Zakaat

Q: Can zakaat be given to an orphan shelter centre?

Q: Can zakaat be given to a child to cover her education expenses?

Q:

1) Is it permissible for a person to change his zakaat date to an earlier date due to him e.g. being out the country on a yearly basis at the same time he was supposed to pay zakaat?

2) If someone doesn't know what exact date he became baaligh on, how should he set the date for payment of his zakaat?

Q: Does one need to pay zakaat on land purchased abroad in 2008 with the intention of selling in the future? Currently the land is vacant as the prices for land have reduced greatly and demand is very low and the land wont be sold until another 4/5 years at least. If so, how does one calculate?

Q: I have put a box in my cupboard in which I put the sadaqa amount and when a considerable amount gets together, I give them in charity. I have told my friends about it and they also sometimes contribute in it. The method I adopt regarding charity is that I visit a near by area where mostly poor people live. Then I search for those who are apparently religious as well as needy. The standard of needy that I look at is that one who is apparently really suffering to make both ends meet though he has a fruit stall or an animal like donkey for picking loads for people and carrying them elsewhere. I know that there must be much more needy ones but with this methodology, is my sadqa discharged properly because I think that giving to charity organization may be better but doing so one does not get the real feeling of the poor which one gets by searching them. So I prefer this method.

Q: There are a lot of refugees currently needing support. Would it be ok to use part of the zakaat for buying products that are needed e.g diapers for the babies and donating these products as part of zakaat? Products are collected centrally and distributed amongst the refugees at that location.

Q: I belonged to a Pension Fund at work however it was disbanded and I moved the monies to a retirement annuity. This money is only available to me at age of 55. I have been told that I need to pay zakaat on it annually. The amount is substantial and I cannot afford to pay this annually. Why do I have to pay zakaat if I am not able to use the funds until 55 years?

Q: If my brother is in debt for 200k earns +- 14k also has old lay-bys that he pays for every month, has two children, rents a flat, has house expenses plus petrol, always ends up taking money and food from my mum, can my mom and I give him our zakaat or interest money to pay his debts?

Q: I understand that Zakaat is not payable on an extra house. But if the extra house is rented and I am not receiving the rent because I live abroad
and my parents/brothers receive the rent and spend the rent to fulfill their needs. Do I still have to pay Zakaat on the rent?

A: No

Q: If someone gives me zakaat thinking I am eligible but I'm actually ineligible, should I return the money or keep it?