Fatwa Library
The SGT Fatwa Library brings together verified Islamic rulings on Zakat for modern assets — cryptocurrency, stocks and shares, pension and GPF funds, real estate, and debts and loans. Each fatwa cites its Quran, Hadith, and scholarly references so you can apply the ruling with confidence, and every entry is available in six languages — বাংলা, English, العربية, اردو, Bahasa Indonesia and हिन्दी. Use the language buttons above and the filters below, then open any entry to read the full ruling and the evidence behind it.
Recipients (8 Categories)
The Poor (Fuqara) and Needy (Masakin)
Who counts as poor or needy for zakat, and how do I know someone genuinely qualifies?
Short answer: The poor (fuqara) and needy (masakin) are among the eight categories of zakat recipients mentioned in Surah At-Tawbah 9:60. The poor are those who have no wealth or income to meet their basic needs, while …
Quran: Surah At-Tawbah 9:60• Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1468; Sahih Muslim 983; Sahih Muslim 1000a; Sahih al-Bukhari 1466; Sahih al-Bukhari 1458; Sahih al-Bukhari 1395; Sahih al-Bukhari 1445• Fiqh: Qur'an (Surah At-Tawbah 9:60) and Sahih al-Bukhari / Sahih Muslim; interpretation based on the texts
Recipients (8 Categories)
May I Give Zakat to My Parents or Grandparents?
Can I give my zakat to my poor parents, grandparents or other ascendants I am obliged to support?
Short answer: It is not permissible to give your obligatory zakat to your parents, grandparents, or any ascendants whom you are legally and religiously obliged to support. This is because zakat is meant to be given to t…
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1461; Sahih Muslim 1044• Fiqh: Based on general principles from the Qur'an and Sunnah; the majority of scholars including Ibn Baz, al-Uthaymin, and the Permanent Committee hold this view. The provided passages do not directly addre
Recipients (8 Categories)
Zakat for Non-Muslims
Can obligatory zakat be given to non-Muslims, and what about voluntary charity?
Short answer: Obligatory zakat (Zakat al-Mal and Zakat al-Fitr) cannot be given to non-Muslims. Voluntary charity (sadaqah) can be given to non-Muslims.
Details: The provided evidence shows that the Prophet (peace be u…
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1395; Sahih al-Bukhari 1496; Sahih al-Bukhari 1458; Sahih Muslim 1022• Fiqh: Based on evidence from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim; position of Ahl al-Hadith scholars (e.g., Ibn Baz, al-Uthaymin, Permanent Committee)
Recipients (8 Categories)
Giving Zakat to Mosques and Madrasas
May zakat money be used to build a mosque or fund a madrasa and its students?
Short answer: Based on the provided evidence, zakat money cannot be used to build a mosque or fund a madrasa and its students, because these are not among the specific categories of zakat recipients defined in the Qur'a…
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1404; Sahih al-Bukhari 1403; Sahih al-Bukhari 1468; Sahih al-Bukhari 1451; Sahih al-Bukhari 1454; Sahih al-Bukhari 1400• Fiqh: Based on the provided evidence, the position of the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta (Saudi Arabia) and major Ahle Hadith scholars such as Ibn Baz and al-Uthaymin is that zakat must b
Recipients (8 Categories)
Ruling on Zakat Given to an Apparently Eligible Person Who Later Proves Ineligible
I later found the person I gave zakat to was not eligible — must I pay again?
Short answer: If you gave zakat to someone you genuinely believed was eligible (due to apparent poverty, debt, etc.) and later discovered they were not, your zakat is accepted by Allah and you are not required to pay ag…
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1421; Sahih Muslim 1022• Fiqh: Ibn Baz; al-Uthaymin; Permanent Committee
Payment & Distribution
Government Tax vs. Zakat: Are They Interchangeable?
I already pay heavy income tax — can that count toward or replace my zakat?
