Zakat eligible: build a house for them?

Everyday Islamic Finance Personal and Family Finance
#1

Assalamu’Alaikum,

I would like to get a scholarly view on whether the following individual is zakat eligible:

  • They are in Pakistan
  • They are very poor - below nisab threshold
  • The reason for the zakat is to build a house for them

The last part is the one I am not sure if it applies as zakat eligible. Are you able to clarify this or maybe point me in the right direction?

Jzk,

#2

Wasalam

May Allah bless you,

You have 3 options:

Either you build the house and then donate it as zakat, in which case you have to ensure that market value of the house, will cover the amount of your zakat liability.

Either you give them the zakat and they will be free to use it to build a house if they wish to.

Either you make them owner of the zakat fund and you ask for their permission to become an agent acting on their behalf in managing the zakat fund for the construction of the house.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Billal Omarjee