Using zakaat money to pay for bumping someone's car

Q: A Muslim man bumped into my car. He gave me the round around for 2 months. He eventually agreed to pay the panelbeater. Now he has excluded the vat amount. When I asked him for the vat amount he refused then says he will give me the vat amount as zakaat.

The full invoice of the panelbeater is what is supposed to be paid. He wants to now make it a zakaat thing thinking that I wont take it on hearing that it's zakaat. What is the ruling as the full amount is what had to be paid in the agreement of fixing me car?

A: By him telling you that it is zakaat does not make it zakaat. He is just fulfilling his obligation.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)