My wife has some gold jewelry but no cash. (1) Does she need to sell some part of jewelry to pay zakah? (2) We have a neighbour from Barailavi sect who has requested my wife to pay zakah to her as she is poor. Her husband earns but that does not suffice them as per her. They are living on rent which is almost equal to her husband’s salary. They have a TV, washing machine and fridge which according to her were gifted to her by their relatives. Their two children between 9 and 12 go to private school. She says that her grandma takes care of their schooling. Now my wife says that since the neighbour has already asked for it lets pay zakah to her only because she is closest. If we pay zakah to our neighbour, will it be valid?
Answer
(Fatwa: 1260/832/H=1433)
(1) It is lawful to sell the jewellery for this purpose rather if there is no other way to pay the zakah then it becomes wajib to sell it.
(2) If he is entitled to receive zakah then zakah shall be paid by giving her provided she avoids shirk act and it is better to give zakah to such a pious person who shuns bid’ah and follows sunnah.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband