Q: I have some savings in bank which is subject to zakaah. My mother's brother is having debt and he is unable to clear them . Can I give my zakaah money to my uncle to clear his debt, can I give the zakaah to him. Secondly can I give zakaah to him without informing that the money is for zakaah.
A. Praise be to Allaah, if your uncle is poor and is thereby entitled to zakaah, then it is oK to give him the zakaah of your wealth, or some of it. This is not subject to any condition of your telling him of that. But if you do not know much about his situation, then you should tell him that it is zakaah so that he can refuse it if he is not entitled to it - Shaykh Sa'd al-Humayd
Q: If a person has property that he has prepared to rent out, does he have to pay zakaah on this property?
A: Praise be to Allaah. Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Uthaymeen (RAH) said: There is no zakaah on this property, because the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "There is no zakaah due on the Muslim's slave or horse." Rather zakaah is due on the rents, if one hijri year passes from the time of the contract. For example: A man rents out this house for ten thousand, and receives ten thousand after the year is over: He has to pay zakaah on this money, because one year has passed since the contract was signed.
Another man rented out his house for ten thousand, five thousand of which is paid at the time of signing the contract, which he spent within two months, and five thousand was to be paid halfway through the year, which he took and spent within two months. When the year ended he did not have anything left of the rent, so no zakaah was due on it, because no full year passed with the money in his possession.
In order for zakaah to be obligatory, a full year should pass with it in the person's possession. Majmoo' Fataawa Ibn 'Uthaymeen, 18/208.
Q: I want to know can I use zakaat money to build Mosque?
A: Praise be to Allaah, the Standing Committee was asked whether it is permissible to spend zakaah money in refurbishing the mosque etc. They replied as follows: With regard to zakaah, it is only to spent in eight ways which are specified by Allaah in the aayah:
"As-Sadaqaat (here it means Zakaah) are only for the Fuqaraa' (poor), and Al-Masaakeen (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds); and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allaah's cause (i.e. for Mujaahidoon - those fighting in a holy battle), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything)" (Q9[at-Tawbah]:60)
Mosques are not one of the eight categories mentioned in the aayah, which limits the spending of zakaah to these eight. And Allaah is the Source of strength.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited