1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

25 Questions

Is it counted as Zakat if we helped a family member who had financial problems or was poor?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Yes, it is allowed to help any family member from Zakat if he is: 1) Really poor.

2) Abiding to Islamic rules.

3) He should not be a parent or a spouse or a sibling, because it is compulsory to look after the needs of your parents and spouse and siblings from your own money not from Zakat or Khums.

You don't need to inform him if he is entitled to Zakat that it is from Zakat.

It is highly recommended to help the needy relatives as the Hadeeth says: There is no charity when a relative is in need. لا صدقة وذو رحم محتاج.

Wassalam.
Why do people in the West who already pay multiple taxes, that get used by the government to pay for the poor and needy, also have to pay Islamic taxes such as Zakat?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Zakat and Khums are obligatory on every Muslim who has more than his expenses. Taxes are part of our expenses and Khums will obligatory on the remaining amounts after paying all the lawful expenses including Taxes.

Wassalam.
Did Imam Ali (as) pay any religious dues such as Zakat to the first three caliphs during their rule?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Imam Ali (AS) is the Imam of all Muslims by order of Allah (SWT) declared by the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) in hundreds of occasions including Ghadeer Khum in which the Proohet ordered all Muslims who were present to give allegiance to Ali (AS) as the leader of all who believed in the Prophet ( SAWA). The political plot of Saqeefa did deprive Imam Ali (AS) from his right in the government, but did not change the fact the he is the real Imam of Muslims. Being the real Imam, Imam Ali (AS) never dealt with the three Khalifs as real successors of the Prophet (SAWA) but just worldly rulers. He never gave them his Zakat nor prayed behind any of them. ( Al-Thahabi; Seyar A'lam Al-Nubalaa' , Vol 9, Page 284) stated: Ali did not attend with the three Khalifs any Jum'ah Prayer nor Jama'ah prayers.

Wassalam.
Is paying income tax or other such taxes counted as Zakat?
Abbas Di Palma

as salam alaikum

Income taxes and other similar taxes are not counted as zakat. Zakat is a religious duty and an act of worship that is paid with a specific intention and whose revenues are to be given to the recipients specified in verse 60 of sura al-Tawbah.

With prayers for your success.