By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi
Q 1. I
am thankful that I have few Muslim friends at work
and we educate ourselves by discussing Islamic topics.
There was a point raised that in Islam, the Zakat
giver is made responsible to distribute it to the
right person. Somebody else doing the distribution
for you is not recommended. Therefore my question
is: Should Zakat be given to a mosque or it must
be distributed by the giver to needy people and
does the Qur’an make the giver responsible
that only qualified people must receive it?
A 1. It is obligatory upon a person
who owns the Nisab to give the Zakat for his/her
wealth according to the rules of Zakat. The Zakat
giver can distribute the Zakat himself/herself or
can give it to a reliable agency, a Masjid or an
Islamic institution that distributes Zakat according
to the rules of the Shari’ah.
It is the duty of the Islamic state to collect the
Zakat from its Muslim citizens and then give it
to the poor and needy. The Prophet - peace be upon
him - used to send his Zakat collectors to collect
the Zakat from the people and so also the Caliphs
after him. However, if an Islamic state does not
collect Zakat or if a person lives outside the Islamic
State, then it is his/her duty to give the Zakat.
Muslims in this case can choose an institution that
is reliable and can entrust their Zakat to that
institution for distribution.
The Qur’an itself has indicated that the Zakat
should be distributed by some agency rather than
by individual Zakat givers. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala
has mentioned the categories of people who may take
some Zakat for administrative purposes. These are
called in the Qur’an “al-’amileen
‘alaiha” (those who collect the Zakat,
see al-Tawbah 9:60). This shows very clearly that
it is better that Zakat is given to an agency rather
than distributed by the individuals to the poor
and needy. It is the responsibility of the Zakat
giver to make sure that the Zakat collecting agency
is reliable and trustworthy and distributes the
Zakat only to those who are allowed to receive the
Zakat. Once the Zakat giver gave his/her Zakat to
a proper agency, his/her Zakat is paid. If the Zakat
giver or the Zakat distributing agency gives Zakat
by mistake to a non-qualified person, the Zakat
is paid. The Zakat giver does not have to repeat
his/her Zakat.
Q 2. I
have a question regarding what is the proper conduct
that children (who are not required to fast) should
be taught during Ramadan. First a general question:
Should children (who are not required to fast) be
left alone and allowed to eat openly wherever they
want or should they be restricted to eating at home
only in a non-obvious manner to teach them proper
respect for Ramadan. What should Muslim schools
that serve snack during the rest of the year do?
Should they continue to openly serve snacks, or
should they serve snacks to small children but in
such a way that it’s not open and obvious
or should they stop serving snacks at school and
let the parents provide snacks for their children
if they wish to. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
A 2. It is good to teach our children
the respect of Ramadan from the beginning. Of course,
the little children are not required to fast, but
it is good not to take them outside to restaurants
or picnic during Ramadan. It is good to feed them
at home and speak to them about Ramadan. Prepare
them from early age to get ready for fasting when
they grow up. It is mentioned that some of the Sahabah
used to prepare their children from early age for
fasting. It is also a good idea that Islamic schools
give snacks to little children in their classes
or inside the cafeteria away from the sight of other
children who are fasting. These are not strict rules,
but they are part of our Ramadan etiquette (adab)
that we should try to observe as much as possible.
Q 3. I have
a question about fasting. What would a Muslim do
whose job involves high heat and heavy work like
in mines, glass work, or steal factories; he definitely
needs to drink large amounts of water.
A 3. Allah has mentioned in the
Qur’an that those who are sick or traveling
during Ramadan can fast some other time. (See al-Baqarah
2:183-184) On the basis of this ayah jurists also
considered that those who had some hardship in fasting
-such as pregnant women would be allowed not to
fast during Ramadan, but they have to make it up
later. Some jurists have also considered those who
are involved in hard labor that is necessary for
the community. If fasting may affect their health
or the performance of their sensitive work, they
are allowed to fast later or to pay the Fidyah instead.
(See Syed Sabiq, Fiqh al-Sunnah, vol. 1, p. 469).
Allah says in the Qur’an, “Allah does
not place a burden upon any soul beyond its capacity”
(al-Baqarah 2: 286). If fasting is beyond the capacity
of a person then he/she will be allowed not to fast
only in that condition and as long as that conditi
on prevails. But such people have to make up their
missed fasts (qada’). In case they are not
able to make up later then they are allowed to give
Fidyah, which is providing a day’s meals to
a poor person for every missed fast of Ramadan.
Q 4. During
the month of Ramadan we are not allowed to taste
anything. Does this mean that applying lip balm
for chapped lips is also not allowed?
A 4. Lip balm is like oil or cream.
It has no taste and no food value. As it is not
forbidden to put oil on the body during fasting,
it is also not forbidden to use lip balm.
Q 5. I have
a question in regard to the Witr prayers with the
‘Isha Prayer. I wanted to know if I am praying
the Witr at night with the ‘Isha prayers does
that mean that when I get up during the night, I
cannot do my Tahajjud prayers? And if I want to
do my Tahajjud prayers in the morning then do I
have to repeat my Witr Prayers after I have completed
my Tahajjud prayers?
A 5. It is better to make Witr
the last prayer of the night. The Prophet -peace
be upon him - said, “Make Witr as the last
prayer of the night.” (See al-Bukhari, Hadith
no. 943). If you are sure that you will get up for
the Tahajjud prayer, then you should not pray Witr
with ‘Isha prayer and do it after the Tahajjud.
However, if you are not sure whether you will be
up for the Tahajjud then you should pray Witr with
‘Isha and later if you wake up at Tahajjud
time you can pray Tahajjud. You do not have to repeat
your Witr
