Fatwa: # 15517
Category: Charity, Obligatory (Zakaat)
Country: United Arab Emirates
Date: 11th August 2007

Title

Can we distribute Zakaat funds without the donor knowing where it goes?

Question

The zakath, sadakka, Mian etc. collected from a person for a poor person or an institution or a mosque or madrasa or for a club for social welfare etc.  If the money is so big in terms of their currency, is it possible that we can  re- distribute this money among various poor needy persons or others without the knowledge of the Zakath payer. 

I mean a person is sick...my boss gives more money when I reported this matter.   I can give some  money to him and some to other sick, poor and needy out of the money given by my boss....because I cannot always go to my boss and tell him each and every case ....

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh

Your question is not clear. According to our understanding of your query, your boss gives you money to distribute to a particular organization or poor people. You are faced with a situation where the money is too much for that organization or poor people. Your query is could you give the money to another needy avenue without the consent of your boss. If our understanding of your query is correct, then the answer is no. You are the wakeel (representative) of your boss. You will have to follow his instructions. As an alternative, explain to him your predicament and suggest to him to grant you the power to distribute the funds according to your discretion. If he gives you that power, then it will be permissible for you to distribute the funds as you deem fit.

And Allah knows best

Wassalam

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa

DISCLAIMER - AskImam.org questions
AskImam.org answers issues pertaining to Shar'ah. Thereafter, these questions and answers are placed for public view on www.askimam.org for educational purposes. However, many of these answers are unique to a particular scenario and cannot be taken as a basis to establish a ruling in another situation or another environment. Askimam.org bears no responsibility with regards to these questions being used out of their intended context.
  • The Shar's ruling herein given is based specifically on the question posed and should be read in conjunction with the question.
  • AskImam.org bears no responsibility to any party who may or may not act on this answer and is being hereby exempted from loss or damage howsoever caused.
  • This answer may not be used as evidence in any Court of Law without prior written consent of AskImam.org.
  • Any or all links provided in our emails, answers and articles are restricted to the specific material being cited. Such referencing should not be taken as an endorsement of other contents of that website.
The Messenger of Allah said, "When Allah wishes good for someone, He bestows upon him the understanding of Deen."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]