🕌 Ruling on Hosting Iftar in the Mosque Using Zakat Funds 🕌
❖ Question:
Can a person arrange iftar in a mosque using Zakat money or organize a meal in a gathering? Guidance is requested regarding the Shar’i ruling on this matter.
❖ Answer by: Fadhilat al-‘Alim Khidr Hayat (حفظه الله)
Iftar does not fall under the valid recipients (مصارف) of Zakat.
✔ Purpose of Zakat:
The primary purpose of Zakat is to deliver the rightful Shar‘i entitlement to those who are eligible to receive it.
Once Zakat-eligible individuals receive their due share, they are free to use it for:
① Iftar (breaking the fast)
② Suhoor (pre-dawn meal)
③ Or fulfilling other personal needs
❖ The Issue with Collective Iftar:
When collective iftar is arranged in a mosque or a public gathering, then:
◈ Not only Zakat-eligible individuals participate,
◈ But also many non-eligible general attendees take part.
Thus, the Zakat funds no longer remain restricted to rightful recipients, which is a clear violation of Shar‘i principles.
✅ Conclusion:
It is not permissible to use Zakat funds to arrange communal suhoor or iftar meals.
Doing so contradicts the intended Shar‘i usage of Zakat.