Short answer: No, government tax cannot count toward or replace your obligatory zakat. Zakat is a distinct Islamic obligation with fixed rulings, while tax is a civil duty. The two are separate and cannot be substituted…
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1454; Sahih al-Bukhari 1468; Sahih Muslim 987a; Sahih Muslim 988a• Fiqh: Ibn Baz; al-Uthaymin; Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta
Payment & Distribution
Wealth Lost or Stolen After Zakat Became Due
My zakat became due, then the wealth was lost or stolen before I paid — is zakat still owed?
Short answer: If wealth is lost or stolen after zakat became due and before you paid, the general scholarly view, based on the principle that zakat is a right attached to the wealth itself, is that zakat is no longer ow…
Quran: Surah At-Tawbah 9:34-35• Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1403; Sahih al-Bukhari 1405; Sahih al-Bukhari 1395• Fiqh: Ibn Baz; al-Uthaymin; Permanent Committee
Payment & Distribution
The Intention (Niyyah) for Zakat
Is a specific intention required for zakat, and when must it be made?
Short answer: The supplied evidence does not explicitly address the requirement of a specific verbal or overt intention (niyyah) for zakat. However, based on general Islamic principles and the fact that zakat is an act …
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1454; Sahih al-Bukhari 1404; Sahih al-Bukhari 1395; Sahih al-Bukhari 1403; Sahih al-Bukhari 1504; Sahih al-Bukhari 1496• Fiqh: General Ahle Hadith position based on the obligatory nature of zakat and the principle of intention in worship
Payment & Distribution
Delaying Zakat Payment: Ruling and Consequences
Is it sinful to delay paying zakat after it becomes due, and what if I forgot for years?
Short answer: Deliberately delaying zakat after it becomes due without a valid excuse is sinful, based on severe warnings in authentic hadith. If a person forgot to pay zakat for years, they must repent, calculate the z…
Hadith: Sahih Muslim 987a; Sahih al-Bukhari 1468; Sahih al-Bukhari 1503• Fiqh: Based on Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim; evidence from the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta and scholars such as Ibn Baz and al-Uthaymin.
Payment & Distribution
Calculating Zakat on Combined Wealth (Cash, Gold, Business, Receivables)
How do I total cash, gold, business and receivables into one zakat calculation on my date?
Short answer: Gather the market value of all zakatable assets (cash, gold, business inventory, and reliable receivables) on your chosen zakat date. Subtract any immediate liabilities due. If the net total exceeds the ni…
Quran: Surah At-Tawbah 9:34-35; Surah At-Tawbah 9:71• Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1454; Sahih al-Bukhari 1404; Sahih al-Bukhari 1403; Sahih Muslim 987a• Fiqh: Ibn Baz; al-Uthaymin; Permanent Committee
Payment & Distribution
Making Up Missed Years of Zakat
I never paid zakat for several past years — how do I calculate and make up the missed years?
Short answer: The provided evidence passages establish the obligation of zakat and the severe punishment for neglecting it (Surah At-Tawbah 9:34-35, Sahih Muslim 987a), but they do not give explicit instructions on how …
Quran: Surah At-Tawbah 9:34-35• Hadith: Sahih Muslim 987a; Sahih al-Bukhari 1397; Sahih al-Bukhari 1454; Sahih Muslim 979a; Sahih al-Bukhari 1404• Fiqh: Based on evidence from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim; general consensus of Ahl al-Hadith scholars (e.g., Ibn Baz, al-Uthaymin).
Payment & Distribution
Appointing Someone to Distribute My Zakat
Can I authorize a relative or committee to distribute my zakat on my behalf?
Short answer: Yes, it is permissible to authorize a trustworthy relative or committee to distribute your zakat on your behalf. This is based on the established practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Rightly…
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1468; Sahih al-Bukhari 1454• Fiqh: Sahih al-Bukhari; Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta; Ibn Baz; al-Uthaymin