Giving household items as Zakaat

Question:-

I would like to know in regards to a widow that owns the Nisaab. We understand that she is liable to pay Zakaat as she owns the Nisaab. She has new household items which she has never used. Can she give these items as Zakaat?

Answer:-

We understand from your query that a widow is liable to pay Zakaat. However, she has household items which she wishes to give away to the poor as Zakaat. You are enquiring as to whether such an arrangement is acceptable or not?

Yes, it will be permissible for her to give her household items to the poor as Zakaat. However, the market value of the item will be taken into consideration. For example, she has a washing machine that is hardly used, which she had purchased for R5000.00. However, if she currently tries to sell the machine she will only receive R2000.00 as this is the current market value of the machine. It will therefore be permissible to give the machine to the poor as Zakaat at the value of R2000.00.

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:-

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 06 Rajab 1443 / 08 February 2022