Ruling on delaying zakaah and investing the wealth

We would like to thank you for your protective jealousy
concerning your religion and for your concern about the Muslims’ situation,
but what you want to do and are asking about is not in accordance with
sharee’ah, because when zakaah becomes due, after one year has passed, it
must be paid immediately, and it is not permissible to delay it if one is
able to pay it. 

Zakaah is an act of worship and the Muslim must adhere to the
rulings on the amount on which zakaah is to be paid, when it is to be paid
and the types of wealth on which it must be paid; he does not have the right
to delay paying it once the time comes, unless he has an excuse which allows
that. 

The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked: 

If zakaah is due in Jumaada al-Oola, can we delay it until
Ramadaan with no excuse? 

They replied: 

It is not permissible to delay paying zakaah after one year
has been completed unless there is a legitimate shar’i excuse, such as there
being no poor people around at the time when the year is complete, or not
being able to get it to them, or because the money is not accessible, etc. 

As for delaying it
because of Ramadaan, that is not permissible unless it is only a short
period away, such as if the end of the year comes in the second half of
Sha’baan; in that case there is nothing wrong with delaying it until
Ramadaan. End quote. 

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah
wa’l-Ifta’, 9/398 

It is not permissible to do business with zakaah wealth for
one who is obliged to pay zakaah, or for the institution that takes the
zakaah wealth and is entrusted with making sure it reaches the people who
are entitled to it. Rather it is obligatory to give it (in the manner
prescribed), and their investments should be made with wealth other than
zakaah. 

The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked about a
charitable organization that wanted to invest its wealth.  They replied: 

If the money mentioned
in the question comes from zakaah, then it must be given to the people who
are entitled to it according to sharee’ah when it reaches the charitable
organization. But if it is not zakaah, then there is no reason why it should
not be used for trade in the interests of the organization, because that
will increase the benefits that the charity aims to achieve.  End quote. 

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth il-‘Ilmiyyah
wa’l-Ifta’, 9/403, 404 

They were also asked: 

Can a global Islamic charity invest zakaah money that has
been placed in bank accounts until they are able to distribute it, when
investing it is not going to affect the way it is spent according to
sharee’ah, on condition that the investments be made in such a way that it
may be accessed easily in case of need, and in investments that have been
well studied and are reliable, but we do not say that they are guaranteed so
as to avoid anything haraam or doubtful, and on the basis that the charity
is not a person or persons representing themselves, rather it is a separate
entity, and the people in it are working and doing their best to find out
what is best for Islam and the Muslims? 

They replied: 

It is not permissible
for the charity to invest the zakaah money. What should be done is to spend
it in the ways prescribed in sharee’ah, after ensuring that the people
concerned are entitled to it, because the aim of zakaah is to meet the needs
of the poor and pay off the debts of those who are in debt, whereas
investment may cause these benefits to be lost or may delay them a great
deal for those who are entitled to them. End quote. 

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth il-‘Ilmiyyah
wa’l-Ifta’, 9/454, 455 

Secondly: 

With regard to giving zakaah to build a hospital for the poor
or some other charitable projects, we have stated in the answer to question
no. 39211 that zakaah is to be
spent on certain categories as prescribed in sharee’ah. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): 

“As-Sadaqaat (here it means Zakaah) are only for the
Fuqaraa’ (poor), and Al‑Masaakeen(the poor) and those
employed to collect (the funds); and to attract the hearts of those who have
been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in
debt; and for Allaah’s Cause (i.e. for Mujaahidoon — those fighting in a
holy battle), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from
everything); a duty imposed by Allaah. And Allaah is All-Knower, All-Wise”

[al-Tawbah 9:60]

So
it is not permissible to give zakaah to any categories other than these.

You
have to pay zakaah on time; it is not permissible to delay it when you are
able to pay it, or to invest that money, whether in profitable business
projects or in da’wah projects.

With
regard to the da’wah project of which you are thinking, you should try to
persuade whoever you can of the Muslims to finance it without using zakaah
funds.

May
Allaah help us to do that which He loves and which pleases Him.

And
Allaah knows best.