zakat on extra dinner plates; giving zakat to needy Muslims of Syria

Name

Question:

1) Can I pay zakat to Muslims of Syria who are suffering and have no food and no clothes ?
2) Do I have to pay zakat on my home items without which I can easily survive, i.e. items which are for the comfort of my family -- for example: fancy dinner plates which are only occasionally used?

Answer:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

1) Yes, if they have no food and no clothes, you can give them zakat. For more details on who is allowed to be given zakat, please see this answer: http://www.fatwa.org.au/giving-zakat-to-family-member.html

2) Zakat is not compulsory on extra dinner plates etc. Zakat is only compulsory on these items: money, gold, silver and merchandise. A merchandise is anything that was bought with the intention of selling it.

And Allah Ta'ala knows best

Mufti Faizal Riza
31/07/2013

Darul Ifta Australia
www.fatwa.org.au

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