Does a woman have to sell her gold in order to pay zakat?

Q: Does a woman have to pay zakat on her gold even if her and her husband do not have enough cash over the nisab? i.e. does she have to sell some gold and pay separately? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومنه الصدق والصواب A: If the gold, individually or in conjunction with other zakatable assets from […]

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Is Zakat due on inheritance that is not received until a few years have passed?

Q: A man passes away leaving a wife and three children. The process of sorting out his estate takes 2-3 years in which time the family does not know exactly how much has been left behind and therefore they don’t know how much the are entitled to. Eventually the funds are received by the respective […]

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Is it permissible for an organisation that collects and distributes zakat to use zakat income to cover costs that are incurred directly as a result of the zakat distribution process?

Q: Is it permissible for an organisation or charity that collects and distributes zakat funds to use zakat income to cover costs that are incurred directly as a result of the zakat distribution process, e.g. salaries of caseworkers or fieldworkers, IT systems to manage data in relation to recipients of zakat, office space for zakat […]

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How should Islamic charities balance the obligation to give Zakat to local people in need versus giving Zakat to people in need internationally?

Q: How should Islamic charities balance the obligation to give Zakat to local people in need (i.e. in the same countries as their donors) versus giving Zakat to people in need internationally? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: There are several competing reasons as to how and where we should pay our zakat.   […]

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Is it permissible for an Islamic charity to give Zakat funds to individual beneficiaries in the form of goods rather than cash?

Q: Is it permissible for an Islamic charity to give Zakat funds to individual beneficiaries in the form of goods (rather than cash)? This could include livelihood equipment, such as sewing machines, farming equipment, livestock; medication or medical treatments; school books; education or training courses; paying salaries of service providers (e.g. teachers or doctors). الجواب […]

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Is it permissible for an Islamic charity to spend Zakat funds on assets owned collectively by poor and needy communities?

Q: Is it permissible for an Islamic charity to spend Zakat funds on assets owned by poor and needy communities, and which aim to benefit and assist poor and needy individuals? This may include building or financially supporting schools, hospitals, orphanages or wells.  الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: The principle recipients of […]

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Is it prohibited to get a tax refund on Zakāt?

Q: It is prohibited to get a tax refund on zakat? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب   A: The benefit prohibited to the payer of zakāt is that which comes directly from the zakat itself.  Incidental benefit from a third party, as in the case of a tax refund, is not prohibited.  

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I gave my Zakat to grandmother abroad to distribute but was told it must be given to an established organisation. Is this correct?

Q: I gave my Zakat to grandmother abroad to distribute but was told it must be given to an established organisation. Is this correct? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: There is no requirement to distribute one’s Zakat through an ‘established organisation’.  Provided the Zakat reaches the rightful recipient it may be distributed by your […]

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Is it encouraged to give Zakat to a charity that operates in a foreign country?

Q: Is it encouraged to give Zakat to a charity that operates in a foreign country? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: All things being equal one should distribute one’s Zakat in the immediate locality of the Zakatable wealth.  Failure to do so is reprehensible but not prohibited.  However, if there is reason to distribute […]

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Can I give Sadaqah to Hashimites?

Q: Can I give Sadaqah to Hashimites? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: It is permissible to give optional sadaqah to Hashimites as that is essentially a gift.   ففى الدر المختار:  (وجازت التطوعات من الصدقات …) … (… لهم ) أي لبني هاشم.  (كتاب الزكاة ، باب مصرف الزكاة والعشر) وفى رد المحتار:  أقول […]

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I am getting a university grant, and a scholarship, should zakat be paid on this? if so, when should I pay it?

Q: I am getting a university grant, and a scholarship, should zakat be paid on this? if so, when should I pay it? i.e. pay today and then wait for one Islamic calendar to pass by then pay again?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب   A: If you are liable for zakat […]

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