Zakah on money saved for Hajj
Question:
Please advise on zakah matters. Is it permissible to give zakah for mosque building/expansion? Also if one is going to hajj is the expense deducted from totalable zakatable items, then given for zakah?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
In principle, it is not permissible to use Zakah funds for the building/expansion of the Masjid.
The fundamental criterion for the validity of Zakah is Tamleek i.e. a needy person must be given ownership of the Zakah funds. It is clear that the Masjid is not a human being. Hence the requirement of Tamleek is not fulfilled.[1]
If the funds that are saved for Hajj are with you on the day in which you calculate Zakah and these funds have not yet been spent for Hajj purposes, then Zakah is due on such money. However, if you have already spent this money for Hajj purposes and it is no longer with you on the day Zakah is calculated, then no Zakah is due on such money.[2]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
(Mufti) Abdul Azeem bin Abdur Rahman
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