Making a trick to pay Zakah to parents who are not poor

19-3-2009 | IslamWeb

Question:

Salam 3alaykom 3eebad ALLAH,
My friend wants to give zakah to her mother and father, i told her its not allowed in islam because its a duty on you to help them, she said what if i give my aunt and indirectly she will give my parents (her aunt is poor and in need), i told her dont be like the jews who try to out smart RUBB al 3alameen, whom are u being smart on, sure its not right to do so. I am not a mufti and i know i dont have the right to give fatwa what so ever, was it right what i told her and if it is wrong what shall i do pay kaffara for giving wrong fatwa or fast?
Give me the fatwa may ALLAH have mercy on you and bless you.
Salam 3alaykom, fee aman ALLAH
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

We have already issued Fataawa 87358 and 84019 clarifying that it is not permissible to pay Zakah to both parents or to one of them, however, if the aunt whom you mentioned in the question is among the people who are eligible for Zakah, then it is permissible to pay Zakah to her. Nonetheless, it is not permissible to take this as a trick in a way that she takes the Zakah in order to give it to the parents of the person who pays the Zakah.

Indeed, the matter is as you mentioned in the question, following tricks which lead to what is forbidden, is a practice of the Jews by which they deserved the Wrath of Allaah who turned them into monkeys.

The scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them stated that tricks are forbidden in Islamic Law, and that it is one of the acts of the Jews by which they deserved the Curse of Allaah.

Allaah Knows best.

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