Conversion of Zakat Money to Regular Wealth and then use the same for Masjids, Madrasas and Dawah Work We are living in a country of people with mixed fortunes, some are quite rich, and the majority of the people are in the middle class. We have a lower class which is dependent on Zakat for most of their needs and sometimes the middle class is also in need of Zakat for Housing, Wedding etc. I feel that if all the rich class use their Zakat Money in a proper way, then we can fill this gap and give a decent life to the lower class and solve the problem of the middle class. The following has become a practice with some of the people here, and I have heard that this is also in practice in countries like India and Pakistan: ?Zakat is given to a person who is poor and liable to receive Zakat, but the said person returns the money back, deducting a small amount, to a committee or individual. The returned money is considered as NON-ZAKAT and used to Build Masjids, Build and Run Madrasas and Used for Dawah Related Work. I kindly request Your Holiness to clarify the following: ? Is the above allowed? Can you please prove the same with Holy Quran and Hadees Shariff. ? If it is allowed in Shariat. Can you please give a stronger argument where this practice of conversion to be stopped, because with this practice we are depriving the rights of the genuine recipients of Zakat. Thanking you, Wassalaam
Answer
(Fatwa: 624/646/B)
It is impermissible to use Zakah money for mosque expenses. It must be given to the poor and needy, only the poor have the right to receive it. The mosque and madrasa should be constructed and managed by donations (other than Zakah) even on small scale.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband