Using zakaat money for a Madrasah and for Madrasah students

Q: 

1. Can one can use his Zakaat money to construction a Madrasah.

2. Also, can the Zakaat money be used for some general use of the Madrasah children, e.g. purchasing quilt, kids cloths, bed sheets, etc...

A: 

1. No.

2. For the zakaat to be valid there must be transfer of ownership to a recipient (e.g. a poor person). It cannot be used just to provide a benefit or service without transferal of ownership.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)