Paying Zakah to Iraqi people

21-4-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

I have some money of Zakah with me. Can I pay amount of Zakah to Iraqi people?

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Everyone who possesses money or other property has to pay Zakah on it after passing a lunar year. The Zakah is given to the eight categories that Allah Himself has appointed in the verse: {As-Sadaqât (here it means Zakât) are only for the Fuqarâ' (poor), and Al-Masâkin (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds); and for to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islâm); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allâh's Cause (i.e. for Mujâhidûn - those fighting in the holy wars), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allâh. And Allâh is All-Knower, All-Wise.} [9: 60].
No doubt, a majority of our brethren in Iraq are liable to receive Zakah. They are needy and poor since they have been facing the severe sanctions for a decade imposed on them by the enemies of Islam. These sanctions have destroyed their economy and they have reached the level of poverty, in addition to the vast destruction the recent war caused them.
Allah knows best.