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.   […]

Read more...

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 […]

Read more...

If I have wrongly claimed Gift Aid, is repentance enough?

Q: If I have wrongly claimed Gift Aid, what is required of me now by sharia in this case?  The transaction is now complete so is not reversible and was processed via a friend. If the charity does end up claiming gift aid, should I pay some money to the government to balance things out? What […]

Read more...

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 […]

Read more...

Should one list items which they anticipate receiving but have not yet got ownership of in their will, under ‘assets’

Q: Should one list items which they anticipate receiving but have not yet got ownership of in their will, under ‘assets’? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب   A: One may list them as potentially receivable assets but not as current assets.  Once ownership is secured, one may update one’s will.

Read more...

Please could you clarify the Islamic permissibility for one to claim income support?

Q:Please could you clarify the Islamic permissibility for one to claim income support?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب   A: The permissibility of being able to claim income support depends on whether the individual fits the eligibility criteria or not.  The eligibility criteria can be seen at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/income-support/eligibility If […]

Read more...

Is my earning halāl if I’m a hypnotherapist?

Q: I am a practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming and Hypnotherapy, which I practise for the purposes of helping people overcome fears and/or phobias that were installed as a programme within people’s life experiences. Is my earning halal?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه االصدق والصواب   A: Hypnosis as described in the question is […]

Read more...

What is the Islamic stance on joint tenancy ownership of a property

Q: Are the joint tenancy laws of England (whereby one tenant inherits the other’s share directly on death) valid in Islamic law? What happens if I share a property with my mother- on her passing does her share come to me automatically or do my siblings then gain a share islamically?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما […]

Read more...

Can rules of Ribā/usury relate to exchanging modern day goods such as mobile phones?

Q: Does ribā only relate to money and food items, or can modern day goods come under this too? Eg swapping a contemporary item -such as a mobile phone of a lower value for one of a higher value?     الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: Ribā in trade relates to the sale […]

Read more...

Please can the Al-Qalam Shari’ah Panel advise as to whether they consider the National Zakat Foundation as a suitable organisation to give Zakat money to?

Q: Please can the Al Qalam Shari’ah Panel advise as to whether they consider the National Zakat Foundation as a suitable organisation to give Zakat money to? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: We have spent some time looking into how National Zakat Foundation operate. Please click here for our fatwa on this. […]

Read more...