Is it sufficient to fulfill the obligation to give Zakah in the form of meat?

19-12-2012 | IslamWeb

Question:

I would like to know whether it is permissible to give meat for the Zakaah of property instead of money.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

 

Zakah should be given out from the same kind of the property on which it is due, except trade items, which should be assessed and the value given as money. The basic rule is to pay it in the form of money to the poor so that he can  buy with it what he likes or pay his debts. It is impermissible for the person to buy food with it (meat or otherwise) and give it to the poor. That is the opinion of the majority of scholars.

But according to some scholars, it is permissible to give the poor foodstuff or things that are equal to the value of the due money, provided that what is given to the poor should be more beneficial to him than money.

Based on the opinion of the majority of scholars, it is impermissible for you to buy meat with the due money of Zakah and distribute it to the poor. Moreover, giving meat (for Zakah) is unsuitable in view of the condition put by those who disagree with the opinion of the majority of scholars. Meat is often not more beneficial to the poor than its price, because it is expensive, and if he received the money and likes to spend it by himself, meat would be among his last concerns.

Allaah Knows best.