Zakah / Sadkah

Charity Reg No.1034122

Zakah/Sadkah

An introduction to Zakah and your eligibility

Who receives Zakah

There are eight categories of people and services for whom and which it is permissible to pay Zakah:
1. The poor
2. The needy
3. Those who collect Zakah
4. Those whose hearts are to be reconciled
5. To free a captive
6. Those in debt
7. In the way of Allah
8. For the wayfarers

Can we use ZakaT for education?

A valuable way to help the cause of Islamic Education, particularly in non Muslim countries and in critical circumstances, is to pay Zakah Feesabeelillah (in the way of Allah) or Lil-Fuqara (for the poor). Such use of Zakah is approved by the major schools of Islamic thought.
One condition of spending Zakah under these categories is that it should be given to the recipient in person and cannot be used for buildings, to pay maintenance, etc.

UKIEW and Zakah distribution

To fulfil this condition, UKIEW collects and holds Zakah under a special category fund. Parents who cannot afford school fees to educate their children Islamically and bring them up as Muslims will be identified by the Muslim schools or other educational institutions the children attend or hope to attend if the fees can be paid. The Zakah is given to them and is used to pay their fees and, if required, other basic necessities of their education. Teachers and propagators of Islam are also entitled to be paid from such a special Zakah fund.

The need for Islamic education

It is acceptable in Islamic Law to distribute Zakah to the eight categories listed above when and where it is considered to be most needed.
One of the main priorities of today is the education of young Muslims, in order to preserve and develop their Islamic identity and self-awareness.
Islamic scholars consider it a fundamental duty for parents to ensure that their children receive a sound Islamic education; not to do so, or to allow them to attend lessons in other religions (e.g. RE in schools) could be regarded as sinful. Allah, The Almighty has said in the Qur’an:
"Protect yourselves and your families from the fire..."
(Surah Al-Tahrim 66:6)

Guidelines

The following guidelines may be used by schools, madrasahs and other educational institutions concerning the use of Zakah to meet their expenses. Essentially, there are three general headings under which Zakah may be payable for the advancement of Islamic education.

Categories of Zakat

1. Feesabeelillah (in the way of Allah)
2. Lil-Fuqara (for the poor)
3. Lil-Masakeen (for the needy)
Each shall have to be considered carefully in order to decide when and to whom Zakah can be paid.

1. FEESABEELILLAH

This phrase is used to describe money spent in fighting for the cause of Allah. However, some scholars understand feesabeelillah in a broader sense: some people fight against Muslims with weapons, others use ideological means. Muslims are obliged to defend themselves effectively by a similar means, resisting mischief by clarifying the concepts of Islam for those who [choose to] misunderstand. It has been agreed, therefore, that using Zakah to pay for the cost of preparing a Muslim daÌee (propagator) to spread Islamic knowledge amongst Muslims, helping them to stand firm against non-Muslims in society, may fall under the heading of feesabilillah. Hence, it can be said that Zakah may be used to:
1) Send Muslim teachers to schools to explain to the pupils the basics of Islam;
2) Publish Islamic material, books and teaching aids, and distribute them.

2. AL-FUQARA

This heading basically means Îthe poorÌ; i.e. those with no income or no means of support. It is obvious that someone in such a position may not have the resources to educate his or her child in an Islamic way, being unable to pay school fees. Such a person may be given Zakah.
Contemporary scholars such as Sheikh Ibn Gibrien and Sheikh Ibn Qaoud say that it is allowed to give Zakah to those Muslims who do not have sufficient earnings to cover their childrenÌs education needs, or to enter them into Islamic schools in non-Islamic societies where the only alternative would be to enter the children into Christian or secular schools. Sheikh Ibn Qaoud believes that it is necessary to give the Zakah direct to the recipient who then has to hand it to the school, whereas Sheikh Ibn Gibrien feels it is permissible to pay the Zakah direct to the school in payment of the fees as long as the parents or guardians of children concerned are aware that the fees have been paid in part or in full out of Zakah funds.

SUMMARY

Zakah may be payable to those parents or guardians of children who are living in non-Muslim countries, who have no income or earnings to pay for the fees of sending their children to a Muslim school where Islam will be taught to them.

3. AL-MASAKEEN

Another heading under which Zakah may be payable in respect of childrenÌs education is that of Al-Masakeen (the needy). That is, if someone has a job, a house and basic necessities but is unable to afford the expense of sending his/her children to a Muslim school. This is an educational basic need and, as such, can be met from Zakah funds.

CAUTION

Care must be taken when deciding if someone is 'needy' to determine if they are living extravagantly or in unnecessary luxury. Each case must be considered individually as Zakah may be misused otherwise. If it is decided that a person is eligible for Zakah to cover school fees, a further decision must be taken about whether the Zakah should be paid to the recipient or direct to the school (see above).
Every effort must be made to ensure that Islamic Law is observed in this respect. The advice given in this booklet is based on the opinions of Dr Sayed Mitwalli El-Darsh, Dr Suhaib Hasan Abdul-Gaffar (both of the UK Islamic ShariÌah Council) and Abu Usama (Ex-Director of Al-Muntada Al-Islami Trust). They have referred to various Fatawa expounded by Ibn Hazm, Ibn Taymiyyah, Al-Razi, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Baz, Sheikh Ibn Gibrein and Sheikh Ibn Qaoud.

And Allah guides to what is right.