Issue 1936...

Issue 1936: An artisan, a land-owner, or a merchant whose income is less than his expenses for one year can take Zakat to meet his annual shortfall, and it is not necessary for him to sell off his tools, property, or spend his capital in order to meet his expenses.

Issue 1937: * A poor person who has no means of meeting his own expenses, and those of his family, for one year, can receive Zakat, even if he owns a house in which he lives, or possesses a means of transport, without which he cannot lead his life, or it may be to maintain his self-respect. And the same rule applies to household equipments, utensils and dresses for summer and winter, and other things needed by him (i.e. he can take Zakat even if he possesses these things).

And if a poor person does not have these essential things, he can purchase them from Zakat, if he needs them. Issue 1938: If it is not difficult for a poor person to learn an art, he should not, as an obligatory precaution, depend on Zakat. However, he can receive Zakat as long as he is learning the art. Issue 1939: * If a person who was poor previously says that he is still poor, Zakat can be given to him, even if the person giving Zakat may not be satisfied with what he says.

But if a person was not known to be poor previously, Zakat cannot be given to him, as a precaution, till one is satisfied about his poverty. Issue 1940: If a person says that he is poor, and he was not poor previously, and if one is not satisfied with what he says, the obligatory precaution is that Zakat should not be given to him. Issue 1941: If a Zakat giver is the creditor of a poor person, he can adjust the debt against Zakat.

Issue 1942: If a poor man dies, and his property is not as much as it may liquidate his debt, the creditor can adjust his claim against Zakat. And even if his property is sufficient to clear his debt, but his heirs do not pay his debt, or the creditor cannot get back his money for any other reason, he can adjust the debt against Zakat. Issue 1943: It is not necessary for a person who gives Zakat to mention to the poor that it is Zakat.

In fact, if the poor feels ashamed of it, it is recommended that he should not mention at all that he has given with the intention of Zakat. Issue 1944: * If a person gives Zakat to someone thinking that he is poor, and understands later that he was not poor, or owing to his not knowing the rule, gives Zakat to a person who he knows is not poor, it will not be sufficient.