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A family wants to go on vacation and then do ‘Umrah – can they be given zakaah?

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Publication : 02-12-2005

Views : 10320

Question

There is a family of average means who want to go on a summer vacation to al-Taa’if and then go to Makkah to perform ‘Umrah, but they do not have enough money for this trip. What is the ruling on giving them zakaah? Why? If it is permissible, then how much may they be given?.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Allaah has explained the categories to whom zakaah may be given, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“As-Sadaqaat (here it means Zakaah) are only for the Fuqaraa’ (poor), and Al‑Masaakeen (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds); and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allaah’s Cause (i.e. for Mujaahidoon — those fighting in a holy battle), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allaah. And Allaah is All-Knower, All-Wise”

[al-Tawbah 9:60]

We have explained this further in the answer to question no. 6977

The poor and needy should be given only what will suffice a person and his family on whom he is obliged to spend according to Islam, with no extravagance or wasting of money. 

What is meant by this spending that is prescribed in Islam is the basic needs of the poor person, such as accommodation, clothing, food, drink, medical treatment and so on. 

Travelling for a vacation is not a basic need for which a poor person may be given zakaah. 

Based on this, it is not permissible to give these people zakaah funds on the basis that they are poor. 

Similarly, they cannot be given zakaah on the basis of being wayfarers, because the wayfarer is one who is actually travelling but does not have enough money with him to reach his destination. He may be given sufficient zakaah to enable him to reach his destination. But these people are still in their home and are not travelling, so they cannot be described as wayfarers. 

This has been explained in the answer to question no. 35889 

And Allaah knows best.

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Source: Islam Q&A