Is one regarded as sinful for delaying the paying of zakat to such an extent that a year passes?

Q: My zakat is calculated yearly on 16th Sha’ban. This year for example, it was £500. My habit is to split the £500 into 11 monthly payments. My aim is to pay the zakat £500 before the next years Sha’ban. However, sometimes I budget and maybe miss a few months. Thus for example by 16th […]

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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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Can charities be considered as al-amileen?

Q: Can charities be considered as al-amileen? If so, what percentage of Zakat may be used for administration costs, and what activities may be considered “administration”   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: Aamileen, as mentioned in the Holy Qur’an are the state appointed officials who collect zakat on behalf of the ruler who […]

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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 the Takaful model the government wants to introduce for funding university tuition permissible?

Q. Please can you advise as to the shariah permissibility of the Takaful model the government wishes to introduce as alternative finance for funding university tuition fees? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A. The tentative opinion of Al-Qalam Panel is that an amended version of the Takāful model proposed in the BIS consultation […]

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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 […]

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Is it permissible for me to ask a colleague who is a student to use his student identification to get the discount, knowing that it’s for me?

Q: I want to buy some software for my computer for the overall benefit of the charitable organisation I work for, is it permissible to ask a colleague who is a student to use his student ID to get the discount, knowing that it is in fact for my work usage? Will my colleague be […]

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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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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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