Can a company’s zakat be distributed to Syrian fund organizations.
Result:
Zakat is an obligation carried out under the supervision of the government. It is the absolute responsibility of the Muslim authorities to manage zakat affairs, whether in the collection or distribution of zakat. This is based on the words of Allah SWT in Surah At-Taubah, verse 60, which means:
Indeed, the alms (zakat) are for the poor, the needy, those appointed to collect it (amil), those whose hearts are to be reconciled (muallaf), for freeing slaves, for those in debt, for the cause of Allah, and for travelers in need. (This is) a decree from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
In interpreting this verse, Imam ar-Razi stated that it indicates the collection and distribution of zakat must be enforced by the government. The evidence is that Allah SWT has specified a certain portion of zakat wealth to be distributed to the al-Amilin (those who administer zakat affairs). Therefore, the management of zakat must be entrusted to the Amil, who must be appointed by the government and granted authority to collect and distribute zakat.
In addressing the requests and questions of zakat payers who wish to distribute zakat directly to the asnaf without going through the government, there is a method endorsed by Shariah to resolve this issue. Dr. Yusuf Qaradhawi opines that the government may grant flexibility to property owners to allocate one-third or one-quarter of their total zakat. This is intended to give them the freedom to distribute that portion of zakat to close family members or needy neighbors.
This matter is based on the instruction of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to the zakat assessors, who were sent to leave one-third or one-quarter of the total zakat for the property owners. This is based on the hadith:
عَن سَهْلِ بن أبى حَثْمَةَ قَالَ; قَالَ رَسُولُ الله ; إِذَا خَرَصْتُمْ فَخُذُوا وَدَعُوا الثٌّلُثَ، فَإِن لَمْ تَدْعُوا الثُلُثُّ فَدَعُوا الرُبعَ
Meaning:
“From Sahal bin Abu Hathmah, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: When you make an assessment, take the zakat and leave one-third (1/3). If you do not leave one-third (1/3), then leave one-quarter (1/4).”
What is meant by (وَدَعُوا الثٌّلُثَ) “Leave one-third (1/3),” Ibn Hibban interpreted this in two ways: first, to leave one-third (1/3) or one-quarter (1/4) of the ushur (dates that have been assessed for zakat); second, to take one-third (1/3) or one-quarter (1/4) of the fruit yield (dates) before it is assessed for zakat (ushr). Imam ash-Shafi‘i opined that one-third (1/3) or one-quarter (1/4) of the zakat amount should be set aside to be distributed personally to relatives and needy neighbors. In this case, the giver is not obliged to pay zakat on wealth that has already been consumed by the poor or used for their needs.
This hadith demonstrates the permissibility for a wealth owner to manage the distribution of zakat independently.
However, Dr. Yusuf Qaradhawi opines that zakat whose management is entrusted to an individual should not exceed one-third (1/3) of the total zakat wealth. This ruling is based on a hadith which states that one-third is already a sufficiently large portion.
CONCLUSION:
Therefore, the permissibility for a company to manage its own zakat distribution is limited to one-third (1/3) of the total amount, and the remaining portion must be handed over to the government for management. In the context of Selangor, the authority responsible for managing zakat is LZS.
The issue of allocating a portion (1/3) of zakat to war victims in Syria through RescueSyria MAPIM, for example, is currently permissible and is considered a necessity for the global Muslim community to provide assistance. However, the management costs must be borne by the company and cannot be paid from zakat funds because MAPIM is not an amil appointed by the government.
The transfer of zakat funds is only permissible if it leads to a greater benefit (maslahah) for the Muslim community. This was the practice followed by zakat collectors when delivering zakat funds to Rasulullah SAW and Khulafa ar-Rashidin after him.
