Is it Permissible To Give my Zakat to an Islamic School?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question

1) Is it permissible to give zakat to a full-time Islamic school?

The school puts all the money in one big bank account through which they pay staff, buy supplies, and other miscellaneous fees. My concern was that it is not a separate account for tuition assistance. Does this make a difference?

2) I try to help the school by buying various things such as gym equipment, rain coats, sports ribbons… Does this count as sadaqa?

Answer

I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.

(1) Zakat must be given to a poor person. It doesn’t suffice to take the money and pay off a poor student’s tuition fees with it unless the student gives his permission and grants agency to the principal to do this on his behalf.

(2) Yes, this will count as voluntary charity, insha’Allah.

Please see:
Is Your Zakat Due? – A Reader and Resources on Giving Zakat

And Allah alone gives success.

wassalam,

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorized the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan, and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.