh : If the workers are appointed by the state,
The questioner : No, by the organization.
The Shaykh : No, that is not permissible.
The questioner : An accountant.
The Shaykh : No, that is not permissible.
The questioner : But his salary is not enough; it does not suffice for him.
The Shaykh : No, that is not permissible except from the side of the state, because the workers of the state are those appointed by the one in authority. That is why the preposition "of" (min) is used with "state" (al-dawlah) in the phrase "workers of the state," rather than "in" (fi), indicating that they must have authority, and they have no authority unless the one in authority delegates it to them.
The questioner : O Shaykh, he is an accountant in the organization, and his salary is not sufficient.
The Shaykh : O my brother, he is not to be paid from it. It is clear to me from your words that the organization is weak and that its primary reliance is on zakah. Therefore, it should leave the field to others. Currently, the government has established a specific source, a specific origin, and a specific destination for zakah.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh. The charitable organization collects zakah, voluntary charity, and donations, which it distributes to the poor and the needy. It is currently located in a building. Is it permissible for it to pay the building's rent from the zakah funds?
The Shaykh : It is not permissible to pay the building's rent from the zakah funds. It is obligatory for this organization to do what others have done, meaning it should establish a separate category for zakah, a category for voluntary charity, and a category for general charitable works. The important thing is that it must distinguish zakah from the rest.
The questioner : We have not found, O Shaykh, that the voluntary charity or other donations are sufficient to cover the building's costs.
The Shaykh : If you do not find [funds], you should request the rent for this place from a specific individual.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. What about the workers in the organization, O Shaykh? Are they paid from the zakah funds?
The Shaykh : If the workers are appointed by the state,
The questioner : No, by the organization.
The Shaykh : No, that is not permissible.
The questioner : An accountant.
The Shaykh : No, that is not permissible.
The questioner : But his salary is not enough; it does not suffice for him.
The Shaykh : No, that is not permissible except from the side of the state, because the workers of the state are those appointed by the one in authority. That is why the preposition "of" (min) is used with "state" (al-dawlah) in the phrase "workers of the state," rather than "in" (fi), indicating that they must have authority, and they have no authority unless the one in authority delegates it to them.
The questioner : O Shaykh, he is an accountant in the organization, and his salary is not sufficient.
The Shaykh : O my brother, he is not to be paid from it. It is clear to me from your words that the organization is weak and that its primary reliance is on zakah. Therefore, it should leave the field to others. Currently, the government has established a specific source, a specific origin, and a specific destination for zakah.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.