Ruling on Using Zakat for Mosque Construction – Shar‘i Clarification
📖 Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
The Question:
What is the ruling on spending zakat funds for building mosques? And what is the Shar‘i definition of a poor person (faqīr)?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Ammā ba‘d:
Qur’ānic Ruling on Zakat Allocation:
Allah ﷻ has clearly specified and restricted the categories for zakat expenditure in the Qur’ān. In Sūrah al-Tawbah, verse 60, Allah says:
﴿إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقـتُ لِلفُقَراءِ وَالمَسـكينِ وَالعـمِلينَ عَلَيها وَالمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلوبُهُم وَفِى الرِّقابِ وَالغـرِمينَ وَفى سَبيلِ اللَّهِ وَابنِ السَّبيلِ فَريضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَليمٌ حَكيمٌ﴾
Translation:
“Charitable funds (zakat) are only for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect it, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, to free captives, for those in debt, in the path of Allah, and for the stranded traveler. This is an obligation from Allah, and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”
Ruling on Spending Zakat for Mosque Construction:
- Since Allah has specified the recipients of zakat with exclusivity (ḥaṣr), it is not permissible to spend zakat funds on purposes outside these categories.
- Therefore, building mosques, establishing madrasahs, or other beneficial projects such as teaching knowledge, cannot be funded with zakat.
- These noble causes should instead be supported through voluntary charity (ṣadaqāt al-taṭawwu‘), as they are greatly rewarding and of general benefit to the ummah.
Shar‘i Definition of a Poor Person (Faqīr):
The criteria for poverty vary by time and place:
- In some regions or eras, owning a thousand riyals might be considered wealth.
- In other times or locations, due to inflation or high living costs, the same amount may not suffice for basic needs and thus still count as poverty.
Conclusion:
Zakat must only be distributed to the eight categories mentioned in Qur’ān 9:60. Mosque construction, despite being a virtuous act, is not one of these categories. Such projects should be supported through voluntary donations, not zakat funds.
وَالله أعلم بالصواب
