Fatwa

Zakat Houses

Question

15 years ago, we built Zakaat houses near a masjid and gave it to poor Muslims.
8 years ago,one of the owners built his own house in a neighbourhood and vacated the zakaat house without informing the management.
We gave away the house to another Muslim.
Now, after 8 years, he is claiming the house that it is his. Kindly advise.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Tamleek (transfer of ownership) is a requirement for valid discharge of Zakat.[1] Accordingly, the house given to the man 15 years still belongs to him even though he vacated the house. It was not right of you to simply give it to someone else when he vacated. The house still belongs to him.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Bilal Pandor

Concurred by
Mufti Muhammad Patel

Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia

www.daruliftaazambia.com

المبسوط للسرخسي (2/ 202) [1]

(قال:) ولا يجزئ في الزكاة عتق رقبة ولا الحج ولا قضاء دين ميت ولا تكفينه ولا بناء مسجد، والأصل فيه أن الواجب فيه فعل الإيتاء في جزء من المال ولا يحصل الإيتاء إلا بالتمليك فكل قربة خلت عن التمليك لا تجزي عن الزكاة

شرح مختصر الطحاوي للجصاص (2/ 375)

وأيضًا: فليس في العتق تمليك، وإنما فيه إتلاف الملك، وشرط الزكاة التمليك