Giving Zakaat to a person who owns a television

Q. Can Zakaat be given to a person who owns a television? His living condition is normal but he has other luxuries as well.

A. The general rule is that if a person possesses the threshold of Zakaat, over and above ones necessities, it will not be permissible to give such a person Zakaat.

In determining the threshold of Zakaat in the enquired case, the total value of the television together with all other luxuries will be taken into consideration. Hence, if total value of the television together with all other luxuries reaches the threshold of Zakaat, then one cannot give Zakaat to such a person.

For e.g. if the threshold of Zakaat is R4500 and a person possess R3000 in cash and a television valued at R1500, over and above his necessities i.e. one car and a house, then it will not be permissible to give Zakaat to such a person as he possess the threshold value of Zakaat. However, in such a case, it is possible that other members of his household do not possess the threshold of Zakaat. Therefore, Zakaat may be given to such members of his household instead.

If on the other hand, the value of the television is valued at R1000, then it will be permissible to give such a person Zakaat as he now does not possess the threshold value of Zakaat. (Fataawa Fareediyyah 3/367-368)

Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

themufti.com