Can wife give husband zakah.
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:
I`m
working in a private organisation, earning good amount and paying zakat. This
year I took a personal loan and it`s still going on. Hence I haven`t paid the
zakat. On the other hand, my wife due to give her Zakat in few months time. Is
it permissible for me to accept that zakat amount if she has decided to give it
to me to close the loan? (Even if I get the amount I`ll not be closing the Loan
immediately.) Pls advice.
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Answer:
Can wife give
husband 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
only to any of the above eight listed categories:
- To
the poor
- To
the needy
- To
those who are employed to administer the zakah funds
- To
those whose hearts have recently been reconciled to the Truth of Islam
(new-muslims)
- For
those in bondage
- For
those in debt
- In
the Cause of Allah
- 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.
Although it is not lawful for a man to give ‘zakah’ to those
directly under his responsibility: ie. his wife, his children, and his parents
…..there is allowance in Shariah where a wife can give ‘zakah’ and ‘sadaqah’ to
her husband, if indeed her husband is poor and needy, or is unable to fulfill
his basic needs.
Abu Said al-Khudri reported that Zainab
(r.a.), the wife of Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud (r.a.), said: "O Prophet of Allah
(saws)! Indeed you have ordered us today to give away ‘sadaqah’, and I have
some jewelry which I wanted to give away as ‘sadaqah’; but my husband Ibn Mas'ud
claims that he and his children deserve it more than someone else." The
Prophet (saws) responded: "Ibn Mas'ud is right. Your husband and your
children are more deserving."
Related by al-Bukhari.
Your
Question: Is it permissible for me to accept that zakat amount if she has
decided to give it to me
Beloved brother, if indeed you are amongst the poor or
needy, or are unable to fulfill even the basic needs of yourself and your
family…..then you might be eligible to receive ‘zakah’ or ‘sadaqah’ from your
wife’s property.
But if the Lord Most Gracious has provided you with enough
sustenance, and as you have stated you are earning well….and if you have taken
out a personal loan to fulfill your ‘wants’ rather than your basic
‘needs’....then you would obviously not fall under the category of the poor or
needy and thus you would not be eligible to receive ‘zakah’ funds from anyone.
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
Wister