Zakah for Muslim graveyard in non-Muslim country
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
Dear respected brother Burhan, Assalamu Alaikum ! I need your help related to Zakaat. I was in When I went to my country 2 months ago, One of my friend told and show me the old mosque and cemetery in a poor village. I saw there the concrete wall of the cemetery was broken by heavy rain. I took picture and discuss to help about the reconstruction of the cemetery . It is Ramadan and easy to meet our native brothers in the Mosque in We are trying to send some money from One of us want to know that , Can he use the money of Zakaat in this cemetery's wall reconstruction. We are seeking your help and reply at your earliest. Allah Hafeez. Your brother in Islam,
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
Answer:
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 60:
60 Alms are for the (1) poor and the (2) needy and (3) those employed to administer the (funds); (4) for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to the Truth); (5) for those in bondage and in (6) debt; (7) in the Cause of Allah; and (8) for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah and Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.
Zakah funds can be distributed amongst any of the above listed eight categories in Islam.
In an Islamic State, it would be the responsibility of the state to administer and maintain the muslim graveyards. But if muslims are living in a non-Islamic State, and have no sources of funds to maintain their graveyard, the scholars and jurists in Islam have given their opinion that although the rebuilding of a cemetery wall is not specifically listed amongst the categories of those eligible to receive zakah funds, it would be permissible to spend from the zakah funds in maintaining or repairing the muslim graveyard under the category of (2) ‘needy’ or (7) in the Cause of Allah.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in Islam,
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