Does The Money Spent On A Tree-Planting Campaign Substitute For Zakat?

Does the money spent on a tree-planting campaign substitute for zakat?

The money donated to a tree-planting campaign is not considered as zakat or sadaqah al-fitr. Recipients of zakat are determined as eight categories in the Qur’an. They are the poor, the needy, those who are to be freed from slavery, debtors, those who make jihad in the way of Allah (fi sabilillah), stranded travelers, officials assigned for collecting zakat, and muallafat al-qulub (whose hearts are to be reconciled to Islam) (Tawbah, 9/60). Zakat and sadaqah al-fitr cannot be given to the recipients other then these.

However, we should be aware that the Qur’an draws attention to planting trees which are essential to our ecosystem, and protect the green. (Baqarah, 2/266; Abasa, 80/25-32). Also, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) directed people to plant trees and encouraged them saying, “There is none amongst the Muslims who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a charitable gift for him.” (Bukhari, Muzaraa, 1;Muslim, Musaqat, 7) Each and every Muslim should adopt this behavior of Prophet Muhammad (saw).

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