ZAKAH ON BEHALF OF PARENTS
Q: Can I pay zakah on behalf of my father if he refuses to do it himself?
A: Only with your father’s permission.
- If your father agrees, saying, “Yes, pay zakah for me,” then it is valid.
- If he refuses or is not aware, then your payment counts only as sadaqah, not zakah.
Zakah is an act of worship and requires intention. There is a scholarly consensus on this.
Q: What if I know how much zakah my father owes and I pay it without telling him?
A: It is not valid as zakah. It will be considered voluntary charity (sadaqah).
Wallahu Alam