Question Summary:
Zakaat

Question Detail:

I have 2 wives that I am supporting and I have 4 children. 2 of them are in school while the other 2 are still babies and have not yet started schooling. I also support my parents who have retired recently.
My expenses are such that I have barely wnough to cover them. I have a situation where I am paying for school fees for 1 child but cannot afford the school fees of the 2nd child. The school has advised that I qualify for zakaat to pay for the fees of the 2nd child. Please advise if this is the case as I am not in a position to borrow money to pay for the fees. 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
In principle, if one does not possess the Nisaab amount of Zakaat, then one is eligible for Zakaat. Moreover, if one’s liabilities exceed one’s assets, then one is also eligible for Zakaat.[1]
You state that you cannot afford to pay for the fees of your second child, if you do not possess the Nisaab amount of Zakaat or your current liabilities exceed your assets, then you are a valid recipient of Zakaat.
Kindly refer to the following Zakaat table for more details:
 

Personal Wealth

Amounts:

1.   Amount of Cash and Savings at home or in the bank

R 10,000

2.   Current value of any gold and silver jewelry, coins, utensils etc

R 5,000

3.   Value of  assets and merchandise for trade

R 20,000

4.   Receivables and loaned amounts to others

R 5,000

Total these amounts here:

R 40,000

Amount Debts to be paid:

R 20,000

Subtract the total amount of debts for the year from the above amount.

Nett Total of Zakatable Wealth

R 20,000

if the net total of Zakatable Wealth is more than the Nisab amount then…

Multiply the net total by 2.5% (nett amount x 0.025)

R 500