Zakaat

Q: Is it permissible for a single mother of two kids to accept a bursary at a school for them from zakaat funds? Currently the mother is temporarily employed.

Q: I am married with a three month old son. My wife and I both work. We live in a very modest lifestyle and Alhamdulliah just about manage to afford our essentials every month (rent, food, electricity, etc). However, once all the expenses are paid, our bank account is in an overdraft. We have been living in a bank overdraft for almost a year now and are trying our best to get out of it due to Allah's ruling on interest. Is Zakaah still obligatory on us? If yes, how do I calculate a percentage on a negative bank balance?

Q: My question is for zakaat, wealth should remain with a person for an "entire lunar year" then zakaat becomes wajib. My question is if a person has one million which remains with him for an entire lunar year, zakaat becomes wajib on him but if he gets half million one week before his zakaat date, does he need to pay zakaat on one million or 1.5 million. Please clarify. (Please note that half million which the person received did not remain with him for an entire lunar year).

Q: The condition of Zakaat is that "One should have amount equal or greater than Nisaab amount for more than one year before Zakaat can be paid". My question is, if person receives extra money upon which one year has not passed; does he need to pay Zakaat on this extra money too which does not meet the requirement of "one year old"? Please clarify if zakaat is due only if the amount has been in one's possession for more than a year?

Q: Can zakaat be used to pay of credit card accounts?

Q: How will I know which person is eligible for zakaat? Suppose I know a person who has a home and is able to fullfil only his food needs and has very less money, is he eligible for zakaat?

Q: Can I zakaat give to a person who needs help for his business. He is poor but he can fullfil his daily food and clothing needs. He has a home also in the village but he can not do business due to money, so that his financial condition can improve. If we can help him, Insha Allah his condition will get better. Please guide me.

Q: Please can you advise as to how much investigation should a person do on the person that he/she intends to give their zakaat to?

Q: My question has two part which are as follows:

1. Can we give our zakaat money to our brother who is not living with me nor with family, he is living alone and by his own living cost?

2. Our father and mother passed away last year. We seven brothers have contributed money for (Mom/Dad) their Tadfeen and Takfeen and I have paid 600 USD on behalf of my brother (lending) who is needy, so this year my zakaat money is 470 USD and can I count and cut this zakaat money from the 600 USD which I have paid on his behalf?

Q: We inherited some jewellery from our parents, which was in the locker and after dad's death, we lost the access to the locker. Until recently we managed and weighed all jewellery and distributed among ourselves (we are four brothers and a sister) as per shariah. As no zakaat was paid on them since the father died, immediately two weeks after the distribution, my elder brother died. He didn't pay any zakaat on them. He had one wife, one son, three daughters. Are they supposed to pay zakaat for that unpaid 7 years period , and how shall they distribute among themselves?