ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Islamic Laws Zakat (Part II of II) Disposal of Zakat Issue 1933: * Zakat can be spent for the following eight purposes: (i) It may be given to poor person, who does not possess actual or potential means to meet his own expenses, as well as that of his family for a period of one year. However, a person who has an art or possesses property or capital to meet his expenses, is not classified as poor.

(ii) It may be paid to a miskin (a destitute person) who leads a harder life than a Faqir (a poor person). (iii) It can be given to a person who is a Wakil of Holy Imam (A.S.) or his representative to collect Zakat, to keep it in safe custody, to maintain its accounts and to deliver it to the Imam or his representative or to the poor.

(iv) It can be given to those non-Muslims who may, as a result, be inclined to Islam, or may assist the Muslims with the Zakat for fighting against the enemies, or for other justified purposes. It can be given to those Muslims also whose faith in the Prophet or in the Wilayat of Amirul Momineen is unstable and weak, provided that, as a result of giving, their faith is entrenched.

(v) It can be spent to purchase the slaves to set them free, the details of which have been given in its relevant Chapter. (vi) It can be given to an indebted person who is unable to repay his debt. (vii) It may be spent in the way of Allah for things which has common benefit to the Muslims; for example, to construct a mosque, or a school for religious education, or to keep the city clean, or to widen or to build tar roads. (viii) It may be given to a stranded traveller.

These are the situations in which Zakat can be spent. But in situation number 3 and 4, the owner cannot spend without the permission of Imam (A.S.) or his representative; and the same applies to the 7th situation, as per obligatory precaution. Rules relating to these are explained in the following articles: Issue 1934: The obligatory precaution is that a poor and destitute person should not receive Zakat more than his expenses and those of his family, for one year.

And if he possesses some money or commodity, he should receive Zakat equivalent to the shortfall in meeting his expenses for a year. Issue 1935: If a person had enough amount to meet his expenses for a year, and he spent something out of it, and then doubts whether or not the remaining amount will be sufficient to meet his expenses for one year, he cannot receive Zakat.