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Session Details
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| Guest Name |
Dr. Monzer Kahf
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| Profession |
Scholar in Islamic Economics & Financial Expert
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| Subject |
Fatwas on Zakat-ul-Fitr
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| Date |
Tuesday,Dec 3 ,2002
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Time |
Makkah
From...
17:00...To...
18:30
GMT
From... 14:00...To...15:30
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| Name |
Host
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| Question |
..
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| Answer |
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Brothers and sisters, the session has already started. You can submit your questions. Please, make your questions short and clear so as to help us answer all your questions.
Yours,
Islam Online Fatwa Editing Desk.
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| Name |
Wael
- Anguilla
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| Profession |
editor
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| Question |
There is a lot of controversy about where zakah can be distributed. In my community, the Imam states that the zakah must be given to the zakah committee, who will disperse the money to needy families in our community. He says that the zakah must be distributed in the place of residence of the person giving the zakah. However, many people feel that the Imam is wrong and that they can send zakah money back to their homeland, where people are much more poor and needy. Which of the two views is correct? Are both acceptable?
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| Answer |
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
"Dear Brother Wael,
Zakah can be dispersed outside the local community if there is priority for recipient outside the local community. The Shari`ah-based priority can be either of two circumstances: 1) if you pay zakah to a relative for whose livelihood expenses you are not responsible. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) considered this as kindness to a relative and zakah. In other words, it is double rewarded; 2) and when there is stressing need in any Muslim area – people anywhere in the world that you can reach with your zakah.
The example of humanitarian relief or Muslim struggling under occupation of foreign forces as is the case of Palestine and Chechnya. Their needs for zakah is certainly more than most other poor and needy.
In spite of that, taking care of the poor and the needy in your local community, at least partially, must not be neglected. This means that depending on the community you live in, a big or a small part of one's zakahshould go to the local poor and needy.
For instance, zakah in Gujarat may be distributed in that area without sending any part of it to help other community because poor Muslims in Gujarat also suffer from riots and injustice by Hindu mobs. On the other hand, most of the zakah of Muslim in the US and Canada must be distributed overseas because of several reason among them; the level of relative poverty of Muslim poor in the US and Canada is not really disturbing, there are many other means to help them through welfare program and community program and they have better opportunity to work than people under occupation overseas.
Allah Almighty knows best.
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| Name |
Issam
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| Question |
Is there any zakah on rental houses? And if there is any, then I would like to know if it is due every year or just one time? Also is there any zakahon my car if it is a fancy car?
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| Answer |
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
"Dear brother Issam,
1. There is no zakah on the car you use as a means of transportation you and/or your family even if it is fancy and expensive provided that any ornamental items made of gold or silver, even if they are for the car, are added to your other zakatable items and they are subject to zakah if the total reaches nisab (approx. US $ 1000) and a lunar year (354 days).
2. There are three opinions with regard to zakah on rented houses; a) These are not subject to zakah at all. Any income derived from them is treated as part of the inflow of money and the balance at the end of the year is subject of zakah the known conditions for zakatability; B) His Eminent, Sheikh Al-Qaradawi argues that the income of such properties must be subject to zakah upon its receipt or at the end of the year and you have a choice of either 5 % on the gross income (gross revenue- allowances for amortization) or 10 % on the net income (revenues – amortization – expenses and taxes). zakah is payable every lunar year repeatedly and any balances that are left at the end of the year are treated as part of cash balances (if they remain in cash form) that will be subject to zakah on monetary assets every lunar year; C) the third opinions is that based on the net worth that you own. It goes as follows: on the 354 days after owning a nisab you calculate the market value of the houses + cash balances + bank account + inventory + jewelllary– mortgages and other liabilities etc. and you pay Zakah at 2. 5%. This is also repeated every year.
Certainly personal assets are excluded from the obligation of zakah; personal assets include residence, furniture, household appliances and equipment, clothes, books, means of transportations, etc. I personally believe that the third opinion is more consistent with the objectives of zakah and the generality under which the text of the Qur'an and Sunnah express the zakatability on amwal (properties). It is also consistent with the contemporary economic and financial considerations of who is rich and who is not."
Allah Almighty knows best.
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| Name |
Huda
- Australia
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| Profession |
trans
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| Question |
Can the zakah and Khairat and fitra or either of the three be given for poor Muslim children education in a Muslim school or not? If yes, then how much of the three or if no why?
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| Answer |
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
"Distribution of zakah for the purpose of educating Muslim children from poor families may be permissible under certain circumstances. Take the example of Muslim children from poor families in US. We used to say that zakah may be paid for the education of Muslim children on the ground that most Muslim families, where either poor or middle class they do not afford paying for private education of their children and facilities for their Islamic teaching were not available.
In other words, zakah was paid on the basis of preserving the religion of these Muslim children as part of the category fisabil Allah or in Allah's Cause.
