Zakat for Hospitals, Wells and Disaster Relief

Short answer: No, zakat cannot be given directly to fund a hospital, dig a well, or for general disaster relief projects, because it must be confined to the eight categories specified in Surah At-Tawbah 9:60 and requires transfer of ownership (tamlik) to an individual recipient. However, if the zakat is given to a specific poor or needy person who then uses it for treatment, water, or disaster needs, it may be valid indirectly. Details: The eight categories in Surah At-Tawbah 9:60 are: the poor (fuqara'), the needy (masakin), zakat collectors, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, freeing captives, debtors, in the cause of Allah (fi sabilillah), and the wayfarer. The evidence-weighted position, held by the Permanent Committee and Shaykh Ibn Baz, is that 'fi sabilillah' primarily means jihad and its preparation, not general public welfare. Therefore, building hospitals, digging wells, or funding disaster relief as a project does not fit any category and does not involve tamlik to an individual. The hadith (e.g., Sahih al-Bukhari 1454, 1455; Sahih Muslim 987a) emphasize precise payment of zakat to rightful recipients. A minority opinion expanding 'fi sabilillah' to include all good deeds is considered weaker. Evidence: 1. Surah At-Tawbah 9:60 explicitly limits zakat to eight categories. (P1) 2. Permanent Committee: giving zakat directly to hospitals, wells, roads or general welfare projects is not valid because zakat is confined to the eight categories and requires tamlik. (P2) 3. Permanent Committee and Ibn Baz: 'fi sabilillah' means jihad and its preparation, not general public welfare. (P3) Disclaimer: This fatwa is based on the supplied evidence. For complex or individual cases, consult a knowledgeable scholar.