I had a son a month ago. A few days ago some “Hizra” (she-male) came to our house and wanted money from us. They usually go to the houses where a new baby is born.
We had to gave them money (more than 20$) because we had no choice. Can we consider this payment as part of our yearly Zakat? Jajaka Allah khair for your noble work!
Answer:
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalāmu ῾alaykum wa Rahmatullāhi Wabarakātuh
Firstly, one should know that the custom referred to in the query — i.e. hermaphrodites going to homes where a baby is born and demanding money – is an un-Islamic custom. Rasulullah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) has said that the wealth of a Muslim is not permissible for another except through his own good will. When a person demands money from another, he will not give it out of his own free will; instead, he will give it because he will feel forced and pressured to give it. Therefore, one should not give money to such people, because by doing so he will be encouraging them to continue this sinful and shameful act.
عنأنسبنمالكأنرسولالله –صلىاللهعليهوسلم– قال « لايحلمالامرئمسلمإلابطيبنفسه » (سننالدارقطني،شعبالإيمان )
Also, the fuqaha have stated that it is not permissible for one to ask/beg for sustenance if he has enough sustenance to suffice him for the day or if he is able to work and earn himself. And if anyone gives such person money while knowing that he is capable of earning for himself, he will be assisting in committing a forbidden act.
فيالدرالمختار: ( ولا ) يحلأن ( يسأل ) منالقوت ( منلهقوتيومه ) بالفعلأوبالقوةكالصحيحالمكتسبويأثممعطيهإنعلمبحالهلإعانتهعلىالمحرم؛وقالابنعابدينرحمهالله: قالالمقدسيفيشرحهوأنتخبيربأنالظاهرأنمرادهمأنالدفعإلىمثلهذايدعوإلىالسؤالعلىالوجهالمذكوروبالمنعربمايتوبعنمثلذلكفليتأملاهـ ( ردالمحتار: ج 3 ص 357-358 طدارالمعرفة )
Now, coming to your question:
If you had intended to give Zakaat at the time of giving the person the money, then the amount will be counted as Zakaat. Alternatively, if the money you gave him was from an amount that you had separated with the intention of paying Zakaat with it, then too the amount will be counted as Zakaat. If none of these two cases apply, then you still have the chance to count the money as Zakaat only if the person still has the money in his possession. If he has already used the money, then you cannot count it as Zakaat.
فيالدرالمختار: (وشرطصحةأدائهانيةمقارنةله ) أيللأداء ( ولو ) كانتالمقارنة ( حكما ) كمالودفعبلانيةثمنوىوالمالقائمفييدالفقير … ( وبعدأسطر ) … ( أومقارنةبعزلماوجب ) كلهأوبعضه،ولايخرجعنالعهدةبالعزلبلبالأداءللفقراء؛وقالابنعابدينرحمهالله: ( قولهمقارنة ) هوالأصلكمافيسائرالعبادات،وإنمااكتفيبالنيةعندالعزلكماسيأتيلأنالدفعيتفرقفيتخرجباستحضارالنيةعندكلدفعفاكتفىبذلكللحرجبحرالخ … ( وبعدسطر ) … ( قوله : والمالقائمفييدالفقير ) بخلافماإذانوىبعدهلاكهبحروظاهرهأنالمرادبقيامهفييدالفقيربقاؤهفيملكهلااليدالحقيقية،وأنالنيةتجزيهمادامفيملكالفقير،ولوبعدأيام ( ردالمحتار: ج 3 ص 222 طدارالمعرفة )
وفياللباب: ( ولايجوزأداءالزكاةإلابنيةمقارنةللأداء ) ولوحكماً،كمالودفعبلانيةثمنوىوالمالفييدالفقير … ( أومقارنةلعزلمقدارالواجب )؛لأنالزكاةعبادةوكانمنشرطهاالنية،والأصلفيهاالاقتران،إلاأنالدفعيتفرق،فاكتفىبوجودهاحالةالعزلتيسيراً،كتقديمالنيةفيالصوم. هداية ( اللبابفيشرحالكتاب: ص 150 طدارقباء )
The above is applicable only if the person you gave the money to was eligible to receive Zakaat.
And Allāh Ta῾āla Knows Best
Wassalāmu ῾alaykum
Ml. Faizal Riza
Correspondence Iftā Student, Australia
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Dārul Iftā, Madrasah In῾āmiyyah