The Permissibility of Paying Zakat (obligatory charity money) to Someone who does not know it is Zakat
The Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Verdicts were asked in ‘Fataawaa al-Lajnah ad-Daaimah lil Buhooth al-Ilmiyyah wal Iftaa’; vol. 9, page 462 (Maktabatul-Ma`aarif edtn., Riyadh, KSA):
Q: I sent a sum of money to my maternal uncle who lives in Sudan, and I did not mention to him that it was (obligatory charity money); because if I informed him of such, he would not accept the money, so I left off doing so – and (my intention) is between me and Allaah. Is my giving of zakat (obligatory charity money) correct?
A: If you paid your zakat (obligatory charity money) to someone you know deserves & is eligible for it, with (you) having the intention of zakat; then this zakat is correct.
And we hope that Allaah accepts it from you, and it is not binding upon you to inform the one that takes it that it is zakat.
And Allaah is the Granter of Success, and may Allaah’s Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad , and upon his family and his Companions.
(Question #2 from Fatwa #11241)
The Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Verdicts
Member, Abdullaah bin Ghudayaan (rahimahullaah)
Deputy Head, Abdur-Razzaaq Afifi (rahimahullaah)
Head, Abdul `Azeez bin Abdullaah bin Baaz (rahimahullaah)
