24th February 2026
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Question: Can we use Zakāt money and purchase poor children’s clothes rather than giving the actual money in cash? Also, what about buying food for poor families?
الجواب حامداً و مصلياً
Answer: Amongst the conditions for the validity of Zakāt is transferring complete ownership of the Zakāt money to the rightful recipient of Zakāt.[1] so as long as this condition is fulfilled one may choose to give the Zakāt money in the form of cash or any other physical asset such as clothes or food.[2] If the eligible recipient receives any of the above by way of physical possession including complete ownership (tamleek), Zakāt will be fulfilled.
Based on the above using Zakāt money and purchasing poor children’s clothes or food for poor families (rather than giving actual money in cash) will be permissible provided that the eligible recipients receive these clothes and food physically and are independently given complete ownership. If the purchased items do not reach them, nor are they given individual ownership for instance, using the money to purchase produces and cook food for them, then Zakāt will not be fulfilled.
Allāh Knows Best
Written by: Apa Kinza Reviewed by: Mufti Abdul Waheed
Attested by: Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Imam Kasāni, Badai Sanai, Kitāb Zakāt, Fasl fi rukn Zakāt, p. 456, vol 2
وَأَمَّا رُكْنُ الزَّكَاةِ فَرُكْنُ الزَّكَاةِ هُوَ إخْرَاجُ جُزْءٍ مِنْ النِّصَابِ إلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى، وَتَسْلِيمُ ذَلِكَ إلَيْهِ يَقْطَعُ الْمَالِكُ يَدَهُ عَنْهُ بِتَمْلِيكِهِ مِنْ الْفَقِيرِ وَتَسْلِيمِهِ إلَيْهِ أَوْ إلَى يَدِ مَنْ هُوَ نَائِبٌ عَنْهُ وَهُوَ الْمُصْدِق
[2] Ibn Nujaim, Bahr Raiq, Kitāb Zakāt, p. 352-353, vol 2
قَالَ فِي الْكَشْفِ الْكَبِيرِ فِي بَحْثِ الْقُدْرَةِ الْمُيَسِّرَةِ: الزَّكَاةُ لَا تَتَأَدَّى إلَّا بِتَمْلِيكِ عَيْنٍ مُتَقَوِّمَةٍ حَتَّى لَوْ أَسْكَنَ الْفَقِيرَ دَارِهِ سَنَةً بِنِيَّةِ الزَّكَاةِ لَا يُجْزِئُهُ؛ لِأَنَّ الْمَنْفَعَةَ لَيْسَتْ بِعَيْنٍ مُتَقَوِّمَةٍ. اهـ. وَهَذَا عَلَى إحْدَى الطَّرِيقَتَيْنِ، وَأَمَّا عَلَى الْأُخْرَى مِنْ أَنَّ الْمَنْفَعَةَ مَالٌ فَهُوَ عِنْدَ الْإِطْلَاقِ مُنْصَرِفٌ إلَى الْعَيْنِ، وَقُيِّدَ بِالتَّمْلِيكِ احْتِرَازًا عَنْ الْإِبَاحَةِ؛ وَلِهَذَا ذَكَرَ الْوَلْوَالِجِيُّ وَغَيْرُهُ أَنَّهُ لَوْ عَالَ يَتِيمًا فَجَعَلَ يَكْسُوهُ وَيُطْعِمُهُ وَجَعَلَهُ مِنْ زَكَاةِ مَالِهِ فَالْكِسْوَةُ تَجُوزُ لِوُجُودِ رُكْنِهِ، وَهُوَ التَّمْلِيكُ، وَأَمَّا الْإِطْعَامُ إنْ دَفَعَ الطَّعَامَ إلَيْهِ بِيَدِهِ يَجُوزُ أَيْضًا لِهَذِهِ الْعِلَّةِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ لَمْ يَدْفَعْ إلَيْهِ، وَيَأْكُلْ الْيَتِيمُ لَمْ يَجُزْ لِانْعِدَامِ الرُّكْنِ، وَهُوَ التَّمْلِيكُ