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:

Assalaamu Alaikum

Can you tell me if someone is giving donations sometimes to needy persons and expecting nothing in return in his daily life can that be calculate at the year end and deduct from the Zakat amount
payable.

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Answer:

Charity from zakah dues

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.

One of the obligatory conditions of fulfilling one’s zakah dues in Shariah is that the person giving the charity must have and make the intention of fulfilling one’s ‘zakah’ before or when one pays it.

If one gives regular charity to the poor and needy in their daily life, it would account as ‘sadaqah’ or voluntary charity in the Sight of Shariah….and it would not be acceptable for one to give ‘sadaqah’ and deduct that amount from their annual ‘zakah’ dues, unless and until the person who gave the charity made intention to fulfill their obligatory zakah dues before they gave the amount.

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