Q: This is how I discharge my zakaat every year:
A certain lady is in charge of an organization that builds homes for widows, so what I do, for example, 200 000 dollars is my zakaat, so I give it to her and tell her build homes for 4 widows, sometimes I give the money directly to the bank in charge of the project, is this ok?
Q: A friend of ours gave us his zakat money to send it to his other friend was in another country to distribute it there. When we contacted that foreign friend he said he doesn't know anyone so pls don't send me the money. The zakat giver had told us we can give to anyone else deserving. When we found someone suitable we realised we lost the money. We tried very hard to find it. It could be stolen. But we are not sure. What should we do. If we tell him he might get upset. Can we pay his zakat without telling him? Do we have to pay for him?
Q: If I give my zakaat to an organization, will my zakaat be fulfilled as soon as i give them my zakaat or only once they have distributed my zakaat? If it only gets fulfilled once they distribute it then what happens when in todays time we make an EFT to the organizations zakaat account but they distribute from that account as the need arises? My zakaat could stay in their accounts for years. will my zakaat still not be fulfilled?
Q: 1. Does the payment of Zakaah have to be precise on the day its discharged? or can it be earlier or later? If so, how early or how late?
2. When is the best time to calculate and give Zakaah?
Q: When welfare organizations receive zakaat money in the month of Ramadaan, can this money be kept to fund all the cases they receive throughout the year and then bring this amount to nil by the following Ramadaan or has the money to be disposed this month and if so how does one support the cases.
Q: If I give my zakaat to A to give it for me, they then give it to B to take it to the bank (organisation) or to an Aalim. B could be a non-muslim. It is possible that I do not know of it changing so many hands. Is my zakaat valid?
Q: When giving Zakaat in Ramadaan is it permissible to give clothing e.g. leather jackets and include it in the Zakaat?
Q: Is one allowed to give food items or food like grocery as zakaat?
Q: Can one give money with the intention of zakaat for the upcoming years due to urgent needs of our relatives. Moreover, we will deduct the same by next year with the available amount.
Q: Some organizations are issuing vouchers to the effect that the recipients of Zakaat can purchase groceries to the value of an x amount (e.g. R 200) from certain shops/supermarkets. Is it permissible for these organizations to sell these vouchers at par value (exact amount on the vouchers) to third parties who wish to distribute their own Zakaat to needy recipients themselves?