The correct avenue of Zakaat
Q: Can zakat-ul-maal be spent on musjid expenses, neighbours, people of other faiths, fi sabillillah when there are poor Muslims, orphans, reverts with no means to feed or pay for health expenses in the global Muslim ummah? Can zakaat funds be used to purchase a Lamborghini or a Honda for a Duke or Prince of London under the clause ' mending hearts, bringing hearts together or fi sabillillah'. I'm not Robin Hood but I think I can see right through the answer. I interpret Surat tawbah chapter 9 verse 60 in the sequence in which it was revealed, poor ones before others. But some people prefer to spend the money on their 'bethrons', emphasising on 'mending hearts' and others would like to spend it first on the travellers. I think there should be a separate intention for friends, neighbours, people of other faiths, travellers, musjid renovation, relieving debt and a separate fund for the poor, orphans, reverts, and zakaat workers basic needs. If the zakaat worker's salary exceeds the zakat ul maal, then the purpose of zakaat to the poor and the orphaned is defeated. I need the opinion of our dear Mufti on this.
I hope and pray that I haven't offended anybody, these are hard times and funds need to be spent carefully to earn more good deeds, sawaab.
Clearly the needs of the poor and the orphaned and the ostracised reverts and the families of zakaat workers should not be overlooked in our intentions. May Allah forgive me if I'm wrong. May my brothers and sisters in The ummah and other faiths forgive me if I'm wrong.