Q 1: What is your ruling on the charity boxes that are placed in Masjids (mosques) to collect money to be spent on poor students, and so on? Can we put Zakah (obligatory charity) money in these boxes?

A: Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) shows the categories of people who have the right to receive Zakah in this Ayah (Qur'anic verse): As-Sadaqât (here it means Zakât) are only for the Fuqarâ’ (poor), and the Masâkin (needy) and those employed to collect (the funds), and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islâm), and to free the captives, and for those in debt, and for Allâh’s Cause, and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allâh. And Allâh is All-Knower, All-Wise. The charity boxes placed in Masjids are usually used for the benefit of the Masjid, but those who serve these Masjids or seek knowledge there are not included in the eight categories. So it is not permitted to put any Zakah in these boxes. However, it is permissible to help the people who benefit from these boxes with money other than the obligatory Zakah, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety) and He also says: ...and do good that you may be successful. (Part No. 9; Page No. 454) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.