5th March 2024
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Question: Traditionally, my father has paid for my Zakāt and my grandad pays for my Qurbani. Once I started earning myself, I feared these won’t be accepted if done on my behalf, however both would like to continue as is. I currently:
- transfer the zakat amount to my father’s bank without his approval
- pay for an additional Qurbani myself via an online charity (which I have heard is not permissible), as I don’t know of any alternatives and my family won’t allow me to pay towards the one, they usually organise.
If you could you shed some light on this would be useful to know the rulings around this.
الجواب حامداً و مصلياً
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
In reference to your query, as a general ruling to note that it is permissible for another person to pay Zakāt on your behalf. In this case, if your father or grandfather wish to pay for your Zakāt then it will be fulfilled with the condition that they notify you prior to paying it or you had prior awareness of them paying it on your behalf.[1] If they pay for it without your knowledge or you did not consent to it, then your Zakāt will not be fulfilled.[2] It is not necessary for you to transfer additional Zakāt money onto him without his knowledge if you knew that he has already paid for your Zakāt.
With regards to Qurbani, a person who possesses the required Nisab during the Qurbani days must offer Qurbani whether themselves or someone performing it on their behalf. The obligation of Qurbani is fulfilled if members of your family pay for the sacrifice on your behalf, regardless if they pay for it from their own wealth or not. An additional Qurbani from yourself is therefore not required. It is always commendable to arrange your own Qurbani but not necessary for its validity. It should be noted that when Qurbani is wajib, then the same principle in Zakāt i.e. consent is required unless they customarily perform Qurbani on your behalf whilst you being aware of it (in which case it will be fulfilled).[3]
Lastly, it is permissible for you to use an online charity to pay for your Qurbani as long as one has done sufficient research to ensure the reliability of the charity.
[Allāh Knows Best]
Written by: Apa Samrena Kashaf Reviewed by: Mufti Abdul Waheed
Attested by: Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Ibn Abideen, Raddul Muhtar, Kitab-uz Zakat, Vol. 2, page 268
ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي التَّتَارْخَانِيَّة أَوْ وُجِدَتْ دَلَالَةُ الْإِذْنِ بِالْخَلْطِ كَمَا جَرَتْ الْعَادَةُ بِالْإِذْنِ مِنْ أَرْبَابِ الْحِنْطَةِ بِخَلْطِ ثَمَنِ الْغَلَّاتِ؛ وَكَذَلِكَ الْمُتَوَلِّي إذَا كَانَ فِي يَدِهِ أُوقِيَّاتٌ مُخْتَلِفَةٌ وَخَلَطَ غَلَّاتِهَا ضَمِنَ وَكَذَلِكَ السِّمْسَارُ إذَا خَلَطَ الْأَثْمَانَ أَوْ الْبَيَّاعُ إذَا خَلَطَ الْأَمْتِعَةَ يَضْمَنُ.
قَالَ فِي التَّجْنِيسِ: وَلَا عُرْفَ فِي حق السَّمَاسِرَةِ وَالْبَيَّاعِينَ بِخَلْطِ ثَمَنِ الْغَلَّاتِ وَالْأَمْتِعَةِ اهـ وَيَتَّصِلُ بِهَذَا الْعَالِمُ إذَا سَأَلَ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ شَيْئًا وَخَلَطَ يَضْمن
قُلْت: وَمُقْتَضَاهُ أَنَّهُ لَوْ وُجِدَ الْعُرْفُ فَلَا ضَمَانَ لِوُجُودِ الْإِذْنِ حِينَئِذٍ دَلَالَةً. وَالظَّاهِرُ أَنَّهُ لَا بُدَّ مِنْ عِلْمِ الْمَالِكِ بِهَذَا الْعُرْفِ لِيَكُونَ إذْنًا مِنْهُ دَلَالَةً
[2] Ibn Nujaym, Bahrur Raiq, Kitab-uz Zakat, Vol.2, page 226-227
وَلَوْ أَدَّى زَكَاةَ غَيْرِهِ بِغَيْرِ أَمْرِهِ فَبَلَغَهُ فَأَجَازَ لَمْ يَجُزْ؛ لِأَنَّهَا وَجَدَتْ نَفَاذًا عَلَى الْمُتَصَدِّقِ؛ لِأَنَّهَا مِلْكُهُ، وَلَمْ يَصِرْ نَائِبًا عَنْ غَيْرِهِ فَنَفَذَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَلَوْ تَصَدَّقَ عَنْهُ بِأَمْرِهِ جَازَ وَيَرْجِعُ بِمَا دَفَعَ عِنْدَ أَبِي يُوسُفَ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَشْتَرِطْ الرُّجُوعَ كَالْأَمْرِ بِقَضَاءِ الدَّيْنِ وَعِنْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ لَا رُجُوعَ لَهُ إلَّا بِالشَّرْطِ، وَتَمَامُهُ
فِي الْخَانِيَّة
[3] Imam Kasani, Badai Sinai, Kitubut Tudhiya, Vol.5, page 67
(وَمِنْهَا) أَنَّهُ تُجْزِئُ فِيهَا النِّيَابَةُ فَيَجُوزُ لِلْإِنْسَانِ أَنْ يُضَحِّيَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَبِغَيْرِهِ بِإِذْنِهِ؛ لِأَنَّهَا قُرْبَةٌ تَتَعَلَّقُ بِالْمَالِ فَتُجْزِئُ فِيهَا النِّيَابَةُ كَأَدَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَصَدَقَةِ الْفِطْرِ؛ وَلِأَنَّ كُلَّ أَحَدٍ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى مُبَاشَرَةِ الذَّبْحِ بِنَفْسِهِ خُصُوصًا النِّسَاءَ، فَلَوْ لَمْ تَجُزْ الِاسْتِنَابَةُ لَأَدَّى إلَى الْحَرَجِ، وَسَوَاءٌ كَانَ الْمَأْذُونُ مُسْلِمًا أَوْ كِتَابِيًّا، حَتَّى لَوْ أَمَرَ مُسْلِمٌ كِتَابِيًّا أَنْ يَذْبَحَ أُضْحِيَّتَهُ يَجْزِيهِ؛ لِأَنَّ الْكِتَابِيَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الذَّكَاةِ إلَّا أَنَّهُ يُكْرَهُ؛ لِأَنَّ التَّضْحِيَةَ قُرْبَةٌ وَالْكَافِرُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرْبَةِ لِنَفْسِهِ فَتُكْرَهُ إنَابَتُهُ فِي إقَامَةِ الْقُرْبَةِ لِغَيْرِهِ، وَسَوَاءٌ كَانَ الْإِذْنُ نَصًّا أَوْ دَلَالَةً؛.