I gave my zakah to a non Muslim, What should I do?

I gave my zakat to a man who was in need, but afterwards I learnt that he was a non-Muslim. Should I pay my zakat again?

Answer:

Deeds are by intentions

“The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.” (Bukhar, Revelation, 1)

According to the hadith above, Allah (swt) will accept the intention of the person who has intented to give his zakah to a Muslim for the sake of Allah, but has given to a non-Muslim unintentionally. But we should bear in mind that we should be quite careful while performing the obligatory actions.

We see similar experiences in the Prophet’s time

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle (pbuh) said, "A man said that he would give something in charity. He went out with his object of charity and unknowingly gave it to a thief. Next morning the people said that he had given his object of charity to a thief. (On hearing that) he said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. I will give alms again." And so he again went out with his alms and (unknowingly) gave it to an adulteress. Next morning the people said that he had given his alms to an adulteress last night. The man said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. (I gave my alms) to an adulteress. I will give alms again." So he went out with his alms again and (unknowingly) gave it to a rich person. (The people) next morning said that he had given his alms to a wealthy person. He said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. (I had given alms) to a thief, to an adulteress and to a wealthy man." Then someone came and said to him, "The alms which you gave to the thief, might make him abstain from stealing, and that given to the adulteress might make her abstain from illegal sexual intercourse (adultery), and that given to the wealthy man might make him take a lesson from it and spend his wealth which Allah has given him, in Allah's cause." (Sahih Bukhari; Zakat; 502)

Narrated Ma'n bin Yazid:

“My grandfather, my father and I gave the pledge of allegiance to Allah's Apostle. The Prophet got me engaged and then got me married. One day I went to the Prophet with a complaint. My father Yazid had taken some gold coins for charity and kept them with a man in the mosque (to give them to the poor) But I went and took them and brought them to him (my father). My father said, "By Allah! I did not intend to give them to you. " I took (the case) to Allah's Apostle . On that Allah's Apostle said, "O Yazid! You will be rewarded for what you intended. O Man! Whatever you have taken is yours." (Sahih Bukhari; Zakat; 503)

Zakah (alms) cannot given to the non-Muslims, however sadaqa (charity) can be given

Since zakah is the right of the poor Muslims, it cannot be given to the non-Muslims.

Narrated Ibn-i Abbas (ra);

“Inform them that Allah has enjoined on them, the Zakat. And it is to be taken from the rich amongst them and given to the poor amongst them.” As understood from this hadith, non-Muslims are not entitled to give zakah. Giving zakah is a religious and social duty concerning the Muslims. Those who do not associate this duty do not have the right to benefit from it either.

However, just according to Imam Zufar, it is permissible to give zakat to ahl al-dhimmi who are the non-Muslims living under the Islamic governance; because the purpose of zakat is providing the needs of the needy by means of the act of worship.

Nevertheless, there is a consensus that it is permissible to give sadaqa that are regarded as nafilah (optinal) to ahl al-dhimmi. (Great Islamic Jurisprudence

As a conclusion, your zakah is accepted by Allah (swt) due to your intention inshallah. You do not need to pay it again. Kaynak: http://askaquestionto.us - I gave my zakah to a non Muslim, What should I do?

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