Darul Uloom Trinidad & Tobago

QUESTION:

As Salaamu  Alaikum,

Can zakaat be given to person who does not have the nisaab, but receives and lives on a monthly pension.  Jazak Allah

ANSWER:

Wa Alaikum As Salaam,

Yes, Zakat can be given to a person who does not have the nisaab but lives on a monthly pension which he/she receives. The fact that the person does not have a nisaab qualifies him/her to receive Zakat. The monthly pension from the government or  private company is an assistance which may help the person fulfil basic needs, but the main cause/reason for one to accept zakat is when one does not possess the nisaab.

Regarding this, the Fuqaha (expert Jurists) have stated:-

(1)

و تجوز دفعها إلى من يملك أقل من النصاب، و ان كان صحيحا مكتسبا.

‘It is permissible to give zakat to one who possesses less than the nisaab even though he is sound/healthy and earns’ (an income). (Fatawa Al Hindiya Vol. 1 Page. 189 Chapter on Al Masarif).

(2)

باب المصرف اى مصرف الزكات و العشر….( هوفقير، و هو من له أدنى شئ اى دون نصاب او قدر نصاب غيرنام مستغرق فى الحاجة.

(Ad Durr Al Mukhtar Ma Ash Shami Vol. 2 Page. 339 H.M Saeed Karachi 1406 A.H)

(Kitab An Nawazil Vol. 7 pages 82, 83 Darul Ishaat Karachi 2016; Fatawa Darul Uloom Zakariya Vol. 3 Pages 198 Zam Zam Karachi 2009; Fatawa Deeniya Vol. 2 pages 598, 599 Jamia Husainiya Surat, Gujrat 2013).

And Allah Knows best

Mufti Waseem Khan

10/02/2021