Q. 381. Is every person who extends his hand for Zakaah
deserving of it?
Answer by
Sheikh Muhammad bin Salih Al- ‘Uthaimeen رحمه الله
Not every person who extends his hand
for Zakaah is deserving of it, because there are those among mankind who extend
their hands for money while they are wealthy. This type of person will come on
the Day of Resurrection while his face will not have a bit of flesh on it, [1]
may Allaah protect us from that. He will come on the Day of Resurrection, on
the Day when the witnesses will stand and the bones of his face will be
visible, may Allaah protect us from that, and the Prophet صلّى
اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said:
"He who begs the riches
of others to increase his own wealth is asking only for burning coals (in the
Hereafter), so let him ask a little or much."[2]
I would like to take this opportunity to
warn those people who ask people in an importune manner when they are in
possession of wealth. Indeed, I warn everyone who accepts Zakaah when he is not
entitled to receive it. I say to him: If you took Zakaah to which you are not
entitled, you are only consuming ill-gotten gains, may Allaah protect us from
that, and a person should fear Allaah, for the Prophet صلّى
اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said:
"Whoever tries to
make himself self-sufficient, Allaah will make him self-sufficient; and whoever
abstains from asking others, Allaah will make him content." [3]
But
if a man extends his hand to you, and you believe it is most likely that he is
entitled to it, and you gave him, then the Zakaah will be counted, and you will
have discharged your obligation, even if it became apparent after that that he
was not entitled to it. There is no need to think that you have to pay the Zakaah
again (to someone else).
The
evidence for this is the story of the man who gave money in charity, and he
gave charity first to a prostitute
and the people began to talk, saying: “Have you given money tonight to a
prostitute?” He said: “All praise and thanks are to Allaah.”
