Q: (7) : (1) Can Zakat money be given to Non-Muslims i.e. Christians and Hindus.

(2) Can Zakat be given to persons who are AleRasool i.e. Syed Ahle Bait.

(3) A loan is given by housewife to a servant over a period which he is unable to repay. Can it be adjusted to Zakat for the current year?

A: (1) Zakat money cannot be given to a Non-Muslim.

(2) Zakat cannot be given to a person who is from the progeny of Hashim, the grandfather of the Holy Prophet saw. Such persons should be supported by other sources like gifts and presents, but Zakat should not be given to them.

(3) Zakat cannot be paid through relieving a debtor from the amount of loan advanced to him. If the housewife wants to adjust her loan to the amount of zakat, she can give to her servant the amount of zakat in cash, then ask him to pay her loan. If he pays his loan out of that money, it will be permissible for the housewife to receive it back.

Contemporary fatawaa