Resolution No.(193)(1/2014) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:
"Ruling on Using the Zakah Money for the Treatment of the Poor at Al-Maqasid Alkhairiah Hospital"
Date: 7/Rabee` Al-Awwal/1435 AH, corresponding to 9/1/2014 AD.
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds; and may His peace and blessings be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
In its first session held on the above given date, the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies reviewed the letter of His Excellency-The Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Holy Places, which reads as follows: Your Grace knows that the Zakah Committee of Hai Nazal and Ad-dra` Al-Gharbi Area (East of Amman) functions under the umbrella of the Zakah Fund, and it has established a big charity-oriented project, which is “Al-Maqasid Al-Khairiah Hospital.“ It consists of seven floors built on a ten-thousand cubic meter lot of land, it takes a hundred and eleven beds, its cost exceeds four million JDs, it has modern medical equipments, and a qualified staff have been hired to make it fully operational. The hospital offers its services to the public at minimum cost. However, the same service is provided to the poor after conducting field studies supervised by the Zakah Fund Committee which, in its turn, determines the exemptions and discounts to be offered to members of that class.
The Administrative Board of the Zakah Fund has approved to give three thousand JDs to this hospital, provided that the money is used to cover the treatment of the poor patients specified by the Fund, and that the whole matter be referred to the Iftaa` Board to clarify the Sharia ruling concerning it.
After careful study and deliberation, the Board decided the following:
Treating poor patients isn’t only a recommended act of charity but also a responsibility that must be shouldered by organizations and communities because failing to do so negates the principles of Islamic Sharia and humanity. The Prophet (PBUH) said in this regard: “The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever". {Bukhari&Muslim}.
Since poverty and need are among the key channels of Zakah disbursement, as prescribed in the Holy Quran and according to the consensus of the Muslim scholars, the Board views that there is no harm in dedicating a sum of the Zakah money to cover the treatment expenses of the poor, or the needy so long as honesty in spending and justice in distribution are observed. In this case, the administration of the Zakah Fund functions as a proxy in transferring the Zakah into the possession of the poor; therefore, there is no harm if the Zakah takes the form of treatment since the Shafi`e School of Jurisprudence and other scholars allowed the Zakah proxy: “to buy a medication to the poor” instead of giving him/her the money {Moghni Al-Mohtajj, vol.4/pp.186}. This way, the objective of Sharia is met, and the needs of the poor are attended to. This is because treatment is one of the most essential needs that should be met sufficiently.
We advise the givers of Zakah to support this hospital, and we advise those in charge of it to Fear Allah and observe kindness as far as management and service are concerned, and to seek the reward from Allah Alone. And Allah Knows Best.
Chairman of the Iftaa` Board: The Mufti General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
His Grace Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khassawwneh
Vice-Chairmanof the Iftaa` Board: Prof. Ahmad Hilayel
Prof. Hayel Abdulhafeez/ Member
Prof. Abdulnasser Abu Al-Bassal
His Eminence Sheikh Sa`eed Hijjawi/ Member
Dr. Yahia Al-Bottoosh/Member
Prof. Mohammad Al-Qudah/Member
Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/Member
Dr. Mohammad Al-Z`oubee/Member
Dr. Wassif Al-Bakhri/Member