Darulifta Ahlesunnat (Dawateislami)
Question
What do the noble scholars and jurists of Islamic law say about the following: Can zakah funds be used to sponsor someone for ‘Umrah or not? Will the zakah be fulfilled through this?
بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
For the zakah to be fulfilled, a person eligible for zakah must be given ownership of the zakah money. Without this, the obligation of paying zakah will not be fulfilled. If the person being sent for Umrah isn’t even eligible to accept zakah, it is obvious that the zakah money cannot be given to him. But, if the person is eligible to accept zakah, i.e., he is a Shari’ ‘faqeer’ and neither a Syed nor Hashmi, he cannot be sent for Umrah without being given ownership and possession of the zakah money either; neither will the zakah be fulfilled this way. However, if he is given ownership and possession of the zakah money, then he can perform ‘Umrah if he wants, or he can spend that money on other things, and this method is valid according to Sharī’aĥ.
To give a Shari’ faqeer enough zakah that he becomes the owner of nisab, without any Sharī’aĥ valid reason, is Makruh Tanizihi (disliked). However, if he is indebted and he will have nothing remaining after subtracting the nisab amount, or he will have less than nisab, or if the person has many children and giving each of them some money would result in each receiving less than nisab, then in such a case it is not even makruh.
According to Sharī’aĥ, zakah is to give a portion of wealth in the ownership of a Shari’ faqir. It is stated in Tanwir Al-Absar:
ھی تملیک جزء مال عینہ الشارع من مسلم فقیر غیر ھاشمی ولا مولاہ مع قطع المنفعۃ عن الملک من کل وجہ للہ تعالیٰ
Translation: It is the transfer of ownership of a portion of wealth, specified by the Lawgiver (Allah), to a Muslim faqeer who is neither Hashmi nor his freed slave, along with completely cutting off any benefit from that wealth in every respect, for the sake of Allah Almighty. (Tanwir Al-Absar, Vol. 3, p. 203-206, Publ. Dar Al-Ma’rifah, Beirut)
Imam Ahmad Raza Khan عليه رحمة الرحمن states in Fatawa Razawiyyah:
زکوٰۃ کا رکن تملیکِ فقیر (یعنی فقیر کو مالک بنانا) ہے۔ جس کام میں فقیر کی تملیک نہ ہو ، کیسا ہی کارِ حَسن ہو جیسے تعمیرِ مسجد یا تکفینِ میت یا تنخواہِ مدرسانِ علمِ دین، اس سے زکوٰۃ نہیں ادا ہوسکتی۔
Translation: The integral part of zakah is giving ownership to a faqeer. Any act in which the faqeer doesn’t gain ownership, no matter how virtuous it is, such as building a masjid, shrouding a deceased, or paying the salaries of teachers of religious knowledge, will not count as paying zakah. (Fatawa Razawiyah, Vol. 10, p. 269, Publ. Raza Foundation, Lahore)
It is mentioned in Fatawa Ahle-Sunnat (Ahkam-e-Zakat):
زکوٰۃ کے پیسے سے کسی کو عمرہ نہیں کرواسکتے، فقیر شرعی کو مالک بنا کردینا ضروری ہے ۔ پھر وہ جو چاہے کرے۔
Translation: Zakah money cannot be used to send someone for ‘Umrah; it is necessary to give it to a Shari’ faqeer while transferring ownership to them. Thereafter, they can do with it whatever they want. (Fatawa Ahle-Sunnat Akham-e-Zakat, p. 414, Publ. Maktaba-Tul-Madinah, Karachi)
It is stated in Bahar-e-Sharī’at:
ایک شخص کو بقدرِ نصاب(زکوۃ کی رقم) دے دینا مکروہ، مگر دے دیا تو ادا ہوگئی۔ ایک شخص کو بقدرِ نصاب دینا مکروہ اُس وقت ہے کہ وہ فقیر مدیُون نہ ہو اور مدیُون ہو تو اتنا دے دینا کہ دَین نکال کر کچھ نہ بچے یا نصاب سے کم بچے مکروہ نہیں۔ یوہیں اگر وہ فقیر بال بچوں والا ہے کہ اگرچہ نصاب یا زیادہ ہے، مگر اہل و عیال پر تقسیم کریں تو سب کو نصاب سے کم ملتا ہے تو اس صورت میں بھی حرج نہیں۔
Translation: Giving a person zakah equal to the amount of nisab is makruh, but if it is given, the zakat will still be fulfilled. Giving a person zakat equal to the nisab is makruh only when that faqeer is not indebted. However, if he is indebted such that after deducting the debt nothing remains, or less than nisab remains, then it is not makruh. Similarly, if the faqeer has children, and if what he receives is divided among his family, each one receives less than nisab, then even if he receives equal to the nisab or more, there is no harm. (Bahar-e-Sharī’at, Vol. 1, Pt. 5, p. 927, Publ. Maktaba-Tul-Madinah, Karachi)
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
(Allah Almighty knows best and His Messenger صَلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہِ وَ اٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم knows best.)
Answered By: Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari
Ref No: FAM-648
Date: 26th Rajab Al-Murajjab 1446 AH/ 27th January 2025