Paying a part of their Zakah in support for the handicapped children and for the centre undertaking caring for them

Fatwa no. ( 20578 ) All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon the Last of the Prophets.The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' has been briefed on what was mentioned to His Eminence, the public Mufty (Islamic scholar qualified to issue legal opinions) from the questioner: the general manager of Al-Jubayl Centre for special qualification and what has been referred to the committee from the Secretariat General of the Council (Part No. 8; Page No. 438) of Senior Scholars, no. 4956, dated 10/8/1419 A.H., the questioner asks:We are a private investment foundation caring for and qualifying handicapped children. Our centre has been opened due to the need of the society and for serving the largest possible number of handicapped people to qualify them comprehensively and integrate them into society. Since some benevolent people came to us and expressed their desire to pay part of their Zakah (obligatory charity) to support the handicapped children and to the centre in support of what serves the public interest and because of the keenness of the centre administration to investigate and follow the legal rules and application of the Saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He): So ask the people of the Scripture, if you do not know. We hope Your Eminence will benefit us with a written Fatwa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar).

After studying the fatwa, the committee has replied that Allah (Glorified be He) has specified the channels for spending Zakah and limited them to eight categories defined in His (Exalted be He) saying: As-Sadaqât (here it means Zakât) are only for the Fuqarâ’ (poor), and the Masâkin (needy) and those employed to collect (the funds), and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islâm), and to free the captives, and for those in debt, and for Allâh’s Cause, and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything) Therefore, it is not permissible to pay Zakah to any other category including projects, such as educational establishments, hospitals, building Masaajid (mosques) and other similar (Part No. 8; Page No. 439) charitable projects as such things are to be financed by charitable donations, not Zakah.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.