Fatwa ID: 08676
Answered by: Mufti Sheik Abdel Ahad Imrit
Question:
An institute in a poor country is collecting funds for zakat. The teachers and students are all mustahiqq to receive zakat. The zakat money is distributed amongst the teachers, students, and people of the village. This year, alhamdulillah, the institute received more zakat funds than normal – well beyond what they normally receive. They have some running expenses and construction costs outstanding.
Can a few of the teachers and responsible brothers (all are mustahiqq) take more of the zakat money when they distribute with the understanding that they will then contribute to the other costs? Is this a valid heela?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
The heela will be valid. Nevertheless, if those entitled to it (mustahiq) utilise the funds for personal purposes, reclaiming the money or compelling them to contribute further will not be permitted.
References:
«مجمع الأنهر في شرح ملتقى الأبحر» (1/ 222):
«(وَلَا تُدْفَعُ) الزَّكَاةُ (لِبِنَاءِ مَسْجِدٍ) ؛ لِأَنَّ التَّمْلِيكَ شَرْطٌ فِيهَا وَلَمْ يُوجَدْ وَكَذَا بِنَاءُ الْقَنَاطِيرِ وَإِصْلَاحُ الطُّرُقَاتِ وَكَرْيُ الْأَنْهَارِ وَالْحَجُّ وَالْجِهَادُ وَكُلُّ مَا لَا يُتَمَلَّكُ فِيهِ، وَإِنْ أُرِيدَ الصَّرْفُ إلَى هَذِهِ الْوُجُوهِ صُرِفَ إلَى فَقِيرٍ ثُمَّ يَأْمُرُ بِالصَّرْفِ إلَيْهَا فَيُثَابُ الْمُزَكِّي وَالْفَقِيرُ»
«حاشية ابن عابدين = رد المحتار ط الحلبي» (2/ 345):
«الْحِيلَةَ أَنْ يَتَصَدَّقَ عَلَى الْفَقِيرِ ثُمَّ يَأْمُرَهُ بِفِعْلِ هَذِهِ الْأَشْيَاءِ»
«قَوْلُهُ: أَنَّ الْحِيلَةَ) أَيْ فِي الدَّفْعِ إلَى هَذِهِ الْأَشْيَاءِ مَعَ صِحَّةِ الزَّكَاةِ.
(قَوْلُهُ ثُمَّ يَأْمُرُهُ إلَخْ) وَيَكُونُ لَهُ ثَوَابُ الزَّكَاةِ وَلِلْفَقِيرِ ثَوَابُ هَذِهِ الْقُرَبِ بَحْرٌ»
[Fatawa Mahmoodiyyah, 9: 501,502
Dar al-Iftaa Jamiah Faruqiyyah, Karachi]
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best
Written by Mufti Sheik Abdel Ahad Imrit
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
