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:

salaam. I have brother in India WHO IS NOT WORKING. HE LIVES with my parents AND IS FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED BY them. since I am well settled in the Uk, I have requested my parents - in future to give my share of their property ( where they live currently) to him ( worth INR 20,00,000) to him so that he has roof to stay in.

Also, Since he will struggle financially after my parents are no longer alive, my parents have bought a 2nd house ( worth INR 30,00,000) in India. It is in his name. It provides rental income of INR 12,000 / month. the rental income goes in his bank directly.

I have myself bought property in india ( INR 30,00,000). It provides me with an rental income of INR 15,000 /month. i plan to give the rental money to him every month.

My query is-

1- is my brother eligible to receive zakat money from me even though
a- the parental house he stays in and will continue to stay in is worth INR 40,00,000.
b- he has 1 more house in his name ( bought by my parents) providing rental income of INR 12000/ month

IF he is eligible to receive the zakat money, can I consider
1- INR 15,000/ month as going towards my zakat dues
2- INR 20,00,000 ( in future I plan to give my share of inherited parental property to him)

the above arrangement has been made to provide him with financial stability

Also can I give zakat money to MUnicipal hospital in India treating extrememly poor patients of all religion free of cost 

 

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Answer:

 

Is brother eligible to receive zakah

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 poor, and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds), for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to the Truth), for those in bondage and in debt, in the Cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah and Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.

 

Allah Subhanah has prescribed that ‘zakah’ should be paid to any of the above eight listed categories:

1. To the poor
2. To the needy
3. To those who are employed to administer the zakah funds
4. To those whose hearts have recently been reconciled to the Truth of Islam (new-muslims)
5. For those in bondage
6. For those in debt
7. In the Cause of Allah
8. To the way-farer or traveler

 

Allah Subhanah has Commanded and Guided the believers that ‘Zakah’ must be distributed to any of the above eight categories only; for all other categories, one may help them through voluntary and supererogatory charity or ‘sadaqah’ but not through ‘Zakah’ funds.

 

Your Question: ….is my brother eligible to receive zakat money from me even though…

The only people one is prohibited in Shariah to give ‘zakah’ to, even if they fall amongst the above listed eight eligible categories are those individuals whose financial upkeep is ones obligatory responsibility and duty in Shariah: like one’s parents, one’s wife and one’s children. 

 

One is not legally responsible for the financial upkeep of one’s adult brother in Shariah, thus it is permissible for one to spend of one’s ‘zakah’ dues on one’s brother, if indeed the state of the brother happens to fall under one of the above listed eight categories of eligibility.

 

If your brother happens to live with his parents, owns a home which was gifted to him by his parents worth INR 3million, is expected to receive inheritance of at least another INR 2million, plus has a monthly rental income of INR 12,000.00….truth is brother, it would be hard to justify or include him amongst the ‘poor’ or ‘needy’ of the believing society!  

 

You are well within your rights to financially help your brother, and gift him your share of the inheritance property, and gift him the monthly rental which you derive from your own property, etc.…..but it would be best if you did so from your ‘non-zakah’ dues or ‘sadaqah’ or voluntary charity.  

 

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Charity for the poor is rewarded as one good deed; but in the case of a relative it is considered as two: [one reward for helping] blood ties, and [the other reward for] the charity [itself]."

Related by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, and at-Tirmidhi.

 

Your Question: Also can I give zakat money to MUnicipal hospital in India treating extrememly poor patients of all religion free free of cost 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.469 (part)          Narrated by Ibn Abbas

When the Prophet sent Hadrat Muadh (r.a.) to Yemen, he (saws) instructed Muadh (r.a.):  "…..tell them (the believers) that Allah  has enjoined on them ‘Zakah’ of their properties; and it is to be taken from the rich amongst them (the believers), and distributed to the poor (amongst the believers)."

 

‘Zakah’  is collected only from the Muslims and distributed amongst the poor Muslims alone.  The scholars and jurists in Islam are unanimous in their opinion that one cannot spend from their ‘zakah’ dues unto the disbelievers; but one is at absolute liberty to help their disbelieving brethren from their supererogatory charity and alms, or ‘sadaqah’.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan