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:

Assalam Alaikum brother,

I recently got engaged to a new muslim revert. My fiance is currently living in India and I am residing in Saudi Arabia. My parents are trying to get a visa for him so that he can come here. They want us to get married and stay here for a couple of years, for 2 reasons:

1.) My fiance`s relatives do not yet know about his conversion to Islam. Only his mom knows about it.. My parents fear that when the other relatives know about it, they may create problems for both of us.

2.) My parents think that if he comes to Saudi Arabia, he will have a better opportunity to acquire more knowledge about Islam, and practice it in everyday life.

Now, we know that zakah can be given to new muslim reverts. But my parents want to know whether the money they are using to buy the visa (which is quite costly) can be given as zakah or not to him? Considering the fact that he has reverted around one and a half yrs ago and is goin to be related to me in the near future Insha Allah. Please reply asap.. JazakAllah khair. 

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Answer:

Spend zakah on visa

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 only paid to any of the above eight listed categories:

1. To the poor
2. To the needy
3. To those who are employed to administer the zakah funds
4. To those whose hearts have recently been reconciled to the Truth of Islam (new-muslims)
5. For those in bondage
6. For those in debt
7. In the Cause of Allah
8. To the way-farer or traveler

Beloved Sister, it would not be appropriate for one to spend of one’s ‘zakah’ dues to buy their prospective son-in-law a ‘visa’; for that would not fall within the above listed eight categories where ‘zakah’ dues can be spent by the believers.

But if the person in question is poor or needy, or his heart has recently been reconciled to the Truth of Islam…..there is no harm if one gives from one’s zakah dues to him, and the person himself spends the funds received on fulfilling his needs or anywhere else he might deem appropriate.

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