Sharʿī Ruling on Giving Zakāt to Madrasa Teachers and Its Limits
Reference: Ahkam wa Masail, Zakāt Issues, Vol. 1, Page 274
❖ Question:
In our village (Nagri Bala), a madrasa has been established for local children. Three teachers have been appointed to teach, and their annual salary is set at 18,000 rupees. This amount is arranged through local zakāt collections and the sale of qurbānī hides.
The questions are:
◈ Is there anything un-Islamic in this arrangement?
◈ If there is any Sharʿī restriction, kindly clarify.
It should be noted that food and accommodation for these teachers have not been arranged.
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
◈ Qur’anic Principle Regarding Zakāt Distribution
Allah ﷻ has specified eight categories entitled to zakāt:
﴿إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَٰتُ لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلۡعَٰمِلِينَ عَلَيۡهَا وَٱلۡمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمۡ وَفِي ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلۡغَٰرِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِۖ فَرِيضَةٗ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٞ﴾
(at-Tawbah: 60)
Meaning:
“Charity (zakāt) is only for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect it, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, for freeing slaves, for those in debt, in the cause of Allah, and for the stranded traveler. This is an obligation from Allah, and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”
◈ Ruling on the Mentioned Case
The arrangement you mentioned — i.e., paying salaries of madrasa teachers from zakāt and proceeds of qurbānī hides — is permissible only if:
✔ The teachers fall under the category of faqīr (poor) or miskīn (needy),
✔ Or they are covered under fī sabīlillāh (in the path of Allah).
If even one of these categories applies, then using zakāt in this manner is valid.
But if they do not fall into any of the eight categories, then:
✘ It is not permissible to use zakāt funds for their salaries.
✘ Likewise, proceeds from qurbānī hides are also subject to the same condition.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam biṣ-ṣawāb.
