Settling The Expenses/Debts Of A Zakaat Recipient
Question
Can a person pay the utility (e.g. water/electricity) bills of an eligible Zakaat recipient using Zakaat money?
Does he need permission for this from the person?
Answer
If a person wishes to pay someone’s utility bills with Zakat, it will only be permissible if he was granted permission to do so by the recipient of the Zakat.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
وَلَوْ قَضَى دَيْنَ حَيَّ فَقِيرٍ إِنْ قَضَى بِغَيْرِ أَمْرِهِ لَمْ يَجُزْ؛ لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ يُوجَدُ التَّمْلِيكُ مِنْ الْفَقِيرِ لِعَدَمٍ قَبْضِهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ بِأَمْرِهِ يَجُوزُ عَنْ الزَّكَاةِ لِوُجُودِ التَّمْلِيكِ مِنْ الْفَقِيرِ؛ لِأَنَّهُ لَمَّا أَمَرَهُ بِهِ صَارَ وَكِيلًا عَنْهُ فِي الْقَبْضِ فَصَارَ كَأَنَّ الْفَقِيرَ قَبَضَ الصَّدَقَةَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمِلْكِهِ مِنْ الْغَرِيمِ.
(بدائع الصنائع ج ۲ ص ۳۹)
(أَمَّا دَيْنُ الْحَيِّ الْفَقِيرِ فَيَجُوزُ لَوْ بِأَمْرِهِ، أَيْ يَجُوزُ عَنْ الزَّكَاةِ عَلَى أَنَّهُ تَمْلِيكٌ مِنْهُ وَالدَّائِنُ يَقْبِضُهُ بِحُكْمِ النِّيَابَةِ عَنْهُ ثُمَّ يَصِيرُ قَائِضًا لِنَفْسِهِ فَتْحٌ
(الدر المختار مع رد المحتار ج ٣٤٥/٢)
(البحر الرائق ج ٢ / ص ٢٦١)
(مجمع الأنهر ج۱ / ص ۳۲۸)
(تبيين الحقائق ج۱ / ص ٣٠٠)
(النهر الفائق ج ١ / ص ٤٦٢ )
- Approved by
- Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.
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Source: Darul Ifta, Darul Uloom Azaadville — https://www.iftadua.co.za/settling-the-expenses-debts-of-a-zakaat-recipient/3952/
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/azaadville-3952
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