My question is regarding Zakaat duty. I currently transfer a fixed amount from my salary to an orphan charity (needy orphans). This amount of money is about 6% of my salary. Can this monthly payment be considered as Zakaat?

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. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

First of all, it is not an obligation to pay Zakat on a salary unless a whole lunar year elapses on it and it reached the minimum amount liable for Zakat by itself or with other money added to it.

Secondly, it is only permissible to pay Zakat for the people who are eligible for it, these are mentioned in the verse in which Allaah Says (which means): {As-Sadaqât (here it means Zakat) are only for the poor, and for the needy, and for those employed to collect (the funds); and for attracting the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allaah's Cause (i.e. for those fighting in the holy wars), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allaah. And Allaah is All-Knower, All-Wise.}[Quran 9:60].

Thirdly, it is permissible, according to the most preponderant opinion of the scholars to pay Zakat in advance of the elapse of a whole lunar year for whoever possesses a minimum amount liable for Zakat.

Fourthly, one has to make the intention of paying Zakat when paying off Zakat.

Therefore, if your salary constitutes a minimum amount liable for Zakat, either by itself or with other money added to it, and that is the equivalent of 85 grams of gold or 595 grams of silver, then there is no harm in paying Zakat monthly even before the end of a whole lunar year but you should have the intention for paying off Zakat when giving out the money as already mentioned, and the orphans should be eligible for Zakat. So if you are paying off the said amount without the intention of Zakat, or that you do not possess a minimum amount liable for Zakat, then it is not valid [not acceptable] to consider that amount as Zakat from your wealth [money].

Allaah Knows best.