Zakaat

Living according to one's means

Q: My husband and I both earn R16700.00 we owe R40 000 to our credit cards and we are not able to afford school fees for our children who are going to an Islamic school. The fees R3500 a month for both kids. Can we accept zakaat money? I also need to study further next year the cost is R13500 for the year. Can I take zakaat to further my studies?

Zakaat on gold for previous years

Q: Kindly help by giving us the amount to be paid as Zakaat for the following jewellery (Kindly note that the owner never had any excess cash all these years, people would assist her financially; the jewellery was given to her as a gift in 1985, she now wishes to sell it in order to pay for the Zakaat of the past years). 21 crt bangles - 75.80 gr, 18 crt bangles - 66.90 gr, 18 crt broken gold - 116.50 gr. ( For my information I would like to know if the quantity/amount of gold will be reduced each year when calculating, as the lady never had any excess cash, and if she had to sell the jewellery to pay for the Zakaat then the quantity of gold on would decrease each year by 2.5 percent).

Calculating one's zakaat

Q: If someone doesn't have that much gold and silver on which one has to pay the zakat but does have the amount in the bank which is more than the equivalent amount of silver and that is in running process means it increases or decreases every month but didn't got below the equivalent amount of silver on which one is liable to pay the zakaat, then what is the shariah rule on this situation?

Donating one's hair to make wigs for children with cancer

Q: I am a female in need of advice about the cutting of hair in terms of disposal. I cut my hair on Friday and someone mentioned this foundation to me where you can donate your hair and they make wigs for children with cancer to use. Now my mum says she's not sure if it's a good idea because Islamically you must bury your hair and I agree with that. However, I really just want to make a difference for a cancer-suffering child and of course I won't do it if it's wrong. My question is: Is it wrong to donate your hair for cancer patients?