But, over the last quarter of a century this situation has changed. In the overwhelming majority of cases the Muslim communities in the US are able to build mosques and schools and most families can afford paying for the education for the Islamic and other education of their children, there are also several other means for upbringing children in an Islamic way throughout the Muslim communities in the US that payments through tuitions of poor Muslim children or for establishing Islamic schools goes out of the category of "for the Cause of God".
This category is essentially for the defense of religion, if people and the Muslim land and it was only carried by extension to Muslim school and tuitions of poor Muslim children only by extension and by stretching the meaning of this defense to be maintaining the religiosity of these children. If maintenance of the religiosity of these children is essentially the responsibility of parents and there are now abilities and facilities to do so that the extension of the meaning of fisabili Allah is no more applicable.
In spite of that, there may be still exceptional cases where the maintaince of the religion of these poor Muslim children can only be achieved through a Muslim school and there is no other facility to do so. In such exceptional cases, zakah may be paid for poor Muslim children education, otherwise the objective of zakah must be maintained within the principal meaning and limit of the 8 categories especially the first one the poor and the needy as mentioned in the Qur'an."
Allah Almighty knows best.
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| Name |
tarek
- Egypt
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| Profession |
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| Question |
How much money shall I and my wife pay as zakatul-fitr, and when shall I pay it?
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| Answer |
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
"Money equivalent to zakatul-fitr differs from one country to another because it depends on the value the main food stuff in your area and you better get a local estimation where you live.
In the US, we estimate it as 7 to 10 dollars. It must be given to the poor before the `eid prayer on the 1st of Shawwal."
Allah Almighty knows best.
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| Name |
Imad
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| Question |
As-salamu `Alaykum. I just want credit card transactions. However, they charge some monthly fee for using that card. Is this monthly fee usury?
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| Answer |
Wa`alaykum As-Salaamu Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
"I am not aware of any credit card that charges monthly fees. To my knowledge, such fees are only interest. There are cards that charge annual subscription fees, which are permissible and they are not interests and they are not related to the amount of balances you may own. If the monthly fee referred to is not interest, please give me more details and explanation through 'Ask the scholar' service in Islamonline."
Allah Almighty knows best.
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| Name |
Osama
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| Profession |
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| Question |
I have two questions to ask: Due to my ignorance I have never paid zakah since my parents always told me that they would pay it for me. In addition, I have been married for two years. Will I be accountable for it? Second, is zakah calculated based on all assets - liabilities = Net 2.5 % = zakah?
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| Answer |
Wa`alaykum As-Salaamu Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
"You are required to know your obligations of zakah and to pay it for the presence and past years since the 354th day after you owned nisab for the first time. You may check www.kahf.net for the calculation of zakah in North America and what are the assets that are zakatable and liabilities that are excludable.
If your parents paid your zakah for past years, that is permissible and insha'Allah acceptable."
Allah Almighty knows best.
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| Name |
Hussain
- United States
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| Question |
As-salamu `Alaykum. I did some local distribution of zakatul-fitar in local communities (refugees) in US last year. One thing which is very difficult to find is that how to judge. Every home here has all the basic amenities compared to people in the States. I therefore decided to stop volunteer this year fearing accountability by Allah. Please advice.
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| Answer |
Wa`alaykum As-Salaamu Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
"Zakat-ul-Fitr can be distributed to the more needy areas overseas such as humanitarian relief in Palestine and Chechnya through Islamic relief organizations. I believe that most of the poor in the US including refuges communities do not really need our zakat-ul-fitr because they have many other sources to help them and the real need is very exceptional and I believe we should do our best as individual and as communities to send our zakat-ul-fitr to the people who are under poverty struggling against foreign occupation."
Allah Almighty knows best.
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| Name |
Amine
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| Question |
My grandfather died and he has not paid zakat-ul-fitr for many years. He left some money and his wife is asking if she can use that money to pay for zakat-ul-fitr for all the years he did not pay.
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In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
"Yes, zakat-ul-fitr is debt on the deceased and unfortunately he missed the great reward of it and paying it from the estate is like paying other zakah that may be due on him and will insha'Allah reach him with some reward on the Day of Judgment. It still must be paid for the all zakah year along with zakat-ul-fitr if any."
Allah Almighty knows best.
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| Name |
Amine
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1. Do I have to pay the zakat-ul-fitr in the country of residence or can my parents pay for me back home?
2. Is it ok to pay zakat-ul-fitr for my cousin who does not live with me and has not spent Ramadan with me?
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| Answer |
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
"Yes, zakah can be paid where you live or overseas. It also can be paid to your cousin if he is poor."
Allah Almighty knows best.
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| Name |
Osama
- United States
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| Question |
Salamu `Alaykum. I'm sorry I had one more to add, how can zakah be paid by cash , check, or credit card... Also say that you pledge to make a contribution can do you add that as part of your liabilities?
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| Answer |
Wa`alaykum As-Salaamu Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
"Zakah and zakat-ul-fitr can be paid cash, by check or by credit card. Most Islamic relief organizations accept all three.
As for your question about contribution and liabilities, it is not clear. Please do give me some clarification and re-submit your question through 'Ask the Scholar' service."
Allah Almighty knows best.
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Ashar
- United States
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As-salamu `Alaykum. What is the ruling of zakah payment on 401k? I have heard it can be deferred till you take ou?
Also, how to calculate zakah in a falling stock values market after a year?
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Wa`alaykum As-Salaamu Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
"A quick answer is that 401k account is subject to zakah every lunar year but its zakah can be differed to the day you withdraw and then we calculate for past year if you withdraw with penalty and taxes.
Zakahon stock that are purchased for the purpose of sale is on the market value of the stock on the day the zakah is due."
You can also read:
Zakah on 401K Account
Allah Almighty knows best.
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| Name |
Kaif
- Canada
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| Profession |
Engineer
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| Question |
I have tried before but my question was not taken. I hope this time I get a reply insha'aAllah. It is very important that I get an answer today. Jazakallah Khairan.
On the issue of purchasing a house through a mortgage by Muslims in North America. Does the Fatwa apply to my specific situation? Would it be halal for me to mortgage a house?
I've seven children and live in Condo (3 bedrooms) in Ottawa. Quality of life for my family in a Condo is not good; I have not taken mortgage and avoided all forms of riba so far, except credit card. I had problems getting rental housing because of my family size and current landlord is not going to renew my lease. ISNA Co-op is asking for 25%-40% down payment, I don’t have that plus a long waiting period. Because of good credit history a bank will approve a mortgage, I want to avoid interest. But in Summer 2003 I've to look for another Rental property, can foresee same problems as twice before? Does Fatwa on Mortgage and whether it applies to my family?
Also is it permissible to take a low interest loan to help me pay off high interest loans or to help me with a down payment for the house and to eventually get rid of all riba?
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In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear brother Kaif,
Under credit card high interest without being worried about these 20 % or more annual interest you are paying on the credit card balances, you remember now to ask about interest in house mortgage?
The first thing you need to do is to make full and complete tawbah (repentance) between you and Allah the Almighty especially in these last final days of Ramadan, then with that repentance you need to pledge to yourself before Allah that you do not deal with interest any more especially on your credit card.
After that, try to get out of all these interest-based transactions and do not use your credit card except when you are 100 % sure that you will pay in full within the grace period without allowing interest to generate and accumulate on your account and that you will never use it for cash withdrawal. At the same time, if you cannot find a decent suitable housing without interest, you may use interest-based mortgage to buy a house as a residence for your large family and you may substitute a lower interest loan for the high interest loan you may have until you get rid of them. When you buy a residence on mortgage remember that you should do your best to minimize your involvement with interest both time-wise and amount-wise; this means that you do your best to pay in the shortest period and the least amount of interest.
Allah Almighty knows best.
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| Name |
Zarif alibhai
- Canada
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| Question |
As-salamu `Alaykum. Since `eid is like a holiday should we not work/go to school and what should be done on `eid?
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Wa`alaykum As-Salaamu Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
"On `eid you do not have to take vacation, but if you do it is better. This is a general question and you should have asked it in the general Fatwa session."
You can also read:
`Eid: Etiquette & Rulings
Allah Almighty knows best.
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zarif alibhai
- Canada
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A-Saalamu `Alykum, I think I have heard the name sadaqat-ul-fitr, have you guys ever heard about this? If so, what is the meaning, not the literal translation, but why would it be wajib if only called this?
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In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Sadaqat-ul-fitr is another name for zakat-ul-fitr, it is also called fitrah. It is obligatory as in the correct saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The term sadaqah in the Qur'an and also in the sunnah is used to refer to both obligatory as well as voluntary charity. For instance, Surah 9, verse 60 mentions the word sadaqah in the meaning of the obligatory zakat-ul-mal.
Allah Almighty knows best.
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Editor
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In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Brothers and sisters, we are so sorry for not answering all your questions because the time is over. We apologize for any inconvenience. Do keep in touch. Join us in coming sessions.
Yours,
Islam Online Fatwa Editing Desk.
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Host
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In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Brothers and sisters, the session has already started. You can submit your questions. Please, make your questions short and clear so as to help us answer all your questions.
Yours,
Islam Online Fatwa Editing Desk
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Editor
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In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Brothers and sisters, we are so sorry for not answering all your questions because the time is over. We apologize for any inconvenience. Do keep in touch. Join us in coming sessions.
Yours,
Islam Online Fatwa Editing Desk.
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| All Fatwas published on this website (Islamonline.net) represent the juristic views and opinions of eminent scholars and Muftis. They do not necessarily form a juristic approach upheld by this website. Click here to read Full Disclaimer. |
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