Question Summary:
Can Zakāt be given to people who visit dargās?

Question Detail:

Can we give zakat to the people whovisit dargas?
Assalamu alaikum mufti saheb. I haveone doubt regarding to whom zakat can be given. I guess, we can givezakat to poor people who are muslims and who have tendancy to acceptislam. Can we give zakat to the people who visit dargas?In Indiathere are some people who visit dargas. I guess, Dargas are thegraves of walis.I guess, some of them visit the grave of wali andtreat wali as GOD and pray to him. I guess , some others do not treatwali as GOD but they say these walis are the mediators between ALLAHand them. They feel ALLAH loves walis very much and walis canrecommend to ALLAH about these peoples' wishes. Some other poeplevisit dargas but they do not pray walis , they make dua to ALLAHonly. Some poeple believe that these walis had some powers when theywere alive. Can we give zakat to the above four catogories of thepeople, if they are poor.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Zakāt can be given to a Muslim who visits dargās (shrines of Muslim saints) on condition that the person is deserving of Zakāt, except in the case where you are certain or have an overwhelming feeling that the person makes Duā (prays) to the Walī (i.e. he believes that the Walī is the one who answers his Duā and can grant his wishes). In such a case it is not correct to give Zakāt to such a person, even if he is poor.[1]
And Allah Ta’ālā Knows Best
Mahmood Patel
Azaadville, South Africa
Student Darul Iftaa
 
Checked and Approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net