Is it permissible to give to charities who fund military arms or tobacco investments?

Q: Is it permissible to give charity to organisations if one knows they are funding military arms and tobacco investment? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: Military armaments can be both permissible and impermissible depending on the situation at hand.  In fact, they can even be an obligation such as when needed for […]

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Who is liable to pay the Zakat for a limited company?

  Q: Is a limited company an independent entity in Islam and therefore liable for its own Zakat or does its value belong to the shareholders? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: The liability to pay zakat falls on the shareholders and not the company itself. If taxes have been incurred on the zakat […]

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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 pay Zakat on my mothers behalf even though I have a student loan to repay? Will it be considered a Sadaqah for me?

Q: Can I pay Zakat on my mothers behalf even though I have a student loan to repay? Will it be considered a Sadaqah? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: You can pay your mother’s Zakat on her behalf with her permission. This will be considered a Sadaqah for you.  Repayment of debt is a […]

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Is it permissible to give Sadaqah from your child benefit money or is the permission of the child required?

Q: Is it permissible to give Sadaqah from your child benefit money or is the permission of the child required?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: Child benefit is a payment to and the property of the parent with parental responsibility.  Whilst it is intended and indeed expected that the parent will use the […]

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Is Zakat paid on a local initiative where money is collected to be distributed to needy local individuals?

Q: Is Zakat paid on a local initiative where money is collected to be distributed to needy local individuals? Two brothers run a small initiative, whereby people give monthly donations (usually £10) which goes into a separate account for that specific purpose/initiative. This money is then distributed to local people (by the 2 brothers) who are […]

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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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Is the responsibility of Zakāt a strictly individual responsibility or can it be joint say in the case of husbands and wives?

  Q: Is the responsibility of Zakāt a strictly individual responsibility or can it be joint say in the case of husbands and wives? Most spouses would have joint finances and liabilities or would treat theirs as such. الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: Zakāt is strictly a personal obligation.  Even in jointly […]

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Q: Is the responsibility of Zakat a strictly individual responsibility or can it be joint say in the case of husbands and wives?

Q: Is the responsibility of Zakat a strictly individual responsibility or can it be joint say in the case of husbands and wives?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب   A: Zakat is strictly a personal obligation.  Even in jointly owned wealth the obligation of zakat remains personal.  Thus, if a husband and […]

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Please can Al-Qalam advise if they have carried out an onsite audit at the National Zakat Foundation London Shelter?

Q: Respected Scholars, Further to the Al-Qalam fatwa on the National Zakat Foundation (NZF) dated 25th February 2013, please can the Al-Qalam panel advise as to how the panel is assured that NZF does indeed adhere to the requirements of the fatwa? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: Al-Qalam has an agreement with […]

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