They state in their letter: We request a ruling on social security. If the amount received from social security remains with the recipient and a year passes over it, is zakah due on it?
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The questioner : This is a letter we received from the presenters, Muhammad Saleh Juma'an al-Zahrani and Muhammad Ali Dukhayl al-Zahrani, from Zahrani. They state in their letter: We request a ruling on social security. If the amount received from social security remains with the recipient and a year passes over it, is zakah valid on it or not? Please guide us. May Allah reward you with the best reward.
The Shaykh : Yes, zakah is obligatory on it if the lunar year has passed and it is in the hand of the beneficiary. However, on this occasion, I would like to warn the beneficiaries of social security who are not in need of it, for social security is designated for the needy only.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is not for everyone; it is not like a salary determined by the government, but rather it is to relieve need. Therefore, whoever is not in need, it is not permissible for him to take anything from it. And what I understood from the questioner’s question is that he is not in need of it, because it remained with him until the completion of the year.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This means that he is not in need of it. Accordingly, it is not permissible for him to take it. A person should be self-sufficient with what Allah has made lawful for him, regarding what Allah has forbidden, so that he may be blessed in it. For it is established in the authentic hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that whoever takes wealth from other than its proper source is like one who eats but does not become full, and he is not blessed in it. Yes.
The questioner : But those who take from zakah, and they are wealthy, they take from the house of...
The Shaykh : From social security.
The questioner : From social security, and they are wealthy, they consider that to be from the treasury of the Muslims, and they say, "We are Muslims?"
The Shaykh : This is not correct. This is, in reality, either ignorance or negligence on their part.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Social security is designated for this purpose, and there is a committee to investigate the facts and determine whether one is eligible or not.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If it were for the general public without the condition of need, there would be no need to establish this committee that inspects and examines. Yes.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, zakah is obligatory on it if the lunar year has passed and it is in the hand of the beneficiary. However, on this occasion, I would like to warn the beneficiaries of social security who are not in need of it, for social security is designated for the needy only.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is not for everyone; it is not like a salary determined by the government, but rather it is to relieve need. Therefore, whoever is not in need, it is not permissible for him to take anything from it. And what I understood from the questioner’s question is that he is not in need of it, because it remained with him until the completion of the year.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This means that he is not in need of it. Accordingly, it is not permissible for him to take it. A person should be self-sufficient with what Allah has made lawful for him, regarding what Allah has forbidden, so that he may be blessed in it. For it is established in the authentic hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that whoever takes wealth from other than its proper source is like one who eats but does not become full, and he is not blessed in it. Yes.
The questioner : But those who take from zakah, and they are wealthy, they take from the house of...
The Shaykh : From social security.
The questioner : From social security, and they are wealthy, they consider that to be from the treasury of the Muslims, and they say, "We are Muslims?"
The Shaykh : This is not correct. This is, in reality, either ignorance or negligence on their part.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Social security is designated for this purpose, and there is a committee to investigate the facts and determine whether one is eligible or not.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If it were for the general public without the condition of need, there would be no need to establish this committee that inspects and examines. Yes.
The questioner : Yes.