Is It Permissible To Give Zakat and Sadaqat al-Fitr to the Mosque?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Is it permissible to give zakat and sadaqat al-fitr to the mosque, which can be used for the mosque rent and bills etc.?

Answer

No, zakat and sadaqat al-fitr cannot be used to pay for the expenses of a mosque. The purpose of both is to aid poor people and other individuals who are needy. [Quduri, Matn al-Quduri]

Other charity can be given to help a mosque. Doing so would be greatly rewarded, especially now, when many mosques are struggling without a congregation who gives regular donations. Allah says, “Whatever you spend [Allah] will replace it.” [Quran, 34:39]

Faraz Rabbani adds, “In these times of financial crisis, it is a communal obligation for us to support the essential religious institutions in our communities — especially mosques, educational institutions, and critical social services.”

May Allah bless you with the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.