Can zakath fund collected from a muslim community, be used to make houses in mosque property / mosque owned land owned by the same community, and given on nominal rent to poor people of the same community. can this rent & advance collected by the mosque be used to pay for the expenses of the mosque by way of salary , repairs, etc.
Answer
(Fatwa85/85/M=1431)
Zakah amount is paid only when it is handed over to a poor and given in his or her possession. Thereafter, if the poor give the amount willingly for the construction of mosque etc then only the amount can be spent in the welfare of mosque. Using zakah money in constructing mosque, erecting building for rent or using it any necessity of mosque is unlawful if it is not given in the possession of a poor in the way mentioned above.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband