Question
Assalaam o Aalaikum, one of my friend needs loan from me. But I asked him to take zakat money so you dont need to return me but he said give me loan only. So question is.: is it important to tell the needy person to accept zakat money?
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
Wa Alaykum Assalam,
Zakat can only be given to those who are under the nisaab limit. The one you are giving the Zakat money does not need to know that it is Zakat money. Firstly, you should find out and see if your friend is below nisaab or not. If he is not, then it is not permissible to give Zakat to him. If he is under nisaab, then zakat can be given to him witout telling him it is Zakat money. In addition to this you should not take a repayment of the money.
(Sharh Wiqayah, vol. 2, pg. 478-479; Radd al-Muhtar, vol. 3, pg. 182)
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Shadman Ahmed
Concurred by Moulana Ahsan Osmani
Darul Ifta Texas