Using Zakaat to Pay Another Person's School Fees

Q:If a person is eligible for zakaat and he needs to pay school fees for his kids, can I tell him that I will pay the school fees (with zakaat money)?

A: You may give him the zakaat and let him pay the school fees by himself.


Q: The problem is that if the money is given to him he will not utilize it for wholesome purposes (he has a bad habit) so I thought that I can pay the fees on his behalf i.e. as if he appointed me to do so.

A: The zakaat will be discharged provided you pay it with his consent.

ويشترط أن يكون الصرف ( تمليكا ) لا إباحة كما مر ( لا ) يصرف ( إلى بناء ) نحو ( مسجد و ) لا إلى ( كفن ميت وقضاء دينه ) أما دين الحي الفقير فيجوز لو بأمره (الدر المختار 2/344 )

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)