Question
The cost of a certain medical treatment procedure for my deformed child was R200,000 which I was unable to afford. I myself do not own even the Nisaab value of Zakaat. Relatives assisted with about half the money. The medical procedure would commence only after I was able to cough up the full amount of R200,000. So, before the treatment commenced, my relatives deposited R100,000 into the doctor's banking account. But treatment had not yet commenced. Then several relatives and friends contributed their Zakaat. Each one deposited the Zakaat directly into the doctor's account. In this way the full R200,000 was received in advance by the doctor. The medical procedure was then done. What bothers me now is the Zakaat aspect. Was I entitled to accept Zakaat? Has the Zakaat of the contributors been validly discharged? If not, what should I now do?
Answer
Whilst the monies were being deposited into the doctor's account, there was no debt as yet on you. The debt for treatment was incurred only after the doctor was paid fully in advance.
This means that at the time of receiving the Zakaat, you already owned substantially more than the Nisaab. You had received R100,000 from your relatives, hence you no longer qualified to be a Zakaat recipient.
In the circumstances you are obliged to repay the R100,000 Zakaat. You may pay it over a period of years in affordable instalments if you are not by the means of paying the full sum immediately. You may give the money to poor Muslims or send it to a bona fide Islamic charitable organization.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 23 No 07
- PDF page
- 4
Appears under Questions and Answers (approximate).