Is it permissible to provide public drinking fountains (sabil) from zakat funds or fidya for fasting, and is providing public drinking fountains considered an ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah)?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is not permissible to spend and money on purchasing public drinking water (sabil) and public utilities, because the disbursements of zakat are legally specified for the eight categories, and it is a condition that it be handed over to its rightful recipient. As for fidyah, it is given to the poor. Those who are not deserving or poor may benefit from public drinking water. The majority of scholars hold that giving the monetary value is not sufficient for zakat or expiation. As for endowing public drinking water, it is an ongoing charity for which the doer is rewarded.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/178191
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 178191
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy