I live in USA in a small town where the mosque has monthly bills of 500$. It also needs a heater to be changed for 4000$. There are 4 families and a few students. Can we use the Zakah money to pay for these things? 2) I am looking for Halal investments in the USA, any suggestions?

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 is His slave and Messenger.

Allaah, The Most-High Says: {Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allaah and for the [stranded] traveler — an obligation [imposed] by Allaah. And Allaah is Knowing and Wise.} [Quran 9:60]; this is concerning the ways in which Zakat should be spent.

The scholars stated that if a person spends the Zakat on other than what it should be spent on, he is disobedient to Allaah and is not acquitted from sin.

Some scholars put what you asked about under the title “And for Allaah’s Cause” (Fi Sabeeli Allaah), but this chapter applies to making Jihad in the path of Allaah, and whatever this requires, like providing for the Mujahid and whatever ammunition he needs and so on.

If what was meant is all the ways of good, and righteous deeds, like building mosques and financing charity projects – as some scholars stated – then all kinds of good will be included in that chapter, and there will be no benefit about what the verse has mentioned.

Therefore, if this Zakat money is spent in the way of Allaah, then it has no rival. If it is not possible to spend it in the way of Allaah, then the scholars have two different opinions:

The first opinion is that this Zakat money should be spent on poor and destitute people and those who care for them.

The second opinion stated that it should be spent on what you have mentioned in your question.

In conclusion, if there is a great need about such work and there is nowhere else to get the money to spend on it, then it is permissible to spend on it according to the opinion of those who say that it is permissible to spend on such projects; otherwise it would not be permissible.

As regards the second question:

It is lawful to engage in a tradable project as long as it is not prohibited.

And it is forbidden to engage in tradable projects that are prohibited.

The rule here is that trade is lawful in principle as long as there is no prohibition for it.

Allaah Says (what means): {….whereas Allaah has permitted trading and forbidden Riba (usury)…..}[Quran 2:275]

Many monetary transactions nowadays are a bit complex. Thus, one has to be careful and cautious. We advise you to refer to your Muslim brothers, mainly the knowledgeable ones; they can help you in this matter. We cannot precisely set for you the kind of trade and investments that you can engage in.

Finally, we draw your attention to the fact that it is not permissible to settle in a non-Muslim country except for a necessity or a preponderant benefit.

Allaah Knows best.