Fatwa ID: 06610
Answered by: Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain
Question:
There is a charity which looks after disabled orphans. They need money to buy an adaptable bed for him. I wanted to ask if Zakah money would be applicable. I look forward to your reply.
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Allāh Ta’ālā has ordained on us to: “Be steadfast in Salāh (prayer), and pay Zakāh, and bow down with those who bow down (in worship and obedience)”. [Surah al-Baqarah; 2:43] [1]
There is great reward in taking care of orphans especially those who are in need and are disabled.
May Allāh Ta’ālā reward you in all your endeavours. Āmeen.
“Righteousness is not (merely) that you turn your faces to the East and the West; but righteousness is that one believes in Allāh and the Last Day and the angels and the Book and the Prophets, and gives wealth, despite (his) love for it, to relatives, and to orphans, the helpless, the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and (spends) in (freeing) slaves and observes the Salāh (prayers) and pays Zakāh and (the act of) those who fulfil their covenant when they enter into a covenant, and, of course, those who are patient in hardship and suffering and when in battle! Those are the ones who are truthful, and those are the Allāh fearing.” [Surah Al-Baqarah; 2:177] [2]
One of the conditions for the validity of Zakāh is that the eligible recipients are made owners of the wealth and they are given the freedom to dispense of it however they see fit. One is not able to stipulate how Zakāh money should be spent.
Thus, if these orphans are eligible to receive Zakāh money, then it would be permissible to give them this money. But they must not be forced to spend this money on the bed. If they choose to do so of their own accord, then this is also permissible.
Only Allāh Ta’ālā knows best.
Written by Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
}[1]وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرۡكَعُواْ مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ {
}[2]لَّيۡسَ ٱلۡبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمۡ قِبَلَ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلۡبِرَّ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِ وَٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ وَٱلۡكِتَٰبِ وَٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَءَاتَى ٱلۡمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ ذَوِي ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينَ وَٱبۡنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَٱلسَّآئِلِينَ وَفِي ٱلرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱلۡمُوفُونَ بِعَهۡدِهِمۡ إِذَا عَٰهَدُواْۖ وَٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ فِي ٱلۡبَأۡسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَحِينَ ٱلۡبَأۡسِۗ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْۖ وَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَ {
