Yes, Zakat can be used to assist in the evacuation of civilians from Gaza. The civilians in Gaza are enduring severe hardship, trapped in a conflict zone with limited access to basic necessities, and many lack the financial means to escape to safety. Zakat, one of the pillars of Islam, is specifically intended to aid those in dire need, and the circumstances faced by the people of Gaza clearly place them among those eligible to receive it.
Among the categories of individuals eligible to receive Zakat, as outlined in the Qur’an, are the poor (Al-Fuqara) and the needy (Al-Masakin). These categories apply to individuals who are struggling to meet their basic needs, and the current situation in Gaza places many of its civilians in such a position.
The Qur’an states:
"Zakat is for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect it, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, to free captives, for those in debt, for the cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer."
– Surah At-Tawbah, 9:60
The severe poverty, unemployment, and deprivation of basic resources caused by the ongoing conflict make civilians in Gaza eligible recipients of Zakat.
Classically, the jurists have stipulated one of the primary conditions for Zakat distribution to be ownership (tamleek)—that the funds must be transferred into the possession of the Zakat recipient. Although they are contemporary scholars who have been flexible with the condition of tamleek in certain cases, most classical scholars have considered it a stringent condition.
In the case of evacuating civilians, the question arises as to how this condition is met when funds are used for the costs of evacuation, rather than given directly to the recipient.
When civilians apply for evacuation assistance, they appoint the evacuation agency as their representative (wakeel) to act on their behalf. This is because they are aware that funds are being collected for them and they give their consent for those funds to be used.
Classical scholars have acknowledged that when an individual appoints a representative to receive Zakat on their behalf, the condition of ownership is fulfilled. In this case, the agency receives the funds as the "hand" of the needy person, meaning the Zakat is effectively transferred to the individual, even though it is used for securing their evacuation.
Thus, this indirect transfer fulfills the condition of tamleek even according to the classical jurists.
An essential requirement for Zakat is that the recipient must be genuinely in need. In the case of Gaza, there is reasonable assurance that those seeking evacuation are in severe financial need. Most civilians in this situation do not have the resources to evacuate independently, making them eligible for Zakat.
This assurance of need further supports the permissibility of using Zakat funds to assist in the evacuation process.
In summary, it is permissible to use Zakat to fund the evacuation of civilians from Gaza, as:
- The civilians meet the criteria for Al-Fuqara and Al-Masakin, making them eligible to receive Zakat.
- The condition of ownership (tamleek) is fulfilled through the appointment of a representative (wakeel) to act on their behalf, ensuring the Zakat reaches its intended recipient.
- There is reasonable assurance that the recipients are genuinely in need, satisfying the requirements of Zakat.
And Allah knows best.
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