Paying Zakah to the poor indebted to the Zakah payer
Q 4: My late father had a small house which is rented out to a person. For four years now, I have not received the rent. Whenever I demand the rent, the tenant keeps procrastinating on account of his alleged poverty. When I told some benevolent people about this man's conditions, they gave me Zakah (obligatory charity) of their wealth to give it to him. Someone told me not to give the tenant this money and to regard it part of the due rent.I should mention that other inheritors who have a share in the property keep asking me to collect the rent so that they can get their due dividends. Is it permissible to take the money of Zakah and regard it as a part of the demanded rent without telling the tenant? Is it permissible for me to file a complaint against him to evict him from the property?
(Part No. 8; Page No. 201
Q 4: My late father had a small house which is rented out to a person. For four years now, I have not received the rent. Whenever I demand the rent, the tenant keeps procrastinating on account of his alleged poverty. When I told some benevolent people about this man's conditions, they gave me Zakah (obligatory charity) of their wealth to give it to him. Someone told me not to give the tenant this money and to regard it part of the due rent.I should mention that other inheritors who have a share in the property keep asking me to collect the rent so that they can get their due dividends. Is it permissible to take the money of Zakah and regard it as a part of the demanded rent without telling the tenant? Is it permissible for me to file a complaint against him to evict him from the property?
(Part No. 8; Page No. 201)
A 4:
You must give the Zakah to the poor person as you were asked to do. It is not permissible for you to keep it without his knowledge. However, if he willingly hands in the Zakah funds to you as a rent after receiving it, then there is no sin on you.May Allah grant us success. May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions!