Ruling on paying an agent a fee for distributing zakah
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Q: His Eminence Shaykh Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (may Allah preserve him and grant him success). Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. After that:
I hope you will issue a ruling on my question, which is this: I have a sum of money for which zakah is obligatory upon me, and I wish to send an amount to one of the countries for its poor. I know a wealthy man in that country, and I want to send the money through him so that he can seek out the needy there. However, he will not do this unless he is paid a fee. Is it permissible for me to give him a fee from the zakah money for his work? And if I transfer it to him and the bank takes a fee, should I deduct this amount from the zakah, or must I pay it from my own lawful wealth? Please inform me, may Allah reward you, and peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
A: And upon you be peace, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. After that:
It is better for you to distribute your zakah among the poor in your own country. If you transfer it to another country where the poor are in greater need, or because they are your relatives and they are poor, there is nothing wrong with that. If you appoint an agent to distribute the zakah, there is no objection to giving him a fee from other than the zakah; because it is obligatory for you to distribute it among the poor yourself or through your trustworthy agent, and his fee is to be paid from your wealth, not from the zakah.
As for the bank, we do not think you should transfer it through it, for fear that it will be used in riba (usury or interest). However, the transfer must be made through a trustworthy, honest person whose reliability gives you peace of mind that he will deliver it to those entitled to it as quickly as possible. And Allah is the One who grants success, and peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz
I hope you will issue a ruling on my question, which is this: I have a sum of money for which zakah is obligatory upon me, and I wish to send an amount to one of the countries for its poor. I know a wealthy man in that country, and I want to send the money through him so that he can seek out the needy there. However, he will not do this unless he is paid a fee. Is it permissible for me to give him a fee from the zakah money for his work? And if I transfer it to him and the bank takes a fee, should I deduct this amount from the zakah, or must I pay it from my own lawful wealth? Please inform me, may Allah reward you, and peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
A: And upon you be peace, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. After that:
It is better for you to distribute your zakah among the poor in your own country. If you transfer it to another country where the poor are in greater need, or because they are your relatives and they are poor, there is nothing wrong with that. If you appoint an agent to distribute the zakah, there is no objection to giving him a fee from other than the zakah; because it is obligatory for you to distribute it among the poor yourself or through your trustworthy agent, and his fee is to be paid from your wealth, not from the zakah.
As for the bank, we do not think you should transfer it through it, for fear that it will be used in riba (usury or interest). However, the transfer must be made through a trustworthy, honest person whose reliability gives you peace of mind that he will deliver it to those entitled to it as quickly as possible. And Allah is the One who grants success, and peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.