Fatwaa ID: 619

Question:
Bismillah

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله و بركات..

Dear muftian ikraam

This flyer says donations are zakaat eligible.

Would donations sent here via Zelle with the intention of zakaat fulfill the obligation of discharging zakaat?

Ajeeboo wa tujaroo

Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

A welfare organization is the representative of the donor. They themselves are not eligible recipients. They do not qualify as ‘aamileen. The obligation of zakaah will only be fulfilled when the zakaah funds fully reach the hands of the eligible paupers. It is not sufficient to simply zelle the funds to the organization. You must do your due diligence to verify that the organization is reliable and honest and that their claims are genuine.

It is unfortunate and lamentable that most organizations misuse and abuse zakaah funds. When an organization claims that your donations are zakaah eligible, verify and enquire from them what this means. 100% of your zakaah funds must go to the poor and needy. The organization may not take even a single cent from zakaah funds. The laws pertaining to voluntary non-zakaah funds are somewhat relaxed. Here too, due diligence must be applied.

It should be noted that the above is a general exposition and guideline of the laws of Shari’ah. It is not directed towards any specific organization, although most of the famous and larger organizations would be guilty of the above.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/

07/26/1444 AH – 02/17/2023 CE | AMG1-2813

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

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