Paying a minor’s school fees with Zakaat

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Nasihah (Advice): The rights of a Muslim

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah Radhiyallahu Anha reports that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “A Muslim is a brother to a Muslim. He should neither deceive him, nor lie to him, nor disgrace him. Everything belonging to a Muslim is sacred for a Muslim; his honour, his blood and property. Piety is here (and he pointed to his chest). It is enough for a Muslim to commit evil by despising his Muslim brother.” (Tirmidhi)

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Question and Answer:

An eight-year-old child is in school. The parents cannot afford the school fees for the child. Can we assist them by paying their child’s school fees with Zakaat money?

(Question published as received)

In normal cases, parents enrol their child at a school and are responsible for paying the school fees on their behalf. The payment of the school fees are not levied on the child. Rather, it is levied on the parents.

Therefore, if the parents of the child are eligible recipients of Zakaat, the parents may be assisted with Zakaat to pay their child’s school fess. If the parents of the child are not eligible recipients of Zakaat, they cannot be assisted with Zakaat to pay their child’s school fess. They may only be assisted with Lillah.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

Confirmation:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Fatwa Department
Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)
Council of Muslim Theologians