Fatwa ID: 03929

Answered by: Alimah Sumeyye Sofu

Question

Assalamualikum, 

In our community masjid, we have different Imam volunteering to lead Taraweeh every year. The residents collect money (based on how much each person is willing to give) and they give it to the Imam as a gift. So, can we give this money from our zakat?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Before giving Zakat to a person, it is a must to know if that person is eligible for zakat.

The following group of people will be entitled to receive zakah:

1. The Poor person (Faqir): the person who has some amount of possession however it does not reach the amount of nisab.
2. The Destitute Person: the person who does not possess anything.
3. The Zakah collector: The leader will set aside an amount for him.
4. A slave who has been granted permission to purchase his freedom (Mukatab)
5. The person in debt who is unable to settle it and does not have other savings exceeding the amount of nisab.
6. The warrior in the path of Allah.
7. The traveler who does not have access to his wealth.

If the abovementioned people possess belongings which have a value above the nisab amount, however, shari'ah has not included them within the list of items upon which zakah needs to be given, they will be entitled to receiving zakah.[1]

If the imam is an eligible person to receive zakat, only then it will be permissible to give him zakat.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Alimah Sumeyye Sofu

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham