What is well known among all the scholars, and is the opinion of the majority and almost reaches the point of consensus among the scholars of the righteous salaf, is that zakah is not to be spent on building mosques or buying books etc., rather it is to be spent on the eight categories which are mentioned in the aayah of Soorat al-Tawbah [9:60], namely: the poor; the needy; those employed to collect the funds; those whose hearts are to be softened towards Islam; to release captives; for those who are in debt; for Allah’s Cause (i.e., for the mujaahideen); and for wayfarers. The phrase fi sabeel Allah (for Allah’s Cause) refers exclusively to jihad. This is well known among the scholars, and this does not include spending zakah on building mosques, schools, roads, etc. And Allah is the Source of strength.
Ruling on spending zakah to build a mosque
Question 21805
What is the ruling on spending zakah on a mosque which is nearing completion but construction has stopped?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah:
Where Zakah is to Be Spent
Source:
Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li’l-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, vol. 14, p. 294
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