Is it permissible to purchase an apartment from zakat funds for a brother or a worker who is in need of marriage, without informing them of this to spare them embarrassment?
Buying an apartment for the poor from funds is considered a form of disbursing Zakat in monetary value, which is a matter of scholarly disagreement. The majority of scholars hold the view that it is impermissible to disburse Zakat in monetary value, and one's obligation is not discharged by it, while some have permitted it. A third group adopts a detailed approach, permitting it when there is a strong overriding benefit for the poor person, and this is closer to the correct view. The more preferable and more absolving for one's liability is to directly disburse the due Zakat money to the poor, so they may dispose of it according to their needs, because this is a matter of consensus. Whereas buying an apartment is permissible when the benefit is realized and the need is confirmed, bearing in mind that acting upon a ruling that has consensus on its validity is better than acting upon a ruling whose validity is merely preponderant.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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