Is the amount deducted from the salary to help the heirs of deceased workers considered Zakat or Sadaqah?
The deducted amount is not considered for two reasons: First, the heirs of the deceased may not be eligible recipients of Zakat. Second, Zakat requires the intention () at the time of its disbursement.
If it is known that the heirs are eligible for Zakat, then it is permissible to consider the deducted percentage as Zakat, and the institution would act as an agent, provided there is the intention (niyyah) when the employee authorizes the deduction, and provided the deduction is not obligatory. Otherwise, the amount is not considered Zakat, but rather charity () and an act of solace.
Zakat is not obligatory on wealth until it reaches the نصاب (minimum threshold) and a full lunar year (hawl) has passed over it.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 78325
- 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