He has debts he was unable to collect, and he is poor; does he qualify for zakah?
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Q: My esteemed Shaykh / Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz (may Allah preserve him)
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings:
There are employees in Kuwait who are not Kuwaiti nationals. Their contracts and services have been terminated, so they have financial rights due from the state. They cannot collect these funds until they leave the country, but they are unable to leave because they do not have passports, and because they do not wish to go to Iraq due to their fear for their lives, their religion, and their honor. They are currently in dire need of financial assistance because they are very poor. Do they qualify for zakah funds and voluntary charity, given that their rights are difficult to obtain? What is obligatory for the zakah committees in Kuwait regarding them? May Allah reward you with good.
A: And upon you be peace. After that: If the situation of the aforementioned individuals is as you described, then there is no objection to assisting them from zakah because of their poverty and need. The debts they have with the state do not prevent them from receiving zakah because they have not obtained them. May Allah guide everyone to what pleases Him, 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
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings:
There are employees in Kuwait who are not Kuwaiti nationals. Their contracts and services have been terminated, so they have financial rights due from the state. They cannot collect these funds until they leave the country, but they are unable to leave because they do not have passports, and because they do not wish to go to Iraq due to their fear for their lives, their religion, and their honor. They are currently in dire need of financial assistance because they are very poor. Do they qualify for zakah funds and voluntary charity, given that their rights are difficult to obtain? What is obligatory for the zakah committees in Kuwait regarding them? May Allah reward you with good.
A: And upon you be peace. After that: If the situation of the aforementioned individuals is as you described, then there is no objection to assisting them from zakah because of their poverty and need. The debts they have with the state do not prevent them from receiving zakah because they have not obtained them. May Allah guide everyone to what pleases Him, 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.