Fatwa ID: 09237
Answered by Mufti Sakib Shadman
Question:
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته.
Are store vouchers/gift cards ok to give as zakat? In some places like gaza, its hard to take in/access hard cash, most things run digitally (like zelle here in US).
In that scenario can a charity issue vouchers to, e.g. a clothing shop, so that the needy can go and get whatever they need from the shop
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
It is valid to discharge Zakat in cash or in-kind through items of monetary value, such as charity vouchers, store credits, or digital gift cards. This is because paying Zakat from a different “type” than cash is permitted, as long as the value reaches the poor. [2]
In places like Gaza where sending physical money is difficult, it can even be more beneficial or recommended to give Zakat through vouchers, provided that the voucher reaches the recipient more reliably and quickly.
However, Zakat is only valid when Tamleek (transfer of ownership) takes place. This ownership can be digital, if the voucher becomes fully under the control of the poor recipient and they can use it freely. [1]
Finally, the price of the voucher must be calculated when giving Zakat in-kind (including vouchers), because vouchers are not treated as cash or currency, rather they fall into the category of items of value. Hence, the amount of Zakat discharged is equivalent to the purchase price of the voucher. [3]
For example:
If a $100 voucher cost $90 to purchase, then you have only discharged $90 of Zakat.
Thus, giving Zakat through digital vouchers is valid as long as the recipient becomes the owner of the voucher, and you discharge Zakat according to its market value, not its printed price.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Mufti Sakib Shadman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
(قَوْلُهُ وَشَرْعًا تَمْلِيكٌ إلَخْ) أَيْ إنَّهَا اسْمٌ لِلْمَعْنَى الْمَصْدَرِيِّ لِوَصْفِهَا بِالْوُجُوبِ الَّذِي هُوَ مِنْ صِفَاتِ الْأَفْعَالِ وَلِأَنَّ مَوْضُوعَ عِلْمِ الْفِقْهِ فِعْلُ الْمُكَلَّفِ وَنَقَلَ الْقُهُسْتَانِيُّ أَنَّهَا شَرْعًا الْقَدْرُ الَّذِي يُخْرِجُهُ إلَى الْفَقِيرِ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: وَفِي الْكَرْمَانِيِّ أَنَّهَا فِي الْقَدْرِ مَجَازٌ شَرْعًا فَإِنَّهَا
ص256 – كتاب حاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ط الحلبي – كتاب الزكاة – المكتبة الشاملة
[2]
الْمَالُ الَّذِي تَجِبُ فِيهِ الزَّكَاةُ أَدَّى زَكَاتَهُ مِنْ خِلَافِ جِنْسِهِ أَدَّى قَدْرَ قِيمَةِ الْوَاجِبِ إجْمَاعًا، وَكَذَا إذَا أَدَّى زَكَاتَهُ مِنْ جِنْسِهِ، وَكَانَ مِمَّا لَا يَجْرِي فِيهِ الرِّبَا، وَأَمَّا إذَا أَدَّى مِنْ جِنْسِهِ، وَكَانَ رِبَوِيًّا فَأَبُو حَنِيفَةَ وَأَبُو يُوسُفَ – رَحِمَهُمَا اللَّهُ تَعَالَى – يَعْتَبِرَانِ الْقَدْرَ لَا الْقِيمَةَ هَكَذَا فِي شَرْحِ الطَّحَاوِيِّ.
ص180 – كتاب الفتاوى العالمكيرية الفتاوى الهندية – مسائل شتى في الزكاة – المكتبة الشاملة
فَلَوْ أَدَّى مِنْ خِلَافِ جِنْسِهِ تُعْتَبَرُ الْقِيمَةُ بِالْإِجْمَاعِ
ص244 – كتاب البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق ومنحة الخالق وتكملة الطوري – باب زكاة المال – المكتبة الشاملة
[3]
وَيُقَوِّمُهَا الْمَالِكُ فِي الْبَلَدِ الَّذِي فِيهِ الْمَالُ حَتَّى لَوْ بَعَثَ عَبْدًا لِلتِّجَارَةِ إلَى بَلَدٍ آخَرَ فَحَالَ الْحَوْلُ تُعْتَبَرُ قِيمَتُهُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْبَلَدِ، وَلَوْ كَانَ فِي مَفَازَةٍ تُعْتَبَرُ قِيمَتُهُ فِي أَقْرَبِ الْأَمْصَارِ إلَى ذَلِكَ الْمَوْضِعِ كَذَا فِي فَتْحِ الْقَدِيرِ نَاقِلًا عَنْ الْفَتَاوَى. وَيُضَمُّ بَعْضُ الْعُرُوضِ إلَى بَعْضٍ، وَإِنْ اخْتَلَفَ أَجْنَاسُهَا.
ص180 – كتاب الفتاوى العالمكيرية الفتاوى الهندية – مسائل شتى في الزكاة – المكتبة الشاملة