سوال

1. Can Zakat be given to cover the entire tuition fee if the student is genuinely in need?

2. Is it mandatory for educational institutions to spend Zakat only on tuition fees, or can it be used for other expenses?

3. What if the institution has un-Islamic practices (e.g., interest-bearing bank accounts)? Does that affect its eligibility to receive Zakat?

اَلجَوَابْ بِاسْمِ مُلْہِمِ الصَّوَابْ

1. It is necessary for Zakat  to be discharged that it is given in the ownership of a needy person entitled to receive Zakat in the light of Shariah. Therefore there are tow ways to pay zakat for tuition fee:  

• To give Zakat to the student and than  he pays his fee himself.
• To announce fee, get permission of payment of  due fee from needy (Mustahiq –e- Zakat) student if he is an adult (if the student is minor and his father is also eligible to receive zakat then permission will be taken from his father/guardian) and then only his stipulated due fee will be paid from Zakat.    

2. Yes, it’s mandatory to spend zakat only on tuition fee as stated above. Zakat can’t be used for other expenses.   

3. It isn’t  advisable to give Zakat to such institutions, instead it should be given to institutions  that don’t  have impermissible practices. However if  someone gave zakat to these institutions and they utilize it as stated in point 1., the Zakat will be dispensed.

تحفة الفقهاء (1/ 307):

وأما إذا قضى دين حي فقير، فإذا قضى بغير أمره يكون متبرعا ولا يقع عن الزكاة، وإن قضى بأمره فإنه يقع عن الزكاة ويصير وكيلا في قبض الصدقة عن الفقير والصرف إلى قضاء دينه، فقد وجد التمليك من الفقير فيجوز.

الدر المختار (2/ 354):

 وفي المعراج: التصدق على العالم الفقير أفضل ( أو إلى الزهاد…).

حاشية ابن عابدين (2/ 354):

قوله ( وفي المعراج الخ ) تمام عبارته وكذا على المديون المحتاج. قوله ( أفضل ) أي من الجاهل الفقير ، قهستاني.