Those Entitled to Receive Zakaah : Imaam Muhammad bin Saalih Al-‘Uthaimeen

Author:Imaam Muhammad bin Saalih Al-‘Uthaimeen
Source:Fusool fis-Siyaam wat-Taraaweeh waz-Zakaat [E-Book]
Produced By:Al-Ibaanah.com

Lesson Seven: Those who are entitled to receive the Zakaat

The people entitled to Zakaat are those places we can direct our Zakaat to. Allaah took charge of explaining for Himself what these places are, saying:

“The charity (Zakaat) is only for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect (the Zakaat), those whose hearts will be inclined (towards Islaam, by giving them Zakaat), for slaves, for those in debt, for (Jihaad in) the Cause of Allaah, and for the wayfarer (i.e. destitute traveler). It is an obligation imposed by Allaah, and Allaah is the All-Knower, the All-Wise.” [Surah At-Tawbah: 60]

1. The Poor (Fuqaraa): They are those who are not able to support themselves with sufficient means, except for very little, which is less than half (a year). So if a person cannot find that which will support himself and his family for at least half a year, he is considered poor (faqeer) and he should be given what will suffice him and his family for a year.

Is paying Zakaah better in Ramadhan ? – Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:

Is zakaah better in Ramadaan, even though it is one of the pillars of Islam?

He replied:

Zakaah, like other good deeds, is better when done at a time of virtue, but when zakaah becomes obligatory and the year has passed, it becomes obligatory for a person to pay it, and he should not delay it until Ramadaan. If the year is completed in Rajab, then he should not delay it until Ramadaan, rather he should pay it in Rajab. If the year is completed in Muharram then he should pay it in Muharram, and not delay it until Ramadaan. But if the year is completed in Ramadaan, then he should pay it in Ramadaan. End quote.

Fataawa Islamiyyah, 2/164

How to Pay Zakah on Ones’s Salary – Ibn Baz (rahimahullaah)

Zakaah on an Employee’s Salary – Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:

There is a man who depends on his monthly salary; he spends some and saves the rest. How should he pay zakaah on this money?

He replied:

He should write down what he saves of his salary, and pay zakaah on it when one year has passed. Zakaah should be paid on the savings of each month when one year has passed. If he pays zakaah on the total in the first month, there is nothing wrong with that and he will be rewarded for that, and it will be regarded as zakaah paid in advance for the savings for which one year has not yet passed. There is no reason why a person should not pay zakaah in advance if he sees some benefit in doing so. But delaying it after the year has passed is not permissible, unless there is a valid shar’i excuse, such as the wealth not being available or there being no poor people. End quote.

Tuhfat al-Ikhwaan bi Ajwabah Muhimmah tata’allaq bi Arkaan al-Islam (question no. 12)

Here is an Answer from Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah :

If he insists on having all his rights and on not giving any charity to those who deserve it apart from what he is obliged to give, then he should make a schedule of his earnings and write down every amount and the date on which he took possession of it. Then he should pay zakaah for each amount separately when one year has passed from the date on which he took possession of it.

But if he wants an easier method, and wants to be more generous and give precedence to the poor and others who are entitled to zakaah over himself, then he can pay zakaah on all the money he possesses when one year has passed from the date when his wealth first reached the nisaab. This will bring a greater reward and raise him higher in status; it is easier for him and is more generous towards the poor and needy and others who are entitled to zakaah. Whatever extra amount he may pay will be regarded as a “down payment” on the zakaah for any wealth for which one year has not yet passed.

(From Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 9/280)