Friday 14 Jumada al-ula 1446 - 15 November 2024
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To whom should zakat al-fitr be paid?

Question

Men are asking for zakat al-fitr in the marketplace, and we do not know whether they are religiously committed or not. There are others whose situation is comfortable, and whatever they get of the zakah they spend on their children. Some of them receive a salary but they are weak in religious commitment. Is it permissible to give them zakat al-fitr or not?.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Zakat al-fitr should be given to poor Muslims even if they are sinners so long as their sin is not something that puts them beyond the pale of Islam. What is meant by poor is those who appear to be poor, even if they are in fact rich. The one who is paying the zakah should seek out good poor people as much as possible. If he finds out later that the one who took it was actually rich, that does not affect the one who gave it, rather he has discharged his duty, praise be to Allah. 

And Allah is the Source of strength. 

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Source: Al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah Li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Iftaa’