I am eligible to give zakah every year. In this regards I have a questions: I know one of my very close relative family, they need financial help. I can give zakah to them. But If I give them zakah next year (combining my this year zakah and next year zakah) will be more better for them since next year only they have to pay their son college fees for one full year. If I give them zakah this year, they may utilize that money in non-important items. In other words is it permissible to hold one year zakah and relieve next year along with next year zakah since I know my next year zakah alone may not be sufficient to them. They need money next year, not this year. Please guide.
Answer
(Fatwa: 932/765/B=1433)
If the relatives who can be given zakah are poor and needy and entitled to receive zakah then you may give them zakah. If you want to give zakah of this year and next year i.e. of two years together then you can do so. However, you will have to keep the calculation of next year in written form, so that you can calculate the zakah. There is no need to postpone the zakah of this year, but you can give the next year’s zakah in advance. Thus you can pay the zakah of two years.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband