Frequently Asked Questions
The “AL FAQIR” category refers to people who can’t provide for themselves, who can’t cover their needs and the needs of their dependents in term of food, drink, clothes and dwelling. In the UK, anyone who is unemployed and forbidden to take employment and who does not have recourse to public funds (NRPF) usually falls into this category. Furthermore, those who are eligible to take employment in the UK but who are not entitled to public funds and genuinely struggle to find work usually fall into this category.
The “AL MISKIN” category refers to people who for instance, may have a job, a house and a car, but their income is below the minimum requirement. Scholars mention that their earnings cover half of their annual expenses or more but fall below the minimum requirements to cover their total annual expenses. They could be people who receive state benefits but due to the benefit cap or due to rising living costs or due to personal circumstances struggle to make ends meet.
Mu’allafatul quloob is translated by “the sympathisers”
In the UK, they could be:
- The Muslim youth
- The reverts
- Muslims whose faith needs to be strengthened.
Those who we hope will increase in their faith by receiving Zakat. This could be a new Muslim (a revert) or a man who has weak eemaan, neglects his prayers, his sadaqa, his zakaat, his hajj, his fast, etc…
The Jumhoor (Hanbali, Shafi’i and Hanafi madhab) agree that the mu’allafatul quloob category still exists until our days and they include those who we hope will become Muslim, those who reverted to Islam and those who we think will be strengthened in their faith by receiving zakat as Allah’s messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) gave Zakat to certain tribes who were new in Islam to strengthen their faith. (Sharh al Mumti’ ‘ala Zaad Al Mustaqni’ vol 6 page 226/229 and see Bidaayatul Mujtahid).
“A man who does not pray should be given from the Zakat funds in order to soften his heart. Maybe Allah will guide him as he is from the sympathisers/mu’allafatul quloob. If you give him on the basis that he is from your relatives or for any similar reason this is possible but, you must give him with the intention of softening his heart. However, if this man is known for his anger towards Islam and towards the Muslims, it is not permissible to give out Zakat funds to him and Allah’s refuge is sought.”
Shaikh Muqbel Ijaabatus Saa’il ‘ala ahammil masaa’il, Question 43, page 118
The reason why we should pay Zakat in the UK is that the main categories of Zakat recipients are present within our local community.
Secondly, most scholars agree that Zakat should be distributed to eligible recipients present within the community where it has been levied.
The needy Muslims should be able to see the wealth of the rich Muslims and are expected to receive their portion of Zakat. (Sheikh Fawzan)
Resources
The one who didn’t pay Zakat for several years
Translation:
The presenter read the question: I didn’t know that paying Zakat was an obligation upon me and I delayed its payment for several years. I was recently informed that I needed to pay it. I estimated that the period for not paying Zakat was 10 years. Should I pay it now?
Shaikh Fawzan replied:
Yes, because Zakat is a pillar from the pillars of Islam. It is wajib to calculate it accurately and to pay it straight away. It is important to do it without delay according to your ability. If you can pay it altogether, that is what is expected from you, but if you can’t pay it altogether, then you can pay it gradually until you complete its payment.
The ruling regarding transferring Zakat funds to another land
Translation:
Is it permissible to transfer Zakat funds from a country to another?
Shaikh Fawzan replied:
It depends on the needs. If the country where Zakat is levied has no needy people, or if there are no Muslims residing in that country, then Zakat funds are transferred to the country where there are needy Muslims. This is also the case if the country where Zakat funds are transferred is poorer and the people are more needy. However, if the country where Zakat funds are levied has poor and needy Muslims, they have priority, based on the hadeeth: “Take from the rich among them and distribute to the poor among them.” The poor in the country where Zakat funds are levied see this wealth and hope that they will receive some of it. If this is taken from them, the harm of deprivation will affect them.
The ruling regarding the inability to migrate to a Muslim land
Translation:
Nowadays, migration to Muslim countries is restricted by immigration regulations. Is it still an obligation to migrate to a Muslim land?
Shaikh Fawzan replied:
As I said in the past, the one who can’t migrate due to these immigration regulations is excused until these regulations are removed. One should try as much as they can. They should not be lazy and do nothing. They should try to migrate.
The ruling regarding the obligation to migrate to a Muslim land
Donate via bank transfer
Account name: Subulus Salaam
SC: 40-03-03
Acc: 81650521