Ruling on a Poor Person Receiving Zakat and Using It Himself
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
If a poor person receives zakat from a wealthy friend with the intention of distributing it, but later decides to keep it for himself, what is the ruling in such a case?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
➊ This act is ḥarām (forbidden) and a violation of trust.
This is because the wealthy friend handed over the zakat money with the intention of appointing the poor person as an agent (wakīl) to distribute it to others.
But when the poor person keeps the amount for himself, he is breaking that trust and acting dishonestly.
✔ It is not permissible for an agent (wakīl) to use for himself the wealth entrusted to him for distribution.
✔ Hence, this person must inform his friend that he has used the zakat money for himself.
✔ If the friend gives explicit permission, then it is acceptable.
✔ If he does not permit, then the poor person must distribute that amount as zakat on behalf of his friend.
There is another important matter worth mentioning:
✔ Some ignorant individuals engage in similar actions.
➤ For example:
– A person receives zakat due to being poor.
– Later, Allah makes him self-sufficient (ghani).
– Yet people continue to consider him poor and keep giving him zakat, which he continues to accept.
– He justifies this by saying: “I didn’t ask anyone; Allah brought this provision to me Himself.”
◈ If Allah has made someone self-sufficient, then it is absolutely impermissible for him to accept zakat.
◈ Taking zakat in such a condition is ḥarām, no matter what he says in his defense.
Some people receive zakat and pass it on to someone else, despite not being appointed as an agent (wakīl) by the zakat giver.
◈ This is also ḥarām.
◈ Such an act of disposition is not permissible.
◈ Although it is less serious than the first case, it still remains prohibited.
◈ If the zakat giver does not approve of this action, the person must return the amount to him.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
❀ Question:
If a poor person receives zakat from a wealthy friend with the intention of distributing it, but later decides to keep it for himself, what is the ruling in such a case?
❀ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
➊ This act is ḥarām (forbidden) and a violation of trust.
This is because the wealthy friend handed over the zakat money with the intention of appointing the poor person as an agent (wakīl) to distribute it to others.
But when the poor person keeps the amount for himself, he is breaking that trust and acting dishonestly.
❖ Scholarly Guidelines:
✔ It is not permissible for an agent (wakīl) to use for himself the wealth entrusted to him for distribution.
✔ Hence, this person must inform his friend that he has used the zakat money for himself.
✔ If the friend gives explicit permission, then it is acceptable.
✔ If he does not permit, then the poor person must distribute that amount as zakat on behalf of his friend.
❖ An Important Related Issue:
There is another important matter worth mentioning:
✔ Some ignorant individuals engage in similar actions.
➤ For example:
– A person receives zakat due to being poor.
– Later, Allah makes him self-sufficient (ghani).
– Yet people continue to consider him poor and keep giving him zakat, which he continues to accept.
– He justifies this by saying: “I didn’t ask anyone; Allah brought this provision to me Himself.”
❖ Shar'i Ruling:
◈ If Allah has made someone self-sufficient, then it is absolutely impermissible for him to accept zakat.
◈ Taking zakat in such a condition is ḥarām, no matter what he says in his defense.
❖ Another Scenario:
Some people receive zakat and pass it on to someone else, despite not being appointed as an agent (wakīl) by the zakat giver.
◈ This is also ḥarām.
◈ Such an act of disposition is not permissible.
◈ Although it is less serious than the first case, it still remains prohibited.
◈ If the zakat giver does not approve of this action, the person must return the amount to him.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
