Question
In the books of Fiqh, it is generally related, that in relation to Zakaat it is Makrooh to give a poor person such a sum of money that reaches the Nisaab. Does this rule apply to people who do collections for the Madaaris?
If not, till which amount can we give them in Zakaat ?
Answer
It is Makrooh to give a poor person that is eligible for Zakaat funds so much of Zakaat that he becomes the owner of Nisaab. However, this ruling does not apply to the Zakaat collectors as they are simply collecting Zakaat on behalf of the institutes/Madrasahs.
The institute is then appointed (by the person discharging his Zakaat) as his representative (Wakeel) to discharge his Zakaat to eligible and deserving students of the Madrasah and also to other related channels and avenues. This means that the institute is simply disposing the Zakaat funds on behalf of the person discharging his Zakaat, but is not the actual beneficiary of the Zakaat funds, thus there is no harm if the institute collects Zakaat funds totaling more than the Nisaab
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.