He says, “I have no doubt that I have enough food for a year, but today there is a necessity for necessities that exceed basic sustenance, because our children want to keep up with society.”
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The questioner : He says, “I have no doubt that I have enough food for a year, but today there is a necessity for necessities that exceed basic sustenance, because our children want to keep up with society in everything, in terms of transportation and entertainment—I mean an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a television, and so on. So we accept the zakah that comes to us these days in the month of Ramadan, and we also look forward to zakat al-fitr, because we receive a considerable amount. May Allah reward the doers of good with good, and praise be to Allah who has bestowed upon us the blessing of Islam. Then we sell these quantities that reach us and convert them into money, which we eat from and enjoy throughout the year. What is the ruling on that? And greetings to you from your listener, Sa'id?”
The Shaykh : It is scrupulousness for a person to leave what he does not need from the zakah, so as not to expose himself to a doubtful matter. Sustaining oneself with food is a very important matter; a person should exercise the utmost caution in what he eats and drinks. However, if you take the charity—I mean the zakah and zakat al-fitr—to keep up with your peers among the people, I hope there is no harm in that. This is because need or expenditure varies according to circumstances. Allah the Exalted has made it obligatory for the husband to spend in a good manner, so whatever is customary for your peers in terms of expenditure, there is no blame on you if you take the zakah for that purpose. But I advise you to be cautious for yourself in these matters.Sahih al-Bukhari 1427, 1428 The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) described zakah as the filth of people and said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2609Sahih (Darussalam) In any case, what is permissible is one thing, and caution and scrupulousness are another. And what a believer should do is follow the safer and more complete path.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Thank you, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : It is scrupulousness for a person to leave what he does not need from the zakah, so as not to expose himself to a doubtful matter. Sustaining oneself with food is a very important matter; a person should exercise the utmost caution in what he eats and drinks. However, if you take the charity—I mean the zakah and zakat al-fitr—to keep up with your peers among the people, I hope there is no harm in that. This is because need or expenditure varies according to circumstances. Allah the Exalted has made it obligatory for the husband to spend in a good manner, so whatever is customary for your peers in terms of expenditure, there is no blame on you if you take the zakah for that purpose. But I advise you to be cautious for yourself in these matters.
And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient.
ومن يستعفف يعفه الله، ومن يستغني يغنه اللهit is not permissible for Muhammad or for the family of Muhammad
إنها لا تحل لمحمد وءالهThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Thank you, may Allah reward you.