Monday 14 March 2016

Ruling on Giving Zakaah to Students of Worldly Sciences

Question: What is the ruling on giving zakaah to student of knowledge?


Response: It is permissible to give Zakaah to the student who is devoted to seeking Sharee’ah knowledge, even if he has the ability to earn a living, because seeking Sharee’ah knowledge is a type of jihad in Allah’s cause, and Allaah has made jihad in the way of Allaah one of the categories deserving of zakaah. He said: Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.”[1]

However, if the student is devoted to seeking worldly knowledge, he should not be given zakaah. And we should say to him: now you are striving for worldly gain, and it is possible for you to acquire worldly gains through employment, so we will not give you zakaah.

Source: Fataawaa Arkaan al-Islaam, p. 293 by Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him)


[1] Soorah Tawbah: 60

No comments:

Post a Comment