Are The Schools, Qur’an Courses, Mosques, And Similar Charitable Organizations Included In The Scope Of “Fi Sabilillah” Expressed In The Verse Of Zakat?

Are the schools, Qur’an courses, mosques, and similar charitable organizations included in the scope of “fi sabilillah” expressed in the verse of zakat?

Eligible recipients of zakat are determined in the Holy Qur’an (Tawbah, 9/60). Besides, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) told a person who demanded to receive share from the collected zakat, “Allah is not pleased with a Prophet’s or anyone else’s decision about sadaqat till He has given a decision about them Himself. He has divided those entitled to them into categories, so if you come within those categories, I shall give you what you desire.” (Abu Dawud, Zakat, 24)

In this regard, it is not considered as permissible by majority of fiqh scholars to give zakat and sadaqah al-fitr to any place other than the ones determined in the Qur’an by Allah the Exalted (swt) or to donate to charity works as building mosques, bridges, highways, schools, dormitories, waterways etc. Because one of the conditions for the validity of zakat and sadaqah al-fitr is the conveyance (transferring the ownership). It expresses handing over the property right on a property or a financial right to another person.

Therefore, it is not considered as permissible to give zakat and sadaqah al-fitr, which are the rightful share of the poor and needy Muslims and may be fulfilled by only conveyance, to legal entities and charitable organizations (al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah, I, 207). The expression of “Fi Sabilillah” in the verse which means “in the way of Allah (swt)” is interpreted as real persons who dedicated their lives to the path of Allah and Islam such as pilgrims, soldiers and travelers in search of knowledge.

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWA